March Madness: Top 100 players in the 2019 NCAA Tournament
80. Nick Ward – Michigan State
2018-19 stats: 14.0 ppg 6.2 rpg 0.8 apg
He has limitations for how much he can be on the court but Ward is a load to deal with in the post. He averages 26 ppg per 40 minutes and continues to improve on both ends of the court. With injuries to almost all the other players, the junior’s durability has been a welcome fact for the Spartans. Ward still is matchup dependent but opposing teams who don’t have someone to guard him should be very concerned.
79. Tyler Cook – Iowa
2018-19 stats: 14.9 ppg 7.9 rpg 2.4 apg
Stats might not show much improvement from last year but Cook is a better player, particularly on defense. This entire Iowa team deals with inconsistency but the junior post player (for the most part) shows up the most on each night.
78. Payton Pritchard – Oregon
2018-19 stats: 12.7 ppg 3.7 rpg 4.5 apg
It’s been a tough season for both Pritchard as an individual but Oregon as a team before the Pac-12 Tournament. But the junior guard captured his sophomore form and averaged 19 ppg and 6.5 apg in the final three games to capture a bid to make the NCAA Tournament. He’s a great shooter when on and could lead the Ducks to a surprising Sweet Sixteen.
77. Kaleb Wesson – Ohio State
2018-19 stats: 14.4 ppg 6.8 rpg 1.8 apg
The Buckeyes snuck into the NCAA Tournament despite their best player getting suspended towards the end of the regular season. Leading Ohio State in both points and rebounds while extending his range, Wesson had arguably the best game of his college career when needed most. He had 17 points and 13 rebounds to beat Indiana in what was viewed as a bubble elimination game to even get here.
76. Keldon Johnson – Kentucky
2018-19 stats: 13.5 ppg 5.8 rpg 1.6 apg
The 6’6 forward was arguably the team’s best player through the non-conference portion of the season but there were a couple of others who played better in the SEC. That certainly doesn’t mean that the 6’6 forward won’t be a big factor, as opponents will struggle to match up with him on the wings. A better rebounder than his size would say and an adept three-point shooter, Johnson is a key clog.
75. Mustapha Heron – St. John’s
2018-19 stats: 14.9 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.3 apg
Replacing Marcus Lovett from last season, the Auburn transfer has been a great No. 2 option for the Red Storm. Heron is a 42% shooter from deep and has scored at least eight points in every game this season. But when he struggles from the field, St. John’s is more likely to lose.
74. Jaylen Nowell – Washington
2018-19 stats: 16.2 ppg 5.3 rpg 3.1 apg
The Pac-12 Player of the Year and lead scorer on the best team, Nowell has raised his draft stock by improving his three-point shot and becoming a better passer from the two-guard spot. He has a bunch of 20+ games and is efficient overall, which is all you can ask from a shooting guard.
73. Miye Oni – Yale
2018-19 stats: 17.6 ppg 6.3 rpg 3.5 apg
Another Player of the Year, Oni was the winner from the Ivy. The 6’6 guard is an under the radar NBA Draft prospect and had three 30+ games in Ivy play, including a 35-point and 12 rebound game to beat Princeton. Oni scored 20 ppg in the Ivy Tournament to get the Bulldogs in the Big Dance and is capable of going off to get an upset.
72. Bryce Brown – Auburn
2018-19 stats: 15.8 ppg 2.0 rpg 1.8 apg
Another All-SEC caliber season from the senior two-guard, Brown is a volume shooter from deep. Like in the SEC title game against Tennessee, the 6’3 guard could win a game for Auburn all by himself. He scored 19+11 different times this season and will hoist a ton of long balls in the NCAA Tournament.
71. Tacko Fall – UCF
2018-19 stats: 10.9 ppg 7.3 rpg 0.5 apg
The 7’6 center from Senegal has the ability to alter any opposing team’s gameplan with his shot-blocking style. He also rarely misses from the field, shooting over 70% from the field each year and can have huge games. One of them was a 23-point, 20-rebound game in 26 minutes to beat SMU. Theres’ a possibility that he could face Zion from Duke in the Round of 64.