March Insanity is an occasion identified for making stars. It looks like yearly we see a participant change their lives with a giant time efficiency in March, whether or not it is with one well timed shot like Bryce Drew in 1998 or with a string of legendary performances like Kemba Walker in 2011. Listed here are 5 gamers that might grow to be family names this March.
Bennett Stirtz, Drake
2024-25 stats: 18.9 PTS, 4.4 REB, 5.9 AST, 2.2 STL
What makes him particular: Merely put, Stirtz has shined since transferring to Drake from Division II Northwest Missouri State this previous offseason. The newly-crowned Missouri Valley Convention Participant of the Yr has been the driving drive behind Drake’s historic season, main the workforce in factors, assists and steals per sport.
Stirtz has led Drake in scoring 16 occasions total this season and he’s led the workforce in assists in all however two video games. Stirtz additionally leads the nation in proportion of minutes performed at 98.7 %, which comes out to a outstanding 39.3 minutes per sport.
Why Drake could make a run: Stirtz has been his greatest when Drake wants him probably the most. The Bulldogs are 5-0 in time beyond regulation video games this season and Stirtz has led the workforce in each scoring and assists in 4 of them. If Drake is to make the deep Cinderella run many suspect it’d, it is going to be on Stirtz’s shoulders.
Donovan Dent, New Mexico
2024-25 stats: 20.4 PTS, 2.3 REB, 6.5 AST
What makes him particular: Dent hasn’t been named the Mountain West Participant of the Yr simply but, however the honor was certainly locked up with a 33-point efficiency in Saturday’s 71-67 win over Nevada. With the win, the Lobos captured their first common season Mountain West title since 2014 and all however made themselves a lock for the Massive Dance.
Whereas Dent was snubbed from consideration for just a few different prestigious awards, the sophomore guard completely belongs within the dialog among the many greatest guards in school basketball. Dent ranks within the prime 15 nationally in each scoring and assists and leads within the Mountain West in proportion of possessions used at 28.4 %. Dent doesn’t simply have the numbers, he passes the attention check with flying colours, too. His elite driving and flashy ending means makes him a spotlight reel ready to occur.
Why New Mexico could make a run: Dent’s greatest efficiency of the season was a 40-point, 4 help outing that propelled New Mexico to a 78-71 win over Atlantic 10 co-champion VCU in December, proving that he can deliver it in opposition to anybody. If he continues to play the way in which he has been, New Mexico goes to trigger issues for a favourite this month.
PJ Haggerty, Memphis
2024-25 stats: 21.3 PTS, 5.4 REB, 3.7 AST
What makes him particular: Of the 5 gamers listed, Haggerty could be the most secure wager to make some noise this March. Haggerty is the nation’s sixth main scorer and he’s been the primary purpose behind Memphis’ resurgence after a scandal-ridden marketing campaign a 12 months in the past. Haggerty is a mannequin of flash and effectivity, capturing 49.1 % from the sector total and 40.1 % from 3-point vary. He is additionally a nuisance on the defensive finish, pacing Memphis with 1.8 steals per sport.
Why Memphis could make a run: Haggerty has scored 25+ factors in 9 video games this season, main Memphis to a formidable 25-5 document total. The Tigers additionally ran by the AAC, posting a 15-2 document in convention play. Memphis is a workforce that no person needs to see on their aspect of the bracket and Haggerty’s efficiency this season is the primary purpose why. If there’s anybody within the event who can put collectively a Kemba-like string of performances to steer their workforce on a run, Haggerty matches that invoice completely. With Memphis in place for a No. 3 seed identical to UConn was in 2011, we could possibly be on the verge of some historic deja vu.
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego
2024-25 stats: 19.8 pts, 5.3 reb, 3.4 ast
What makes him particular: Tait-Jones has been the very best participant in school basketball this season that you just’ve in all probability by no means heard of. The 6’6 capturing guard from Wellington, New Zealand leads UC San Diego in all three main statistical classes, whereas additionally capturing the ball at a 58.9 % clip. Tait-Jones has scored 20+ factors 13 occasions this season and he’s been UC San Diego’s main scorer in eight of its final 10 video games.
Why UC San Diego could make a run: UC San Diego has the potential to be some of the charming Cinderella tales we’ve ever seen in March, because the Tritons are eligible for the NCAA event for the primary time at school historical past after finishing the four-year transition to Division 1. UC San Diego isn’t only a good story both, it’d simply be the most well liked workforce in all of school hoops. The Tritons have received two of their final three video games by not less than 39 factors and so they’ve received 10 of their final 11 video games by double-digits. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones could be the Mid-Main model of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with the play fashion and hyphenated title to match. Look out for the New Zealander this month.
Jacob Ognacevic, Lipscomb
2024-25 stats: 20.3 pts, 8.0 reb, 1.5 ast
What makes him particular: This one could be a bit extra of a longshot than the others given Lipscomb’s upset probabilities, however what Ognacevic has completed for the Bison deserves to be acknowledged. Lipscomb enters the Atlantic Solar event as a considerable favourite to seize the convention’s bid to the NCAA event, nearly solely due to their Wisconsin-born scoring machine.
Ognacevic, a Sheboygan native, is the sixteenth main scorer in all of Division I hoops at 20.3 factors per sport. Ognacevic led the Bison in scoring in 22 of their 32 common season video games and he’s scored 20+ factors every of Lipscomb’s final seven video games and in 18 video games this season total.
Why Lipscomb could make a run: Lipscomb is probably going a No. 13 seed in keeping with most bracketologists ought to it win the ASUN event, which provides the Bison a small likelihood at pulling off a giant time upset within the first spherical. Ognacevic’s scoring means may definitely pose issues for an opponent if they’ve an off-shooting evening.
