5 players Pacers fans should keep an eye on in the NCAA tournament
By Ben Gibson
Matisse Thybulle, Washington
Position: SG | Class: Senior | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 205 | Age: 21
Let’s talk about defense, and in particular, Matisse Thybulle’s.
His 3.4 steals a game lead the NCAA thanks to his nearly 7′ wingspan cutting off passing lanes and poking the ball out. Those long arms can help block shots, too, as his 2.2 a game can attest to. His speed is also a factor and looking at the photo above, it doesn’t appear leaping is an issue, either.
The only real knock on him defensively is a lack of rebounding. He only averages 4.2 a game and his rebounding percentage is very low, even for a guard.
There’s little question about his defense, as he is one of the best defenders in the NCAA, at least according to his second-ranked defensive box score plus/minus.
His offense, however, is the issue.
A career 42.3 percent shooter after four years of college is hardly encouraging, but he is very willing to fire up 3-pointers. Despite this, his streaky 3-point shooting leaves him at 36 percent and 9.2 points a game.
His age isn’t a plus, but he’s played solidly in college and his defensive skills should transfer to the NBA. He’ll need to develop a more consistent 3-pointer, however, if he wishes to stay on the floor.
First game: Washington vs Utah State, Friday at 6:50 on TNT.