March Madness: Top 10 frontcourt players in 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Alex Weber | Mar 19, 2019

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

8. Eric Paschall – Villanova

After losing Omari Spellman unexpectedly to the NBA draft, Paschall was thrust into the spotlight on the Nova front-line. And this year, he’s been tremendous. His calling card–just like every Wildcat–is his deadly three-point shooting as a 6’8 forward. Paschall is your typical “plays way bigger than he is” forward who hounds rebounds, out-hustles foes, and competes with an unrelenting physicality.

That combination makes Paschall one of the toughest matchups in college basketball at the 4-spot. A Villanova team hot from three can make a serious run, and Eric Paschall can etch his name onto the stone of Villanova superstardom along the way.

7. Ethan Happ – Wisconsin

Happ is one of the more perplexing and unique college basketball players I’ve seen in my lifetime. He’s a crafty passer (4.6 assists per game), exceptional rebounder (10.1), and consistent scorer (17.5). His back-to-the-basket spin-move is perhaps the most unstoppable post move in the game. But, here’s the kicker: HE CAN NOT SHOOT.

Seriously, he has to be one of the only seniors in the country to have not made a single three-pointer in his entire career. And his free-throw shooting is horrible! 46.5% is so bad that Big 10 teams employ the Hack-a-Happ technique late in close games. But, besides the shooting, Happ is a gamechanger on both ends of the court and the undoubted leader for Greg Gard’s best Badger team yet.

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