Every year, the NCAA Tournament brings new faces into the limelight. For some schools, it’s their first time with a large national TV audience even if they have played a conference championship game on TV. The attention is different from the conference championship because now everyone is watching. For some players, they aren’t the stars of their team but they make a big shot, big stop or other big play, or have a big game come tournament time that brings them out from behind the shadows.
That’s all part of what makes the NCAA Tournament special, and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino echoed this sentiment when, after his team won the Big East Tournament behind a big effort from Montrezl Harrell, said, “You never know in college basketball who’s going to step up. That’s the beauty of college basketball.”
Who are the players you may learn about this year? Here is a look, starting with the teams playing their first game on Tuesday or Thursday. A little later, we will bring you players on teams who play their first game on Wednesday or Friday.
Zeke Marshall, Akron
The senior center is a rarity in the mid-major world – a seven-footer who is a true center. He does what you expect a big man to do: rebound and block shots (fourth in the nation in the latter category), as well as score inside, which he does by making over 65 percent of his shots.
Nick Johnson, Arizona
The consummate glue guy, he’s very athletic and does a lot of things to help this team and few are better at playing within the team concept. Most notably, he shines defensively and that’s one reason he doesn’t get much pub.
Ian Clark, Belmont
The Atlantic Sun and Ohio Valley both know who he is, but perhaps many around the nation don’t. Clark is the program’s all-time leading scorer in the Division I era and was the OVC co-Player of the Year.
Bryson Johnson, Bucknell
Part of a big three that has formed the core of this team, Johnson has put in a lot of work to become more than just a shooter, although he certainly does that very well. He’s also an excellent student.
Kameron Woods, Butler
On this well-balanced team, Woods is as much a star of the future as a contributor in the present. He’s long and athletic, and as you would expect of a Butler player, very skilled. He’s just starting to come into his own and there’s a lot of upside.
Allen Crabbe, California
Chances are, you heard about him from an incident with coach Mike Montgomery, but no other time. Well, he was the Pac-12 Player of the Year and the conference’s leading scorer, so you should know him for his game as well.
Colton Iverson, Colorado State
The Minnesota transfer is a load inside and gave a team with several holdovers a big boost by nearly averaging a double-double, making nearly 60 percent of his shots.
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
The junior forward was huge in the Southern Conference championship game and can be tough to handle. He shoots 50 percent from the field and leads a balanced rebounding effort.
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga
A key complement to Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris inside, Pangos not only helps run the show but has a sweet stroke from long range and a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Wesley Saunders, Harvard
The Ivy League’s best player broke out this season when the Crimson were much younger. His scoring comes from the offense, as he doesn’t force shots and plays that aren’t there and also handles and passes well for a shooting guard.
John Caleb Sanders, Liberty
The steadily improving guard lifted the Flames into the NCAA Tournament after they struggled to a 6-10 Big South record. He scored 27 points and handed out four assists in the Big South title game.
Chane Behanan, Louisville
A versatile forward, there isn’t much he can’t do as the Cardinals’ second-leading scorer and rebounder and a good passer at times as well. The knock is that he can go on a milk carton at times, as he did during much of the Big East Tournament.
Junior Cadougan, Marquette
In truth, you could put the entire Marquette team in this category because few probably knew they tied for the Big East regular season title. Cadougan makes the team go as their point guard.
Chris Crawford, Memphis
The best sixth man in Conference USA is like a starter, or at least he sure was to other teams in the conference tournament. There, he averaged 25.7 points per game and was 19-31 from long range en route to being the tournament MVP.
Nik Stauskas, Michigan
The freshman might be the perfect player for this team. He’s very skilled including having a great shooting touch and also a tough kid.
Adreian Payne, Michigan State
He’s not a household name despite being on a good team, but he’s really blossomed this year for the Spartans and seems to have even better basketball in his future.
Marcos Knight, Middle Tennessee
How balanced are the Blue Raiders? Knight is their only double-digit scorer on the season and doesn’t even average 13 points on a team that scores 71 a game.
Laurence Bowers, Missouri
Phil Pressey’s favorite target has been the Tigers’ most consistent player. He leads them in scoring and only Alex Oriakhi is a better rebounder on the Tigers.
Kareem Jamar, Montana
The junior wing is the Grizzlies’ most well-rounded player, but with leading scorer Mathias Ward out he’ll have to do more. Their second-leading scorer also leads the team in rebounding and assists while shooting 50 percent from the field.
Kendall Williams, New Mexico
The Mountain West Player of the Year doesn’t get as much pub as many players in his conference, but he can put up big scoring numbers and also averages five assists a game.
Bandja Sy, New Mexico State
The senior forward has had steady growth over his career and is their second-leading scorer and leading rebounder.
Adrian Powell, North Carolina A&T
The MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Performer is the team’s top scorer and their second-best rebounder.
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State
As good as Marcus Smart is and with all the accolades he’s deservedly received, it’s easy to forget Brown, a very athletic wing who has stuck it out through a tough time last year in Stillwater.
Dominic Artis, Oregon
The Ducks really missed him when he was out with an injury, but now that he’s back they are running much better. He’s not a great scoring threat, but he doesn’t have to be with the guys he has to get the ball to.
Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh
The versatile wing knows the game well and makes winning plays at both ends of the floor. While not the most athletic player, he can score, pass and rebound and does so without hurting his team with a lot of mistakes in between.
Dwayne Evans, Saint Louis
On a well-balanced, well-coached team known more for its coach who is no longer with us, Evans is the scoring and rebounding leader. Pretty much every Billiken could fit this category, but none as much as Evans.
Beau Levesque, Saint Mary’s
A key Robin to Matthew Dellavedova’s Batman on this team, Levesque has made a big leap from last season in every significant statistical category. Notably, he actually shoots it better from long range than Dellavedova, hitting over 47 percent of those shots.
Nate Wolters, South Dakota State
If you don’t know about him already, you’re about to. The nation’s fourth-leading scorer shoots over 49 percent from the field and has a better than 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Malcolm Miller, Southern University
The junior college transfer is one of the better three-point threats in the tournament, hitting 46 percent of his shots from behind the arc this season.
C.J. Fair, Syracuse
Rarely is the guy who leads the team in scoring and rebounding in a category like this, especially on a team like Syracuse. But Fair is overshadowed by others for various reasons to the degree that few probably know his statistical accomplishments this season.
Anthony Marshall, UNLV
The frontcourt gets a lot of attention, but Marshall is the key on the perimeter. He’s gotten better at running the show and is their second-leading scorer, stepping up when Mike Moser got hurt and then wasn’t the same upon his return.
Juvonte Reddic, VCU
VCU is all about HAVOC, their style of play, and that starts with guards. Reddic has blossomed in the frontcourt as their most consistent player, one who is now starting to approach the potential he’s always had as a consistent double-double guy.
Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
The Horizon League Player of the Year last season led the Crusaders to a league title, and they got the chance on his buzzer-beater in the semifinals.
Carl Hall, Wichita State
One of the Missouri Valley’s better forwards, the senior made a nice jump from last season to lead the team in rebounding and make over 54 percent of his shots.
