NCAA Tournament Preview: Player Rankings

NCAA Tournament Preview: Player Rankings

This article is part of our NCAA Tournament Preview series.

NCAA Tournament player rankings are based on scoring average and possible games played. But because balancing those two 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 from the equation.

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 10-13 might be able to advance to the Sweet 16, but probably no farther (three games); and seeds 14-16 aren't likely to get out of the first round. No. 1 seeds also were given slightly greater weight atop the list, with No. 16 seeds given slightly lesser weight at the bottom. Teams in the play-in games were not considered for an extra game.

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

While rankings are based only on points, additional statistics are listed for those who use them. Click the headings to sort.

* = Check injury status. (Players out with injury were eliminated, but point it out in the comments if one slipped

NCAA Tournament player rankings are based on scoring average and possible games played. But because balancing those two 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 from the equation.

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 10-13 might be able to advance to the Sweet 16, but probably no farther (three games); and seeds 14-16 aren't likely to get out of the first round. No. 1 seeds also were given slightly greater weight atop the list, with No. 16 seeds given slightly lesser weight at the bottom. Teams in the play-in games were not considered for an extra game.

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

While rankings are based only on points, additional statistics are listed for those who use them. Click the headings to sort.

* = Check injury status. (Players out with injury were eliminated, but point it out in the comments if one slipped through.)

Here's to March Madness.

PLAYERSEEDPTSREBASTSTLBLK
1. Doug McDermott, Creighton326.97.01.60.20.1
2. Jabari Parker, Duke319.38.81.21.11.3
3. Russ Smith, Louisville418.33.44.72.10.1
4. Melvin Ejim, Iowa State318.18.51.81.20.7
5. Nik Stauskas, Michigan217.53.13.30.60.3
6. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas217.46.01.61.20.9
7. Jordan Adams, UCLA417.25.32.32.70.1
8. Gary Harris, Michigan417.14.22.71.90.5
9. Nick Johnson, Arizona116.24.02.81.10.6
10. DeAndre Kane, Iowa State317.06.75.81.30.2
11. Xavier Thames, San Diego State416.83.03.21.70.1
12. C.J. Fair, Syracuse316.76.21.31.30.8
13. Cleanthony Early, Wichita State115.85.90.80.80.8
14. Georges Niang, Iowa State316.54.43.60.60.6
15. Rodney Hood, Duke316.43.92.10.70.3
16. Adreian Payne, Michigan415.87.41.30.50.9
17. Casey Prather, Florida114.25.01.71.00.5
18. Kyle Anderson, UCLA414.98.86.61.80.8
19. James Bell, Villanova214.56.11.71.30.6
20. Darrun Hilliard II, Villanova214.33.72.81.30.5
21. JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova214.26.11.40.90.5
22. Montrezl Harrell, Louisville414.28.21.31.11.3
23. Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati520.74.42.61.40.0
24. Ron Baker, Wichita State113.13.63.11.50.6
25. Scottie Wilbekin, Florida113.02.63.81.70.0
26. Perry Ellis, Kansas213.66.51.10.80.6
27. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin213.66.41.30.71.7
28. Michael Frazier II, Florida112.93.51.11.20.2
29. Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico720.37.41.60.61.5
30. Caris LeVert, Michigan213.34.52.81.20.3
31. Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia112.65.62.61.10.1
32. Glenn Robinson III, Michigan213.04.31.20.90.3
33. Ben Brust, Wisconsin212.94.61.30.90.1
34. Fred VanVleet, Wichita State112.13.95.31.90.1
35. Aaron Gordon, Arizona112.17.81.80.90.9
36. Sam Dekker, Wisconsin212.76.21.30.80.6
37. Tyler Ennis, Syracuse312.73.45.62.10.2
38. Joseph Young, Oregon718.62.81.91.30.0
39. *Keith Appling, Michigan412.33.24.61.30.5
40. Joe Harris, Virginia111.72.92.31.00.2
41. Trevor Cooney, Syracuse312.22.11.21.90.1
42. Jerami Grant, Syracuse312.26.91.40.80.6
43. Winston Shepard, San Diego State412.15.22.21.10.4
44. Luke Hancock, Louisville411.72.72.10.80.2
45. Tyler Haws, BYU1023.43.81.51.00.3
46. Marcus Paige, North Carolina617.43.34.31.50.2
47. Shabazz Napier, Connecticut717.45.94.91.70.4
48. Tekele Cotton, Wichita State110.84.12.41.40.3
49. Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona110.16.60.50.10.9
50. Quinn Cook, Duke311.32.14.41.30.0
51. Norman Powell, UCLA411.32.91.81.30.4
52. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma516.84.41.91.40.2
53. T.J. Warren, North Carolina State1224.87.21.11.70.6
54. Kendall Williams, New Mexico716.43.54.91.60.1
55. Dustin Hogue, Iowa State310.78.60.90.70.6
56. Bryce Cotton, Providence1121.43.55.81.00.1
57. Chaz Williams, UMass615.82.87.01.60.2
58. Ethan Wragge, Creighton310.54.00.80.50.1
59. Treveon Graham, VCU515.77.02.00.90.1
60. Traevon Jackson, Wisconsin210.43.63.90.70.1
61. Branden Dawson, Michigan410.48.31.71.31.0
62. Chris Jones, Louisville410.32.23.12.30.1
63. LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State615.46.10.80.70.6
64. Cameron Clark, Oklahoma515.35.51.11.00.4
65. Wayne Selden, Jr., Kansas210.22.82.50.70.3
66. Zach LaVine, UCLA410.02.61.91.00.2
67. Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova29.92.33.41.00.0
68. Devon Saddler, Delaware1319.74.33.60.90.3
69. Davon Usher, Delaware1319.46.11.81.80.4
70. Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke39.62.42.40.80.0
71. George Beamon, Manhattan1319.26.60.81.60.3
72. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina614.26.71.71.30.9
73. Chasson Randle, Stanford1018.73.52.20.90.1
74. Dwayne Evans, Saint Louis514.06.41.31.20.6
75. Jahii Carson, Arizona State1018.64.04.50.70.1
76. Jordan McRae, Tennessee1118.63.52.50.71.0
77. Jordair Jett, Saint Louis513.74.04.81.50.5
78. Taylor Braun, North Dakota State1218.25.53.91.60.2
79. Alex Kirk, New Mexico713.68.71.10.42.7
80. Terran Petteway, Nebraska1118.14.91.60.90.7
81. Jarvis Threatt, Delaware1318.15.85.62.50.2
82. Cory Jefferson, Baylor613.58.41.00.41.3
83. Mike Moser, Oregon713.58.01.71.20.8
84. Langston Galloway, Saint Joseph's1017.54.31.51.10.5
85. Jonathan Holmes, Texas713.07.20.90.61.3
86. Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa1117.33.33.51.80.2
87. Semaj Christon, Xavier1217.12.74.21.30.2
88. Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State1316.84.93.51.90.5
89. DeAndre Daniels, Connecticut712.55.80.50.71.4
90. Isaiah Taylor, Texas712.53.33.91.10.1
91. Jason Calliste, Oregon712.42.01.71.10.1
92. Juvonte Reddic, VCU511.98.40.71.31.1
93. Brady Heslip, Baylor611.81.30.80.50.0
94. Ryan Boatright, Connecticut711.83.53.51.50.2
95. Javan Felix, Texas711.81.82.90.90.0
96. James Woodard, Tulsa1315.75.81.81.00.2
97. Kenny Chery, Baylor611.62.55.01.00.1
98. *Joel Embiid, Kansas211.28.11.40.92.6
99. Cady Lalanne, UMass611.48.00.20.52.2
100. Jermaine Marshall, Arizona State1015.03.01.40.80.5
101. Cameron Ridley, Texas711.28.10.30.52.2
102. Justin Jackson, Cincinnati511.17.21.81.62.9
103. Lenzelle Smith Jr., Ohio State611.15.11.60.80.1
104. Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee1114.710.32.00.71.0
105. Isaiah Austin, Baylor611.05.51.40.53.3
106. Isaiah Cousins, Oklahoma510.84.12.11.20.3
107. Ronald Roberts, Jr., Saint Joseph's1014.47.41.30.41.4
108. Desmond Haymon, Stephen F. Austin1214.33.72.80.90.1
109. Dwight Powell, Stanford1014.26.93.21.30.8
110. Jacob Parker, Stephen F. Austin1214.27.12.01.40.6
111. Sampson Carter, UMass610.54.91.20.50.4
112. Wesley Saunders, Harvard1214.04.73.91.70.8
113. LaDontae Henton, Providence1113.97.81.71.40.6
114. Melvin Johnson, VCU510.42.21.20.90.1
115. Brice Johnson, North Carolina610.46.20.90.81.2
116. Jordan Woodard, Oklahoma510.32.14.71.10.1
117. Leslie McDonald, North Carolina610.32.01.50.50.1
118. Matt Carlino, BYU1013.73.44.31.80.1
119. Marshall Bjorklund, North Dakota State1213.44.31.40.80.2
120. Mike McCall Jr., Saint Louis59.93.82.31.40.1
121. Rob Loe, Saint Louis59.95.42.00.91.3
122. Rob Brandenberg, VCU59.82.11.61.30.3
123. Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma59.89.41.30.60.9
124. Aaron White, Iowa1113.06.71.81.00.6
125. Damyean Dotson, Oregon79.73.21.20.50.2
126. Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin1212.95.02.11.10.2
127. Anthony Brown, Stanford1012.75.02.00.90.1
128. Shavon Shields, Nebraska1112.75.81.60.90.3
129. Briante Weber, VCU59.54.03.83.40.1
130. Jordan Sibert, Dayton1112.52.21.50.80.1
131. Kadeem Batts, Providence1112.47.61.20.30.8
132. Devin Oliver, Dayton1112.17.52.40.90.2
133. Rashad Smith, Tulsa1312.14.91.10.70.9
134. DeAndre Bembry, Saint Joseph's1012.04.52.71.00.6
135. Deshaunt Walker, Stephen F. Austin1212.01.81.20.70.0
136. Michael Alvarado, Manhattan1312.02.84.01.40.1
137. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State917.85.74.72.80.6
138. Justin Martin, Xavier1211.85.21.00.80.3
139. Lamar Patterson, Pittsbugrh917.64.84.31.40.3
140. Eric Mika, BYU1011.76.41.00.50.8
141. Tyler Harris, Providence1111.55.21.41.00.6
142. TrayVonn Wright, North Dakota State1211.55.20.60.91.8
143. DK Eldridge, New Mexico State1311.54.62.00.60.4
144. Markel Brown, Oklahoma State917.15.32.91.01.1
145. Josh Huestis, Stanford1011.48.31.20.51.8
146. Carl Baptiste, Delaware1311.38.00.40.31.4
147. Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State1011.18.30.50.44.1
148. Dyshawn Pierre, Dayton1111.15.61.50.60.3
149. Siyani Chambers, Harvard1211.12.44.71.30.0
150. Tshilidzi Nephawe, New Mexico State1311.17.80.60.41.5
151. Kyle Anderson, Delaware1311.03.80.90.90.3
152. Halil Kanacevic, Saint Joseph's1010.78.84.40.71.5
153. Steve Moundou-Missi, Harvard1210.55.80.60.81.3
154. Matt Stainbrook, Xavier1210.47.32.20.81.0
155. Marcus Foster, Kansas State915.63.22.50.60.2
156. Sim Bhullar, New Mexico State1310.37.91.40.13.4
157. Ralston Turner, North Carolina State1210.22.40.90.60.1
158. Rhamel Brown, Manhattan1310.16.00.70.73.7
159. Sam Dower, Gonzaga815.07.11.00.50.7
160. Julius Randle, Kentucky815.010.51.40.50.8
161. Kyle Casey, Harvard1210.05.71.40.71.2
162. Laurent Rivard, Harvard1210.03.00.80.90.1
163. James Young, Kentucky814.54.11.90.80.2
164. Joe Jackson, Memphis814.33.64.51.60.1
165. Maurice Creek, George Washington914.33.41.81.00.2
166. Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State914.25.71.60.50.8
167. Josh Scott, Colorado814.18.50.60.81.2
168. Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga814.13.33.71.00.0
169. Askia Booker, Colorado814.03.73.41.30.1
170. Aaron Harrison, Kentucky813.83.12.11.10.3
171. Phil Forte, III, Oklahoma State913.31.81.30.80.0
172. Talib Zanna, Pittsbugrh912.98.80.60.60.8
173. *Kethan Savage, George Washington912.74.32.61.90.6
174. Isaiah Armwood, George Washington912.58.51.60.81.6
175. Patricio Garino, George Washington912.24.31.91.60.8
176. Xavier Johnson, Colorado812.05.90.80.80.3
177. Michael Dixon Jr., Memphis811.82.22.41.30.1
178. Shaq Goodwin, Memphis811.86.61.81.31.8
179. Thomas Gipson, Kansas State911.86.50.60.40.5
180. Kevin Larsen, George Washington911.37.01.70.50.7
181. Gary Bell, Jr., Gonzaga811.22.91.71.00.0
182. Andrew Harrison, Kentucky810.83.13.80.50.2
183. Cameron Wright, Pittsbugrh910.63.32.61.80.2
184. Aaric Murray, Texas Southern1621.27.71.20.82.6
185. Jeremy Ingram, NC Central1420.63.81.21.60.7
186. Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga810.26.90.70.31.7
187. David Brown, Western Michigan1419.43.61.81.40.2
188. Elfrid Payton, La-Lafayette1419.15.96.02.30.6
189. Glenn Cosey, Eastern Kentucky1518.83.24.21.30.1
190. Shawn Long, La-Lafayette1418.710.50.60.72.7
191. Davion Berry, Weber State1619.14.34.01.00.2
192. Shayne Whittington, Western Michigan1416.39.11.10.81.6
193. Rashad Whack, Mount St. Mary's1617.74.41.31.70.4
194. Julian Norfleet, Mount St. Mary's1617.52.85.41.60.3
195. Karl Cochran, Wofford1515.75.03.01.70.6
196. Langston Hall, Mercer1414.73.15.61.50.1
197. Elijah Wilson, Coastal Carolina1616.14.10.91.00.2
198. Peter Hooley, Albany1615.72.72.60.80.0
199. Corey Walden, Eastern Kentucky1514.14.23.02.20.0
200. Jesse Reed, American1513.94.41.71.20.5
201. Warren Gillis, Coastal Carolina1614.83.53.21.60.1
202. Spencer Collins, Wofford1512.83.11.30.60.2
203. Josh Cameron, Coastal Carolina1614.12.62.51.00.2
204. Bryant Mbamalu, La-Lafayette1412.54.31.40.90.0
205. Chris Eversley, Cal Poly1613.67.11.71.30.4
206. Tony Wroblicky, American1512.27.33.01.01.9
207. Connar Tava, Western Michigan1412.05.82.81.20.5
208. D.D. Scarver, Texas Southern1613.33.61.50.70.1
209. Darius Gardner, American1511.53.74.22.10.3
210. John Schoof, American1511.43.02.20.40.1
211. Lee Skinner, Wofford1511.28.62.10.90.2
212. Dave Nwaba, Cal Poly1611.94.91.20.80.6
213. Kyle Tresnak, Weber State1611.84.80.80.51.8
214. Sam Rowley, Albany1611.56.71.81.20.6
215. Jordan Parks, NC Central1410.25.60.60.71.2
216. Jose Rodriguez, Texas Southern1611.35.71.70.40.1
217. DJ Evans, Albany1611.23.12.81.40.0
218. Jeremy Senglin, Weber State1611.22.22.30.70.2
219. Sam Prescott, Mount St. Mary's1611.05.01.81.20.3
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Jason Thornbury
Thornbury is a senior editor at RotoWire. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he has also worked in sports television and radio, including co-hosting RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius XM.
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