Round of 64 vs. Marquette
nERD: 60.86
29 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks

The nation’s top player according to Sports-Reference.com’s BPM also made a strong case for best player of the opening weekend. Thornwell had 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in South Carolina’s upset win over Duke, and that isn’t even the game that got him on this list.

The senior is instead here for his work against Marquette in the first round, where he scored 29 points on 19 shots, while adding 7 offensive rebounds. His work on defense also helped hold the potent Golden Eagles offense to 102.2 points per 100 possessions, marking more than a 13-point drop off from their average in conference play.

Thanks in large part to his play this past weekend, Thornwell and South Carolina's other seniors' "farewell tour" will now continue at Madison Square Garden.