March Madness: Who Has Been the Top Performer From Each Final Four Team?

Villanova Wildcats: Jalen Brunson

Cumulative nERD Score: +103.9

Brunson was a Player of the Year candidate during the regular season, and the junior guard has continued his elite play in March. He has averaged 17.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, but even these numbers undersell how good he has been in the tournament.

He has made 53.8% of his two-point field goals, 42.1% of his threes (on 4.8 attempts per game) and 90% of his free throws, all good for a 64.2% true shooting percentage. Brunson is also averaging just 2.3 turnovers per game, while adding 1.3 steals and 3.3 rebounds per game.

While he stacked the scoresheet in the Wildcats’ Sweet 16 win over West Virginia (27 points, 4 assists, 8-for-15 from the field), his best game by nERD actually came a round earlier. In leading Villanova past Alabama, Brunson scored 12 points on 7 field goal attempts, had 4 assists without turning the ball over once and added a pair of steals. That production translated into a +41.11 nERD score.