NCAA Midwest Region: Difference-maker and three story lines

March 18, 2013 at 4:39AM
Creighton's Doug McDermott, left
Creighton’s Doug McDermott, left, drives on Nebraska’s Brandon Ubel in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver) ORG XMIT: NEDW105 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

DIFFERENCE MAKER

Doug McDermott, Creighton

The Ames, Iowa, native committed to play for his father, Greg, at Iowa State and then joined his dad at Creighton. The kid blossomed into an All-America last year and is a Player of the Year candidate this year.

Most eye-catching stat: Averaging 23.1 points per game.

THREE STORY LINES

[ 1 ] Louisville is the overall top seed after coming back from 15 points down to defeat Syracuse for the Big East title. The Cardinals have an easy road back to Final Four.

[ 2 ] St. Louis is an easy team to pull for, as coach Rick Majerus died Dec. 1, and the Billikens won the Atlantic 10 tournament for interim coach Jim Crews.

[ 3 ] Former Gophers center Colton Iverson transferred to Colorado State, sat out last year, and enters the tournament averaging 14.7 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Rams.

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Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune

The center had called on coach Chris Finch to start benching players who give lackluster effort on defense.