How did the top prospects from Duke and Wisconsin fare in the final college basketball game of the year?
We have taken a deep breath, digested the exciting finale between the two number-one seeds.
Duke and Wisconsin each had opportunities at the end to step on the other’s throat, pushing the lead beyond a few possessions. Ultimately, the heroics of Final Four Most Outstanding Player Tyus Jones led the Blue Devils past the Badgers, giving Mike Krzyzewski his fifth championship.
Was his draft stock affected?
Jones finished the game with 23 points, five rebounds and one assist, but the real key to his game was the confidence he showed late in the game to lead his team to the victory. His court vision and shooting ability aren’t in question, nor is his basketball IQ, but rather his lack of elite athleticism and on-ball defense against the most physical defenders.
The point guard has the killer instinct many teams adore, and actively seek on draft day. While his draft range likely remains at the same, he confirmed (again) that he is a starter-caliber floor general who can be trusted with the ball in his hands at the end of a game.
Expect him to go no lower than 20 in June.
What other draft prospects were on display in the championship game?
Jahlil Okafor | C | Duke
Okafor posted a modest stat line of 10 points and three rebounds- not quite what one would expect from a top prospect. He struggled with foul trouble, picking up his fourth mid-way through the second half at a time Duke needed him most. Analysts have picked his game apart against Wisconsin, but he remains the top prospect in the draft.
Justise Winslow | SF | Duke
Winslow struggled from the floor, but again stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. The success he had in the NCAA Tournament boosted his draft stock comfortably into the top-seven, and may have inched in front of Mario Hezonja and Stanley Johnson to be the top wing off the board.
Grayson Allen | SG | Duke
Allen was a star for Duke, sparking the squad with a deep 3-point bomb, and-1 at the rim, and got to the line for two more free throws all in a short period of time. He finished with 16 points- the third-highest total of his season. Allen won’t declare for the 2015 draft, but he should emerge as a first-round prospect in a large role at Duke next year.
Sam Dekker | SF | Wisconsin
Dekker had a nice floor game, but struggled from outside the 3-point arc. Outside shooting remains the primary concern with Dekker, who was streaky throughout the big dance. He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, including three offensive, and didn’t sway his stock one way or the other in the final game. He likely goes between 12-20, dependent on how a team feels about his stroke from the perimeter.
Frank Kaminsky | C | Wisconsin
Frank the Tank did all he could to guide Wisconsin to the win, showing a crafty ability to score inside and work past Okafor. He ended with a double-double, 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, but his defense on the Duke bigs was the most impressive aspect of his game. I don’t see a possibility where he falls out of the lottery.
Nigel Hayes | SF | Wisconsin
Hayes has announced that he will return to Wisconsin, likely taking over Sam Dekker’s role in 2015-16. Hayes showed good touch from the perimeter, hitting three of four shots from downtown. Typically a strong rebounder, Hayes only had one board and did not contribute any assists. Next season, Hayes could be a top-20 pick if he truly expands his outside game.
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