Atlanta Hawks: 6 Under-the-Radar Players in 2019 NCAA Tournament
By Dallin Duffy
Matisse Thybulle, G/F, Washington
Making the big dance for the first time since 2011, Washington has rode their star defender all season.
Thybulle is one of the most feared match ups in all the nation. He led the nation in both total steals and steals per game, averaging 3.4 in his 30 minutes a game this year. His 2.2 blocks per game average is insanely good for a 6-5 guard. The senior has won back-to-back Pac-12 defensive player of the year awards, as well as breaking Gary Payton’s all time steal record.
While strict defense is obviously his strong suit, he has a sneaky offensive game to boot. He’s actually down scoring wise this year, averaging 9.3 PPG as a senior compared to 10.5 and 11.2 in his previous two seasons, in similar minutes. Still, he’s over 30% from three and is a carrer 43% from the field.
As you see in the highlight above, he is gifted athletically and can finish with authority.
He thinks as himself as a sure-fire first round pick, but is still in the early-to-mid second round in most mocks. Thybulle can earn his way into an earlier pick with a good Tournament however.