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Final Four 2017: Sleeper impact player from each team

By Will Schreefer

Mar 25, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Johnathan Williams (3) celebrates with players on the bench after scoring a basket against the Xavier Musketeers during the second half in the finals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Johnathan Williams (3) celebrates with players on the bench after scoring a basket against the Xavier Musketeers during the second half in the finals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 28, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Dylan Ennis (31) in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Dylan Ennis (31) in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Oregon – Dylan Ennis

Dylan Ennis is by far the oldest player in the tournament — at 25, it’s amazing he’s still even in college. After playing for Rice and Villanova earlier in his career, Ennis transferred to Oregon before the 2015-16 season for an opportunity to play more point guard. When an injury cut his season short, he successfully redshirted and came back to Oregon for one more shot at glory.

He’s already gotten quite a taste, with Oregon advancing to the Final Four. Currently averaging the most minutes in the tournament for the Ducks, Ennis has been an important figure in their run, despite rarely jumping off the screen. He’s an excellent ‘paper-over-the-cracks’ player — he does a bit of everything for Oregon. Though he never has quite sealed up a point guard spot, he’s a solid secondary playmaker, able to catch the ball on the perimeter and drive to the heart of the defense. And though a bit streaky throughout his career from the perimeter, Ennis shot nearly 50 percent from 3 during conference play and provides key spacing for Oregon’s stars to drive as he spots up from the perimeter.

He continues to be a solid player defensively. Blessed with the athletic tools and lateral agility to defend well on the perimeter, he’s also got maturity on his side for a college defender. He’s rarely out of position, gets steals, and even provides some value as a shot-blocking wing. He likely won’t get close to scoring the most points for the Ducks in either of their two potentially remaining games, but he will be on the floor the most, holding everything together as Oregon’s indispensable glue guy.

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