NCAA Tournament: Names to know before the Dance begins

While filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket, it's valuable to know the names most likely to deliver in big games ahead.

From Duke's Boozers, to Purdue's Kaufman-Renn all the way to Uzan in Houston, we're helping you identify the difference makers setting the tone in the Big Dance.

Darius Acuff, Arkansas

We were all hearts for Acuff before his SEC tournament heroics, capped by a 30-point, 11-assist showing in the title game victory. Maybe the best pure scorer in the bracket, Acuff is instant offense. Deadly at all three levels with unique creativity and a slow heartbeat in pressure moments, he's been virtually unstoppable for the past month and steered the Razorbacks to five wins in a row entering the NCAA Tournament.

Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech

March might be for guards, and Atwell was statistically the best in the nation this season behind the 3-point line. He averaged 3.9 3-pointers per game and shot 45.4% from deep.

Cam Boozer, Duke

A Player of the Year frontrunner who averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Boozer thrived all season with huge performances in spotlight games (18-10 and seven assists to beat Michigan, for example). He's 6-10 and doesn't move like a 250-pounder. Don't put much stock in Boozer's relative dud Saturday night in the ACC title game. It was his third game of heavy minutes in three nights with Duke shorthanded and he came up clutch in the end despite shooting 3-of-17 from the field. The versatile Boozer also had eight rebounds and eight assists against Virginia.

Jaden Bradley, Arizona

Bradley has ice water in his veins and will be the man with the ball when Arizona needs a play late in games. Always in control, Bradley can get his own shot but thrives setting the table.

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Jeremy Fears, Michigan State

A senior with a nose for the ball and a reputation for below-the-belt shots, Fears isn't a fan favorite outside of East Lansing. He carries the clutch gene, sees the floor like the prototype Tom Izzo point guard and is all gamer. He led the NCAA in assists (9.2 per game), edging Purdue's Braden Smith (9.0).

Thomas Haugh, Florida

From a reserve role on the national title team last season, Haugh graduated to a primary scoring spot on the 2025-26 edition of the Gators. He's 6-9 with a pretty shooting stroke.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Few bigs stuff the stat sheet like Jefferson. He recorded two double-doubles in conference tournament play and had a highlight tape performance against UCF (17 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) earlier in the season.

Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue

Teammate Braden Smith likely sets the NCAA all-time assists record in the first round -- he's only one behind Bobby Hurley -- and Fletcher Loyer is a dead-eye 3-point shooter. But Kaufman-Renn put up 20 on the Big Ten tournament clincher over Michigan and shot over 57 percent from the field for the second consecutive year. He had two 20-point games in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and the senior has played nine tournament games in the previous two years.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

The top scorer on a balanced Wolverines offense with five players producing at least 9.7 points per game, Lendeborg had his seventh 20-point game of the season in the Big Ten championship game loss to Purdue. He isn't the volume scorer some are on this list. But he's capable. See the 27 to secure a season sweep of Michigan State, but only 18 total in the next two games. He's a complete player, and one of his shots was the game-winning 3 against Wisconsin in the semifinals.

Labaron Philon, Alabama

Only one opponent kept Philon out of double figures this season and he's a danger to clear 20 every time out. He put up 35 points and seven assists in the double OT win over Arkansas.

Milos Uzan, Houston

Definition of "glue guy" for the Cougars, Uzan is the leader of a dangerous and defensive-minded club battled tested last March. It was Uzan's game-winner that sent Houston to the Elite Eight (over Purdue), and he's a maestro with the ball setting the table for freshman Kingston Flemings (16.4 points per game) and Emanuel Sharp (15.3 ppg).

Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Another freshman with game beyond his years, Wagler plays more with the ball because of his vision and ability off the bounce. His jumper might not be training video worthy, but his range and slashing scoring potential define why he's a hard guard for most defenses.