March Madness Factory of Sadness Tournament Championship

EAST REGION

1. Andrew Miller – Miller was one of the main reasons the Indians were as successful as they were throughout the playoffs last year. After coming to the Tribe at the trade deadline from the New York Yankees, the big lefty stepped right into the Indians bullpen and did whatever manager Terry Francona asked of him. The ALCS MVP routinely made hitters look like fools last season, and he is one of the best relievers in the majors.
2. Sam Hubbard – Originally paired with one of the best defensive lineman to ever come through Ohio State in Joey Bosa, Hubbard is a very important part to a very good defense. The Academic All-American is progressing nicely for the Buckeyes, as he finished toward the top of the heap in tackles and sacks last year. He may not be flashy, but Hubbard is a guy that will get the job done.
3. Corey Kluber – Kluber is one of the best pitchers in the American League, and he proves that year after year. After winning the Cy Young Award in 2014, he struggled in 2015, due primarily to a lack of run support. Last year was very similar to 2014, as Kluber finished third in Cy Young voting. He possesses a nasty arsenal of pitches, all of which helped him carry the Indians’ injured pitching staff in the playoffs last year.
4. J.R. Smith – J.R. Swoosh. After having one of the most heartfelt post-game speeches we have seen after Game 7 of the NBA Finals, we learned who Smith really is. He loves the city of Cleveland, and the city loves him right back. When healthy, Smith is one of the deadliest shooters in the game and one of the most fun players to watch in the NBA.
5. Jerome Baker – Baker finished his sophomore season last year as an All-Big-Ten honorable mention. He ended up finishing second on the team with 83 tackles and 9.5 tackles-for-loss. Now, with Raekwon McMillan gone, Baker will be expected to step into a big role for the OSU defense. Based on his performance last year, Baker should have no problem with that.
6. Michael Brantley – The man known as Dr. Smooth dealt with a shoulder injury last year, playing just 11 games, but 2017 is a new year. The Indians are taking every precaution necessary with the former MVP candidate so he comes back a threat like he was in 2014. When he is healthy, Brantley is one of the best hitters in the game and someone who can be clutch in big-time situations.
7. Marc Loving – Along with Jae’Sean Tate, Loving had a very successful season for the Buckeyes. Averaging over 12 points per game, Loving was the second leading scorer on the team. However, he was a senior this past season and has played his final game for the Buckeyes. The Toledo product was a very solid player for OSU over his four seasons.
8. Iman Shumpert – The man with the hair, Shump may be the best lockdown defender the Cavs have. Coming from the New York Knicks with J.R. Smith, Shump is a guy who has no problem stepping into the starting lineup or coming off of the bench. His three-point shooting has been far better than it has in his previous seasons in Cleveland, and he has managed to stay relatively healthy this year (knock on wood).