At Hoops Rumors, we typically focus on the NBA, with virtually all of our content centered around current, former, and future NBA players. At this time of year though, with the trade deadline behind us, most of this season’s playoff teams set, and the postseason still a few weeks away, it makes sense to shift that focus – at least in part – to the NCAA.
2019’s NCAA tournament gets underway today, and March Madness will feature a number of future NBA players this year, including budding star Zion Williamson. Many of those top draft prospects can be found in a handful of blue-blood programs — besides Williamson, Duke’s lineup features R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones, all of whom could be first-round picks. Williamson, Barrett, and Reddish, in fact, could all come off the board in the top five.
As USA Today’s basketball writers detail though, while Zion may be the main event, there are plenty of other prospects worth watching in this year’s tournament, including Murray State’s Ja Morant, Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver, Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter, Maryland’s Bruno Fernando.
Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports identifies several other under-the-radar prospects who have a chance to make a name for themselves – and improve their draft stock – with strong showings in this month’s tournament. Iowa State’s Marial Shayok, Washington’s Matisse Thybulle, and Michigan’s Ignas Brazdeikis are among the names on Goodwill’s list.
Meanwhile, Danny Chau of The Ringer offers a guide to watching the NCAA tournament as an NBA fan. Besides watching big-name prospects like Williamson and Morant, Chau suggests monitoring a pair of Tennessee youngsters (Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield), two Iowa State freshmen (Talen Horton-Tucker and Tyrese Haliburton), and a few sleepers, including LSU’s Naz Reid and Auburn’s Chuma Okeke.
Of course, even if you’re not necessarily interested in projecting how certain prospects will translate to the NBA, March Madness should offer plenty of drama and intrigue — not to mention a great opportunity to show off your basketball knowledge in your office pool.
With March Madness set to tip off today, we want to know what you’re looking forward to watching in this year’s tournament. Are there certain teams or players you’re keeping an eye on? Which teams are you picking to advance to the Final Four?
Head below to the comment section to weigh in with your two cents on this year’s NCAA tournament!
Even though Zion is a force to be reckoned with, Duke as a team isn’t very good shooting behind the arc and at the stripe. Because of this, I don’t see them cutting down the nets in the ship. I believe that UNC is the most complete team in the tournament and will win, with Coby White winning tourney mvp
Fletcher McGee Wofford is an amazing shooter. Shoots deep while twisting his body, with his release arm like an axis. Very evolved. Cool name too, and the school mascot seems to have emerged from an old-time Krazy Kat cartoon.
Looks like they want to emphasize sportsmanship fouls. Again. Will fail again, if the focus is on “intent” as it seems to be. It is impossible to assess a player’s intent, especially if there is forgiveness for sorry-just-tryin’-real-hard, or for so-called “incidental” contact. There is little or no accidental contact in basketball. Call it all or forget it, otherwise you’re just punishing a player for not being able to act ignorant of his actions.
I always root for BigEast teams to lose. That works out pretty well. They all have inflated rankings by playing dirty early in the season when all the interconference games are played. It is harder for teams relying on systems to have the system adopted early on.
By tourney time, the system teams can surpass. But its up to the refs.
I want to see Tacko Fall from UCF. A 7’6″ dude who shoots 74% from the field? Sign me up. He’s probably a second-rounder at best in the draft (more likely undrafted), but size without range plays in the college game, so he should be fun to watch until UCF gets eliminated.