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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March 20, 2016; Spokane , WA, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) moves to the basket against Hawaii Rainbow Warriors guard Quincy Smith (11) during the first half in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Maryland – Diamond Stone

The Maryland Terrapinsare obviously going to be up against it in the Sweet 16 as they’ve drawn a matchup with the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in the Kansas Jayhawks. And while that certainly will mean that star guard Melo Trimble and forward Robert Carter are going to need to be at their best to have a chance of winning, the player that has to be looked at as the X-factor and player to watch in this matchup is without question freshman big man Diamond Stone.

Stone has shown time and again this season that he’s one of the most skilled and gifted big men in the entire country. However, the problem is that he’s disappeared at times and has shown his youth on more than one occasion. That can’t be the case in this matchup with Kansas as he takes on a veteran big man with a ton of talent in his own right in Perry Ellis.

Stone can’t shy away from the spotlight in this matchup and has to realize his potential in this moment if the Terps are going to keep moving forward in March Madness. Without his production on the interior, Maryland will fall.

Next: Miami Hurricanes

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