2022 March Madness Players To Watch

Nearly averaging a double-double with 3 blocks/game, as a true freshman, Holmgren is one of the best recruits in Gonzaga program history near the top. Holmgren is a legit seven-footer with shades of Kevin Durant with inside-out scoring ability at his size, which makes him an impossible guard while defensively he's an excellent help-side defender because of his elite shot-blocking ability.

Coach K’s final season will conclude with the Blue Devils possibly having the best freshman in the sport once again in Paolo Banchero. Banchero has all the physical skills as far as size, strength, and athleticism. He can also make shots. With a chance to be ACC Player of the Year and a darkhorse for National Player of the Year, Banchero and the Blue Devils hope to send Coach K off with a bang in this year's tourney. 

After a one-year absence from the NCAA Tournament, Auburn bounced back with a strong season thanks to the addition of Top-5 freshman Jabari Smith Jr.. Smith is a 6'10" modern-day four-man - a good shooter, defender, and scorer - which has translated nicely to a talented Auburn team that leads the SEC. The son of former LSU star Jabari Smith Sr., the Auburn standout hopes to match or beat his father's former Sweet Sixteen (2000) success with his own squad of Tigers this March Madness. 

Coming into this season, Purdue had high expectations thanks to their two potential All-Americans, headlined by breakout candidate Jaden Ivey who forms a nice two-man inside/out game alongside Trevion Williams. Ivey is a 6'4" guard who was rather inefficient last season, but came on strong late, while he showed himself to be a big shot maker. Ivey has gained much more consistency as a shooter and playmaker in 2022, as Purdue looks to make a deep run this March.

If I told you Ochai Agbaji had the third best odds to win the 2022 Wooden Award, would you believe me? An irreplaceable cog in the Kansas machine, Agbaji is as steady as they come. But one could argue he’s also Kansas’ 4th most important player (*gasp*), which has been a scary proposition for Big-12 adversaries all season. As a one seed Kansas is primed for a deep run and it'll take a string of big games from Agbaji to get his Jayhawks to the Final Four.

A First-Team All American one season ago, Drew Timme is a dark horse in the Player of the Year race for good reason. Timme has shown himself to be an outstanding big man with a great throwback, post-up game. He scores extremely efficiently, he’s a good rebounder, and has incredibly skillful footwork. Alongside his frontcourt mate and projected lotto pick Chet Holmgren, the duo look poised to finally lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever National Championship win.