March Madness: Top 5 backcourts in 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Alex Weber | Mar 21, 2019

RENO, NV - DECEMBER 15: Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack and brother Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack talk to head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Lawlor Events Center on December 15, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

NCAA Tournament action gets underway on Thursday, so here’s a guide to the best five backcourts entering March Madness. Adjust your brackets accordingly.

5. Corey Davis Jr. and Armoni Brooks – Houston

Davis and Brooks, the three-and-D bothers (on-court brothers, not actually). These two snipers launch a combined sixteen three-pointers per game. That is the highest rate between two teammates in the country. Plus, another small detail: They actually MAKE THEM, at a 38% (Davis) and 39% (Brooks) rate. Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Redemption would not be possible without these two and their sharp-shooting ability. And these dudes aren’t plainly stationary marksman.

Davis and Brooks both battle on the offensive glass and can finish tough layups. If I were to build the perfect college basketball team, these two have the makeup of starting guards: unselfish play, aggressive and gritty defense, hustle, multi-phase scoring, and, of course, beautiful three-point strokes. I’m wary about the Cougars’ tournament chances, but at least they have a pair of Aces in the backcourt.

4. Caleb and Cody Martin – Nevada

The Martin boys will retire as two of the most influential players in Wolf Pack program history. Each standing at 6’7 with lanky bodies and wild man buns, the twins aren’t your typical college basketball backcourt. The eye test with them would suggest they start for the Cleveland Cavaliers, not the second-place team in the Mountain West Conference. This backcourt is a joy to watch for any hoops fan. Their jagged shooting motion, eye-popping athleticism, clutch buckets, and the perpetual confusion of who’s who, make for an entertaining watch time and time again.

In terms of style, both serve different but equally important roles within Musselman’s squad. Caleb is the alpha on offense. When the game’s on the line or a big shot is needed, Caleb pulls the trigger, especially from behind the arc. When chaos breaks loose, he’s the safety valve for scoring purposes. Cody, on the other hand, has developed into a tried and true point guard who’s tasked with running the show offensively. His passing vision and handle have improved tremendously since his time at N.C. State, and he’s now a serious mismatch for smaller guards.

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