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

Miami – Angel Rodriguez

Angel Rodriguez only averaged 12.6 points and 4.4 assists per game for the Miami Hurricanes during the regular season, but everyone has seen that the senior guard and Kansas State transfer has had much more potential than that as a playmaker, veteran, and star for Miami. Thus far in March Madness, Rodriguez has 100 percent been that for the Hurricanes and he’ll need to be that again if they are going to stay alive and make it to the Elite Eight.

Through the first two games of the tournament and the Hurricanes’ two victories, Rodriguez has put up 26 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 4.5 rebounds per game. As if those numbers weren’t impressive in their own right, he’s also put up those numbers by making a number of big plays on both ends of the floor in critical moments that have swung the momentum in favor of Miami.

What’s important to note about A-Rod’s production and playmaking in the first two rounds, though, is that the Hurricanes just narrowly made it out alive of both games, winning by seven and eight points, respectively. Without him producing at that level, Miami more than likely wouldn’t be in the Sweet 16 and they certainly won’t be going any further if he doesn’t step up in his toughest matchup in the tournament yet.

Next: Villanova Wildcats