NCAA Tournament Preview: Player Rankings

NCAA Tournament Preview: Player Rankings

This article is part of our NCAA Tournament Preview series.

Below are our player rankings for this year's NCAA Tournament. Rankings are based on points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Points were awarded for each stat according to the rules of the annual March Madness Draft on RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius/XM radio:

PPG = 1 point
RPG = 1.5 points
APG = 1.5 points
SPG = 2 points
BPG = 2 points

Rankings are also based on possible games played. But because balancing those factors can be tricky — a player with a lower scoring average who is certain to play multiple games is a better pick than a higher-scoring player who is likely to play fewer games — possible games are based on seeds to eliminate guesswork.

Seeds 1-4 have the potential to play six games; seeds 5-7 likely won't advance to the Final Four, but could play four games; seeds 8-9 likely will only play two games because the top seeds are waiting in the second round; seeds 10-14 might be able to advance to the Sweet 16, but probably no farther (three games); and seeds 15-16 aren't likely to get out of the first round. No. 1 seeds were given slightly greater weight atop the list, with No. 16 seeds given slightly lesser weight at the bottom. Players on First Four teams were not given an extra game.

Now, if you think, for example, Abilene Christian is going to win the championship (and thus play six games), you'll want to

Below are our player rankings for this year's NCAA Tournament. Rankings are based on points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Points were awarded for each stat according to the rules of the annual March Madness Draft on RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius/XM radio:

PPG = 1 point
RPG = 1.5 points
APG = 1.5 points
SPG = 2 points
BPG = 2 points

Rankings are also based on possible games played. But because balancing those factors can be tricky — a player with a lower scoring average who is certain to play multiple games is a better pick than a higher-scoring player who is likely to play fewer games — possible games are based on seeds to eliminate guesswork.

Seeds 1-4 have the potential to play six games; seeds 5-7 likely won't advance to the Final Four, but could play four games; seeds 8-9 likely will only play two games because the top seeds are waiting in the second round; seeds 10-14 might be able to advance to the Sweet 16, but probably no farther (three games); and seeds 15-16 aren't likely to get out of the first round. No. 1 seeds were given slightly greater weight atop the list, with No. 16 seeds given slightly lesser weight at the bottom. Players on First Four teams were not given an extra game.

Now, if you think, for example, Abilene Christian is going to win the championship (and thus play six games), you'll want to give greater weight to Abilene Christian players in your personal rankings. This list is a starting point.

A few tips for using these rankings:

1. For leagues that only use points scored, click the "points rank" column to sort by points-only rankings.

2. One strategy for March Madness leagues is to back a specific team(s), much like in an NFL playoffs draft. With this strategy, the actual rankings become less important than just having a list of players and teams/seeds. Click the "team" column to sort by teams.

3. To target players from certain seeds, click the "seed" column to sort by seed. However, you should still consult the ranks column to account for player values. For example, if you're only targeting players in seeds 1-4, you wouldn't want to ignore Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham (No. 3 overall) just because he's listed 50-something spots down the order behind every 1-3 seed.

* = Check injury/suspension status. Players out with injury/suspension were eliminated, but the injury status for a number of players, including Michigan's Isaiah Livers, is uncertain as of this posting. For a good roundup of injured players to monitor, go here. Point it out in the comments if one slipped through.

Here's to March Madness.

(Click column headings to sort.)

RANKPTS RANKPLAYERTEAMSEEDPTSREBASTSTLBLK
11Luka GarzaIowa223.78.81.80.61.7
22Ayo DosunmuIllinois120.76.35.31.10.2
35Cade CunninghamOklahoma State420.26.33.61.40.8
44Drew TimmeGonzaga118.77.12.00.70.7
56Kofi CockburnIllinois117.69.60.10.31.2
68Jared ButlerBaylor117.13.34.82.00.4
716Jalen SuggsGonzaga114.35.54.52.00.3
821Derek CulverWest Virginia314.69.81.10.80.7
915Trevion WilliamsPurdue415.69.02.10.70.6
107Quentin GrimesHouston218.06.01.91.30.3
113Corey KispertGonzaga119.24.91.80.90.4
1226Franz WagnerMichigan112.86.22.91.41.1
1313Miles McBrideWest Virginia315.53.84.71.80.3
1442Herb JonesAlabama211.26.53.41.81.1
159Moses MoodyArkansas317.45.91.71.10.6
1619Davion MitchellBaylor114.12.65.42.00.3
1712E.J. LiddellOhio State215.96.41.70.71.1
1818Hunter DickinsonMichigan114.27.60.80.41.4
1937Joel AyayiGonzaga111.87.03.01.20.2
2033Jay HuffVirginia413.17.11.00.52.6
2144DeJon JarreauHouston211.05.54.41.40.5
2217Joe Wieskamp*Iowa214.76.61.51.00.3
2314Sam HauserVirginia416.06.71.80.50.4
2431Justin SmithArkansas313.06.91.81.10.6
2524Isaiah Livers*Michigan113.16.02.00.60.7
2639Jalen WilsonKansas312.18.22.00.40.3
2710MaCio TeagueBaylor116.24.21.70.90.2
2841RaiQuan GrayFlorida State412.06.52.21.40.8
2927David McCormackKansas313.46.11.10.71.0
3030Matt ColemanTexas313.33.54.11.20.1
3120Andrew JonesTexas314.64.62.21.00.1
3236John PettyAlabama212.35.12.01.30.6
3373Isaac Likekele*Oklahoma State49.66.73.71.10.2
3411Duane WashingtonOhio State216.33.22.90.40.0
3584Justin GorhamHouston28.69.01.10.80.5
3652Scottie BarnesFlorida State411.04.34.21.50.4
3754Marcus GarrettKansas310.44.43.71.60.4
3849Evan MobleyUSC616.88.62.20.93.0
3934Courtney RameyTexas312.63.34.01.00.1
4023Ochai AgbajiKansas314.23.51.91.10.5
4122Jaden ShackelfordAlabama214.23.82.00.90.1
4253Jalen TateArkansas310.43.83.91.10.4
4329JD NotaeArkansas313.33.22.11.50.4
4467Andre CurbeloIllinois19.14.04.00.90.1
4546Justice SueingOhio State210.95.61.51.00.2
4675Jericho SimsTexas39.27.10.60.71.0
4745Jordan BohannonIowa210.93.24.50.60.0
4862Christian BraunKansas39.85.31.91.20.4
4970Kalib BooneOklahoma State49.85.60.90.71.7
5043Avery AndersonOklahoma State411.74.02.01.30.3
5166CJ WalkerOhio State29.43.14.40.90.1
5268Mike SmithMichigan19.12.65.40.50.0
5365Greg BrownTexas39.66.40.40.61.0
5448Trent FrazierIllinois110.42.92.71.30.1
5564Andrew NembhardGonzaga19.22.44.21.10.1
5628Marcus SasserHouston213.12.22.21.20.0
5735M.J. WalkerFlorida State413.02.62.40.90.4
5832Jahvon QuinerlyAlabama212.72.03.00.70.0
5957Jeremiah Robinson-EarlVillanova515.78.31.91.00.5
6080Balsa KoprivicaFlorida State49.25.90.70.31.4
6169Eli BrooksMichigan19.13.02.81.10.3
6238James BouknightConnecticut719.05.71.91.20.3
6359McKinley WrightColorado515.54.35.61.10.3
6478Anthony PoliteFlorida State49.44.41.71.20.5
6555Tre MannFlorida716.05.73.41.50.1
6685Kyle Young*Ohio State28.65.51.30.40.6
6750Chris DuarteOregon716.74.72.31.90.8
68118Neemias QuetaUtah State1115.110.02.51.13.2
6983Kai JonesTexas38.84.90.60.90.8
7051Eugene OmoruyiOregon716.75.22.21.50.5
7156Alex BarcelloBrigham615.94.74.51.00.0
7225Taz ShermanWest Virginia313.61.91.30.90.1
7376Kihei ClarkVirginia49.52.04.60.80.0
7447Trey MurphyVirginia411.33.41.30.80.5
7572Isaiah MillerUNC Greensboro1319.36.94.02.60.3
76100Jason PrestonOhio1316.66.87.21.60.3
7763Jaden IveyPurdue410.03.21.90.70.6
7860Marcus ZegarowskiCreighton515.53.74.31.30.0
7961Matt MitchellSan Diego State615.45.51.91.50.3
8088Aamir SimmsClemson713.36.22.70.90.7
8181Matt-Alex MoncrieffeOklahoma State49.25.10.80.60.3
8279Sasha StefanovicPurdue49.32.72.60.80.1
8393Tramon MarkHouston28.13.11.91.00.2
8489Eric HunterPurdue48.82.12.81.10.2
8586Zach EdeyPurdue49.04.50.30.21.0
86106Colin CastletonFlorida712.05.91.10.52.2
87140Kevin McCullarTexas Tech610.16.12.01.90.8
88102L.J. FigueroaOregon712.36.11.51.60.3
8999Brandon NewmanPurdue48.33.61.40.80.4
90149Chandler VaudrinWinthrop1212.27.26.91.30.1
91105Damien JeffersonCreighton512.15.52.41.20.3
92108Jermaine SamuelsVillanova511.86.32.50.60.2
93169Isaiah WhaleyConnecticut78.16.11.40.92.6
9440Sean McNeilWest Virginia311.82.10.70.50.0
95132Tyrese MartinConnecticut710.77.31.11.10.4
96109Keve AlumaVirginia Tech1015.68.02.20.71.3
9791Desi SillsArkansas38.32.61.51.00.2
9877Adam FlaglerBaylor18.72.41.50.70.0
99114Aaron HenryMichigan State1115.35.73.51.31.3
10092Josh Primo*Alabama28.13.40.90.60.3
101101R.J. Cole*Connecticut712.32.94.41.20.0
102103Rondel WalkerOklahoma State48.13.01.01.20.3
10398Jaden SpringerTennessee512.53.52.91.30.5
10458Mac McClungTexas Tech615.72.72.20.90.3
10571Nah'Shon HylandVCU1019.54.72.11.90.2
106165Josiah-Jordan JamesTennessee58.26.22.01.41.0
107152Isaiah MobleyUSC69.07.41.50.41.0
10896Justin Moore*Villanova512.64.12.90.70.3
109129Christian BishopCreighton510.85.91.20.71.1
110128Alan GriffinSyracuse1114.66.41.91.31.8
11174Jordan SchakelSan Diego State614.34.41.01.00.2
112131Quincy GuerrierSyracuse1114.48.80.90.91.1
113119Matt HaarmsBrigham611.34.81.10.22.0
114136Eric WilliamsOregon710.46.11.70.60.5
11597Denzel MahoneyCreighton512.54.21.71.40.1
116104JaQuori McLaughlinUCSB1216.23.45.21.60.1
117111Jordan BurnsColgate1417.04.45.41.60.2
118117Tyree ApplebyFlorida711.43.03.31.50.1
119141Kyler EdwardsTexas Tech610.04.62.71.00.5
12087Adam MillerIllinois18.22.80.80.60.0
121126Will RichardsonOregon711.13.43.61.00.0
12295Terrence ShannonTexas Tech612.74.11.41.20.2
123144Ben Vander PlasOhio1312.85.73.81.50.6
124142Drew PetersonUSC69.95.02.80.60.3
125155Yves PonsTennessee58.95.40.80.71.9
12682Tahj EaddyUSC613.72.82.60.70.0
127122Keon JohnsonTennessee511.23.42.51.00.5
128113Brandon AveretteBrigham611.52.73.70.80.1
129145Johni BroomeMorehead State1413.99.00.70.61.8
130116Jeriah HorneColorado511.45.80.90.60.1
131195Warith AlatisheOregon State129.98.51.71.21.4
132121Tanner GrovesEastern Washington1416.48.11.40.31.0
133146John Fulkerson*Tennessee59.55.51.70.50.6
134134Aaron WigginsMaryland1014.05.92.61.10.5
135115Ethan ThompsonOregon State1215.33.63.91.30.4
136171Kim AikenEastern Washington1411.78.52.01.41.1
137215Myles JohnsonRutgers108.38.70.81.12.5
138166Nathan MensahSan Diego State68.26.10.60.61.4
139148Jamorko PickettGeorgetown1212.37.41.91.00.6
140112Ron HarperRutgers1015.45.91.60.70.6
141133ShanQuan Hemphill*Drake1114.16.31.51.30.4
142160Justin BeanUtah State1111.37.71.91.30.3
143125Dwight WilsonOhio1314.97.50.70.60.3
144147Qudus WahabGeorgetown1212.48.00.20.41.6
145107Jahvon BlairGeorgetown1215.83.83.70.80.0
146138Evan BatteyColorado510.25.41.00.40.3
14794Ty EtienneWichita State1117.03.52.61.00.1
148137Amadou SowUCSB1213.77.60.60.60.6
14990Buddy BoeheimSyracuse1117.22.52.91.30.1
150139Mitch BallockCreighton510.23.12.50.90.2
151110Darius McGheeLiberty1315.64.42.10.80.4
152124Javion HamletNorth Texas1314.93.34.50.50.0
153170Tucker RichardsonColgate1411.75.94.21.30.3
154123Eric AyalaMaryland1014.94.22.21.10.2
155194Marek Dolezaj*Syracuse119.95.43.11.20.8
156157Jaime JaquezUCLA1111.76.01.41.20.7
157130Jacob YoungRutgers1014.41.93.51.80.0
158154Tyrece RadfordVirginia Tech1011.96.12.10.60.4
159167Donta ScottMaryland1010.96.12.00.70.8
160158Moses WrightGeorgia Tech917.48.02.31.41.7
161201Justyn MuttsVirginia Tech109.66.52.10.60.8
162182Zachary SimmonsNorth Texas1310.36.21.90.70.7
163135Johnny JuzangUCLA1114.04.11.80.80.3
164192Marco AnthonyUtah State1110.05.03.10.90.4
165175Tyger CampbellUCLA1110.52.35.61.10.0
166180Alterique GilbertWichita State1110.33.14.11.50.1
167174Vince WilliamsVCU1010.65.22.21.00.2
168183Thomas BellNorth Texas1310.35.80.90.71.2
169156Austin ReavesOklahoma817.75.74.70.90.4
170164Trendon WatfordLSU816.77.43.01.20.5
171127Victor BaileyTennessee511.02.01.60.60.2
172225Osun OsunniyiSt. Bonaventure910.59.52.40.82.9
173163De'Von CooperMorehead State1412.25.02.40.60.4
174185Tremell MurphyDrake1110.25.21.20.80.9
175188Geo BakerRutgers1010.13.23.11.30.5
176168James ReeseNorth Texas1310.84.51.41.50.2
177176Adonis ArmsWinthrop1210.54.81.80.90.3
178187Chudier BileGeorgetown1210.25.10.81.00.8
179191Cameron KrutwigLoyola Chicago815.06.73.01.11.2
180153Al-Amir DawesClemson79.02.11.80.90.2
181161Kolton KohlAbilene Christian1412.34.81.50.41.0
182211Blake PrestonLiberty138.96.41.40.50.4
183203Miles NorrisUCSB129.64.51.80.70.9
184204Joe GirardSyracuse119.52.83.41.50.1
185184Jose AlvaradoGeorgia Tech915.33.64.22.90.0
186200Joey HauserMichigan State119.75.71.50.40.2
187186Cody RileyUCLA1110.25.21.20.40.6
188172Skyelar PotterMorehead State1411.75.81.10.60.1
189214Garrett SturtzDrake118.45.61.11.20.3
190120Cameron ThomasLSU822.63.41.40.90.2
191177Jules BernardUCLA1110.44.81.40.50.1
192199Kyle LoftonSt. Bonaventure914.63.65.51.50.1
193178Tyler RobertsonEastern Washington1411.33.63.00.70.1
194196Joe PleasantAbilene Christian1410.85.41.20.70.3
195159Jack FergusonColgate1412.64.51.00.50.3
196197Morris UdezeWichita State119.84.70.40.60.9
197198Keyshaun LangleyUNC Greensboro139.81.83.41.10.1
198173Javonte SmartLSU815.93.64.01.30.1
199181Chris ParkerLiberty1310.32.13.50.70.0
200205Dru SmithMissouri914.13.53.92.00.3
201190Michael DevoeGeorgia Tech915.14.33.31.30.3
202150Joseph YesufuDrake1112.11.71.81.10.1
203162Ajare SanniUCSB1211.22.71.80.80.0
204143Jared LucasOregon State1212.92.11.20.70.0
205202Joshua LangfordMichigan State119.63.41.70.60.3
206216Armando BacotNorth Carolina812.38.00.80.60.9
207217Jeremiah TilmonMissouri912.37.00.90.81.4
208151Max AbmasOral Roberts1524.23.23.71.50.2
209179Naheim AlleyneVirginia Tech1010.32.71.70.70.1
210209Kevin ObanorOral Roberts1518.29.51.20.40.8
211219Darius DaysLSU811.77.90.71.20.2
212220Dominick WelchSt. Bonaventure911.76.12.21.30.3
213193D.J. BurnsWinthrop1210.03.30.50.60.5
214230Day'Ron SharpeNorth Carolina89.77.71.50.80.9
215210Jaren HolmesSt. Bonaventure913.65.42.01.00.1
216208D'Mitrik TriceWisconsin913.73.44.00.90.0
217221Jordan UsherGeorgia Tech911.54.12.71.60.7
218189Charles FaldenWinthrop1210.13.20.50.80.1
219213Micah PotterWisconsin912.85.91.20.60.6
220227Garrison BrooksNorth Carolina810.16.81.40.70.8
221218Jalen AdawaySt. Bonaventure912.36.11.50.50.4
222226Asbjorn MidtgaardGrand Canyon1514.09.80.70.41.3
223222Torrey PattonCleveland State1514.98.02.71.00.1
224206Xavier PinsonMissouri914.12.82.81.10.0
225212De'Vion HarmonOklahoma812.93.42.01.10.0
226224Caleb LoveNorth Carolina810.52.63.61.20.4
227223Brady ManekOklahoma810.85.10.90.50.8
228207Isaiah RossIona1518.43.81.51.50.1
229233Nelly Junior JosephIona1511.47.61.30.61.5
230232Jovan BlacksherGrand Canyon1511.93.75.31.60.1
231231Brad DavisonWisconsin99.43.42.31.10.0
232236Lucas WilliamsonLoyola Chicago88.23.82.11.40.1
233228Alessandro LeverGrand Canyon1513.35.41.70.30.2
234235Michael WeathersTexas Southern1616.55.23.52.21.1
235237Tre GomillionCleveland State1510.55.22.40.80.2
236229Asante GistIona1513.32.13.70.70.1
237238D'Moi HodgeCleveland State1510.53.81.61.60.7
238239Devante CarterNorfolk State1615.55.34.01.10.5
239234Camren WynterDrexel1616.83.65.31.00.1
240240Damian Chong QuiMount St. Mary's1615.14.25.50.90.1
241245James ButlerDrexel1612.99.21.70.30.8
242241Austin WilliamsHartford1613.76.21.61.10.4
243250Nana OpokuMount St. Mary's1610.37.01.20.42.1
244247Traci CarterHartford1611.73.23.42.60.3
245249 Joirdon Karl NicholasTexas Southern1611.37.00.80.61.2
246244Michael AlmonacyAppalachian State1612.94.22.91.40.1
247242Adrian DelphAppalachian State1613.24.51.31.30.5
248243Justin ForrestAppalachian State1613.03.42.61.50.1
249246John WalkerTexas Southern1611.95.41.20.61.1
250248Joe Bryant Jr.Norfolk State1611.64.31.91.20.1

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