Georgia State, 15th seed
Georgia State won’t get past a second-seeded Cincinnati team that thrives on the defensive end, but they do have one player that’s worth watching from an NBA standpoint: D’Marcus Simonds. Regardless of whether or not he declares this season, Simonds is a first round talent who has flown under the radar in a smaller market.
The fact that this Panthers team is a 15th seed is somewhat surprising, but it gives us a chance to see Simonds go up against another NBA prospect (Jacob Evans) and an elite two-way squad. There are some question marks about Simonds’ shooting consistency, but he has the athleticism and scoring prowess needed to find an NBA niche.
He’s also an underrated passer, making impressive reads and throwing difficult passes that don’t normally occur in Sun Belt play. His game has its warts, but the talent is evident — even against what is normally subpar competition.
This could be his coming out party, and the Panthers might be the one 15th seed equipped to make some semblance of a push in the first week. I doubt they win, but Simonds is worth keeping an eye on.