Jamie Skeen, F-C, VCU: The Rams nominally started D.J. Haley, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound freshman at center, but the 6-foot-8 Skeen usually slid into the middle. That lineup gave VCU five players who could hit from downtown -- and pressure up and down the court or play zone. The result was domination by the Rams on the outside, and no one caused other teams more trouble than Skeen. Opposing big men just aren't sure where to guard him. Last Sunday, after Kansas had crawled back to within 52-46, Skeen grabbed a rebound off a missed Jayhawks layup, recovered a Kansas block on the ensuing possession, and then hit a 3-point bomb. Classic Giant Killing material.
Joey Rodriguez, G, VCU: March Madness was one big coming-out party for Joey Dishes, who game after game has made Giants' big men look like dime-store mannequins. You want ball-controlling, turnover-generating, precision penetration play? Rodriguez has 38 assists, nine steals and just 10 turnovers in the tournament. Before VCU played Kansas, the teams' captains met with game officials. "The run ends here," one of the Morris twins told Rodriguez. "We'll see," he replied. He didn't know whether it was Marcus or Markieff he was responding to. It didn't matter.
Honorable mentions:
Bradford Burgess, G-F, VCU: A 6-foot-6 guard who's willing to work his tail off, which meant under Shaka Smart he played where other teams were expecting a power forward, and added to the misery of VCU's opponents on the perimeter. But like all the Rams, he can go inside, too; he took an inbounds pass and sank a layup to beat Florid State in overtime
Brandon Rozell, G , VCU: Bench player in name only stepped up his minutes and sharpshooting, leading the Rams with 26 points against Georgetown. San Antonio crowd serenaded him by singing "Happy Birthday" after VCU beat Kansas.
