Every year a star performer from a smaller program capitalizes on the rare chance the NCAA Tournament provides for him to play on college basketball’s biggest stage.
One of the most indelible images of last year’s tournament came when Georgia State coach Ron Hunter fell off a stool after his son, R.J. Hunter, made a critical 3-pointer in an upset of Baylor. One year earlier, North Dakota State’s Lawrence Alexander made a name for himself by scoring 28 points while the Bison shocked Oklahoma.
As this week’s NCAA Tournament shifts from Dayton to sites across the country, we’ve put together a list of 10 players worth watching from traditional one-bid conferences. Their performances in conference play suggest they could make the most of this opportunity.
WEBER STATE F/C JOEL BOLOMBOY
First-round game: Friday vs. Xavier at St. Louis.