2014 NCAA Tournament: Five Wisconsin Players Who Must Deliver During the Sweet 16

By Brad Berreman

Five Wisconsin Badgers That Need to Come Through In the Sweet 16

Wisconsin Badgers, Sweet 16 — Before essentially a home crowd in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Badgers overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and beat Oregon 85-77 in the Round of 32 and will now take on No. 6 seed Baylor in a West Region semifinal Thursday night.

Here are five players that have to perform well for Wisconsin to continue their NCAA Tournament run.

5. Nigel Hayes

Nigel Hayes

5. Nigel Hayes

Nigel Hayes Wisconsin Badgers — Hayes has not had a great NCAA Tournament to this point, but after playing just 10 minutes against Oregon he should play a lot more against Baylor and have an opportunity to make an impact off the bench.

4. Traevon Jackson

Traevon Jackson Wisconsin Badgers

4. Traevon Jackson

Traevon Jackson Wisconsin Badgers — Jackson is averaging 17 points, six rebounds and four assists per game in two tournament games, and his performance on both ends of the floor will be important against Baylor.

3. Frank Kaminsky

Frank Kaminsky

3. Frank Kaminsky

Frank Kaminsky Wisconsin Badgers — Kaminsky had 19 points against Oregon, and if he can help get Baylor center Isaiah Austin in foul trouble Thursday night the Badgers would gain a significant advantage.

2. Sam Dekker

Sam Dekker Wisconsin Badgers

2. Sam Dekker

Sam Dekker Wisconsin Badgers — Baylor has a plus-22 rebound margin (69-47) over their first two tournament games, so even if Dekker doesn’t score a lot he will have to rebound well (7.0 per game in two tournament games) to help Wisconsin negate that possible advantage for the Bears.

1. Ben Brust

Ben Brust Wisconsin Badgers

1. Ben Brust

Ben Brust Wisconsin Badgers — Brust is 8-for-15 from beyond the arc over the last two games, and if he can keep shooting well and play solid defense against Brady Heslip Baylor’s potential advantage from three-point range (11-for-18 against Creighton in the Round of 32) would be diminished greatly.

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