NCAA TOURNAMENT : They Have Their Guard Up

A look at the impact guards for each team in the NCAA tournament’s round of 16.

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL

Guard: Ray Allen

School: Connecticut

Height: 6-5

Year: Jr.

Comment: Float-like-a-butterfly, sting-like-a-bee style is a knockout.

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Guard: Darryl Wilson

School: Mississippi State

Height: 6-1

Year: Sr.

Comment: Bulldogs’ last tournament run came to a halt when his shooting went stone-cold crazy.

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Guard: Stephon Marbury

School: Georgia Tech

Height: 6-1

Year: Fr.

Comment: Now we’re seeing what all the preseason hype was about.

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Guard: Darnell Burton

School: Cincinnati

Height: 6-2

Year: Jr.

Comment: How much do the Bearcats have left in the tank? This reserve is their go-to guy on the perimeter.

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WEST REGIONAL

Guard: Pertha Robinson

School: Georgia

Height: 6-1

Year: Sr.

Comment: Georgia didn’t make late-season push until he started to push the ball up court with authority.

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Guard: Lazarus Sims

School: Syracuse

Height: 6-2

Year: Sr.

Comment: The pipeline to John Wallace’s NBA dream. He shoots when all passing options are exhausted.

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Guard: Reggie Geary

School: Arizona

Height: 6-2

Year: Sr.

Comment: Once considered a defensive specialist, he has shifted his offensive game into high gear.

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Guard: Jacque Vaughn

School: Kansas

Height: 6-1

Year: Jr.

Comment: He’s not Mr. Big Shot like Allen or Marbury but gets his point across as a stellar passer and defender.

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EAST REGIONAL

Guard: Carmelo Travieso

School: Massachusetts

Height: 6-2

Year: Jr.

Comment: Call him Trey-vieso. He shot down UMass guard detractors with long-range accuracy.

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Guard: Kareem Reid

School: Arkansas

Height: 5-10

Year: Fr.

Comment: Not the cream of the freshman guard crop because of Marbury, but is just as dangerous in open court.

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Guard: Cory Carr

School: Texas Tech

Height: 6-4

Year: So.

Comment: Without his ability to make three-point shots, the Red Raiders would be on the NCAA scrap heap.

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Guard: Allen Iverson

School: Georgetown

Height: 6-0

Year: So.

Comment: Traffic controller John Thompson has cleared the runway for this jet.

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MIDWEST REGIONAL

Guard: Tony Delk

School: Kentucky

Height: 6-1

Year: Sr.

Comment: Leader of the Wildcat pack. There’s an NBA guard waiting to break out of the Rick Pitino mold.

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Guard: Andre Miller

School: Utah

Height: 6-3

Year: So.

Comment: Kentucky will try to floor him with full-court assault.

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Guard: DeJuan Wheat

School: Louisville

Height: 6-0

Year: Jr.

Comment: He’s been DeJuan who has carried the Cardinals to their Sweet 16 perch.

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Guard: Rusty LaRue

School: Wake Forest

Height: 6-2

Year: Sr.

Comment: Demon Deacons can rally around their quarterback as the opposition huddles around Tim Duncan.