March Madness: Top Performers From East Region in Round of 32
By Nick Ziegler
Nigel Hayes
Going against the defending champions, Wisconsin had to play some of their best basketball to pull off the upset. It hasn’t been a great Senior season for forward Nigel Hayes, as consistency has been an issue. This season, Hayes averaged 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Along with Ethan Happ, Wisconsin certainly had an advantage down low against Villanova. Hayes was able to exploit his matchup throughout the game, as he totaled 19 points and eight rebounds. Of the eight rebounds, five were of them were on the offensive glass.
With the game on the line, Wisconsin drew up a play for Hayes to get the lead. Hayes was able to beat his man baseline for a nice reverse layup. Usually, Koenig is the man that Wisconsin turns to in clutch situations, but this time it was Hayes.
Having Hayes playing at a high level is important for Wisconsin. When he is playing well, Wisconsin is a hard team to beat. In the next round, Hayes will continue to be an important player for them. With Koenig and Happ both in foul trouble, Hayes did an excellent job stepping up for Wisconsin. After beating Villanova, Wisconsin should be a confident against any team in the tournament the rest of the way.