DraftKings College Basketball: Elite Eight Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings College Basketball series.

Point = +1 point
Made 3pt. shot = +0.5 PTs
Rebound = +1.25 PTs
Assist = +1.5 PTs
Double-Double = +1.5 PTs
Triple-Double= +3 PTs


With that out of the way, here are some of the best available GPP contests for college basketball this Saturday/Sunday (not all Friday contests are up as of the release of this article):

$20K Full Court Press ($2,500 first prize), Entry Fee: $27
$15K Buzzer Beater ($1,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $3
$15K Triple Threat ($4,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $300
and many more ...

Here's a look at the included games:

Saturday

Arizona vs. Wisconsin
Notre Dame vs. Kentucky

Sunday

Michigan State vs. Louisville
Gonzaga vs. Duke

And there was eight, an Elite Eight. Despite all of the madness March brings, we have eight perennial powerhouses. Arizona and Wisconsin met last year in the same game, though the seeds were reversed. The 2 seed is the slight favorite to reign supreme once again, in what figures to be an interesting matchup at every position. Notre Dame is going to struggle mightily to handle the interior presence of Kentucky, but expect it to do it by limiting fast breaks and trying to win in the half court (and draining tons of threes). Michigan State-Louisville doesn't figure to be a pretty game, but with players getting such high minutes on both sides of the ball there still appears to be some decent fantasy options. Gonzaga and Duke should provide a few players with healthy scoring totals in what should be the highest scoring game of the quartet.

GUARD

Quentin Snider, Louisville ($5,000)

For $5,000 you get 35-plus minutes from a point guard whose just getting better and gaining confidence with every start. He still has some learning to do, especially in terms of distributing. But, getting a big-minute starter regularly attempting more than 10 shots a game makes Snider both a bet on the safe side and a gamble for upside. Michigan State likely will put Denzel Valentine on Terry Rozier, leaving the rest of the backcourt with extra space to work.

T.J. McConnell, Arizona ($7,800)

Wisconsin matches up well at every position defensively, except possibly on the guards. Gasser is a fine defender, but he's far from shutdown status. With the dizzying array of talented frontcourt players this humdinger of a matchup provides, McConnell will once again be the X-factor for his Wildcats; and if they move on it's a safe bet he'll be a big part of it.

Tyler Ulis, Kentucky ($4,600)

Ulis struggled from the floor Thursday, seeing reduced minutes due to foul trouble. The game was over within minutes, with most of the game a formality. Kentucky won't repeat the offensive performance showcased in its shellacking of West Virginia, as Notre Dame will play a much more controlled tempo. Look for Ulis to get back into the high teens, possibly breaking through to 20.

Travis Trice, Michigan State ($8,000)

Trice has simply been superb in the tournament, with lethal shooting regardless of the opponent. In a game in which a lot of the players will be leaning on brute athleticism, Trice's finesse stands as a change of pace and a good source of offense. Quentin Snider, a freshman who's mediocre defense shouldn't pose much of an issue, likely will face up with him on defense.

Gary Bell Jr., Gonzaga ($4,500)

About as cheap as I can solidly recommend going on any player from the weekend's set of games, Bell will see a full slate of minutes as long as he isn't once again hindered by foul trouble. He's the Zag's best on-ball defender and will have his work cut out for him against Tyus Jones. He should see 30-plus minutes, in what figures to be the highest tempo game of the set. He shoots a fair amount of threes, so if he could get hot from distance his value has the potential to get fairly high. Bell is a similar play to Ulis, slightly higher upside.

FORWARD

Stanley Johnson, Arizona ($7,500)

Playing matchups, Johnson figures to be the most difficult to guard for the Badgers. He has the mobility and shooting ability of a guard, while have the body of a forward. He's similar to Duke's Justise Winslow.

Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin ($7,300)

Hayes had every opportunity to put up a very good score last time out against UNC, but he couldn't get his shots to drop and was guarded by the longer Brice Johnson. It's expected shutdown defender Hollis-Jefferson will be on Dekker, so Hayes figures to be the prime benefactor with a little easier matchup.

Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona ($4,900)

Kaminsky helps Tarczewski, as Tarczewski will be designated to try to slow Frank the Tank down getting a full slate on minutes in the process. His production is one the rise, as is his court time, so getting sub-$5,000 for someone of this quality figuring to get a good share of minutes makes a lot of sense.

Trey Lyles, Kentucky ($5,600)

Lyles has both earned a fair amount of court time and has provided consistent production. Playing small forward, he's a matchup nightmare and has shown he has fairly good ball handling skills (especially for his size). He is a good rebounder and shoots a high percentage; a good, cheap option Notre Dame figures to struggle to guard.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky ($6,600)

He's been hacking and not playing. The angle is seeing his teammates soar without him will inspire him to not foul, and when he's on the court he's a premier post player. He'll be drafted in the top three, and talent that good against a Notre Dame defense that will have no answer is an equation for a lot of upside. He's proven he's a risky play, but he's also proven he can put up huge numbers.

Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame ($3,300)

Colson represents the "wild-card special." Nothing recently makes Colson even slightly a good play, but the size of the Wildcats should give Colson an extended run. Plus, Auguste seems a very good candidate for foul trouble, which would also figure to lead to Colson getting extended run. Its super risky, but Colson does seem to make a sliver of sense and certainly stands as a change-of-pace play.

Jahlil Okafor, Duke ($9,600)

Utah swarmed Okafor with double and triple teams every time he touched the ball; the result Winslow once again had a big night. Gonzaga may or may not make Okafor such a focal point, but Okafor's defense and rebounding has improved. Okafor has huge upside, how much really just comes down to how Gonzaga chooses to defend him in relation with the rest of his teammates.

Justise Winslow, Duke ($8,500)

If you don't go Okafor, it's wise to shift to Winslow's direction. When too much attention is put on Okafor, Winslow has stepped up repeatedly with large point totals, a lot of rebounds and a fair amount of assists. His average in the NCAA Tournament is well more than 30 FPTs, but there is a negative correlation between Okafor's production and Winslow's, so to maximize points, go with just one of the two.

Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga ($5,500)

Sabonis quietly had a good night against UCLA as fellow paint presence Karnowski really stole the show. Sabonis is the better rebounder, and Okafor has size comparable to Karnowski's with better feet. At the discounted price, Sabonis has more upside (and honestly just more talent).