The "Elite Eight" Players to Look For Come March Madness

The common theme that you will see as you scroll throughout this list is that it is guard heavy. Guard play is usually what carries teams throughout March, and the big time players are making clutch plays from the perimeter. We give you a look at our "Elite 8" players that you will see in these next few weeks.

1. Lukas Garza C (Iowa)

Garza would be my pick for National Player of the Year as he has been arguably the most valuable asset to any team in the country. A versatile big man who can dominate on the block at 6'11, but he can also step out on the perimeter and knock down shots. Garza is averaging 23.7 points per game and 9.9 rebounds, nearly a double-double. He is shooting a sold 35% from beyond the arc and has proved night in and night out that he is the best big man in the country. Iowa might not make a deep run in the tournament due to the lack of talent around Garza, but keep an eye out for number 55 in the yellow and black.

2. Myles Powell G (Seton Hall)

Arguably the greatest Pirate in Seton Hall is wrapping up his illustrious career. Nothing would top off his career better than a trip to the Final Four. Powell is a top level scorer, but also a tremendous leader for his team, perhaps even the captain of their ship one might say. Powell averages 21.2 points per game for the Pirates, and he is the catalyst for their offense. Although he is only shooting 30% from downtown this year, he can heat up in a hurry and has some of the best range in the nation. Seton Hall has a great team around Powell with solid complementary pieces who know their roles, and if Powell continues to lead this bunch and make his teammates better he could have a great end to his storybook career.

3. Malachi Flynn G (San Diego St)

The Aztecs only lost one game all regular season, and Flynn is a big reason why San Diego St is in position to obtain one of the four one seeds in the bracket. Flynn is a true all-around point guard who can score, pass, run the offense, and hit free throws to ice the game. In the Aztecs quarterfinal matchup against Air Force of the Mountain West tournament, it was a tight game until Flynn took over in the mid second half and helped San Diego St pull away for a victory. Flynn is efficient as he shoots 45% from the line, 37% from three point range, and 85% from the line. The Aztecs have a high powered offense that shares the ball exceptionally well and it is fun to watch Flynn orchestrate that offense at a high level.

4. Obi Toppin F (Dayton)

The human pogo stick is an accurate description of Toppin. Obi is one of the mos athletic players in the country, and it appears he has springs in his legs that make him seem that he can jump out of the gym. Toppin is an incredibly efficient player as he shoots 62% from the field with most of his attempts coming around the rim on post moves and dunks. He is a menace on the glass and shoots the three at a 39% clip as well. He benefits the most from Dayton's unselfish offense that shares the ball well and sets up Toppin for open looks around the rim. Expect a lot of rim rattling dunks this month from Obi, and look for a high flying Dayton offense to make a deep run this month.

5. Devon Dotson G (Kansas)

Dotson is the engine for the number one team in the nation Udoka Azubuike is a tremendous big man down low, but he doesn't get a lot of his buckets without the help of Dotson. Dotson is responsible for four assists per contest and is great at drawing defenders and dumping the ball off for dunks, and throwing lobs to Azubuike as well. The Kansas point guard averages 18 points per contest and is a high level defender, most notably averaging 2.1 points per game. Dotson is regarded by many coaches around the country as the nation's premier point guard and he plays a great brand of unselfish basketball. Many hoop junkies will enjoy watching Dotson these next few weeks as he looks to lead Kansas to a national title.

6. Markus Howard G (Marquette)

Even the casual college basketball fan has heard of this guy. Markus Howard epitomizes the phrase "put the team on his back" as he has to will and carry the Golden Eagles to every victory they claim. Howard knows how to score from all three levels as he averages 27 points per game, and shoots the ball from three at 40%. As the all time leading scorer in the Big East Conference career winds down, appreciate what he has done for the college game and the excitement he provides for the fans on the offensive end of the floor. Watching the 5'11 guard pull up from all over and perform at such a high level consistently reminds me of Trae Young and Oklahoma a few years ago. A team like this though with a rough supporting cast around Howard isn't a recipe for success in the tournament and Marquette could be a one and done team.

7. Cassius Winston G (Michigan St)

Another all time great in college basketball along with the previously mentioned Howard, and Powell, Winston is also ending his career in the NCAA. Along with Winston's 18 points per game, he averages a whopping 5.9 assist per game as well proving how great of a floor general he really is. Cassius is a very experienced player and has taken his Spartans to the Final Four before. Furthermore, the Sparty guard is a great outside shooter shooting 42% from beyond the arc this season and he is starting to play his best basketball of the season. Tom Izzo has his group playing well right now, and Winston is the head of the snake there. Winston is a great lead guard, and someone that people filling out a bracket can trust.

8. Payton Pritchard G (Oregon)

Our last guard of this column is another senior, who is rich with experience in March. Payton Pritchard is an all-time great for Oregon and he is having his best season for the Ducks to date. Averaging 20.2 points, 5.6 assits, 4.3 rebounds, and shooting 46% from the field makes Pitchard the best all-around guard in the Pac 12, and the likely player of the year. Pritchard is one of those players with an enormous amount of grit and passion who has that "refuse to lose" mindset and he knows how to lead a team in March. This Oregon team isn't as talented as they were the past few seasons, but with a standout senior guard like Pritchard they are a Final Four darkhorse if he can elevate his teammates play in the coming weeks.

*ALL STATS VIA ESPN.COM*