It’s fun to bet on March Madness games for the average college sports fan. Do you want to know what can also be eye-catching? Digitally marketing the marquee players who make it into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA makes its money by displaying key players’ photos at the arenas where they will be playing that weekend.
There are several players to keep an eye on during the NCAA Tournament. The March Madness Odds will stay the same for now and it doesn’t affect how the players will be marketed. So the question is: Which players will be marketed by the NCAA come tournament time? Let’s take a look.
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Chet Holmgren is one of the most marketable players in the entire NCAA Tournament. He is projected to be one of the top picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Holmgren is on a basketball team that will be the projected number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Holmgren is 7’0” and when people hear his name, they turn on the television to see what the big man can do in a basketball game. He is one of the most recognizable players in this year’s NCAA tournament.
Paolo Banchero, Duke
Anytime the Duke Blue Devils are in the NCAA Tournament, they always have at least one or two players that are marketable. Duke hasn’t had a big name since Zion Williamson. Paolo Banchero is nowhere near Williamson’s level in terms of marketability, but he is Duke’s best player and has the chance also to be one of the top picks in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Banchero is 6’10” and has the physical ability to take over basketball games for the Blue Devils. He could be one of those players who could explode for 30 points in a game in the NCAA Tournament, but Duke could still lose by double digits.
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Every couple of years, the Villanova Wildcats have a marquee player in the NCAA Tournament who can carry them to a possible NCAA Title. In past years, they had Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Mikal Bridges, and Ryan Arcidiacono. Collin Gillespie is the next one at Villanova that will be the star in the spotlight in the NCAA Tournament.
This is his last go round with them. But Gillespie is the veteran leader who can take over a basketball game on both ends of the floor. He is 6’3” and nothing seems to faze him.
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Cockburn has been talked about as one of the best big men in college basketball. Illinois is in a prime position again to potentially make noise in the NCAA Tournament because of him. He is 7’0” and is a double-double machine every time he touches the floor.
Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Ivey is one of the most electrifying guards in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. He has carried the Purdue Boilermakers for most of the season. Jaden Ivey is their best guard since Carsen Edwards carried them to the Elite 8 against Virginia back in 2019.
Ivey is one of those players that can have a Kemba Walker/Shabazz Napier-like performance reminiscent of when UCONN won it all in 2011 and in 2014. Ivey is 6’4” and was one of the best players in the Big Ten Conference throughout the regular season.
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Tshiebwe was the SEC Player of the Year and he was also a double-double machine for the Kentucky Wildcats. He is one of the best big men in the country at 6’9” and will be one of the reasons why they could potentially cut down the nets in late March or early April.
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Jabari Smith is in line to be one of the top picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. He is 6’10” and is one of the best offensive players for Auburn. Smith is one of those players that will be talked about a lot in the NCAA Tournament.
