Virginia Basketball: Malcolm Brogdon Must Stand Out In The Sweet 16

At times this season the Virginia Cavaliers‘ sophomore guard Malcolm Brogdon has looked like one of the best players in all of college basketball. He scored 23 points against the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC tournament championship game and outplayed Jabari Parker.

At other times, Brogdon disappeared completely from a game so much that his name was not called even when he was on the court. Brogdon has eight games this season where he did not reach 10 points and one of those games — against the Tennessee Volunteers — he was held scoreless. A player of his caliber should never be shut down like that, and if the Cavaliers are going to going to defeat the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet 16 and advance to the Elite Eight, Brogdon must play up to the importance of the game

Brogdon will most likely be matched up against Gary Harris which will not be an easy defensive game for either of them. Harris can challenge Brogdon with a variety of clever moves he has learned and developed in his sophomore campaign. Many in the upcoming NBA Draft consider Harris a top-15 pick, but he really does not have much more talent that Brogdon — he just lives up to his hype.

Understandably, it is difficult for any one player to stick out in coach Tony Bennett‘s unselfish offense, but Brogdon will get his chances to score. He must be efficient and he has to be comfortable with the ball in his hands. He cannot let the moment get to him. If Brogdon can play within himself, score when he gets open and consistently find teammates cutting to the basket, Virginia will have every opportunity to not only defeat the Spartans, but also make a serious NCAA tournament championship run.

Gregory T. Philson is a college basketball writer at www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GTPhilson, “Like” him on Facebook, and add him to your network on Google. Read more here.