With thousands upon thousands of basketball players across the country, each player has something to prove to himself, his coach, and his team.
For a select few, the presence of huge fan bases and the hype machine attached to them enhances those expectations. This gives those players a little more to prove. While everyone wants to prove something, the pressure and the possibility of this season become particularly pronounced in the case of a few specific examples. Here are the top six players with something extra to prove coming into 2015-’16.
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When thinking about the players with the most to prove this season, the first player is someone who decided to return to school because he still had something to prove.
Melo Trimble leads Maryland to the top of the rankings after the unexpected success of the Terps last season. The hunter now becomes the hunted in a deep Big Ten. Due to the loss of leader Dez Wells, Trimble now takes the forefront for Maryland and will get the top defensive assignment from the opponent each night.
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Staying in the Big Ten, another player decided to stay in school: Yogi Ferrell. The Indiana point guard did not receive the same draft hype as Trimble, but he does have the same lofty expectations in the conference. The return of Ferrell and Troy Williams, along with a strong recruiting class, gives Indiana the right to dream big this season.
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After losing both of the Harrison twins after last season, along with several others to the NBA draft, Tyler Ulis will now need to run the show as the starting point guard for Kentucky. Ulis revealed some inconsistencies last season that are not uncommon to young players thrown to the wolves. However, he also showed flashes of brilliance on several occasions, signs that show he is more than ready to lead Big Blue Nation. Only time will tell if increased reps lead to increased production.
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Kyle Wiltjer still has a lot to prove at Gonzaga. The Kentucky transfer lightly tested the NBA waters before getting a lukewarm response and deciding to return to school. If being named to many of the preseason awards watch lists was not enough to create a dramatic lead-in to the season, Wiltjer is the heart and soul of the Zags after the graduation of several leaders. While he has the frame and the skill set to succeed, only time will tell if Wiltjer lives up to all of the hype in the Pacific Northwest.
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However, no player has more to prove than Georges Niang. It feels like Niang has been at Iowa State on the seven-year plan. (There’s always someone who seems to be a seven- or eight-year veteran at a program, right?) Players who cracked the starting lineup early in a college career and did not quite live up to the hype generally get this treatment. Niang has been a strong regular season performer for the Cyclones, but tends to disappear in big games. If Iowa State is to have a lot of national success after the departure of Fred Hoiberg, Niang has to come up big.
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With North Carolina getting the top ranking to start the season, no player on the Tar Heels has more pressure than point guard Marcus Paige. The senior guard has shown the ability to score with the best of them; the main question is how he can distribute and get his teammates involved. This ability could determine how we will talk about North Carolina come the end of March into early April. One specific question facing Paige is if he can play against Maryland in early December, as he attempts to come back from an injury.
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Each of these players lead their squads, all of which could have a great deal of success this season. However, the ultimate success of these six teams comes down to how a central individual performs and carries himself. These players are expected to shoulder the burden if their teammates are to reap the rewards. We will soon begin to see how these players handle a very bright college basketball spotlight.
