Fansided

5 first round NCAA Tournament games with NBA Draft implications

By Brandon Jefferson

EVANSVILLE, IN - MARCH 09: Murray State Racers Guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles the ball during the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins on March 9, 2019, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSVILLE, IN - MARCH 09: Murray State Racers Guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles the ball during the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins on March 9, 2019, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles celebrates his teams lead with his teammate against the St. John’s Red Storm during the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Big East men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles celebrates his teams lead with his teammate against the St. John’s Red Storm during the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Big East men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

4. Marquette vs Murray State

This is the marquee game of the First Round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The headliner is Murray State’s point guard Ja Morant. Morant exploded in his second season with the Racers. He’s vaulted all the way up to number two or three on most draft big boards. He’s a terror in transition and the half-court doesn’t seem able to corral his athleticism much either. Morant’s game is from the same lineage that gave us Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and De’Aaron Fox in recent years. Lofty comparisons for a player whose name most probably just started hearing in the past two-to-three months. March Madness is Morant’s chance to firmly stamp himself as being one of the best players in the country. Entering the tournament, few others match his production of 24.6 points per game, 10 assists per game, and 5.5 rebounds per game.

The reason this game is going to be a big draw is because Morant will be facing off with one of the better point guards in college, Marquette’s Markus Howard. Unlike Morant, Howard doesn’t have the size or athleticism to play above the rim and at a breakneck pace. But, Howard has taken a page out of the Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Trae Young playbook and become one of the most surefire shooters in the NCAA. Howard has shot 43.6 percent from deep (on an average of 7.2 attempts per game) over three years with the Golden Eagles. Howard’s got the ultimate green light from coach Steve Wojciechowski and isn’t afraid to let it rip regardless of how close the defense is to him.

Sneakily, Marquette also holds a pair of brothers — Joey and Sam Hauser — who could find themselves on NBA radars too. Part of the reason Howard’s been so good for Marquette this year is that the Hausers help to spread the floor and take some of the offensive burdens off of their star players’ shoulders. In the past, former Golden Eagles like Jae Crowder, Wes Matthews, and Steve Novak have carved out paths for themselves as crucial role players. The Hauser players could find themselves next in line.

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