March Madness Sweet 16 2016: One player to watch from each team

Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0), forward Landen Lucas (33), guard Devonte' Graham (4), guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) and forward Perry Ellis (34) on the court in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Anthony Gill (13) celebrates after a play against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. The Cavaliers won 77-69. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Virginia – Anthony Gill

No one is silly enough to say anything but the fact that the success of the Virginia Cavaliers as a whole hinges on their star and the 2016 ACC Player of the Year in Malcolm Brogdon. With the way that he can affect a game on both ends of the floor, he’s obviously going to be huge for UVA as they take on the Iowa State Cyclones. However, what Cavaliers big man Anthony Gill is able to do in the Sweet 16 is also going to be hugely important to what Virginia’s chances are of staying alive.

The senior forward has been coming up big at the biggest time of the season for Virginia in the first two rounds of the tournament. Gill has put up 19 points in each of the first two victories for the Cavaliers and is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game in addition to that. His production has helped anchor Virginia in their frontcourt. But it also remains to be seen what he’ll do amongst the trees of Iowa State.

Though the Cyclones’ defense is certainly suspect, they do have solid size on the interior. How Gill is able to score and rebound playing against those guys is going to be huge for Virginia’s chances of advancing. If he fails to do so, the Cavaliers could be in danger of being the first No. 1 seed to be ousted.

Next: Iowa State Cyclones

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