Today's Big Winner: Mitch McGary
Louisville might be playing for Kevin Ware, but Michigan is playing with Mitch McGary, and as the 2013 NCAA tournament's ultimate X-factor, that makes McGary the most intriguing player (not to mention Most Outstanding Player) heading into tonight's title game.
Modest regular-season numbers begat 21 and 14 in Michigan's statement demolition of VCU in the Round 32, then 25 and 14 in the regional semi win over Kansas, then 11 and 9 (with 5 steals) in the win over Florida, then 10 and 12 (with a sublime 6 assists) on Saturday.
McGary's enthusiastic surge over the past two weeks is precisely what qualifies him for March mythologizing (not to mention a Top 5 spot if he goes to the 2013 NBA Draft). College basketball's most memorable freshmen necessarily dovetail with a trip to the title game.
The gold standard is Carmelo Anthony, pound for pound (or minute for minute) the greatest player in NCAA tournament history, the purest interpretation possible of "one-and-done."
NCAA Tournament Top 5 Freshmen of All Time:
(1) Carmelo Anthony
(2) Patrick Ewing
(3) Pervis Ellison
(4) Anthony Davis
(5) Chris Webber
Also receiving votes: Mitch McGary, Greg Oden, Michael Jordan.
Ewing didn't win a title his freshman year, but was a Michael Jordan title-game jumpshot from one, not to mention as big of a freshman sensation as the sport had ever seen. Ellison's entire career was made by his brilliant performance 27 years ago tonight. Davis was unstoppable, and Webber the best player on Michigan's unprecedented all-frosh starting five.
McGary is on the cusp. Continuing his trajectory over the past four games tonight and helping Michigan upset Louisville would surge him into the "best tourney frosh ever?" conversation.
Even if Michigan falls short, McGary has put together the most memorable performance of any player in the 2013 NCAA tournament -- and put himself in elite company historically.
More of today's winners:
Breanna Stewart: UConn's previous losses to Notre Dame instantly forgotten.
Louisville women's hoops: Amazing run continues to the title game.
Rick Pitino: Could he be first to win title at two different schools?
Luke Hancock: Tonight's X-factor? Like Saturday, could be bench players.
Will Middlebrooks: Red Sox 3B hits 3 HR in Boston W over Jays.
After-One-Week MLB Power Rankings:
(1) Nationals, (2) Tigers, (3) Braves, (4) Giants, (5) Reds
LA Clippers: That's "Pacific Division champion LA Clippers," people.
Utah Jazz: Vault back over the Lakers for 8th in the West.
NHL Winter Classic: Leafs vs. Wings at Michigan Stadium. (Approve!)
Alexander Ovechkin: He keeps scoring, Caps keep surging.
Johnny Manziel: "Johnny Baseball" just doesn't have the same je ne sais quois.
Quote of the Day: "I'd suck anywhere right now." (Josh Hamilton)
*****
If you used President Obama's bracket to pick your own, you would be out-performing 93% of the country right now. (If you used mine? 94%!) But as neither of us have Louisville or Michigan winning it all, both the President and I are going to slide after tonight's game; the "National Bracket" on the other hand, is sitting pretty in the 80th percentile -- with Louisville as the pick.
Pick: Louisville over Michigan.
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Follow Dan Shanoff at @danshanoff.
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/08/ncaa-tournament-louisville-michigan-mitch-mcgary/2062453/