2014 NCAA Tournament Final Four Predictions: Most Outstanding Player Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2014 NCAA Tournament Final Four Predictions: Most Outstanding Player Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: At the conclusion of Monday’s NCAA Tournament national title game, one player will be honored with the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player Award. The award is meant to take into account performances for the entire Final Four, but with the exception of Hakeem Olajuwon in 1983, the eventual winner has also played on the team that has won the national title. Meanwhile, the winner has also been a starter on the winning team with the lone exception coming last season when Louisville’s Luke Hancock came off the bench to earn the honor. With that in mind, I have narrowed the potential winners of the 2014 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award to players from Kentucky and Connecticut.

The Favorites

Kentucky has had a consistent advantage inside throughout the NCAA tournament, and power forward Julius Randle is their best post player. He is averaging a double-double during the tournament, and he scored 16 points during the Wildcats win over the Badgers in the national semifinal matchup. Randle should be able to have his way against a smaller Connecticut frontcourt, and if he puts up another double-double in a Kentucky victory, his steady production could yield him Most Outstanding Player honors.

Although he has been scorching the nets throughout the NCAA tournament, and Connecticut point guard Shabazz Napier showed his all-around game in the Huskies’ national semifinal win over Florida. The Gators threw multiple defenders at Napier all game, and he responded with six assists on the offensive end and four steals on defense. Meanwhile, he still managed 12 points on just six shots. Whenever he takes the court, Napier is capable of putting up a triple-double or dropping 20-plus points. If he does either in a UConn victory Monday night, he will likely take home the Most Outstanding Player Award.

If memorable shots were the only requirement for winning Most Outstanding Player honors, Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison would already have the award in the bag. He has already nailed three game-winning 3-pointers during the NCAA tournament, including the dagger in the closing seconds in Kentucky’s victory over Wisconsin in its national semifinal matchup. Granted, Harrison had his worst overall game of the tournament against the Badgers, but by salvaging things with the game-winner, he is still in the thick of the conversation for the Most Outstanding Player Award. A title-clinching shot should just about lock it up.

The Dark Horses

He has scored in double figures in every game of the NCAA tournament, and UConn forward DeAndre Daniels had one of his best games in the Huskies’ national semifinal win over Florida. He poured in 20 on 9-of-14 shooting and hauled in 10 rebounds. Daniels may not be Connecticut’s go-to guy, but after such a strong showing against the Gators, he could still land Most Outstanding Player honors with another big showing in a win against the Wildcats.

After being quiet for most of the NCAA tournament, Kentucky shooting guard James Young found his stroke in his team’s national semifinal matchup against Wisconsin. He poured in 17 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Against the Badgers, Young showed the ability to get to the rim and knock down shots from the perimeter, and if he stays aggressive and has another big scoring day against Connecticut, he could sneak in and grab Most Outstanding Player honors.

The Sleeper

On a team loaded with highly-touted freshmen, Kentucky sophomore forward Alex Poythress has been a quiet savior for the Wildcats. He has played big minutes off the bench throughout the NCAA tournament, hitting momentum-changing baskets and bringing down every big rebound. Against Wisconsin last round, he played 29 minutes, connecting on all four of his shots and bringing down seven rebounds. Along the way, he threw down a massive dunk as part of a three-point play that stopped a Wisconsin run its tracks and earned him a kiss from coach John Calipari. It will take several big plays against the Huskies, but if Poythress can provide another spark of the bench in a Kentucky win, he might just be able to steal Most Outstanding Player honors.

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