Wooden Award-level players apparently make a real difference in terms of team performance. The 2021 men's NCAA tournament field and this ranking of its best players both feature Wooden finalists front and center.
Collin Gillespie is, unfortunately, injured for Villanova, and, yes, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis and Western Kentucky's Charles Bassey are both watching the tournament from home. That said, the other 12 Wooden finalists are all champing at the bit to propel their teams deep into the bracket. They're all here, along with 38 other players meriting special recognition.
First, a note on who's not here in addition to Gillespie. Michigan's Isaiah Livers is sidelined until further notice by a foot injury. Georgia Tech's Moses Wright is being held out of action for the time being due to COVID-19. We wish both players a speedy return.
Here are the top 50 players in the 2021 NCAA tournament:
Brackets are open! Head to Tournament Challenge and fill out your bracket now!