Heroes are born every March. Guys save their best performances for the biggest stage in college basketball and find that little bit of magic to keep their ultimate dream of being the last team standing alive. This year’s opening weekend was no different. There were plenty of remarkable performances, some of which will be talked about for years to come.
Here’s a quick breakdown of five All-First Weekend performers, one at each position, and a short breakdown of why they were selected to the list. What’s great about March basketball in general is these guys can either add to their already memorable month, or new characters will rise up and be the star over the tournament’s second weekend.
Wichita State G Fred VanVleet
VanVleet did a little bit of everything in Wichita’s run into the second weekend. The junior guard was an all-out beast against Indiana in the opening round game, scoring 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, and he followed that up with a clutch performance in the Shockers’ win over Kansas as well. VanVleet delivered 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, and he got it done on the defensive end with four steals as well in the upset.
Georgia State G R.J. Hunter
Of course Hunter was going to make the list. His shot to beat Baylor was incredible, and he put on a show in trying to keep the Panthers in it against Xavier in the second round. Plus, he got to make fun of his dad – who is also his coach – and do so in a way that was equal parts endearing and hilarious. Hunter finished the weekend with 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and one unforgettable March moment.
Gonzaga F Kyle Wiltjer
Wiltjer has been an absolute boss this season, and he only added to an already huge year with a big first weekend of the tournament. Gonzaga’s go-to scorer averaged 23.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over the Bulldogs’ first two wins, and he shot an astounding 75 percent from the floor. Plus he was psyched to go to Benihana.
Kentucky F Willie Cauley-Stein
Okay, maybe I’m biased by one single play, and that play is Cauley-Stein’s unreal dunk against Cincinnati. But if you look even deeper, Kentucky’s veteran leader has been rock solid. Remember that Kentucky spreads the minutes and the scoring around, so when you see Cauley-Stein average just eight points and 6.5 rebounds per game, just know he did it in an average of 24 minutes per game.
Duke C Jahlil Okafor
Sure, Okafor had a missed dunk that earned the ire of Coach K against Robert Morris, but if you look outside that mistake, he was almost flawless the rest of the way. Okafor scored 47 points and racked up nine rebounds and five blocks in the Blue Devils’ two opening weekend games, and he did so without seeming to exert any energy at all. Plus he shot a sparkling 77.7 percent.
Honorable Mentions: Wisconsin F Frank Kaminsky, UCLA G Bryce Alford, Duke F Justise Winslow, NC State G Cat Barber, Utah G Delon Wright, Louisville F Terry Rozier, Oregon G Joseph Young
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