A run in the tourney often depends on the player off the bench that no one knows of having the career or debut game... I still remember freshman Novak draining threes against Missouri... a sleepy McKaskill in the Sweet 16 run in the early 90s.
Butler looks like the most likely candidate..., but he is on the radar and in the scouting reports...
No one else has played much to come in and have a signature game in the event of foul trouble or an off game from the starting five...
I think Acker is going to continue to hit big shots from here on out.
I don't think we'll have anyone new step up in the tourny, but Acker and Butler already have stepped it up a notch after James went down and I think they'll continue to do so. Butler's recent play has really raised the bar on what I hope MU gets out of him. A good matchup and he could be getting 15 and 7.
It's not whether Butler or Acker will step up - they have now both proved they can. It is McNeal (especially) and Matthews trusting them to come through. I think Matthews has done so already, but not sure McNeal has. As to the question, it has to be Butler.