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There's only one week left in the college basketball season, but the three most important games of the year have yet to tip off. This year's tournament hasn't necessarily been the most exhilarating in terms of buzzer beaters and massive upsets, but the incredible ride NC State has taken to the Final Four is one of the greatest stories in sports over the past few years, which helps make up for the lack of drama.
1-seeds UConn and Purdue, 4-seed Alabama, and 11-seed NC State round out the four surviving teams in this tournament. All took very different paths to get here, but are ultimately fighting for the same glory in the end.
Each of these teams boasts some legitimate star power. This year's Final Four player pool features a Wooden Award winner, another first-team All-American, and several All-Conference players. Here are the 10 best players in the 2024 men's Final Four.
1. Zach Edey, Purdue
This isn't a debate. Edey just dropped 40 and 16 in Purdue's Elite Eight win over Tennessee, which gives him an average of 30 points and 16.2 boards in the tournament this year. You might not like it, but Edey is inevitable due to his combination of size and skill. No one looks equipped to stop him, and for good reason. It's because you can't. You can only hope to contain him, but so far no team has come close.
Zach Edey scored a career-high 40 points to lead Purdue to its first Final Four since 1980 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GoPVrk4N1n
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 31, 2024
2. Mark Sears, Alabama
Sears is my pick for best guard in the Final Four, not the first-team All-American below him. The Ohio transfer has been lights out during the Crimson Tide's run, putting up 24.3 points, 3.8 assists, and almost two steals per game while shooting above 50%. Sears also leads the field in three-point makes with 17, which includes a 7-of-14 performance against Clemson in the Elite Eight. He'll likely need to go well over his average to take down UConn, which will be even more difficult if matched up with Stephon Castle, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
MARK. SEARS.
SIX TRIPLES IN A ROW 🔥#MarchMadness @AlabamaMBB pic.twitter.com/W3S29KR9xr
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 31, 2024
3. Tristen Newton, UConn
Once a relatively unknown transfer from East Carolina that was nowhere near any top-50 portal player rankings two years ago, Newton has blossomed into a legitimate superstar for head coach Dan Hurley. After leading the Huskies in scoring in last season's National Championship, Newton rode that momentum into a first-team All-American season, one of nine Huskies in history to earn that honor.
Newton leads this balanced attack in scoring at 15.0 points per game, is tops in assists, and second in rebounds. The impact and experience he brings for the No. 1 overall seed really cannot be understated. Newton does everything for this team, and if you didn't know, he's also the cousin of former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones!
This rebound from Tristen Newton pic.twitter.com/EZsTMTMrrg
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) March 28, 2024
4. Donovan Clingan, UConn
While Newton had the best overall season of any UConn player, Clingan has been the best player during this Final Four run. The sophomore big man has been a one-man wrecking crew in the paint, exhibiting absolute domination on both ends of the floor only matched by Zach Edey. Clingan made mincemeat of 3-seed Illinois in the Elite Eight, gashing them for 22 points, 10 boards, and five blocks in only 22 minutes of action.
Illinois shot 3/25 from inside the arc (12%) in Donovan Clingan's 22 minutes, going 0-for-19 when challenging him directly, according to @ESPNStatsInfo. He changed the game with his 7'7 wingspan and incredible timing as a rim-protector, while also moving well on the perimeter. https://t.co/beCuzDGXWQ pic.twitter.com/x6COOumfD9
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 1, 2024
5. Braden Smith, Purdue
Contrary to popular belief, Purdue isn't just the Zach Edey show. The Boilermakers would not be in the the position they are in without the stellar play of first-team All-Big Ten and Cousy Award finalist Braden Smith. The sophomore is one of the steadiest floor generals in the nation, and already has two double-doubles in this tournament. He's leading the field in dimes by a wide margin with 38 through four games, including a masterful 14-point, eight-rebound, and 15-assist performance against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.
Braden Smith appreciation post 🔥🙌 @3bradensmith x @boilerball pic.twitter.com/XlnZnICylh
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 30, 2024
6. Cam Spencer, UConn
Like his backcourt mate Tristen Newton, Spencer also earned first-team All-Big East honors and was a few additional made shots away from joining the illustrious 50-40-90 club. The former Rutgers transfer is the best three-point shooter remaining in the tournament (95 makes on 44%), but he's an incredibly underrated playmaker as well, ranking second on his team in assists and seventh nationwide in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Cam Spencer was balling out in the first half 🐺#MarchMadness @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/xS1IaGysjW
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2024
7. DJ Burns Jr., NC State
America's hero. Big man DJ Burns has won over the country with his nimble footwork, feathery touch in the paint, and joyful personality while the Wolfpack have gone on this unprecedented run. Burns, once a three-year player at Winthrop, absolutely dominated the Wolfpacks' Elite Eight game against Duke, scoring 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting.
The Blue Devils had no answer for Burns, who routinely cooked whoever was matched up against him, which included 7-footer and second-team All-American Kyle Filipowski. Burns will have his work cut out for him with Zach Edey looming, but he's beat the odds for nine straight games, so who's to say he can't do it again?
DJ Burns appreciation post:
(🎥 @Frankie_Vision )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 31, 2024
8. DJ Horne, NC State
The other DJ of NC State's incredible duo, Horne has shouldered the scoring load in the backcourt for the Wolfpack over their nine-game wining streak. He's also shown out when the stakes have been highest, dropping 29 on UNC in the ACC Tournament final and pouring in 20 against Duke in the Elite Eight.
Horne is one of those dynamic but streaky microwave scorers that can help carry a team in March and that's exactly what he's done in 2024. Head coach Kevin Keatts may need his senior guard to push for 30+ in Phoenix if he wants to take down Purdue, which Horne is capable of doing.
DJ Horne & DJ Burns in the 2nd half vs. Duke: pic.twitter.com/7RkNw0tRy9
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) March 31, 2024
9. Stephon Castle, UConn
UConn already has two backcourt players on this list, why not throw on another one for good measure? The five-star freshman is already one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. Castle has elite lateral quickness and utilizes his his 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame to make life hell for opposing ball handlers.
His offensive game still needs some polish, but he is still a relentless finisher at the rim who can score through contact. If you don't think Castle should be on this list, just take a look at what he did to Terrence Shannon Jr., the best perimeter scorer in the country who had been unstoppable for the past month and a half.
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Last 7 games vs. UCONN (Today)
30.2 PPG 8
52.8% FG% 16.7%
40.7% 3pt FG% 0%*only game under 10 points all season
— Sean Farnham (@SeanFarnham) March 31, 2024
10. Alex Karaban, UConn
The last member of UConn's starting five checks in at No. 10 on this list, which rounds out the entire lineup. This is the reason why they are -200 to win the title entering the Final Four. Karaban is a versatile stretch four that has a 39% three-point conversion rate over two seasons, and is almost automatic from the line at 88%. Having him as a fourth or sometimes fifth option on offense is simply unfair.
All the talk about Cam Spencer being on 50-40-90 watch only for Karaban to do it in the final game of the season is the most Alex Karaban thing ever.
An incredible achievement. First male at UConn to ever do so and second ever overall at UConn, joining Sue Bird. https://t.co/P2VWP43cK8
— Dan Madigan (@dmad1433) March 12, 2024
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