The NCAA tournament bracket was unveiled on Sunday and NBA draft prospects can enhance their resumes by leading their teams on a deep run. A majority of the projected first-rounders in Jonathan Givony’s current rankings on ESPN.com will be in action during March Madness.
Here’s a look of some of those storylines:
- No player will be more closely watched than the projected top pick, Arizona freshman center DeAndre Ayton. He has remained eligible despite an FBI probe into his recruitment. The Wildcats, who won the PAC 12 tournament, were seeded No. 4 in the South region and will play Buffalo in the first round. A potential second-round matchup against Kentucky looms. The Wildcats have two players slotted as mid-first-rounders — swingman Kevin Knox (No. 12 overall) and combo guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15).
- Duke and Michigan State were ranked 1-2 at the start of the season and faced each other in November, with the Blue Devils prevailing. They could see each again in the Sweet Sixteen, a Midwest showdown that would feature a handful of first-round prospects, Duke’s frontcourt duo of Marvin Bagley III (4) and Wendell Carter Jr. (6) and shooting guard Grayson Allen (30), and Michigan State forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. (3) and Miles Bridges (11).
- How good is Texas center Mohamed Bamba (5)? We could get a better idea if the Longhorns get past Nevada and face rugged Cincinnati, the South’s No. 2 seed which also features small forward Jacob Evans (24).
- Alabama’s Collin Sexton, currently the top-rated college point guard at No. 8, will try to build off his big SEC tournament performance in the East Region. If the Tide gets past their opener, they’ll likely face top seed Villanova and its No. 10 prospect, small forward Mikal Bridges.
- Oklahoma point guard Trae Young (9) and his team faltered down the stretch but still got in as the Midwest’s No. 10 seed. If they upset Rhode Island, the Sooners would likely face the Blue Devils in the next round.
- Texas A&M big man Robert Williams (15) could improve his stock if his team, slotted No. 7 in the West, can get by Big East tournament runner-up Providence and then upset No. 2 seed North Carolina in the next round.
- Miami (Fla.) shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV (13) might move into the Top 10 if he carries his team, seeded sixth in the South, into the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.
Would love to see potential future stars like Bamba get wins in the opening round
Bamba will have a big test in the second round… UC is physical and has a good center, Clark.
“The committee” also put a Xavier/Ohio State matchup in r2. OSU does not like to play in-state and avoids UC, X, Dayton and MAC teams if they’re good. In 2007 it was a similar situation with one of the better versions of both teams and OSU squeaked by. Xavier had beaten OSU in the NIT in 1984. Sorry to say there’s not much more tradition than that.
If Butler beats Arkansas, then they play Purdue in round 2. Another big in-state matchup. I think it’s funny that Arizona and Kentucky are with Virginia.
Oklahoma lost 10 of their last 12 games are in. I know they want everybody to see Trae Young, but really.
If no trades, give me either Bridges and SGA – Sixers.
I don’t follow college ball, but if SGA is a combo guard it makes sense. How do you feel about Knox? In my opinion you can never have too many 6’9″ wings with range
Knox is a nice player, I prefer Mikal over anyone that will be there for the Lakers pick. All 3 are wing players with range, Mikal has the best stroke of them all tho.
Mikal Bridges and Kevin Knox are top ten picks.
Probably just outside of the Top-10. Go through the list.
Doncic, Ayton, Jackson JR, Porter JR, Bagley 3, Bamba, Carter JR, Trae Young, Collin Sexton, Miles Bridges, Mikal Birdges, Kevin Knox, Zhaire Smith. All going to go 1-14. If Bama gets any kind of tournament run, Sexton is likely the reason and probably puts him in at 10th overall. Same with Trae Young, but somewhere before 10th. That puts Bridges and Knox outside of Top-10.