Kelly Olynyk and the No. 1 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs were upset by the No. 9 Wichita State Shockers 76-70 in the third round of the NCAA tournament.
March Madness 2013: Kelly Olynyk scores 26 but Gonzaga falls
Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points in the team’s defeat at the hands of Wichita State, but struggled from the field against a more physical opponent.
Olynyk struggled with the physicality of Wichita State, but still found a way to impact the game. The center finished 8 of 20 from the field, but scored 26 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds, including six on the offensive end. He also shot 10-14 from the charity stripe, contributing despite his struggles from the field.
Olynyk is considered one of the more offensively skilled big men in the NBA draft. The seven-footer used a redshirt seasons to improve his strength and his low-post game, allowing him to become a more versatile scorer. Olynyk is also a skilled shooter, as he can catch-and-shoot off screens and can shoot three three-point shot as the trailer on a break.
The center is older than most of the draft class, so he is ceiling is lower than some of his other big men. He also is an average rebounder and a below-average defender, but his a high-motor and is athletic enough to make some improvements.
Currently, Olynyk is currently slotted in the mid-first round of the draft, with some mock drafts projecting him to be selected late in the lottery.
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