From Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the projected first overall NBA draft pick, to Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers, the first overall WNBA draft pick, to Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., an emerging superstar, there was no shortage of star power in this year’s March Madness.
For the second time in men’s tournament history, the four highest-ranked teams made it to the Final Four. The Auburn Tigers, Duke Blue Devils, Florida Gators, and Houston Cougars excelled on both ends of the court, giving way to some highly competitive matchups as the teams went head-to-head toward the latter end of the tournament. Led by freshmen phenoms Kon Knueppel and Flagg, both projected lottery picks according to Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, Duke’s highly talented yet relatively inexperienced squad was poised for a big run.
“Flagg’s ability to score from anywhere on the court, along with his size, makes him very difficult to stop, and it makes him a nightmare for any defense,” said Athletics Department Coordinator Tanner Stevens. “All season, Flagg has consistently proven he is the best player in college basketball and deserves to be the number one overall pick.”
Flagg and Knueppel, who averaged 21 and 15 points throughout the tournament, respectively, powered the Blue Devils to their 18th Final Four appearance in program history. Flagg, who recently won the coveted National Player of the Year award, was the third-highest scorer in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the regular season and finished second in the race for the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award. However, one of the more underrated aspects of his game might be his playmaking.
“Cooper certainly had lots of talent around him, which always helps, but he was also able to elevate those around him by creating scoring opportunities for others due to his ability to facilitate,” Stevens said.
On the other side of the bracket, an experienced Auburn Tigers team proved their basketball aptitude throughout the regular season and the tournament.
Johni Broome, one of four starters who did not commit to Auburn out of high school, led his team the whole way, averaging nearly 17 points with tremendous efficiency throughout the tournament.
Broome started at an FCS school, and his success story makes an interesting case for the transfer portal.
“The [transfer] portal is a convenient way for players to escape poor conditions, but it also creates a major decision for players that could break their career,” said Social Sciences Instructor Charlie Aslesen. “Luckily for Broome, he made the right choice which allowed him to be in a position to nearly win a championship.”
The Tigers’ experience makes a strong argument regarding the correlation between veteran players and success.
“I certainly think the experience and seniority of Auburn is a major piece of why they were successful,” Aslesen said. “They were a powerhouse, and it was clear when watching them that they knew each other’s game and had an aspect of teamwork that made them very difficult to beat.”
The final two number-one seeds, the Cougars and the Gators, made for an intriguing matchup in the championship game.
Led by guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin and forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, the Gators came into the game with a talented core.
On the other side of the floor, led by L.J. Cryer and Emanuel Sharp, the Cougars battled to their fifth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Kelvin Sampson.
The championship game was exciting, as the Gators secured the victory despite only leading for 64 seconds. Guard Will Richard gave the Gators a huge scoring boost, shooting well over 50% on his three-point shot attempts. L.J. Cryer spearheaded the Cougars, leading the team in scoring. Ultimately, the Cougars could not match the firepower of the Gators. The Cougars’ loss certainly does not take away Sampson’s outstanding track record as their head coach, though.
“Coach Sampson is an incredible coach and has a demeanor I think is intriguing. He is a pretty low-key guy who expects greatness from his program,” Aslesen said. “What I like about his coaching style is that he seems to lead his team not only as players but as men.”
Clayton skyrocketed up draft boards all tournament, as scouts were impressed with his 22 points per game.
“While I am a big fan of Clayton, he will probably end up in the early 20s due to his age and the league’s desire to draft young guys with more room for development,” Stevens said.
Just a year removed from Caitlin Clark’s dominance, women’s basketball continues to gain momentum. According to Axios, the semifinal game between UCLA and UConn averaged nearly 4 million viewers.
Freshman Sarah Strong and senior superstar Paige Bueckers dominated for the Huskies throughout the entire tournament, ultimately defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks in the national championship; the female Huskies lead the NCAA with 12 titles.
As she moves on to her next chapter in basketball, the expectations for Bueckers are higher than ever.
“I think Paige Bueckers will continue to revolutionize women’s basketball,” said junior basketball player Kira Rameson. “She has been such a big inspiration and influence to so many people, and her exceptional talent will change the basketball world.”
From Clayton’s success as a transfer to Bueckers’ story as a Husky, it is important to remember that each player has a different journey, and each path a player endeavors upon is unique.
These impressive and extraordinary individuals comprise one of the most exhilarating and respected sporting events.
“There is a wealth of talent out in the world, and just because a player comes from a small school does not mean they would fail at a big school,” Aslesen said. “Every player’s journey is different and there are multiple routes towards success.”
