March Madness: Top 100 players that will decide the 2018 NCAA Tournament

The 2018 NCAA Tournament is starting up. Who are the players that will ultimately decide it’s outcome?

March Madness has been in full swing since the conference tournaments have been underway. But now that Selection Sunday is over and done with, it’s time to turn our focus to the 68 teams left, more importantly – the key players.

We all know the names of the blue bloods that we’ve been watching all year-long on the Dukes, Kentucky’s and Michigan States of the world, but March is also time for the no-name heroes to come out of nowhere to steal the show.

Assuming that each team has around 12 scholarship players, there are around 850 players that will be eligible to participate in this year’s event. So I decided to do a rankings list for the top players.

Now here’s the problem. I didn’t want to do a normal rankings of the “top players”, because just the Selection Committee has been trending, it would’ve been completely unfair to the mid-majors guys, who very well could be as good as their power conference counterparts.

Also, based solely on talent I could include Duke’s bench players on this list over other team’s starters. Besides, I wanted to include all 68 teams, no matter how small or irrelevant they may seem.

So here’s how I did it. It’s a top-100 list of players that will decide this tournament. Meaning that what’s the likelihood that they’ll have an impact. Mid-major players who could take their team on a run will be ranked higher that those who are likely one-and-dones.

Power conference players who are talented, but doesn’t have to play great for their team to win will be docked a bit. Those who must play great for their team to advance will be placed higher.

These rankings aren’t a prediction of how team’s will perform, but rather the impact they’ll have on this tournament. Hope I made it as clear as possible so that people aren’t too confused. Everyone will be listed with their bio and stats, with a little commentary on them as well.

Each team is represented, so see where the player on your favorite squad is, with the 100 players that will decide the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

JR Ed Polite Jr. – Forward, Radford Highlanders

2017-18 stats: 13.5 ppg 7.7 rpg 1.4 apg

JR Rickey McGill – Guard, Iona Gaels

2017-17 stats: 13.5 ppg 4.1 rpg 4.6 apg

SR Wes Clark – Guard, Buffalo Bulls

2017-18 stats: 14.6 ppg 3.5 rpg 5.3 apg

JR Raasean Davis – Forward, North Carolina Central Eagles

2017-18 stats: 15.0 ppg 8.0 rpg 0.4 apg

JR Francis Alonso – Guard, UNC Greensboro Spartans

2017-18 stats: 15.6 ppg 2.4 rpg 3.0 apg

When it comes to the amount impact players will make, these guys are the least likely. And it’s not a diss to their individual talent, but rather the balance the teams these guys play for.

Iona and Buffalo have several double-digit players, while Radford plays more of a slow-paced game. That doesn’t mean any of these first five players aren’t capable of having big games.

Clark had 26 in the MAC title game against Toledo, Alonso dropped 31 points at Wake Forest, and McGill produced a career-high 40 points in the regular-season finale at Rider.

For their teams to have any shot at an upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, they’ll have to have similar huge games. Anything is certainly possible, and they have good enough teammates to help carry the load, but of course, the odds of that happening are pretty slim.

FR Loudon Love – Forward, Wright State Raiders

2017-18 stats: 12.9 ppg 9.8 rpg 1.1 apg

SO AJ Brodeur – Forward, Penn Quakers

2017-18 stats: 13.1 ppg 7.2 rpg 2.5 apg

JR Kyle Allman – Guard, Cal State Fullerton Titans

2017-18 stats: 19.4 ppg 3.4 rpg 2.4 apg

SR Theo Pinson – Guard, North Carolina Tar Heels

2017-18 stats: 10.3 ppg 6.4 rpg 4.8 apg

JR Ahmaad Rorie – Guard, Montana Grizzlies

2017-18 stats: 17.2 ppg 3.8 rpg 3.7 apg

Pinson was a late addition, based off of his performance in the ACC Tournament. If the top two scorers have an off day, it’s the champion guard who’ll have to step up and fill that void.

As for the others, they’re part of teams who have a shot at pulling off the upset. Even Penn, whose 16 seed is more due to how down the Ivy League was as a whole rather than how good the Quaker themselves are.

Guys like Rorie and Allman have shown the capability to put up great numbers and could have a big night in the first round.

As for the young Love, he’s going to be a nightmare in the Horizon, particularly on the boards. This will be a nice introduction on the national stage for the freshman, intent on this being the first of a few appearances.

SR Jairus Lyles – Guard, UBMC Retrievers

2017-18 stats: 20.2 ppg 5.6 rpg 3.5 apg

JR Terance Mann – Wing, Florida State Seminoles

2017-18 stats: 13.2 ppg 5.7 rpg 2.7 apg

He started off the regular season well, with several 20+ point games. But a couple of things happened – more Seminoles players stepped up and created more balance and Mann taking a step back on offense.

JR Shannon Bouges – Guard, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

2017-18 stats: 15.4 ppg 2.4 rpg 1.4 apg

JR Jacob Evans – Guard, Cincinnati Bearcats

2017-18 stats: 12.9 ppg 4.6 rpg 3.2 apg

The lead scorer for the Bearcats, Evans is the prototype of a “3-D” player, shooting over 40% from deep while shutting down the opponent’s best offensive guard. Because of how balanced Cincinnati is, it’s hard for any one player to score a lot.

But Evans still found a way to do so, including scoring 15+ on 14 different occasions. His season-high of 24 came in a win over Mississippi State. For the Bearcats to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, he’ll have to be that 20+ point guy at least a couple of times.

FR Jaren Jackson Jr. – Forward, Michigan State Spartans

2017-18 stats: 11.3 ppg 5.8 rpg 1.2 apg

It’s a bit weird to see these power conference players here, but each is part of very deep teams that don’t necessarily need them to have great games to win.Doesn’t mean their not important, but can afford to be off, where others can’t.

JR Jarell Brantley – Forward, College of Charleston Cougars

2017-18 stats: 17.0 ppg 7.1 rpg 1.7 apg

SO Grant Riller – Guard, College of Charleston Cougars

2017-18 stats: 18.7 ppg 2.7 rpg 2.1 apg

SR Joe Chealey – Guard, College of Charleston Cougars

2017-18 stats: 18.5 ppg 4.7 rpg 3.6 apg

JR Joel Hernandez – Guard, LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds

2017-18 stats: 20.9 ppg 5.9 rpg 2.6 apg

SO Donte DiVincenzo – Guard, Villanova Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 13.1 ppg 4.6 rpg 3.4 apg

Only two teams have three players on this list – Duke, and College of Charleston. I had no choice with the Cougars, the only team in the country who has three players averaging over 17.0 ppg for the season.

The trio supplies most of the offense, combining to score 70 of the team’s 83 points in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title game over Northeastern.

DiVencenzo makes the list as the only primary sixth man. But considering that he plays starter’s minutes and has starter’s stats to show for it, the sixth man had to be included.

Hernandez might not have the teammates with the same scoring capabilities as him, but he’s been going on an individual tear, averaging 24.3 ppg in his last 11 games. The fifth-year senior dropped 32 to win the Northeast Title game and looks to keep the Blackbirds alive in March.

FR Zhaire Smith – Wing, Texas Tech Red Raiders

2017-18 stats: 11.1 ppg 4.6 rpg 1.6 apg

Almost the exact same player as Culver, Smith has been another instant impact player for the Red Raiders. He plays more of the forward role for the team, based on his ability to guard bigger players while exploiting them on the other hand with his ability to shoot from deep.

His impact has been particularly important, after losing another Smith in Zach Smith. The senior was supposed to be the full-time starter but has been injury plagued throughout the year. But whether it’s been by starting, or being the team’s sixth man the younger Smith has played an integral part in making Texas Tech a viable contender come March.

FR Jarrett Culver – Wing, Texas Tech Red Raiders

2017-18 stats: 11.7 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.7 apg

A big unexpected surprise for the Red Raiders, the versatile freshman has played very well. He’s one of the best defenders in the Big 12, while still being one of the top scorers on the team.

Culver is a 40%+ shooter from deep and has gone for at least 20 several times. He’s still a freshman, so inconsistencies are going to happen, but for him, that’s not been a big problem.

JR CJ Burks – Guard, Marshall Thundering Herd

2017-18 stats: 20.5 ppg 4.1 rpg 3.1 apg

SO D’Marcus Simonds – Guard, Georgia State Panthers

2017-18 stats: 20.9 ppg 5.8 rpg 4.5 apg

SR Zach Lofton – Guard, New Mexico State Aggies

2017-18 stats: 19.7 ppg 5.1 rpg 1.7 apg

SR Vladimir Brodziansky – Forward, TCU Horned Frogs

2017-18 stats: 15.1 ppg 5.1 rpg 1.2 apg

A crucial piece in head coach Jamie Dixon’s talent rebuild, he chooses the Horned Frogs over Gonzaga. It’s clear why he was so coveted, as Brodziansky fits the mold of the modern day forward.

After being more of a role player, the senior has looked comfortable as the lead scorer, and in certain games carried TCU to some big conference wins. His consistency has improved greatly, almost always going to be around 15 points in a game. Slightly concerned about his defense against more physical bigs, but the hope with him is that he can exploit them on the other end.

SR Matt Mobley – Guard, Saint Bonaventure Bonnies

2017-18 stats:18.5 ppg 5.0 rpg 2.5 apg

SR Jaylen Barford – Guard, Arkansas Razorbacks

2017-18 stats: 18.0 ppg 4.0 rpg 2.6 apg

The Junior College transfer has made a huge impact on the Hogs, with this year becoming an All-SEC talent. He leads the team in scoring and has had some of his best games against the top teams.

In the two games versus Florida, Barford averaged 27.5 ppg. He also had one of his two double-doubles in a 20 point, 10 rebound game against Auburn. An area where he’s really developed his game has been at the three-point line, where he shoots a robust 43%. Time will tell if he has another quality tournament.

SR JP Macura – Guard, Xavier Musketeers

2017-18 stats: 12.2 ppg 4.4 rpg 3.0 apg

SR Devon Hall – Wing, Virginia Cavaliers

2017-18 stats: 12.0 ppg 4.3 rpg 3.2 apg

SO Killian Tillie – Forward, Gonzaga Bulldogs

2017-18 stats: 13.4 ppg 6.0 rpg 1.7 apg

SR Malik Pope – Forward, San Diego State Aztecs

2017-18 stats: 12.9 ppg 6.6 rpg 1.2 apg

JR Jalen Hudson – Guard, Florida Gators

2017-18 stats: 15.3 ppg 3.9 rpg 1.0 apg

The former Virginia Tech Hokie never showed this at his former stop, the sharp shooting touch that allowed the Gators to reach the top-five in the polls. His masterful 35 points on 8/12 shooting from three-point range (with a hand in his face many times) are still one of the best single-game performances of the 2017-18 season.

Hudson has remained a solid shooting, going for 40% from deep, although as a guard, it’s concerning that he has 32 total assists on the season, in 32 total games. When he gets the ball, it’s likely going up.

JR Rodney Bullock – Forward, Providence Friars

2017-18 stats: 14.0 ppg 5.8 rpg 1.2 apg

SR Thomas Welsh – Center, UCLA Bruins

2017-18 stats: 13.0 ppg 10.7 rpg 1.4 apg

The growth of Welsh over his seasons as a Bruin has been great to watch. He became arguably the best offensive player in the Pac-12, ranked No. 1 in offensive rating.

But the detractors were out there, saying that he was only good because of Lonzo Ball and others. But this season shattered those thoughts, placing fourth in league offensive rating while being the lone true post threat.

The most impressive thing might be his vastly improved defense, which went from a clear weakness to now a strength. He’s ranked in the top-10 in both defensive rating and win shares. Welsh was a punching bag for some fans at first, now he’s a favorite.

SO Demontrae Jefferson – Guard, Texas Southern Tigers

2017-18 stats: 23.4 ppg 3,0 rpg 4.5 apg

JR Garrison Mathews – Guard, Lipscomb Bison

2017-18 stats: 22.1 ppg 5.5 rpg 1.7 apg

The definition of “clutch” the top scorer in the Atlantic Sun Conference put on a show in the tournament finals against the favorite Florida Gulf Coast, dropping 33 points to take his team to the Big Dance.

Thing is, that 33 wasn’t even his biggest night on offense. In a win over conference foe Kennesaw State, Mathews had a career-high 43 points, to go along with 13 rebounds. He can certainly grab the boards at just 6’5, with a few double-double games. He’s the kind of player that will keep Lipscomb in their first-round game.

SR Peyton Aldridge – Guard, Davidson Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 21.5 ppg 7.8 rpg 2.5 apg

JR Dean Wade – Forward, Kansas State Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 16.5 ppg 6.3 rpg 2.8 apg

When Wade arrived as a freshman at Kansas State, he was arguably the best player on the team. In both of his first couple of seasons, he showed flashes of greatness but was never consistent with it.

That changed completely this year, bringing his average up seven points per game and scoring in double figures in every game in the Big 12. He had a six-game stretch of at least 20 points, with the team winning four of those games.

The talent has been realized and considering that the senior guards will be leaving after this season, Wade will be a candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year.

JR Justin Robinson – Guard, Virginia Tech Hokies

2017-18 stats: 13.8 ppg 2.8 rpg 5.6 apg

SR Desi Rodriguez – Forward, Seton Hall Pirates

2017-18 stats: 17.8 ppg 4.9 rpg 2.1 apg

FR Michael Porter Jr. – Forward, Missouri Tigers

2017-18 stats (2 games): 7.0 ppg 5.0 rpg 0.5 apg

There was no harder spot for me to decide than where to put the phenom high school prospect, who has played a grand total of 25 minutes this season. But credit to him, for actually suiting up considering that he was at worst, a top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

From a talent perspective, Porter Jr. is easily one of the best players, and in his first game versus Georgia showed flashes. The Tigers clearly allowed him to have the ball – taking 17 shots while making five of them. But clearly, there need to be some practices with him and his teammates. If it somehow clicks, top teams should be frightened.

JR Jordan Caroline – Forward, Nevada Wolf Pack

2017-18 stats: 17.9 ppg 8.8 rpg 2.1 apg

SO Omer Yurtseven – Center, NC State Wolfpack

2017-18 stats: 13.8 ppg 6.5 rpg 0.5 apg

He’s not the lead scorer for NC State but has had the biggest impact on the quality wins for the team. In the victory over Duke, the Turkish center had 29 points to lead all scorers. Then came North Carolina a couple of weeks later, where he finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

It’s been a big turnaround for Yurtseven, who was proclaimed a “bust” after a poor first season. But under new coaching and playing style, he’s starting to become that first-round pick draft experts believed he could be at the beginning.

JR Clayton Custer – Guard Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

2017-18 stats: 13.4 ppg 2.3 rpg 4.3 apg

SR Jonathan Stark – Guard, Murray State Racers

2017-18 stats: 21.8 ppg 2.3 rpg 3.9 apg

SO Rui Hachimura – Forward, Gonzaga Bulldogs

2017-18 stats: 11.3 ppg 4.6 rpg 0.7 apg

SR Marcus Foster – Guard, Creighton Bluejays

2017-18 stats: 20.3 ppg 3.9 rpg 2.7 apg

From a knucklehead at Kansas State to a reliable senior leader at Creighton, Foster has continued the Bluejays stay towards relevancy in the Big East.

Despite losing a point guard that averaged eight assists a night a year ago, and a double-digit scorer midway through this season, Foster has allowed the Bluejays to go through Selection Sunday without missing an ounce of sleep.

He 23 points in the wins over UCLA and Butler, as well as dropping 28 to beat Villanova, are examples of what the sharpshooter is capable of doing. There’s not much discussion about Creighton as a second-weekend team, but Foster is more than capable of doing so.

SO Dewan Huell – Forward, Miami Hurricanes

2017-18 stats: 11.4 ppg 6.6 rpg 0.4 apg

SR Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk – Forward, Kansas Jayhawks

2017-18 stats: 15.1 ppg 4.0 rpg 2.6 apg

After arriving at the campus as literally a kid, the Ukraine import has grown into a full grown man, becoming the best pure scorer on the current team. In some of the biggest wins of the season, the senior showed up big, including 21 points in the clinching win over Texas Tech for the regular season title.

Now he’s had some games where he’s disappeared and can go quietly in games. But the 45% shooter from three-point range could shoot the Jayhawks into the next rounds.

FR Kevin Knox – Wing, Kentucky Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 15.6 ppg 5.3 rpg 1.4 apg

When Kentucky was going through their rough stretches that caused them to go unranked, it was Knox that still played well. This is the youngest team in the country, so peaks and valleys are expected.

But Knox avoided that for the most part and played his best games against the best competition. Against Kansas in just the third game of the season, he led the Wildcats with 20 points and seven rebounds. His best performance came in the comeback win over West Virginia, scoring a career-high 34 points.

Knox is still not the greatest three-point shooter in the world but has increased his average from under 30% to a respectable 35% now. He has to play well for Kentucky to advance far.

JR Barry Brown – Guard, Kansas State Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 16.0 ppg 3.1 rpg 3.4 apg

He was named to the Second-team All-Big 12 but in terms of sheer importance, there were few more valuable. When the starting point guard for the Wildcats went down, Brown took over as the primary ball handler and scoring, including dropping a career-high 38 points against Oklahoma State.

There was a rough patch in the middle of conference play but rebounded towards the end to average 20.7 ppg in a six-game span. Kansas State lacked a clear star headed into the season, but he along with Wade stepped up big-time.

FR Wendell Carter Jr. – Duke Blue Devils

2017-18 stats: 13.8 ppg 9.3 rpg 2.1 apg

If it wasn’t for Marvin Bagley, this freshman has been quietly nearly as good. Considering that he doesn’t get nearly the same amount of touches, Carter has put up some efficient numbers for Duke. He’s shooting over 56% from the field, 46% from three-point range and is a proficient free throw taker.

When Bagley was out against Michigan State and in those two weeks later in the season, Carter was a double-double machine. It would’ve been nice to see what he could’ve done on his own, but he’ll be gone to the NBA as a likely lottery pick.

JR Jon Elmore – Guard, Marshall Thundering Herd

2017-18 stats: 22.8 ppg 6.0 rpg 6.9 apg

The only player in the country to have anaverage stat line of at least 20 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 6.0 apg, Elmore is possibly the least talked about star in the country. He’s already got a couple of triple-doubles on the season, with several close calls on well.

The Herd star continued his great play in the Conference USA Tournament, where he had 27 points in the ticket clinching bid against Western Kentucky, a team he struggled against in the previous matchups.

Marshall has a shot in the Big Dance, if teams aren’t able to take the ball out of Elmore’s hands. But another eye-popping stat line is highly possibly with this player.

JR Rob Gray Jr. – Guard, Houston Cougars

2017-18 stats: 18.5 ppg 3.3 rpg 4.5 apg

After losing a First-team All-AAC player on his team, Gray has become the lead distributor for Houston, all while finishing second in the conference in scoring. He started out as good a scorer possibly can to open the season, dropping 37 against Drexel.

Just a few games ago, he posted a career-high 11 assists in a win over East Carolina. His only issue is that he can struggle against quality defenses, combining to shoot 7/28 in the two losses to Cincinnati in the regular season. He’ll need so help to advance, but a ton of credit goes to him to take them this far.

SR Jaylen Adams – Guard, St. Bonaventure Bonnies

2017-18 stats: 19.8 ppg 3.6 rpg 5.4 apg

One of the most explosive scorers in the country, Adams was the first D-1 player to have back-to-back 40 games in a while. He’s been dogged by injuries to start the season, but his return sparked a seven-game winning streak, including wins over Buffalo, Vermont, and Syracuse.

In the career-high 44 point game against St. Louis, Adams went 10/13 from three-point range. He has 75 made threes on the season despite missing a month’s of action and shoots it at a 46% clip. If the Bonnies goe on another A-10 Cinderella run, it’ll be off quality games in Adam’s final times for this team.

SR Grayson Allen – Guard, Duke Blue Devils

2017-18 stats: 15.7 ppg 3.5 rpg 4.5 apg

If this was the sophomore Grayson Allen, he’d be much higher on this list. Even the junior version would be better. But this season has been a letdown numbers-wise, especially when playing alongside Marvin Bagley III.

Heis best games came when Bagley wasn’t around, including 37 points to beat Michigan State in the Champion’s Classic. Then when the All-American center went out for a couple of weeks, Allen averaged over 20 ppg while leading Duke to a 4-0 record.

The two have been playing well together as of late, and it’s important that the senior leader has a great March to cement his legacy as a Blue Devil.

SR Tra Holder – Guard, Arizona State Sun Devils

2017-18 stats: 18.5 ppg 4.1 rpg 3.4 apg

The Sun Devils barely made it into the NCAA Tounrament, with non-conference wins over Kansas and Xavier the main reasons. Those were the games that the senior shined the most in, dropping 40 points to beat the Musketeers and 29 to take down the Jayhawks on the road.

But Holder has been a quality scorer for Arizona State all season, part of a senior trio that carried the team to a No. 2 ranking right before Pac-12 play. He’s played great against the top teams, so Holder just might do it again this week.

SO Sagaba Konate – Center, West Virginia Mountaineers

2017-18 stats: 10.8 ppg 7.6 rpg 0.6 apg

After coming off the bench as a pure role player, Konate has been right beside Jevon Carter as the key Mountaineer. It might be the greatest compliment for a player’s defense to say that it’s a tossup as to who should be the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year between the two.

The sophomore is one of the top shot blockers in the country, with the example of those five mega blocks in the first half against Kansas. He was one block shy of a triple-double against Baylor, and has an improving offense that can surprise some. If he can stay out of foul trouble, he’ll be a major factor for West Virginia.

JR Marcquise Reed – Guard, Clemson Tigers

2017-18 stats: 15.8 ppg 4.6 rpg 3.4 apg

Once the second-leading scorer for Clemson went down with a season-ending knee injury, Reed took over even more of the scoring load. He had several 20+ games, including a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds versus Virginia Tech.

Even with the injury, the Tigers are still a balanced team. But in order for them to make any kind of run in the NCAA Tournament, it’ll be up to Reed to carry them on the offensive end. The other players tend to be inconsistent, an area Reed hasn’t struggled with much this season.

JR Tyler Davis – Center, Texas A&M Aggies

2017-18 stats: 14.5 ppg 8.8 rpg 1.3 apg

On a team that was wildly inconsistent up and down the roster, Davis was the closest thing to a sure bet for the Aggies. He’s capable of big games, including a 25 point 11 rebound game against Mississippi State, and 20 and 12 in a win over Ole Miss.

He will have games where he’s just completely out of it, like scoring seven points in a loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament. A quiet game by him and Texas A&M will be going home. But from a pure talent perspective, few centers are as skilled as him.

SR Chris Chiozza – Guard, Florida Gators

2017-18 stats: 11.2 ppg 4.4 rpg 6.1 apg

His profile was never high this season than when he had a career-high 26 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in the double-overtime thriller against Gonzaga in the PK80 Invitational.

Chiozza and the Gators have been quiet after that losing streak took away their momentum, but led by the speedy point guard Florida was able to win the team’s first four games in conference play, and solidifying themselves for an NCAA bid. We saw his heroics in last season’s Elite Eight run, so more fireworks from him isn’t unexpected.

SR Jemerrio Jones – Forward, New Mexico State Aggies

2017-18 stats: 11.0 ppg 13.2 rpg 3.1 apg

Despite being listed at 6’5 and well under 200 pounds, the JUCO transfer was second in the country in rebounding. He had 20 double-doubles on the season and for three games in a row had 20 total rebound games.

When New Mexico State dropped a couple of games, there were questions about whether the Aggies would return to the NCAA Tournament. But Jones was having none of it, averaging over 18 rpg in the WAC Tournament, and had 17 points and 18 boards in the title game victory over Grand Canyon.

One thing he might want to avoid is shooting outside of the paint, where he is 4/42 on the season. But few players in the nation has the energy and toughest this season has, which is why he crashes the boards so well.

SO Tyus Battle – Guard, Syracuse Orange

2017-18 stats: 19.8 ppg 3.1 rpg 1.9 apg

Battle has done something that is basically impossible to do – stay on the court longer than the referees themselves. He’s averaging over 40 mpg in conference play (thanks to a 50 minute game versus Florida State) and leads the country in minutes.

What the sophomore has done has been one of the most impressive feats of the season, when you consider that the Orange essentially has three scorers on the team. All the game plans for opposing teams has involved Battle, yet he still managed to average 20 ppg against some tough defenses. He’s why Syracuse was able to sneak in.

SR Angel Delgado – Center, Seton Hall Pirates

2017-18 stats: 13.3 ppg 11.6 rpg 2.7 apg

He’s a prototypical back-to-the-basket big man that stays in the paint (and shoots 60% from the line). Delgado is a master rebounder, one of the best in both per game and double-doubles.

Five times the senior grabbed at least 15 rebounds in a game, including 21 at Rutgers. He’s also a decent passer, which is good considering the number of offensive boards he grabs down.

What might be Delgado’s best attribute has been his ability to play defense without fouling. He’s been disqualified just once this season, and only three others getting to four fouls. So it’s safe to say he’ll be on the court in the NCAA Tournament, compared to the more foul-prone centers.

SR Vince Edwards – Forward, Purdue Boilermakers

2017-18 stats: 14.5 ppg 7.3 rpg 3.0 apg

The four-year senior has improved greatly over the years, with his best games coming this year. He’s shown a penchant for scoring that he’s never showed, including seven games of at least 20 points.

It’s slightly concerning that Edwards has failed to reach double figures in four of his last nine games, but that has more to do with another Edwards who has been on a tear.

But in those six games where the senior has gone off, the Boilermakers have won all of them. And with other options on the court to guard, be careful about him going on a tear of his own.

SR Kassius Robertson – Guard, Missouri Tigers

2017-18 stats: 16.2 ppg 3.0 rpg 2.4 apg

When the best player for the Tigers went down at the very beginning of the year, it was the grad transfer from Canisius that became the star of the team – to everyone’s surprise.

There was a stretch for Missouri where they clinched the program’s NCAA bid, with a five-game winning streak that included wins over Alabama, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Robertson was huge in those games, averaging around 20 ppg. He’s had a few off games but has proved himself to be the best grad transfer pickup of the offseason.

JR Bryce Brown – Guard, Auburn Tigers

2017-18 stats: 16.2 ppg 2.0 rpg 1.7 apg

The leader of the Tiger’s surprising run to co-regular season champions of the SEC, Brown scored nearly 10 more points per game from a year ago to become the go-to guy.

Brown started off the season with the greatest of notes, scoring a career-high 31 points to beat Norfolk State. He’s had other big games as well, including 28 against Georgia and 29 points in the regular-season finale to beat South Carolina.

There have been games where he’s struggled, and Auburn has struggled to win those. For every 25+ point game with him, there’s been a sub-10 game.

SR Jared Terrell – Guard, Rhode Island Rams

2017-18 stats: 17.2 ppg 3.5 rpg 2.3 apg

The senior guard that was supposed to carry Rhode Island into the NCAA Tournament was E.C. Matthews, but an injury early on sidelined him for over a month. For most teams, particularly mid-majors, that would doom their at-large hopes.

But Terrell took over, scoring 32 points in the massive win over Seton Hall, and led the team in scoring over fellow tournament participants Iona, College of Charleston and Providence.

Even when Matthews returned, it was Terrell’s team, shooting over 40% from three and 82% from the charity stripe. Rhode Island has looked strong all season, and Terrell has been the key to it.

SR Kelan Martin – Forward, Butler Bulldogs

2017-18 stats: 20.8 ppg 6.2 rpg 2.0 apg

He was considered one of the top players in the Big East, but this season has really elevated him in the national discussion. The big-time performances such as scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to beat Utah, and the 37 point outing on 12/17 shooting to take care of Marquette.

Butler is one of those teams whose recent history will make you dismiss their seeding. And I’m not saying it’s the same kind of comparison, but Martin could have a couple of Gordon Hayward-like games to take the Bulldogs farther than expected.

JR Luke Maye – Forward, North Carolina Tar Heels

2017-18 stats: 17.2 ppg 10.1 rpg 2.4 apg

He came on the scene by nailing that game-winning shot to send Kentucky in last year’s NCA Tournament. This season he’s become one of the top players in the country, starting out by dropping 26 points and 10 rebounds versus Northern Iowa. He was arguably the best player in the ACC in the non-conference and kept it going to have more quality games.

But there have been a number of games where he’s been bad from the field. The Tar Heels lost almost all of those games he struggles in and one bad night is all that’s needed to send them home.

JR Allonzo Trier – Guard, Arizona Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 19.0 ppg 3.1 rpg 3.3 apg

It’s been a trying couple of years for Trier, getting suspended for having a performance-enhancing substance last season and having it somehow resurface this year. He was immediately declared ineligible, decimating Arizona’s hopes.

But the NCAA reversed their decision and the guy who scored 90 points in the first three games of the season will be able to play in the NCAA Tournament. He’s already declared that he’ll be going pro, having nothing left to prove in college hoops. But I wonder what his mindset will be, after everything that’s happened.

SO Cassius Winston – Guard, Michigan State Spartans

2017-18 stats: 12.6 ppg 3.5 rpg 6.8 apg

As a freshman, Winston couldn’t keep the majority of the minutes at the point guard position. This season, he’s started all but one game, and was the top passer in the Big Ten. But his scoring has become just as good, nearly doubling his average from a year ago, while having a ridiculous shooting split of 51-53-89.

He benefits greatly from at times being the fifth best offensive option on the court, but his percentages show that he makes them pay more often than not. The attention has been mainly about the frontcourt but led by Winston, the backcourt has done their job as well.

SR Kenrich Williams – Forward, TCU Horned Frogs

2017-18 stats: 13.1 ppg 9.3 rpg 4.0 apg

Because of how great the guards are in the Big 12, forwards like Williams tend to go unnoticed sometimes. But despite being listed at just 6’7, the senior once again was one of the top rebounders in the conference.

An underrated part of his game this year has been his passing ability, averaging 4.0 apg. That’s huge considering that the starting point guard for TCU has been out since the start of conference play. On paper, he looks to be a mismatch, but watch him grab double-digit rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.

JR Aaron Holiday – Guard, UCLA Bruins

2017-18 stats: 20.3 ppg 3.6 rpg 5.8 apg

After taking a back seat to Lonzo Ball last season, Holiday took back the reigns and has excelled. Since the start of conference play only once did the junior not score at least 14 points in a game.

But the Bruins were in serious danger of not making the NCAA Tournament. That’s where he stepped us the most, dropping 34 points in the regular season finale at USC, as well as the quarterfinals in the conference tournament against Standford.

If the conference and the team weren’t down, Holiday would have received more attention, because he really was one of the best point guards in the country.

JR Caleb Martin – Forward, Nevada Wolf Pack

2017-18 stats: 19.1 ppg 5.3 rpg 2.6 apg

He was a solid player with the other Wolfpack (NC State) but has become a star with the new change of scenery. He fits perfectly in head coach Eric Musselman’s “positionless” offense with his 6’7 200 tweener frame.

His games of 24 points in the win over Rhode Island, and scoring 28 against one of the best defenses in the country in Texas Tech solidified him as Nevada’s best player. But it was him playing injured on multiple occasions throughout the year that made him a fan-favorite.

Martin has dropped at least 20 points in half of his games and can score efficiently against anybody. And while he’s not officially on the list, his twin brother Cody (13.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 4.6 apg) will play a major role for the Wolf Pack team as well.

SO Grant Williams – Forward, Tennessee Volunteers

2017-18 stats: 15.3 ppg 5.9 rpg 1.8 apg

The Volunteers brought back most of their talent from a year ago, but needed someone to elevate themselves to an All-SEC player if the team was going to be a contender in the conference.

Williams became that guy. After a very solid freshman campaign, he became the focal point of a still balanced offense. He was a solid offensive player for the Vols, usually scoring around 17-20 points on a good night.

But for one game against Vanderbilt, he exploded for 37 points on 12/20 shooting (13/15 FT). It was the only time he scored more than 23 points, but the sophomore’s growing game will be a problem for SEC opponents.

SR Johnathan Williams – Forward, Gonzaga Bulldogs

2017-18 stats: 13.5 ppg 8.3 rpg 1.6 apg

They say that the Zags doesn’t have any stars on their team. But the former All-Region Most Valuable Player played arguably the biggest part of the team’s historic Final Four run.

There will be issues in the next level because of his tweener size, but it suits him perfectly in college. He’s an outstanding back-to-the-basket post player while having the athleticism to guard both power and small forwards at the highest of levels. Because of him, teams can’t exploit weaknesses on Gonzaga, making him the key to any run Mark Few’s teams make.

And that 39 points, 12 rebound game against Florida in the PK80 double-overtime thriller show that he’s no slouch on offense either.

JR Mikal Bridges – Wing, Villanova Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 18.0 ppg 5.4 rpg 2.1 apg

He was a role player for the Wildcats in his first couple of seasons, but now could be on his way out after breaking out. Bridges did it at Madison Square Garden, dropping a career-high 28 points against a currently top-10 Gonzaga team.

The junior has elevated his game down the stretch, averaging 22.7 ppg in his last nine games, including 25 in the Big East title game over Providence. At 6’7, he has the size of an NBA player, and a solid run by him will make him a top-20 pick.

SR Zach Thomas – Forward, Bucknell Bison

2017-18 stats: 20.3 ppg 9.2 rpg 2.2 apg

One of four players to lead their conference in both scoring and rebounding, Thomas is one of the most underrated players in D-1 basketball. He’s improved his scoring by 5 ppg each season and has put up some gaudy numbers in his final year with the Bison.

In a win against Stony Brook, the senior had 38 points and 11 rebounds. Even versus better competition, he still grabbed 19 boards at St. Joes. Bucknell has a couple of other talented seniors alongside Thomas that makes them a dangerous draw for whoever they face. But if they pull off the upset, it’ll be because of this guy.

JR Moritz Wagner – Forward, Michigan Wolverines

2017-18 stats: 14.5 ppg 7.1 rpg 0.8 apg

One of the more skilled big men in the country, Wagner has the offensive skills to go to the next level. But where he struggled badly at times was in the other areas of the game, mainly defense and rebounding.

But he’s grown this season, grabbing three more boards a game in just three extra minutes a night. His defense has improved as well, making him a solid all-around player. He’s one of the top options to score, and the 20 point,13 rebound performance in the conference tournament against Nebraska might be a preview of what he’s about to do.

FR Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Guard, Kentucky Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 13.4 ppg 3.8 rpg 5.1 apg

One of the best moves of the season was the coaching change by John Calipari to insert the freshman guard into the starting lineup, and playing him most of the game. His 30 point outing in a win over Vanderbilt showed his scoring capabilities while averaging seven assists in the final seven games of the season to this point.

This has been a different team with Gilgeous-Alexander, evident by his 29 points to capture the SEC title game. The freshman has become an elite point guard, and he’ll have to be for Kentucky to make some noise.

JR Mike Daum – Forward, South Dakota State Jackrabbits

2017-18 stats: 23.8 ppg 10.4 rpg 1.3 apg

If your team wasn’t going to be impacted by South Dakota State in the NCAA Tournament, then you’re glad they’re in the Big Dance. Mainly for this man, who we saw as a 16 seed last season against top-seeded Gonzaga. He didn’t have the greatest of showings but did go up against one of the top post defenders in the country.

Daum has taken it up a notch in his junior year, producing a double-double in all but two games in the Summit League, including a monster 35 point, 18 rebound game against Nebraska-Omaha.

But he’s performed against the top teams as well. He had 37 points and 12 boards versus Colorado and dropped 31 on Wichita State. The Jackrabbits will be a trendy upset pick in many brackets.

SO Landry Shamet – Guard, Wichita State Shockers

2017-18 stats: 14.6 ppg 3.2 rpg 5.2 apg

On a team filled with returning veterans, Shamet is the clear best player on the team. He’s capable of having an explosive game, evident by his 30 point outing at Oklahoma State.

At times, Wichita State as a team can struggle on offense. In order to prevent that in the NCAA Tournament, the redshirt sophomore has to take over. If that means he becomes more of a scorer than a passer, then so be it. But like his performance against Kentucky in the big dance a year ago, he’s more than capable of pulling it off.

FR Mohamed Bamba – Center, Texas Longhorns

2017-18 stats: 12.9 ppg 10.4 rpg 0.5 apg

Texas has been through a lot this season, but has still made it to the NCAA Tournament. Bamba has been the primary reason, anchoring the great Longhorns defense while continuinly imroving his offensive game.

The freshman led the Big 12 in roubing, while producing almost 20 double-doubles on the season. His play has been needed for Shaka Smart, as the guard’s offense has been inconsistent all season. But having a player that’s pulled down almost 100 rebounds, and over 100 blocked shots, can always keep a struggling offense in the game.

SO Carsen Edwards – Guard, Purdue Boliermakers

2017-18 stats: 18.5 ppg 3.9 rpg 3.0 apg

In his freshman year, he was a solid role player for Purdue. This season he’s been the best guard in the conference, taking a huge leap in his scoring capabilities. That point was made emphatic in his career-high 40 points at Illinois.

Edwards has really taken his role as the go-to scorer seriously, having not taken any less than 12 shot attempts in his last 10 games. He’ll need to keep up that aggressiveness in the NCAA Tournament, as at times he tends to be the lone constant scorer.

FR Trae Young – Guard, Oklahoma Sooners

2017-18 stats: 27.4 ppg 3.9 rpg 8.7 apg

The bad run for the team essentially cost him the Big 12 Player of the Year, but there’s no question that Young was the best player in not only the conference but the country as well.

He had record performances, including a 26 point, 22 assist game versus Northwestern State. There also was the Big 12 record-shattering game of 48 points, on 14/39 shooting and 6/19 from three-point range.

The shooting percentages have dropped in the last month, but there’s been no one more exciting in college basketball this season. By himself, he could take the Sooners on a run.

SR Jevon Carter – Guard, West Virginia Mountaineers

2017-18 stats: 17.0 ppg 4.7 rpg 6.6 apg

There are few if any players that are above average in every attribute in the game of basketball like Carter is. Whether it’s rebounding, passing, scoring and especially defense, the senior leader can do it all well.

He’s the one guy you want to take the last shot, as well as who you would want to guard the guy to take the last shot. If West Virginia makes it to the Final Four, it’ll be because of this guy.

FR Collin Sexton – Guard, Alabama Crimson Tide

2017-18 stats: 19.0 ppg 3.8 rpg 3.5 apg

I thought that I already his most impressive feat of the season, scoring 40 points while going 3-5 against Minnesota after a fight lost most of his teammates. But turns out he was saving his best for practically the last.

Alabama was right on the fence heading into the SEC Tournament, riding a five-game losing streak. They were on their way to losing to Texas A&M and going into the NIT, but Sexton drove coast-to-coast in just four seconds and nailed a beautiful floater to win the game.

And just to make sure the Crimson Tide were in, he dropped 31 points to beat top-seeded Auburn. Alabama can drive you crazy, but they’re capable of making a run in this tournament.

SO Kyle Guy – Guard, Virginia Cavaliers

2017-18 stats: 14.1 ppg 2.5 rpg 1.5 apg

After taking a backseat in his freshman year, Guy broke out in a big way, starting with a career-high 29 points to beat in-state rival VCU. For the most part, he’s been a reliable scorer all season to lead the team to a regular-season championship.

Guy had a rough stretch towards the end of the regular-season but averaged around 17 ppg in the ACC Tournament, making half of his shots.

Virginia will be favored in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, but there are still plenty of detractors. If they make a Final Four run, it’ll be on the back of Guy, who has shown that he’s capable of doing so.

SR Gary Clark – Forward, Cincinnati Bearcats

2017-18 stats: 12.8 ppg 8.4 rpg 2.1 apg

There might not be a better player that analytics love more than Clark, who from a statistical standpoint is the best offensive and defensive guy in the entire American Athletic Conference. Of course, he also had the best overall Player Efficiency rating in the league as well.

He shoots 52% from the field, 44% from deep while playing fantastic defense every game. His clutch genes are also intact, hitting the game-winning free throw to beat Houston in the AAC title game. He had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the battle. Clark isn’t going to fill up the stat sheets and make the highlight reels but does everything right – and well.

JR Keita Bates-Diop – Forward, Ohio State Buckeyes

2017-18 stats: 19.4 ppg 8.8 rpg 1.7 apg

An absolute deserver of the Big Ten Player of the Year award, the redshirt junior took what’s supposed to be a “rebuilding” Ohio State team and carried them safely into the NCAA Tournament.

Even after an impressive non-conference campaign, Big Ten opponents still couldn’t stop him. Bates-Diop is nearly 10 points better on average than his next best season, added a three-point shot and gets to the line better than he’s ever been. When he missed the rest of last season with an injury, clearly he was finding ways to work on his game, as he’s the unofficial Most Improved Player of the Year in all of college basketball.

SR Trevon Bluiett – Wing, Xavier Musketeers

2017-18 stats: 19.5 ppg 5.7 rpg 2.5 apg

Bluiett has been great really since his sophomore season, but he made his name nationally in the Musketeer’s Elite Eight run and has carried it over into an All-American caliber season.

He dropped 37 points on a career-high eight made three-pointers, and scored 28 points to beat the hated rival Cincinnati Bearcats. It was less than his career-high of 40 points in last year’s matchup, but Xavier got the win this time.

There are a lot of players that helped get this program their first-ever No. 1 seed, but it’ll be Bluiett that finally takes them to the Final Four, a place they’ve never been.

SR Keenan Evans – Guard, Texas Tech Red Raiders

2017-18 stats: 17.5 ppg 3.0 rpg 3.1 apg

In what was the best season in over a decade for Red Raiders basketball, Evans played a gigantic role, sometimes winning Big 12 games by himself. He’s the best in the nation at getting to the free throw line and shoots it at an 85% clip.

The senior’s three-point shooting has gone down but has been driving the ball into the lane a lot more, opening up things for his teammates.

He suffered a toe injury that affected him down the stretch, but he looks ready to go and will have a huge say on who gets out of his bracket.

SR Joel Berry – Guard, North Carolina Tar Heels

2017-18 stats: 17.1 ppg 3.5 rpg 3.3 apg

From a pure talent perspective, there are certainly better point guards out there. But when the intangibles are added in, and Berry rises right near the very top.

The reigning Most Valuable Player of the Final Four a year was given the keys to North Carolina’s offense and has made this season’s team much more guard-oriented. Despite not having the best frontcourt in the country like they did a year ago, Berry has taken this team to a solid position to make a repeat run.

He’s not an explosive scorer, has only topped the 30 point mark once this season, but evident by his performance in a win over Duke this earlier on shows how clutch he remains.

SO Miles Bridges – Forward, Michigan State Spartans

2017-18 stats: 16.9 ppg 6.9 rpg 2.8 apg

In a somewhat surprising move, Bridges turned down a likely lottery selection to come back to the Spartans. Even if a deeper draft causes him to slide down a bit, it was the right move for the sophomore to do. Because of the frontcourt players that Tom Izzo brought in, it allowed him to play his natural position at the small forward spot, where he exploits mismatches daily.

An area where he’s improved has been his consistency, with the number of games where he’s disappeared being cut to a minimum. But there have been games that Bridges has deferred to his teammates a little too much. He needs to remain aggressive for Michigan State to get to the Final Four.

FR Marvin Bagley III – Center, Duke Blue Devils

2017-18 stats: 21.1 ppg 11.5 rpg 1.6 apg

He’s had a historical impact for the Blue Devils, leading the conference in both scoring and rebounding. His 21 double-doubles are tops in the nation and had a couple of 30 points and 15 rebound games.

In every game in which Bagley played and completed, he scored no less than 12 points and seven rebounds. The best performance from the star freshman came in the shootout win over Florida State, where he had 32 points and 21 (10 off.) rebounds. The only concern with Bagley has been his defensive efforts, but offensively there’s no stopping him.

FR DeAndre Ayton – Center, Arizona Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 20.3 ppg 11.5 rpg 1.6 apg

The issues surrounding Ayton have been out there. The alleged wiretap involving $100,000 has affected neither his eligibility or ability to play. In the first game after the news broke out, he dropped 28 points and 18 rebounds at Oregon. And just a couple of games later, he produced 26 points and 20 boards to beat Cal.

He’s one of just a few players to lead their respective conferences in both scoring and rebounding and has over 20 double-doubles on the season.

For Arizona to make at least the Final Four, it’ll take some monster games from Ayton, as the Wildcats don’t have too many scorers. But if he continues what’s he’s been doing, the likely top pick in the upcoming NBA draft will be cutting down some nets.

SR Devonte’ Graham – Guard, Kansas Jayhawks

2017-18 stats: 17.3 ppg 3.9 rpg 7.5 apg

Last season, he played off the ball to Big 12 Player of the Year Frank Mason. This season, he ends up winning the award himself, leading the Jayhawks to another regular season title, arguably the toughest one in the 14-year run.

He’ll have a chance to separate himself from the other great Kansas point guards, as he attempts to take his team to the Final Four. And considering that there’s no true backup point guard on the roster, he’ll be playing all 40 minutes, as he’s been doing the last couple of months.

JR Jalen Brunson – Guard, Villanova Wildcats

2017-18 stats: 19.4 ppg 3.1 rpg 4.7 apg

A champion in his own right, Brunson has the keys to the Wildcat’s offense and has turned them into the highest scoring team in the nation. He’s the leader of in points, but still has time to allow five other players for Villanova to average at least 10 ppg.

What makes Brunson so good is his consistency. And I know I’ve said that a lot in this piece, but in this case, it’s unprecedented with him. I looked at his game-by-game stats, and not one time did he ever have a bad game. He never made less than four shots in a game and scored in double figures in every game.

Next: Ranking the 68 tournament teams

Brunson had 31 points four times, including in the Big East title game against Providence. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t have another similar game to cut down even more nets.