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NCAA Tournament: Storylines For Every Sweet 16 Team

By Nathan Giese

Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates with fans after the game against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates with fans after the game against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma Sooners: How Many Buddy Buckets Will It Take?

Buddy Hield’s rise to stardom and elite status has been one of the better stories in college basketball this season. His scoring is sublime, his smile infectious and his Sooners fantastic.

But much like Iowa State as a team, there could and probably will come a time that relying on one player too much could finally be their undoing. Hield carried the Sooners with 37 points in their tight second round contest against VCU. Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard did combine for 32 points, but without Hield’s shooting in the second half, the Sooners are sitting at home right now.

We’ve seen these kind of runs in the NCAA tournament by individual players before, though. Connecticut’s two titles led by Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier come to mind. Russ Smith getting the job done for Louisville, as well. Tyus Jones for Duke last season, too. Guards have been known to lead their teams to the promised land. And Buddy is just as good as any of these players.

Next: NCAA Tournament Rewind: What The Heck Happened

Sometimes, though, relying on one guy to carry the load can be a team’s downfall. While Hield has done great things this year, whether or not he can bring home a Final Four or a national championship will be determined over the next two weeks.

Can Buddy get enough buckets to keep the Sooners going? Or is this the beginning of the end of another great story?