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5 players to watch during March Madness 2022

March lives on in fame (and infamy) for the heroes it creates. The underdogs it uplifts to incredible moments of glory. But every year, this month of men’s college basketball also presents an opportunity for some premier players to stamp their name into all-time lore. For as much as we preach teamwork and dedication, especially in the context of a college game, no one has as much influence in basketball as a true superstar. With only 10 players on the court at any given moment, they can hold all the power in the world if they want to.

Here’s a primer on the players and names that will likely be used quite often in your household over the next month and perhaps even years.

Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue

Any who’s who list of this March has to start with Purdue’s Jaden Ivey. Not only is this young man a supremely gifted shooter and shot creator on one of the best teams in the country, he’s someone who many believe to be the probable No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.

If you’re not intimately familiar with his work by now, here’s a little taste that assuredly won’t disappoint.

If No. 8 Purdue makes a deep run in this tournament, it’ll likely come on the back of Ivey. Given his stellar play to this point (17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, to go with 46 percent shooting), we’re confident he’ll come through. It should also serve as an excellent preview for what he may accomplish as a soon-to-be professional.

Paolo Banchero, F, Duke

The pride and joy of Italy, the freshman Banchero is the best player on Coach K’s last Duke team, which could very well win the title. As another bonafide NBA talent, that is not a position to be taken lightly.

A 6-foot-10, 250-pound physical freak, Banchero is a wonderfully talented big man with a complete offensive repertoire (16.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and three assists per game). He’s been the inarguable anchor of a Blue Devils squad that is getting blazing hot at the right time.

I mean, how many power forwards can shoot from behind the line like this?

Duke might be in line to cap Coach K’s legendary career with a sixth national championship in the coming weeks. If they do, it’ll probably be thanks to Banchero.

Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga

A year ago, Gonzaga was one game away from capping perhaps the most remarkable (undefeated) season in men’s college basketball history. One devastating blowout loss to Baylor flipped to a victory, and we’re instead talking about the Bulldogs alongside 1990 UNLV and John Wooden’s UCLA.

The likely top overall seed again this March, Gonzaga has a new, massive wrinkle that might put them over the top this time around: Freshman seven-footer Chet Holmgren.

In his first (and likely only) season with Gonzaga, Holmgren has been predictably dominant, even on a stacked squad. 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and a tremendous 43.8 shooting percentage from behind the arc makes this big man an X-factor on an already special team.

It’ll be tough to pick against the Bulldogs this March, and that’s because of Holmgren, who many, unsurprisingly, expect to make a star turn.

Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas

If you follow the blue bloods closely, you were long ago already familiar with Ochai Agbajji. But this season, the senior Jayhawk and likely Big-12 Player of the Year took his game to another level. No. 6 Kansas hasn’t made a deep run into the tournament since the 2017 season. If all goes well, they likely change that this year with Ogbaji leading the way.

Usually, I’d talk about what a 20-point scorer like Ogbaji excels with. But I think surpassing one of the greatest basketball players ever in career scoring speaks for itself.

Jabari Smith, F, Auburn

Another player many scouts believe to be in line for a top pick in this summer’s draft, Smith does it all on offense. If Auburn makes a deep tournament and caps one of its best years in program history, they’ll have to ride Smith’s talents. Not that he isn’t up to the task, of course.

Now imagine that shot with a hand in his face and confetti following. It’s certainly quite possible.

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