Jones and Dent highlight South Region guard matchup

Kam Jones from Marquette and Donovan Dent from New Mexico will compete in an exciting NCAA Tournament game on Friday night. This matchup features two talented guards who are both key players for their respective teams. Marquette is the seventh seed, while New Mexico is the tenth seed. The game will take place in Cleveland as part of the South Region. Kam Jones had a standout season, averaging 18.9 points and 6.1 assists per game. He earned a spot on the AP All-America second team. On the other hand, Donovan Dent, who was named the Mountain West Player of the Year, averages 20.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. Marquette's coach, Shaka Smart, has highlighted Dent's impressive stats and the tough challenge he represents. Dent and Jones are not the only players to keep an eye on. Marquette's Stevie Mitchell will defend Dent, while Tru Washington of New Mexico will guard Jones. Dent anticipates a tough match, noting their opponents’ physical style of play. The first round of South Region games starts earlier in the day in Milwaukee, with Iowa State facing Lipscomb and Mississippi going up against North Carolina. Michigan State, the second seed, plays Bryant later in the evening in Cleveland. Michigan State's coach, Tom Izzo, recalled winning the national championship in Cleveland back in 2000 but noted that none of his current players were born then. Ole Miss will also play North Carolina, and they see similarities between North Carolina's fast-paced style and Alabama's approach. Ole Miss recently had a notable win against Alabama and hopes that experience will help them against North Carolina. Additionally, Lipscomb's Jacob Ognacevic looks forward to playing near his hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He has had an impressive season despite missing last year due to injury. Ognacevic plans to enter the transfer portal after the season, and he is eager to perform well in front of familiar faces.