Each of the twelve months of the calendar year bring different things to the college basketball season but it’s pretty clear that the most exciting month is March. All of those years of hard work come to fruition for the 68 teams invited to the Big Dance. The pinnacle of this sport pits these teams against each other until we crown one champion; though that’s not exactly the only story from March Madness.
Only one team wins the national championship but after the NCAA Tournament we still remember many stories from the season and the event. Recent years have certainly told us countless stories about Connecticut after winning a pair of consecutive national titles, but the full picture of the event includes Cinderella stories, standout performances, and many other notable moments.
In fact, those standout performances are one of the best parts of the Tournament. We remember those impressive games from notable players that helped lead their teams to NCAA Tournament glory or to come up just short in the agony of defeat. The best of the best in this sport put it all on the line, with some of them making their third, fourth, or even fifth trip to the Big Dance. Others are there for the first time and shine under those bright lights regardless.
We’re thinking about those first-year players with today’s look into the freshmen set to star during March Madness. Among the nearly four hundred D1 programs, only 68 punch their tickets; which means that not every freshman this season even qualifies for consideration. We’re focusing on those freshman who could define games in the Tournament and will be looking closely at who they are and what they’ve done. First, we’ll take a brief look at a few who just missed our list or likely will miss the field of 68.