It is virtually time for school basketball’s greatest stars to hit the dance ground and make their mark on March Insanity.
This yr’s NCAA Males’s Event subject is loaded with star energy from freshman standout Cameron Boozer at No. 1-seeded Duke to junior ahead TJ Energy at 14th-seeded Penn.
It is loads to know, however we’re right here to type via all of it.
Listed below are the 68 names to know heading into the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Event.
[MEN’S BRACKET: NCAA Tournament Bracket]
EAST REGION
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Duke ahead Cameron Boozer (12) reacts after making a shot and being fouled in the course of the ACC Males’s basketball event. (Photograph by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
He’s probably the most dominant participant in school basketball this season – full cease. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman standout is averaging 22.5 factors, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per recreation, all of which lead the No. 1-seeded Blue Devils. Boozer is the betting favourite to take house each the Wood and Naismith Awards and is the top-ranked participant in FOX Sports activities’ Casey Jacobsen’s ultimate Participant of the Yr Ladder. He has an opportunity to steer Duke to this system’s first nationwide championship in 11 years.
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Ohio State’s all-time main scorer is without doubt one of the prime bucket-getters within the nation. Thornton has the power to take over a recreation together with his lethal outdoors capturing and energy to dominate smaller guards. He’s one in every of simply 22 present power-conference gamers to play on the similar college all 4 years.
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
The Pink Storm are a harmful 5-seed, and Eijofor is an enormous cause why. He performs the sport in a throwback fashion and is instinctually gifted with the power to complete sturdy across the basket. The 6-foot-9 senior huge man leads St. John’s in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocks. Will probably be thrilling to see how far he can carry the Johnnies within the Huge Dance.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks handles the ball in the course of the first half in opposition to Texas Tech. (Photograph by John E. Moore III/Getty Photographs)
Probably the most perplexing participant within the sport, Peterson’s freshman marketing campaign has not gone as anticipated as a result of his lack of availability all through the season. When he’s at his greatest, he appears to be like like a future NBA All-Star. However there have been too many questions surrounding his play and availability to really feel assured about what model of Peterson goes to point out up in the course of the Huge Dance. If it’s the model followers noticed within the Jayhawks’ regular-season finale in opposition to Kansas State – 27 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists on 10-15 capturing from the ground in 29 minutes – it is a Kansas workforce that might make a Last 4 run.
Dominique Daniels Jr., Cal Baptist
The 5-foot-10 senior guard from Compton, California is the nation’s fifth main scorer, placing up 23.2 factors per contest. He has scored 30 or extra factors on seven events this season, together with an enormous 41-point outing within the Lancers’ WAC Event semifinal win over Utah Tech.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
How wholesome will Brown be for the Huge Dance? Louisville introduced that their star freshman guard might be out for the Cardinals’ first-round recreation in opposition to South Florida as a result of a again damage. His availability for a possible second-round recreation appears to be up within the air. If the Cardinals are going to make a run this March, they are going to want their standout freshman, who averages 18.2 factors per recreation and put up a 45-point efficiency on 10-16 capturing from 3-point vary in a regular-season win over NC State.
Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
Nelson adopted head coach Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State to South Florida and developed into the American Convention Participant of the Yr. The 6-foot-10 senior ahead is a double-double machine, recording 18 up to now this season. He has performed excellent in opposition to good competitors, with arguably the perfect recreation of his season coming in opposition to then-No. 16 Alabama, when he posted 25 factors and 12 rebounds in a 104-93 loss to the Crimson Tide.
Jeremy Fears, Michigan State
Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 of the Michigan State Spartans talks to a referee together with head coach Tom Izzo. (Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs)
One of many hardest gamers within the nation, Fears has loved a memorable redshirt sophomore marketing campaign. The Spartans’ do-it-all guard is averaging 15.7 factors per recreation and leads the nation in assists at 9.2 per contest. There have been a couple of questionable moments late within the season involving extracurricular exercise, however that should not take away from what a magical yr Tom Izzo’s level guard has had. Michigan State will go so far as Fears take them.
Donovan Dent, UCLA
No participant has improved extra all through the season than Dent, who averaged 16 factors and 11 assists per recreation throughout a seven-game stretch from Feb. 21-March 13 the place the Bruins went 6-1 and cemented their spot within the Huge Dance. His capacity to get to the lane and create pictures for his teammates is second to none. He recorded the primary triple-double in Huge Ten Event historical past with 12 factors, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a quarterfinal win over Rutgers.
Alex Karaban, UConn
One of the vital beloved gamers in school basketball, Karaban selected to forgo the NBA on a number of events to return to UConn. Now a senior, the 6-foot-8 ahead has helped lead the Huskies to a 29-5 report and a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Event. He’s the center and soul of a UConn workforce that’s seeking to get again to varsity basketball’s greatest stage after profitable back-to-back nationwide championships in 2023 and 2024.
Isaiah Evans, Duke
Evans has additionally been one of the vital improved gamers in school basketball, going from 6.8 factors to 14.9 factors per recreation whereas capturing 39% from 3-point vary in ACC play. He’s a mismatch for smaller guards, standing at 6-foot-6 with the power to attain in a wide range of methods.
Tarris Reed, UConn
The 6-foot-11 senior is having a profession yr, averaging 13.7 factors and eight.1 rebounds for the second-seeded Huskies. Whereas Karaban is the emotional chief of this UConn workforce, Reed is the participant who elevates this workforce’s ceiling. When he’s at his greatest, Dan Hurley’s group can play with any workforce within the nation.
Jon Scheyer, Duke
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips presents Duke coach Jon Scheyer with the trophy in the course of the ACC Males’s basketball event championship recreation. (Photograph by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
He did the inconceivable — taking up for a legend in Mike Krzyzewski and never permitting the Blue Devils to overlook a beat. Since turning into Duke’s head coach in 2022, he has compiled a 121–24 report and now has his sights set on main this system to its first nationwide title of his tenure.
Rick Pitino, St. John’s
What he’s achieved in simply his third season as the pinnacle coach at St. John’s is nothing in need of exceptional. After taking up a program that hadn’t gained greater than 21 video games in a season since again in 1998, Pitino has compiled a 78-24 mark in three years, which incorporates back-to-back Huge East regular-season and event titles. He has the Pink Storm enjoying in addition to any workforce within the nation proper now, profitable 19 of their final 20 video games heading into the NCAA Event.
Invoice Self, Kansas
This has been a difficult season for Self, who has needed to reply query after query about his star freshman Darryn Peterson and his well being. Nonetheless, Self has led the Jayhawks to a different NCAA Event look, this time as a No. 4 seed within the loaded East Area. Self is simply the seventh head coach in school basketball to win a number of NCAA Event championships because the subject expanded to 64 groups in 1985.
Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo walks out of the tunnel earlier than a recreation in opposition to Rutgers. (Photograph by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
The longest-tenured coach within the Huge Ten, Izzo is a staple of the NCAA Event. He has guided the Spartans to twenty-eight consecutive appearances within the Huge Dance — the longest energetic streak within the nation. Izzo has additionally taken Michigan State to eight Last Fours, together with profitable a nationwide championship in 2000 — the final time a Huge Ten workforce gained all of it.
Mick Cronin, UCLA
Cronin has drawn some headlines this season, however the fiery head coach — now in his seventh yr in Westwood — has helped flip the Bruins’ season round. After sitting at 17–9 and squarely on the event bubble in mid-February, Cronin’s workforce has gained six of its final eight, together with a trio of spectacular ranked wins over Illinois, Nebraska, and Michigan State.
Dan Hurley, UConn
He’s 194-74 in eight seasons as UConn’s head coach. He has two nationwide championships and has gained 23 or extra video games in 5 straight years. He’s by no means completed worse than third within the convention standings since UConn moved again to the Huge East forward of the 2020 season. If Dan Hurly is on the sideline, UConn has an opportunity to win all of it.
[NCAA ODDS: Latest Men’s March Madness Odds, Favorites]
SOUTH REGION
Thomas Haugh, Florida
There wasn’t a warmer workforce in school basketball on the finish of the common season than the Florida Gators. Haugh is the engine that makes this Florida workforce go, averaging 17.1 factors and 6.2 rebounds per recreation for the defending nationwide champs. He has reached double figures in 30 of the Gators’ 33 video games this season.
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz goes to the basket in opposition to Jayden Brewer of the Western Michigan Broncos. (Photograph by Matthew Holst/Getty Photographs)
A standout switch from Drake, Stirtz is a do-it-all guard who averages 20 factors and 4.5 assists per recreation for the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes. He has scored in double figures in all however two video games this season en path to incomes All-Huge Ten honors. This Iowa workforce performs at one of many slowest paces within the nation below first-year head coach Ben McCollum, which makes Stritz’s scoring numbers all of the extra spectacular.
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Tanner is the ground common for a Vanderbilt workforce that’s enjoying excellent basketball heading into the NCAA Event. He leads the Commodores in each scoring and assists, placing up 19.1 factors and 5.1 assists per recreation. Tanner’s 34-point, seven-assist, five-rebound outing in opposition to Ole Miss earlier this month was one of many prime particular person performances of the yr.
Larry Johnson, McNeese
Johnson leads the Cowboys in scoring and rebounding, placing up 17.5 factors and 5.5 boards per recreation this season. The redshirt freshman guard has an opportunity to make some noise on this yr’s event and lead McNeese on one other memorable March run.
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
An argument might be made that there hasn’t been a greater story in school basketball this season than the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Having made simply eight earlier NCAA Event appearances and by no means gained a recreation within the Huge Dance, Sandfort has helped lead Nebraska to a 26-6 report to a No. 4 seed on this yr’s Huge Dance. The 6-foot-7 junior ahead leads the Cornhuskers in scoring at 17.8 factors per recreation on 47% capturing from the ground and 40% from 3-point territory.
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
When star freshman Caleb Wilson went down with a season-ending damage, all eyes turned to the 7-foot junior. After spending his first two years at Arizona, Veesaar transferred to UNC this offseason and has been a power on each ends of the ground for the Tar Heels. He has scored in double digits in 10 straight video games, together with a 28-point, 17-rebound outing in opposition to Clemson within the ACC Event.
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Preventing Illini dribbles in the course of the second half in opposition to Nebraska. (Photograph by Steven Branscombe/Getty Photographs)
One of many prime breakout performers in school basketball this season, Wagler arrived at Illinois as a three-star prospect and rapidly turned the workforce’s go-to participant. The Huge Ten Freshman of the Yr is averaging 17.9 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for a roster loaded with expertise from prime to backside.
TJ Energy, Penn
The 6-foot-9 junior ahead put collectively one of many single-best performances in school basketball this season, scoring 44 factors and grabbing 14 rebounds within the Quakers’ win over Yale within the Ivy League Event championship recreation. He began his profession at Duke earlier than transferring to Virginia and ultimately touchdown at Penn. Search for Energy to make his presence felt in a first-round matchup in opposition to Illinois.
Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s
Murauskas, a junior ahead from Lithuania, has been the perfect participant all season for a Saint Mary’s workforce that sits at 27-5 heading into the Huge Dance. He averages 18.8 factors and seven.7 rebounds per recreation for the Gaels, who open up event play in opposition to Texas A&M. Murauskas has scored in double-digits in 30 of Saint Mary’s 32 video games this season, together with a 32-point, 15-rebound outburst in opposition to Pacific again on Feb. 15.
Kingston Flemings, Houston
The Huge 12 Convention featured a flurry of freshman standouts this season and Flemings was among the many better of the group. He’s the highest participant for the second-seeded Cougars, averaging 16.4 factors, 5.3 assists and three.9 rebounds per recreation. If Houston goes to get again to the Last 4 for a second consecutive yr, Flemings might be an enormous cause why.
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Rueben Chinyelu #9 of the Florida Gators reacts to a play within the third spherical of the 2026 SEC Males’s Basketball Event. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photographs)
Chinyelu is arguably the perfect defensive huge man in school basketball. The 6-foot-10, 265-pound junior anchors a Florida protection that ranks sixth within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity. He’s a stat-sheet stuffer, averaging 11.2 factors, 11.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per recreation for the No. 1-seeded Gators.
Todd Golden, Florida
Thought of by many to be the perfect younger coach within the sport, Golden is seeking to lead the Gators again to varsity basketball’s greatest stage after capturing this system’s third nationwide championship final yr. He’s 159-76 in 4 years in Gainesville, together with a powerful 16-2 mark in SEC play this season.
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska
Nebraska has by no means gained an NCAA Event recreation. After cruising to a 26-6 report and a No. 4 seed on this yr’s Huge Dance, that might change this yr for Hoiberg and the Cornhuskers. A two-time Huge Ten Coach of the Yr, Hoiberg owns a 110-114 report since being named Nebraska’s head coach forward of the 2019 season.
Brad Underwood, Illinois
This marked the seventh straight yr that Underwood has led the Illini to a 20-win marketing campaign, ending the common season with a 24-8 report and 15-5 mark in Huge Ten play. He’s 189-109 in 9 years as this system’s head coach, which incorporates two Huge Ten Event titles and one regular-season championship. Regardless of his regular-season success, Underwood has solely led the Illini previous the Candy 16 as soon as, which got here in 2024 when the workforce reached the Elite Eight earlier than falling to eventual nationwide champion UConn.
Kelvin Sampson, Houston
He’s approaching 50 years within the school teaching career after starting his profession as a graduate assistant at Michigan State below Jud Heathcote again in 1979. Now, 12 years into his fifth head teaching cease, Sampson has revived Houston’s program. He’s 327-90 since taking up as the pinnacle coach of the Cougars again in 2014. Sampson has led Houston to the Candy 16 or additional in every of the previous six NCAA Tournaments, together with a visit to the nationwide championship recreation final yr.
[MEN’S TOURNEY: 1 Thing To Know About Every Men’s Team]
MIDWEST REGION
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines dribbles in opposition to the Purdue Boilermakers. (Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
There isn’t a participant within the sport who provides extra positional versatility than Lendeborg. The Wolverines’ senior standout can guard all 5 positions, and there isn’t a weak point to his recreation. Lendeborg averaged 14.6 factors and seven.2 rebounds per recreation whereas main the Wolverines to a Huge Ten regular-season title. He was additionally named the Huge Ten Participant of the Yr, the primary Michigan participant to obtain that honor since Nik Stauskas again in 2014.
Robbie Avila, Saint Louis
The Billikens have seven gamers averaging at the very least 9 factors per recreation, led by A-10 Convention Participant of the Yr, Robbie Avila. The 6-10 senior is a stat-sheet stuffer, averaging 12.9 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per recreation. After beginning the season 24-1, Saint Louis has misplaced 4 of its final eight video games. This group may not be prepared for the massive stage, particularly with Avila coping with a sore foot.
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Christian Anderson #4 of the Texas Tech Pink Raiders handles the ball in the course of the first half of a recreation in opposition to TCU. (Photograph by John E. Moore III/Getty Photographs)
After shedding All-American JT Toppin to a season-ending damage, there was a concern that Anderson was the following Texas Tech star to go down after he misplaced his footing and limped to the sideline within the workforce’s Huge 12 Event loss to Iowa State. Nonetheless, Anderson seems to be good to go within the Huge Dance, which is a big reduction for the Pink Raiders. He’s averaging 18.9 factors per recreation and shelling out 7.6 assists, which ranks fourth within the nation.
Tavari Johnson, Akron
Johnson is a rarity in school basketball: a senior who has stayed at a Mid-Main program for 4 years. He has established himself as one of many premier mid-major scorers within the nation, averaging 20.1 factors per recreation whereas capturing 51.2% from the sector. He’s able to big-time performances, which Akron will want if they’ll pull off a 12-5 upset over Texas Tech.
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
One of many prime bucket-getters in America, Philon powered the Crimson Tide to a 23-9 report and a No. 4 seed within the Huge Dance by averaging near 22 factors per recreation on 51% capturing from the ground and 40% from 3-point territory. When Philon is on, he is as potent as any guard within the nation.
Cruz Davis, Hofstra
After stops at Iona and St. John’s, Davis has discovered his place at Hofstra below head coach Speedy Claxton. The 6-foot-3, Plano, Texas native is averaging 20.2 factors per recreation this season, which led all CAA gamers. Davis had a 30-point displaying on 5-of-9 capturing from 3-point vary in Hofstra’s CAA Event quarterfinal win over William & Mary.
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers on the courtroom throughout a recreation in opposition to the Arkansas Razorbacks. (Photograph by Wesley Hitt/Getty Photographs)
One of many prime recruits within the nation, Ament has had an up-and-down freshman yr for the Vols, however when he’s on his A-Sport, there aren’t many higher pure scorers within the sport. At 6-foot-10 with the power to play a number of positions, Ament could be a mismatch for opposing gamers. He has scored 22 or extra factors in 5 of the Vols’ final 11 video games.
Peter Suder, Miami (OH)
He’s the perfect participant on the workforce that has been the perfect story in school basketball this season. Suder is averaging 14.6 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists whereas capturing 43% from 3-point vary for a Miami workforce that completed the common season with an ideal 31-0 report.
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
The 6-foot-9, 238-pound freshman from Belgium has been distinctive for the Virginia Cavaliers this season. He has scored in double-digits in eight of the workforce’s final 9 video games and has helped information Virginia to a 29-5 mark and a No. 3 seed within the Huge Dance.
Otega Oweh, Kentucky
The Wildcats reportedly spent over $20 million on their roster this yr, which included retraining Oweh, the SEC’s preseason Participant of the Yr. The 6-foot-4 senior guard has averaged over 18 factors per recreation for Kentucky this season, however issues haven’t precisely gone accordingly to plan for Mark Pope’s workforce, which enters the event with a 4-6 report of their final 10 video games.
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Joshua Jefferson #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones walks down the courtroom in the course of the ultimate minute of a loss to BYU. (Photograph by Chris Gardner/Getty Photographs)
Iowa State has been among the many prime groups within the nation all through your entire season, and Jefferson is an enormous cause why. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior ahead averages 16.9 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per recreation for the second-seeded Cyclones. Each hardcore school hoops fan is aware of him by now, however he hasn’t taken off with informal followers but. That’s about to vary.
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Whereas Lendeborg was probably the most precious participant for the Wolverines this season, it’s Johnson who may need the very best ceiling. The 6-foot-9 switch from Illinois has been a stalwart on each side of the ball for No. 1-seeded Michigan. He has made 67% of his makes an attempt around the rim and has managed to carry opposing gamers to 46% on the identical makes an attempt.
Aday Mara, Michigan
The 7-foot-4 huge man has been one of the vital improved gamers within the sport this season. After beginning solely 9 video games at UCLA final season, Mara has developed right into a dominant power down low for the Wolverines, averaging 11.6 factors, 6.9 rebounds and a pair of.6 blocks per recreation for a workforce that ranks within the prime 10 nationally in each offensive and defensive effectivity.
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
He’s the highest 3-shooter within the nation and is on tempo to have one of many biggest single seasons in school basketball historical past in that class, at present capturing it at a 49.6% clip from downtown. If Momcilovic is hitting from past the arc, this Iowa State workforce might be robust to beat.
Dusty Could, Michigan
Head coach Dusty Could of the Michigan Wolverines appears to be like on throughout warmups earlier than a recreation in opposition to Michigan State. (Photograph by Rey Del Rio/Getty Photographs)
After a memorable six-year stretch at Florida Atlantic, which included main the Owls to a Last 4 in 2023, Could has been a revelation in his second season in Ann Arbor. The 49-year-old head coach led the Wolverines to a powerful 31-3 mark this season, which included a Huge Ten regular-season title and a No. 1 seed within the Huge Dance.
Nate Oats, Alabama
Oats has introduced this Alabama program again to nationwide relevance after arriving in Tuscaloosa forward of the 2019 season. He has posted a powerful 168-72 report in seven seasons, which incorporates six NCAA Event appearances, 4 Candy 16s, three Elite Eights and one Last 4. He must navigate being with out one in every of his prime gamers this postseason after junior guard Aden Holloway was arrested Monday morning on a felony drug cost.
Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Barnes is without doubt one of the most profitable coaches in school basketball historical past. His 858 profession wins at present ranks second amongst all energetic coaches, trailing solely Calipari. He has led the Volunteers to eight straight NCAA Event appearances, which incorporates 4 Candy 16 and two Elite Eights.
Mark Pope, Kentucky
Pope, who’s in his second season at Kentucky, has led the Wildcats again to the Huge Dance this season, however the strain is on to have displaying on school basketball’s greatest stage. He has helped information UK to a 21-13 mark and a No. 7 seed within the NCAA Event, however that’s not sufficient for this fan base. They demand success.
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
He has had immense success since arriving at Iowa State in 2021, guiding the Cyclones to the Huge Dance each season since he took over. Otzelberger has posted a 122-52 report on the helm, which incorporates three straight 25-plus win seasons, a convention event title and a pair of Candy 16 appearances.
[MEN’S TOURNEY: Expert Predictions and Analysis]
WEST REGION
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Arizona Wildcats ahead Koa Peat (10), ahead Ivan Kharchenkov (8) and guard Brayden Burries (5) report a publish to social media after a recreation in opposition to Kansas State. (Photograph by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
The Wildcats characteristic one in every of, if not the perfect backcourt in school basketball, and Burries is without doubt one of the primary the reason why. A five-star prospect out of San Bernardino, California, Burries made a direct impression throughout his freshman marketing campaign, serving to information the Wildcats to a 32-2 report and a Huge 12 regular-season and convention event title. He’s a pure scorer, placing up 20 factors or extra on 13 completely different events this season, together with a 21-point outing in opposition to Houston within the Huge 12 Event championship.
MJ Collins Jr., Utah State
Collis is at his third college in 4 years, however he’s ending his senior season with the perfect scoring numbers of his profession. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging a team-high 17.6 factors per recreation this season and has a 40-point outing to his title, which got here in a 94-60 win over Davidson again in late November. Collins will play an enormous position if Utah State goes to get by Villanova within the first spherical.
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
The Badgers’ sharp-shooting guard can get scorching right away, which might spell hassle for Excessive Level, or probably Arkansas within the second spherical. This can be a Wisconsin workforce that has wins over Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois (twice) this season. Boyd has scored 25-plus factors on eight separate events, together with a 38-point outburst in opposition to Illinois within the Huge Ten Event quarterfinals.
Terry Anderson, Excessive Level
An elite-level wing who leads the Panthers in scoring and rebounding, Anderson has established himself as one of many prime mid-major gamers within the nation. He has scored in double-digits in 9 straight video games, together with a 25-point, 12-rebound outing within the Panthers’ Huge South Event semifinal win over UNC Asheville.
Darius Acuff Jr, Arkansas
The SEC Participant of the Yr and AP first-team All-American rolls into the Huge Dance enjoying his greatest basketball of the yr, having scored 20 factors in 13 of his final 14 video games. He averaged 30.3 factors and seven.6 assists per recreation within the SEC Event, main the Razorbacks to a convention title. The NBA compassion to Stephon Marbury is spot on for this famous person freshman.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
AJ Dybantsa #3 of the Brigham Younger Cougars swings from the rim after dunking in opposition to the Arizona Wildcats. (Photograph by Chris Gardner/Getty Photographs)
There isn’t a higher pure scorer in school basketball than Dybantsa. Whereas the Cougars have misplaced 5 of their previous 9 getting into the NCAA Event, it is a time for the freshman phenom to step up and present why he’s worthy of the highest choose on this yr’s NBA Draft. He led the nation in scoring at 25.3 factors per recreation and topped the 30-point mark on seven separate events this season. That is Dybantsa’s time to shine.
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
The WAC Participant of the Yr has been a power for the Zags this season. Ike leads Gonzaga in each scoring (19.7 PPG) and rebounding (8.2 RPG) and has produced 14 double-doubles whereas main his workforce to a powerful 30-3 mark and a No. 3 seed heading into the Huge Dance. He’s the one energetic Division I participant who has totaled 2,000 factors and 1,000 rebounds in his school profession.
Malik Reneau, Miami
The previous Indiana huge man has emerged as one of many prime transfers within the sport this season. He’s averaging 18.8 factors and 6.6 rebounds per recreation en path to incomes first-team all-conference honors. He has recorded 9 double-doubles this season and has developed into one of many elite huge males in school basketball, combining size with explosive athleticism.
Mark Mitchell, Missouri
After spending the primary two years of his school profession at Duke, Mitchell has blossomed into one of many prime gamers in America since transferring to Missouri. Now in his second season at Mizzou, the 6-foot-9 wing is placing up 18.3 factors and 5.3 rebounds per recreation whereas capturing 55.1% from the sector. He’s recent off back-to-back 32-point video games in opposition to Arkansas and Kentucky.
Braden Smith, Purdue
Smith is without doubt one of the most well-respected gamers within the nation. He’s a senior who has spent all 4 years of his collegiate profession on the similar college, which is uncommon at the moment. He has additionally performed unimaginable basketball for the Boilermakers, solely needing two assists to cross former Duke star Bobby Hurley for probably the most in Division I historical past. Smith desires to complete his school profession with a bang, and he has the possibility to try this with the Last 4 happening in Indianapolis, which is 60 miles from Purdue’s campus.
Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Jaden Bradley #0 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after scoring a basket in opposition to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. (Photograph by Chris Coduto/Getty Photographs)
He’s the nearer for an Arizona workforce that may be a widespread choose to chop down the nets this season. Bradley averages 13.3 factors, 4.5 assists and three.6 rebounds per recreation for the No. 1-seeded Wildcats and makes his presence felt on each side of the ball. If Arizona goes to win this system’s first nationwide title since 1997, Bradley could have an enormous half in that.
Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
Lloyd, who’s in his fifth season at Arizona, has been nearly as good as any head coach within the sport. The truth is, his 144 wins in these 5 seasons is probably the most by any head coach in Division I historical past. Regardless of all of the success within the common season, Lloyd has but to steer the Wildcats previous the Candy 16.
John Calipari, Arkansas
Calipari is without doubt one of the prime coaches within the sport of faculty basketball, at present rating fifth on the NCAA Division I all-time winningest coaches listing. In his second yr at Arkansas, Calipari helped information the Razorbacks to a 26-8 report and a No. 4 seed within the Huge Dance. He led the Razorbacks to a 15-5 report in SEC play this season, which included a convention event title.
Sean Miller, Texas
Miller has the Longhorns again within the NCAA Event in his first yr on the helm. He helped information Texas to a 19-14 mark and a win over NC State in a first-four recreation on Tuesday evening. Now, Miller’s workforce faces a stiff check in opposition to the nation’s main scorer, AJ Dybantsa, and the BYU Cougars.
Mark Few, Gonzaga
One of the vital profitable energetic coaches in school basketball, Few has been the pinnacle coach at Gonzaga since 1999, posting a powerful 722-155 report. He’s a 14-time WCC Coach of the Yr and two-time Naismith Coach of the Yr, main the Bulldogs to the NCAA Event each season he’s been on the helm.
Matt Painter, Purdue
Purdue head coach Matt Painter high-fives Braden Smith in opposition to the Northwestern Wildcats. (Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
A five-time Huge Ten Coach of the Yr, Painter is among the many most profitable head coaches within the sport. This may mark the seventeenth time he has guided the Boilermakers to the Huge Dance in his 21 years on the helm. Painter has a 498-223 report throughout his time as Purdue’s head coach, which incorporates eight Candy 16 appearances, two Elite Eight appearances, one Last 4 and one title recreation look.
