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Best March Madness performance from every current Memphis Grizzlies player

By Jacob Ellerbee

Memphis Grizzlies March Madness; INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Tyus Jones #5 of the Duke Blue Devils speaks during the post game press conference after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies March Madness; INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Tyus Jones #5 of the Duke Blue Devils speaks during the post game press conference after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies
Dillon Brooks March Madness, Memphis Grizzlies; ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 24: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Oregon Ducks reacts late in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils n the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at the Honda Center on March 24, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No 6. Xavier Tillman Sr., Michigan State

When: March 31, 2019
Game: Elite 8, Michigan State vs Duke

Grizzlies reserve big man Xavier Tillman Sr. had himself a game in the Elite 8 round of the 2019 March Madness tournament.

The Grand Rapids native recorded an efficient 9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a big win over blue blood power house Duke.

No 2. Michigan State upset No. 1 Duke 68-67 before succumbing to future Grizzlies teammate Jarrett Culver and Texas Tech in the Final Four.

Tillman was eventually selected with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

No 5. Dillon Brooks, Oregon

When: March 24, 2016
Game: Sweet 16, Oregon vs Duke

Dillon “The Villain was the same old tormentor that we’ve come to love and appreciate him for as a Memphis Grizzlies player.

His No. 1 Oregon Ducks defated No. 4 Duke 82-68. Brooks was electric, recording 22 points, 6 assist and 5 rebounds.

Brooks was such a pest, he got under the skin of legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who had some words for Brooks during the post-game handshake line.

Brooks unnecessarily threw up a three pointer while Duke had yielded to Oregon in the final seconds. Oregon was up 79-68 and Brooks shot a long three right before the buzzer and it went in to run up the score.

The Grizzlies would go on to acquire Brooks with the No. 45 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

No 4. Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech

When: March 22, 2019
Game: Round 1, Texas Tech vs Northern Kentucky

Reserve player Jarrett Culver, who has only shown flashes of the potential we saw during his March Madness performances, had a truly epic game in the opening round of the tournament.

Culver recorded a season-high 29 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists— coming pretty darn close to that ever-elusive collegiate triple double.

No. 3 Texas Tech easily defeated No. 14 Northern Kentucky 72-57. Culver went on to be his team’s leading scorer in four of his team’s six March Madness games in 2019.

The Red Raiders had a great run, defeating No. 2 Michigan, No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Michigan State before losing in the National Championship game vs. No. 1 Virginia.

Culver went on to become the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft.

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