Posted 7 hours ago | By Jeff Mezydlo
The 2021 NCAA Tournament field is set. It’s good to have the event back and with it comes some of the best talent in the country. Some are household names to college fans, while others might be just under-the-radar. Regardless, their value to each team is immeasurable in some cases.
Here’s a list of 25 players who have what it takes to be an X-factor when it comes down to how far their respective teams will last in this season’s tournament.
Jose Alvarado, Guard, Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets have made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010, and do so riding an eight-game winning streak as the ACC tournament champions. The senior Alvarado has been a big reason for the program’s resurgence this season. While he’s averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, Alvarado’s leadership goes beyond the numbers. He’s the heart and soul of this Georgia Tech team and, truly, as Alvarado goes so does this team.
James Bouknight, Guard, Connecticut
As a No. 7 seed facing Maryland in the first round, then possibly second-seeded Alabama, UConn will have to work to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. However, if Bouknight (19.0 points per game) can find the offensive form he enjoyed prior to shooing 32.0 percent and totaling 24 points in the Big East tournament, the Huskies could surprise. This is no longer a team that solely relies on Bouknight to lead the way offensively, but if we see the guy who scored 40 against Creighton in December, then UConn can be dangerous.
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