It’s almost time for college basketball’s biggest stars to hit the dance floor and make their mark on March Madness.
This year’s NCAA Men’s Tournament field is loaded with star power from freshman standout Cameron Boozer at No. 1-seeded Duke to junior forward TJ Power at 14th-seeded Penn.
It’s a lot to know, but we’re here to sort through it all.
Here are the 68 names to know heading into the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
[MEN’S BRACKET: NCAA Tournament Bracket]
EAST REGION
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Duke ahead Cameron Boozer (12) reacts after making a shot and being fouled throughout the ACC Males’s basketball match. (Picture by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
He’s probably the most dominant participant in faculty 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 last 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 likely one of the high bucket-getters within the nation. Thornton has the flexibility to take over a recreation along with his lethal exterior taking pictures 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 Purple Storm are a harmful 5-seed, and Eijofor is a giant purpose why. He performs the sport in a throwback fashion and is instinctually gifted with the flexibility to complete sturdy across the basket. The 6-foot-9 senior large 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 Large Dance.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks handles the ball throughout the first half towards Texas Tech. (Picture by John E. Moore III/Getty Pictures)
Essentially the most perplexing participant within the sport, Peterson’s freshman marketing campaign has not gone as anticipated as a consequence of his lack of availability all through the season. When he’s at his finest, he seems 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 throughout the Large Dance. If it’s the model followers noticed within the Jayhawks’ regular-season finale towards Kansas State – 27 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists on 10-15 taking pictures from the ground in 29 minutes – it is a Kansas staff that would make a Ultimate 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 Large Dance? Louisville introduced that their star freshman guard shall be out for the Cardinals’ first-round recreation towards South Florida as a consequence of a again harm. 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 may want their standout freshman, who averages 18.2 factors per recreation and put up a 45-point efficiency on 10-16 taking pictures 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 to date this season. He has performed excellent towards good competitors, with arguably the most effective recreation of his season coming towards 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. (Picture by Gregory Shamus/Getty Pictures)
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 Large Dance. His means to get to the lane and create pictures for his teammates is second to none. He recorded the primary triple-double in Large Ten Event historical past with 12 factors, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a quarterfinal win over Rutgers.
Alex Karaban, UConn
Some of the beloved gamers in faculty 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 document and a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Event. He’s the guts and soul of a UConn staff that’s seeking to get again to school basketball’s greatest stage after successful back-to-back nationwide championships in 2023 and 2024.
Isaiah Evans, Duke
Evans has additionally been probably the most improved gamers in faculty basketball, going from 6.8 factors to 14.9 factors per recreation whereas taking pictures 39% from 3-point vary in ACC play. He’s a mismatch for smaller guards, standing at 6-foot-6 with the flexibility 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 staff, Reed is the participant who elevates this staff’s ceiling. When he’s at his finest, Dan Hurley’s group can play with any staff within the nation.
Jon Scheyer, Duke
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips presents Duke coach Jon Scheyer with the trophy throughout the ACC Males’s basketball match championship recreation. (Picture by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
He did the not possible — taking on 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 document 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 top coach at St. John’s is nothing wanting exceptional. After taking on 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 Large East regular-season and match titles. He has the Purple Storm enjoying in addition to any staff within the nation proper now, successful 19 of their final 20 video games heading into the NCAA Event.
Invoice Self, Kansas
This has been a tough 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 faculty basketball to win a number of NCAA Event championships for the reason that discipline 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 towards Rutgers. (Picture by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
The longest-tenured coach within the Large Ten, Izzo is a staple of the NCAA Event. He has guided the Spartans to twenty-eight consecutive appearances within the Large Dance — the longest energetic streak within the nation. Izzo has additionally taken Michigan State to eight Ultimate Fours, together with successful a nationwide championship in 2000 — the final time a Large Ten staff 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 match bubble in mid-February, Cronin’s staff 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 Large 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 staff in faculty basketball on the finish of the common season than the Florida Gators. Haugh is the engine that makes this Florida staff 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 towards Jayden Brewer of the Western Michigan Broncos. (Picture by Matthew Holst/Getty Pictures)
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-Large Ten honors. This Iowa staff performs at one of many slowest paces within the nation underneath first-year head coach Ben McCollum, which makes Stritz’s scoring numbers all of the extra spectacular.
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Tanner is the ground basic for a Vanderbilt staff 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 towards Ole Miss earlier this month was one of many high 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 match and lead McNeese on one other memorable March run.
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
An argument may be made that there hasn’t been a greater story in faculty basketball this season than the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Having made simply eight earlier NCAA Event appearances and by no means gained a recreation within the Large Dance, Sandfort has helped lead Nebraska to a 26-6 document to a No. 4 seed on this yr’s Large Dance. The 6-foot-7 junior ahead leads the Cornhuskers in scoring at 17.8 factors per recreation on 47% taking pictures from the ground and 40% from 3-point territory.
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
When star freshman Caleb Wilson went down with a season-ending harm, 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 pressure 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 towards Clemson within the ACC Event.
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Preventing Illini dribbles throughout the second half towards Nebraska. (Picture by Steven Branscombe/Getty Pictures)
One of many high breakout performers in faculty basketball this season, Wagler arrived at Illinois as a three-star prospect and shortly turned the staff’s go-to participant. The Large Ten Freshman of the Yr is averaging 17.9 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for a roster loaded with expertise from high to backside.
TJ Energy, Penn
The 6-foot-9 junior ahead put collectively one of many single-best performances in faculty 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 finally touchdown at Penn. Search for Energy to make his presence felt in a first-round matchup towards Illinois.
Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s
Murauskas, a junior ahead from Lithuania, has been the most effective participant all season for a Saint Mary’s staff that sits at 27-5 heading into the Large Dance. He averages 18.8 factors and seven.7 rebounds per recreation for the Gaels, who open up match play towards 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 towards Pacific again on Feb. 15.
Kingston Flemings, Houston
The Large 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 Ultimate 4 for a second consecutive yr, Flemings shall be a giant purpose 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. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures)
Chinyelu is arguably the most effective defensive large man in faculty 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-about by many to be the most effective younger coach within the sport, Golden is seeking to lead the Gators again to school 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 formidable 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 document and a No. 4 seed on this yr’s Large Dance, that would change this yr for Hoiberg and the Cornhuskers. A two-time Large Ten Coach of the Yr, Hoiberg owns a 110-114 document 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 document and 15-5 mark in Large Ten play. He’s 189-109 in 9 years as this system’s head coach, which incorporates two Large 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 staff reached the Elite Eight earlier than falling to eventual nationwide champion UConn.
Kelvin Sampson, Houston
He’s approaching 50 years within the faculty teaching career after starting his profession as a graduate assistant at Michigan State underneath 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 on as the top 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 towards the Purdue Boilermakers. (Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Pictures)
There isn’t a participant within the sport who presents extra positional versatility than Lendeborg. The Wolverines’ senior standout can guard all 5 positions, and there isn’t a weak spot to his recreation. Lendeborg averaged 14.6 factors and seven.2 rebounds per recreation whereas main the Wolverines to a Large Ten regular-season title. He was additionally named the Large 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 not less than 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 won’t 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 Purple Raiders handles the ball throughout the first half of a recreation towards TCU. (Picture by John E. Moore III/Getty Pictures)
After dropping All-American JT Toppin to a season-ending harm, 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 staff’s Large 12 Event loss to Iowa State. Nonetheless, Anderson seems to be good to go within the Large Dance, which is a big reduction for the Purple 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 faculty 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 taking pictures 51.2% from the sphere. He’s able to big-time performances, which Akron will want if they will pull off a 12-5 upset over Texas Tech.
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
One of many high bucket-getters in America, Philon powered the Crimson Tide to a 23-9 document and a No. 4 seed within the Large Dance by averaging near 22 factors per recreation on 51% taking pictures 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 underneath 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 exhibiting on 5-of-9 taking pictures 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 towards the Arkansas Razorbacks. (Picture by Wesley Hitt/Getty Pictures)
One of many high 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 flexibility to play a number of positions, Ament generally is 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 most effective participant on the staff that has been the most effective story in faculty basketball this season. Suder is averaging 14.6 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists whereas taking pictures 43% from 3-point vary for a Miami staff that completed the common season with an ideal 31-0 document.
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 staff’s final 9 video games and has helped information Virginia to a 29-5 mark and a No. 3 seed within the Large 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 staff, which enters the match with a 4-6 document of their final 10 video games.
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Joshua Jefferson #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones walks down the courtroom throughout the last minute of a loss to BYU. (Picture by Chris Gardner/Getty Pictures)
Iowa State has been among the many high groups within the nation all through your entire season, and Jefferson is a giant purpose 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 faculty 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 helpful participant for the Wolverines this season, it’s Johnson who might 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 large man has been probably the most improved gamers within the sport this season. After beginning solely 9 video games at UCLA final season, Mara has developed right into a dominant pressure down low for the Wolverines, averaging 11.6 factors, 6.9 rebounds and a pair of.6 blocks per recreation for a staff that ranks within the high 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 faculty basketball historical past in that class, at the moment taking pictures it at a 49.6% clip from downtown. If Momcilovic is hitting from past the arc, this Iowa State staff shall be powerful to beat.
Dusty Could, Michigan
Head coach Dusty Could of the Michigan Wolverines seems on throughout warmups earlier than a recreation towards Michigan State. (Picture by Rey Del Rio/Getty Pictures)
After a memorable six-year stretch at Florida Atlantic, which included main the Owls to a Ultimate 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 formidable 31-3 mark this season, which included a Large Ten regular-season title and a No. 1 seed within the Large 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 formidable 168-72 document in seven seasons, which incorporates six NCAA Event appearances, 4 Candy 16s, three Elite Eights and one Ultimate 4. He must navigate being with out one in every of his high gamers this postseason after junior guard Aden Holloway was arrested Monday morning on a felony drug cost.
Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Barnes is likely one of the most profitable coaches in faculty basketball historical past. His 858 profession wins at the moment 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 Large Dance this season, however the stress is on to have an excellent exhibiting on faculty 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 Large Dance each season since he took over. Otzelberger has posted a 122-52 document on the helm, which incorporates three straight 25-plus win seasons, a convention match 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) document a submit to social media after a recreation towards Kansas State. (Picture by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
The Wildcats function one in every of, if not the most effective backcourt in faculty basketball, and Burries is likely one of the essential the reason why. A five-star prospect out of San Bernardino, California, Burries made an instantaneous affect throughout his freshman marketing campaign, serving to information the Wildcats to a 32-2 document and a Large 12 regular-season and convention match title. He’s a pure scorer, placing up 20 factors or extra on 13 totally different events this season, together with a 21-point outing towards Houston within the Large 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 most effective 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 identify, which got here in a 94-60 win over Davidson again in late November. Collins will play a giant position if Utah State goes to get by Villanova within the first spherical.
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
The Badgers’ sharp-shooting guard can get sizzling right away, which might spell bother for Excessive Level, or doubtlessly Arkansas within the second spherical. This can be a Wisconsin staff 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 towards Illinois within the Large 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 high 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’ Large 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 Large Dance enjoying his finest 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 towards the Arizona Wildcats. (Picture by Chris Gardner/Getty Pictures)
There isn’t a higher pure scorer in faculty 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 pressure 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 staff to a formidable 30-3 mark and a No. 3 seed heading into the Large Dance. He’s the one energetic Division I participant who has totaled 2,000 factors and 1,000 rebounds in his faculty profession.
Malik Reneau, Miami
The previous Indiana large man has emerged as one of many high 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 large males in faculty basketball, combining size with explosive athleticism.
Mark Mitchell, Missouri
After spending the primary two years of his faculty profession at Duke, Mitchell has blossomed into one of many high 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 taking pictures 55.1% from the sphere. He’s contemporary off back-to-back 32-point video games towards Arkansas and Kentucky.
Braden Smith, Purdue
Smith is likely 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 nowadays. He has additionally performed unbelievable basketball for the Boilermakers, solely needing two assists to go former Duke star Bobby Hurley for probably the most in Division I historical past. Smith desires to complete his faculty profession with a bang, and he has the possibility to try this with the Ultimate 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 towards the Oklahoma State Cowboys. (Picture by Chris Coduto/Getty Pictures)
He’s the nearer for an Arizona staff that could be a well-liked 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 may have a giant 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. In reality, 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 likely one of the high coaches within the sport of faculty basketball, at the moment rating fifth on the NCAA Division I all-time winningest coaches checklist. In his second yr at Arkansas, Calipari helped information the Razorbacks to a 26-8 document and a No. 4 seed within the Large Dance. He led the Razorbacks to a 15-5 document in SEC play this season, which included a convention match 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 night time. Now, Miller’s staff faces a stiff check towards the nation’s main scorer, AJ Dybantsa, and the BYU Cougars.
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Some of the profitable energetic coaches in faculty basketball, Few has been the top coach at Gonzaga since 1999, posting a formidable 722-155 document. 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 towards the Northwestern Wildcats. (Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Pictures)
A five-time Large Ten Coach of the Yr, Painter is among the many most profitable head coaches within the sport. It will mark the seventeenth time he has guided the Boilermakers to the Large Dance in his 21 years on the helm. Painter has a 498-223 document throughout his time as Purdue’s head coach, which incorporates eight Candy 16 appearances, two Elite Eight appearances, one Ultimate 4 and one title recreation look.
