If South Dakota State is going to pull off a 14/3 upset of Baylor on Thursday, they'll need a huge game from their best player, 6'4 junior PG Nate Wolters, a fringe NBA prospect.
↵Before the season began, here's what Draft Express had to say about Wolters' game:
↵↵↵Physically, Wolters is a mixed bag when projecting him as a pro. At 6-foot-4 he has good size for the point and is solid enough to withstand some contact off the dribble. His length is also a positive, playing a big role in his above average rebounding numbers for his position. From there, however, things tend to tail off to a degree.
↵Wolters isn't always quick enough to consistently beat Summit League defenders off the dribble, let alone NBA caliber players, nor is he a particularly explosive leaper. He is able to create offense thanks to his shiftiness with the ball and ability to change speeds, but how this would translate playing against more physically gifted players is still a question mark.
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This season, Wolters averaged 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists a game on 42% shooting for the Jackrabbits.
↵He certainly sounds like the type of player who would struggle against aggressive man-to-man defense from AJ Walton and Pierre Jackson, but if Scott Drew stays in the 1-3-1 zone, he'll be playing right into Wolters' hands.