Regional Final Weekend Recap of Top NBA Draft Prospects

2.) Karl-Anthony Towns-PF, Kentucky; Freshman. 13.0 ppg, 10-16 FGM-A, 3.5 rpg in 2 games.

Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Zach Auguste (30) guards a shot by Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) during the second half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Unlike Duke with Okafor, Kentucky needed every last bit of their blue chip big man this past weekend to preserve their undefeated season and National Title hopes. Oddly enough, they only really needed him for one of the two games and Towns’ statline showed accordingly.

Kentucky probably could have beaten their Sweet 16 opponent West Virginia with Towns serving as its primary point guard. The Wildcats obliterated the Mountaineers 78-39 and it wasn’t even that close. Foul trouble and lack of urgency had Towns on the bench for all but 13 minutes of this game and the freshman only scored one point. It is essentially impossible to take anything of note from this glorified scrimmage that landed Kentucky in the Elite Eight. If nothing else, it gave Towns the rest needed for him to turn in the offensive outburst of his career.

In Kentucky’s nail-biting two-point win over Notre Dame to clinch a spot in the Final Four, Towns scored a career-high 25 points on 10-13 shooting. Operating primarily out of the low post, Towns was unstoppable on the inside. Whenever it seemed like Kentucky needed a basket, they found a way to work the ball inside to Towns who was automatic around the rim. Towns also made five of his six free throw attempts and added a block and two steals.

After the game, coach John Calipari noted that Towns was not his normal menacing self on defense. Notre Dame gave Kentucky a legitimate scare and its ability to operate with ease offensively was a big reason why. Here’s what Calipari had to say about Towns’ overall effort:

"“He was unbelievable, and my staff was telling me, take him out, he’s not guarding him. I was like he’s the only guy scoring, I’ve got to leave him in. So I was trying to leave him — then he started taking himself out on defense, he was like, “take me out.” But, again, offensively, by the time this season winds down, I want people to look and say, wow, a big man, can make free throws, can score around the basket, can play pick and roll defense, not today but he can. Blocked shots, makes his free throws. That’s what you want, and I’ll tell you, he’s the greatest kid, he’s a great kid, really is.”"

Towns and the Wildcats will face another offensively-geared opponent in the Final Four next weekend when they tangle with Wisconsin. Towns will likely be forced to play more on the perimeter defensively and find a way to score against a pesky Badgers team coming off an extremely impressive win over Arizona. Unlike Jahlil Okafor, Towns probably doesn’t have to ‘star’ for Kentucky to win a National Championship. That being said, Notre Dame showed the Wildcats’ vulnerability to some extent. It’s possible that, with a blueprint provided on how to hang with Kentucky, Towns will have to continue to serve as its primary scoring option. Should that be the case, Towns may have a very real opportunity to entrench himself into the first overall pick conversation up until draft night.