March Madness 2024: Top 5 Men’s Basketball Players To Look For in the NCAA Tournament

The March Madness is around the corner, so is the excitement to see some movers and shakers of college basketball circuit to create court commotion. These young guns have been firing the ongoing season with their spectacular showmanship. But now, as the D-Day lies ahead, their speculated supermen performance is making much noise. 

At the fag-end of the regular season, EssentiallySports take a view into the action that lies ahead. A look into those players who have performed exceptionally well this season in men’s basketball and who are expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming elimination rounds. 

Zach Edey, Purdue Boilermakers

No list of players this season can be complete without mentioning the Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey. Edey has been a force to reckon with this season and has helped his team clinch the Maui Invitational title. He has taken complete advantage of his height and decimated unbelievable points and rebounds. He has smashed 23.3 points per game with 11.7 rebounds per match. Therefore he is also a prime contender for the National Player of the Year Award.

His season-best performance of 35 points came against the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Northwestern Wildcats. Edey also nabbed 20 rebounds during their game against the Penn State. The Boilermakers thanks to Edey have a 24-3 tally and are ranked at the top spot in the Big Ten. They are also considered to be contenders for the national title. Edey will be one of the main players to watch during the March Madness and if he gets going then chances are he will propel his team to a respectable position in the tournament.

RJ Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis is one of the top players this season. He has smashed an astounding 21.3 points per game. The primary reason for having a brilliant points average is his shooting skills. He has an exemplary field goal percentage of 43.2% with a brilliant 41% three-pointer percentage. Davis has been the alpha for his team this season and demonstrated a high ceiling. Some of his best performances have been against the Wake Forest when he shattered 36 points. 

Other than that, Davis has stepped up whenever his team has demanded. His memorable displays this season have come against the University of Connecticut Huskies and the Kentucky Wildcats.

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It is due to Davis that the Tar Heels have a 20-6 stat and are ranked at the top spot in the ACC. If the Tar Heels are to make anything of the March Madness, then Davis will play an important role in their plans.

Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks have a 20-6 tally and are ranked at the third spot in the Big 12. And major reason for their success this season has been their guard Kevin McCullar Jr. McCullar Jr. has smashed an average of 19 points per game with 6.4 rebounds per match. Therefore, he has done decently well in both departments. His season-best performance came against the Yale Bulldogs when he smoked 34 points. 

His other swoon-worthy performances this season have come against the University of Connecticut Huskies when he smoked 21 points and another important contribution was during their match against the Houston Cougars when he smashed 17 points. He has therefore proved his mettle against top-ranked teams. If the Jayhawks are to have an exceptional season then McCullar Jr. will play a central role in their plans. And going forward he can amp up his game, especially during big matches that will surely help the Jayhawks realize their dreams of performing well this season.

Kyle Filipowski, Duke Blue Devils

The Blue Devils have a 21-5 record and occupy the top position in the ACC with a conference record of 12-3. Filipowski has been the alpha for his team smoking 16.9 points per game and grabbing 8.2 rebounds per game. He has played the role of a center to perfection for his team. His season-best performance of 30 points came against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Other than that, he also smashed 28 points against the Hofstra Pride.

He also smashed 8 double-doubles this season so far. His one of best performances this season came against the Louisville Cardinals when he smoked 17 points with 15 rebounds. The Duke Blue Devils would be looking to get a place for themselves, proving to fans the credibility of Jon Scheyer. Since Coach K’s departure, there has been a big gap in the Duke management, and the need to prove his worth might propel Scheyer to help his team win matches during the March Madness.

Tristen Newton, University of Connecticut Huskies

The University of Connecticut Huskies have proven themselves to be worthy of being on the list of this year’s title contenders. They have a 24-3 record and are placed atop in the Big East. Their outstanding performance this season has been a result of a collective team effort. But on an individual level, the player who has helped them provide the impetus to an outstanding season is their guard Tristen Newton. Newton has soused 15.4 points per game with 6.9 rebounds per match.

He has had an impeccable season considering from the shooting point of view. With a 41.3% field goal percentage and a 30.4% three-pointer percentage, Newton has been an absolute delight for his team. His season-best performance of 31 points came against the Kansas Jayhawks. There is no denying the fact that he can damage big opponents. The Huskies surely rely on his services during crucial games and it remains to be seen if Newton can take the Huskies to consecutive titles.