Just one aspect of the beauty of March Madness is that so many young, aspiring athletes get a chance to play on the big stage. Only one team out of 68 is left cutting down the nets at the end of each year, though, meaning that this could be the one chance any given player gets at a national spotlight.
It's hard enough to make it all the way to the NBA, let alone go to a big-time playoff game in a lead role once you're there. DeMarcus Cousins, for example, played in four tournament games in one year of college basketball. It took him nine years to even make one playoff game in his NBA career.
But here at RADIO.COM, we like to give all former college stars a chance in our hypothetical NBA March Madness breakdown. Which colleges have the best NBA representation? Which schools produce the most alumni? Who would put together the strongest team? VOTE in our bracket below! If last year's results were any indication for this year, Duke could come out on top once again.
In order to qualify, there must be at least five active NBA players to represent the college. Teams are ranked by both quality and quantity of players. Let's find out who comes out on top.
All stats retrieved from Basketball Reference, Sports Reference and Real GM. Player Efficiency Rating (PER) next to each player's name. CBS Sports' Alumni Tracker used for reference.
Just Missed: Florida (6 active alumni)
Bradley Beal played one year for the Florida Gators.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Chris Chiozza (9.8)
G: Bradley Beal (22.8)
F: Dorian Finney-Smith (12.3)
F: Udonis Haslem (3.1)
C: Al Horford (14.9)
The tragic car accident that left former Gator Chandler Parsons with severe injuries makes Florida a bubble team in the tournament. Bradley Beal has completely put the Wizards on his back and though they're not a good team, he should be proud of his accomplishments to this point. Averaging 30 points per game, no matter the circumstances, is an impressive feat.
Beal gets veteran help down low from Al Horford, and Dorian Finney-Smith is a starter on a good team, but the roster doesn't offer much else.
Just Missed: Tennessee (7 active alumni)
Tobias Harris reaches for a ball while playing for the Tennessee Vols.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Jordan McRae (15.4)
G: Josh Richardson (12.1)
G: Admiral Schofield (6.8)
F: Tobias Harris (16.4)
F: Grant Williams (8.3)
The Vols have built-in chemistry not only in college, but in the duo of Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson — undoubtedly the leaders of this squad. McRae enjoyed some really solid appearances with the Wizards earlier in the year, including a 35-point outburst against the Blazers, but has since seen his role become diminished in Denver.
Schofield, Williams and bench presence Jordan Bone are all raw and unproven at 22 years old or younger, but the three have shown glimmers of potential.
No. 16 Seed: Villanova (8 active alumni)
Kyle Lowry talks with then-teammate Allan Ray.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Kyle Lowry (17.5)
G: Donte DiVincenzo (14.6)
F: Mikal Bridges (12.9)
F: Eric Paschall (13.5)
F: Omari Spellman (14.5)
Although Nova is the bottom seed in this faux NBA March Madness tournament, they've got to be feeling pretty good about their talent. Kyle Lowry played a huge role on a fairly shocking Finals team just last year, but unlike those Raptors, there's no Kawhi Leonard or Pascal Siakam in sight on this roster.
Instead, there's a young supporting cast, all of whom are 23 years old or younger (including bench weapon Jalen Brunson) and whom have found success in the NBA at an early point in their careers. Paschall and Spellman have boosted stats given the lack of talent in the Golden State lineup, but Donte DiVincenzo has broken into a stacked Bucks roster and Mikal Bridges eats up several minutes every game in Phoenix.
No. 15 Seed: Virginia (7 active alumni)
The Virginia Cavaliers won the 2019 NCAA Tournament.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Malcolm Brogdon (17.6)
G: Ty Jerome (9.1)
F: De'Andre Hunter (8.6)
F: Joe Harris (12.3)
F: Mike Scott (9.5)
A three-and-D team through and through, Malcolm Brogdon will be the undisputed leader and ball-handler of this squad.
Joe Harris and De'Andre Hunter are double-digit scorers and are viable threats from beyond the arc, but Hunter, Mike Scott and Ty Jerome have not done much to impress this season. The team also lacks depth in a pretty big way.
No. 14 Seed: Michigan (9 active alumni)
Glenn Robinson III and Trey Burke were teammates at Michigan.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Tim Hardaway Jr. (15.4)
G: Caris LeVert (12.3)
G: Duncan Robinson (12.3)
F: Glenn Robinson (13.4)
C: Moritz Wagner (17.2)
Beware the three ball when you play against the NBA iteration of the Wolverines, as all five members of the starting lineup convert opportunities from deep at a solid clip. Duncan Robinson leads the way at 43.4 percent, while big man Mo Wagner does it at 35.4 percent, albeit in a much smaller quantity.
Trey Burke is a good bench scorer who adds onto that three-point barrage, and he, like the rest of Michigan's grads, will need to rely on his accuracy if this team wants to have make a run.
No. 13 Seed: USC (8 active alumni)
Former USC Trojan DeMar DeRozan dribbles past a defender.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Jordan McLaughlin (16.9)
G: De'Anthony Melton (15.2)
G/F: DeMar DeRozan (21.8)
F: Kevin Porter (10.8)
F/C: Nikola Vucevic (21.6)
A nice blend of veterans and youngsters make up the NBA Trojans, but the impact players are the two older guys on the roster. DeRozan and Vucevic aren't necessarily the centerpieces of their respective teams, but they are certainly go-to options and would probably play together similarly to how they play in their current situations: chipping in around 40 points per game as a duo.
Porter, Melton and McLaughlin are all budding pieces of the roster who have found solid roles with their current teams despite late draft positions. Porter went at the end of the first round in 2019, Melton fell to the middle of the second round in 2018 and McLaughlin went undrafted.
Taj Gibson and DeWayne Dedmon provide solid size off the bench.
No. 12 Seed: Michigan State (6 active alumni)
A pumped up Draymond Green celebrates while on Michigan State.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Gary Harris (9.0)
G: Brynn Forbes (11.2)
F: Jaren Jackson (16.2)
F: Draymond Green (12.7)
F: Miles Bridges (12.8)
Jaren Jackson is the only top-10 pick of this group, leading the pack with 16.9 points per game. Bridges, Forbes and Harris are all double-digit scorers on the year, too, but the most experienced star is the lone second rounder.
Draymond Green's versatility will help out a lineup that's lacking a definite center or point guard, and Denzel Valentine can come off the bench to perform in a similar ball-handling capacity.
No. 11 Seed: Arizona (10 active alumni)
Aaron Gordon high-fives his teammates at Arizona.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: T.J. McConnell (16.5)
G: Andre Iguodala (9.5)
F: Aaron Gordon (14.5)
F: Lauri Markkanen (14.4)
C: Deandre Ayton (21.2)
Deandre Ayton and Lauri Markkanen would make for one of the most intriguing front courts in the game as long as they can both stay healthy. Markkanen's inside-outside dual ability and Ayton's imposing interior presence is a really solid foundation, especially when you factor in their ages (23 and 22, respectively).
Iguodala isn't what he once was, but you can't count out his mountains of experience, especially when surrounded by such an inexperienced lineup. Aaron Gordon is solid, but the rest of the Arizona alumni feature some career underachievers, including Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson off the bench. Undrafted free agents T.J. McConnell and Allonzo Trier bring energy to the roster.
No. 10 Seed: UNC (14 active alumni)
Harrison Barnes, John Henson and more former Tar Heels celebrate from the bench.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Coby White (11.4)
G: Danny Green (11.6)
F: Harrison Barnes (13.5)
F: Cameron Johnson (12.1)
C: Nassir Little (9.6)
The NBA Tar Heels aren't flashy. There's nothing spectacular about this lineup. But in a tournament setting, the depth and balance across the board makes them a pretty intimidating force.
The starting five has explosive scoring capabilities at the hands of Coby White, the 2019 No. 7 overall pick who recently caught fire with three-straight 35-point games off the bench. Fellow No. 7 overall pick Harrison Barnes and second-round steal Danny Green can help anchor the young talent. Perhaps the best part of this team is the bench, which offers veterans John Henson, Reggie Bullock, Marvin Williams and, most importantly, legend Vince Carter.
They'll be able to hurt you from deep, where seven different players average three attempts from long range per game. Ball security is another strong suit, as White turns the ball over most frequently at just 1.6 times per contest.
On paper, there are several more exciting teams out there. But the amount of alumni has to be taken into account when considering how UNC is represented in our bracket.
No. 9 Seed: UConn (5 active alumni)
Kemba Walker cuts down the net after leading the Huskies to an NCAA championship.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Kemba Walker (21.0)
G: Shabazz Napier (14.8)
G/F: Jeremy Lamb (14.1)
F: Rudy Gay (14.2)
C: Andre Drummond (21.8)
Walker will look back at his miracle 2011 run for inspiration, but he was part of a third-seeded team back then. UConn will still crack the top 10 here, though, as the duo of "Cardiac Kemba" and Drummond provides scoring, leadership and experience.
Everyone on this team is a capable scorer, as all five players in the starting lineup — which happens to be the entire squad of Husky alumni in the NBA — average over 15 points per 36 minutes.
No. 8 Seed: Louisville (6 active alumni)
Donovan Mitchell dribbles around a screen while on the Louisville Cardinals.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Terry Rozier (14.2)
G: Donovan Mitchell (19.4)
G/F: Damion Lee (12.8)
F: Montrezl Harrell (22.9)
C: Gorgui Dieng (18.3)
While there aren't any top-10 draft picks coming out of Louisville, the Cardinals bring a lot of firepower in a small sample size.
A backcourt of Terry Rozier and Donovan Mitchell should be able to score at will when they're hot, and they are joined by breakout big man Montrezl Harrell to form a trio of scorers all averaging at least 17 points per game in 2019-20. Lee can hit three-pointers and help Harrell and Dieng on the boards, meaning that this lineup doesn't have too many glaring holes.
The squad lacks depth, though, as these five are the only Louisville grads that have played a game in the NBA this year.
No. 7 Seed: Indiana (9 active alumni)
Former Hoosier Victor Oladipo drives to the basket.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Victor Oladipo (6.1)
G: Eric Gordon (11.0)
F: OG Anunoby (12.5)
F: Thomas Bryant (19.6)
C: Cody Zeller (18.5)
This is a solid starting five, up and down the floor. All five of these guys average 10 points per game, with sharpshooter Eric Gordon leading the way this year at 15.2. While none are great distributors, Victor Oladipo has displayed his floor general chops in the past. Bryant and Zeller have both increased their rebounding production this season, each averaging about seven boards per game, and Anunoby can do it all, providing upside to the team.
In reserve are Yogi Ferrell, who is two years removed from starting 81 games for the Dallas Mavericks, journeyman Noah Vonleh and rookie Romeo Langford.
No. 6 Seed: Wake Forest (7 active alumni)
Chris Paul sizes up a defender as a Wake Forest Demon Deacon.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Chris Paul (21.6)
G: Ish Smith (14.0)
G: Jeff Teague (14.5)
F: Al-Farouq Aminu (7.7)
F: John Collins (23.0)
The Deacons provide a lineup of five top-20 picks.
Chris Paul and John Collins are a mean 1-2 punch, and CP3 could look back at his Lob City days to form one of the most exciting alley-oop duos that the NBA March Madness league would have to offer.
Teague and Smith are both experienced guards who are enjoying very similar seasons of around 11 points and five assists per game.
Aminu could split time with another veteran forward in James Johnson, making for a fairly solid Wake Forest lineup. One big hole is height, but Collins' athleticism and commanding interior presence helps to make up for that.
No. 5 Seed: Kansas (11 active alumni)
Former Jayhawks Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins pose during an interview.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Devonte' Graham (15.4)
G/F: Kelly Oubre (15.0)
G/F: Andrew Wiggins (16.6)
F: Marcus Morris (15.6)
C: Joel Embiid (25.8)
This lineup has everything.
Three-point shooting? Check. Graham averages 9.2 attempts per game at a 37 percent clip, leading the charge. Veteran experience? Check. Embiid and the Morris brothers have a plethora of big-game experience. Unlimited potential? Check. Graham, Wiggins and Oubre are all young and could make long strides in the coming years. Bad blood between teammates? That too.
But in this hypothetical, Morris and Embiid would get along (hopefully) and create a very intriguing, high-scoring group of ballers with decent bench depth. Top-10 picks Ben McLemore and Josh Jackson haven't quite lived up to their hype, but they could join largely unproven talent Svi Mykhailiuk, who seems to be outplaying his second-round expectations, to create a fun squad.
No. 4 Seed: Texas (11 active alumni)
Kevin Durant tips a loose ball while on Texas.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Avery Bradley (8.7)
F: Kevin Durant (N/A)
F: LaMarcus Aldridge (19.9)
F/C: Tristan Thompson (17.2)
C: Jarrett Allen (20.7)
Good luck stopping this team around the rim. Eight Texas alumni, not including Kevin Durant, convert their two-point opportunities at a rate higher than 50%.
This oversized group may not be the most logical starting five, but it felt like a disservice — no offense to D.J. Augustin — not to include one of these supremely talented bigs in favor of another guard. The Longhorns have bred a good amount of NBA talent, but the guard position isn't their strong suit.
Instead, bigs like Thompson and Allen are joined by proven commodities Myles Turner and P.J. Tucker and young guys like Mo Bamba and Jaxson Hayes. A pair of No. 2 selections lead this team, though, and give them top-tier talent and tons of experience.
LaMarcus Aldridge would love a change of scenery from his dull San Antonio Spurs, where is enjoying a quality season — with a new and improved three-point stroke — no matter the success of his team. And though he's injured this season, it's impossible not to still consider Durant one of the best players in the league.
No. 3 Seed: UCLA (12 active alumni)
Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook high-five as teammates on UCLA.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Russell Westbrook (21.3)
G: Lonzo Ball (12.8)
G: Jrue Holiday (17.0)
G: Zach LaVine (19.6)
F/C: Kevin Love (17.9)
This lineup may look really small… because it is really small. But Russell Westbrook is currently at the helm of a similar situation in Houston, and it's working well so far. Zach LaVine would be a poor man's James Harden, with him and Westbrook both averaging over 25 points per game. Westbrook, Holiday and Ball all help to facilitate the offense, as they each hold a top-15 spot on the assist leaderboards this season. Kevin Love is a perfect option for a small ball roster that can space the floor and make defense a nightmare for opponents.
But the talent of this lineup doesn't end with its starting five. Norman Powell and Aaron Holiday provide a blend of upside and experience while wing defenders Kyle Anderson and Trevor Ariza give depth to the UCLA roster.
Defending the speed and shooting ability of this team seems like an impossible task.
No. 2 Seed: Duke (27 active alumni)
NBA rookie Zion Williamson celebrates as a member of the Blue Devils.USA TodayPotential Starting Five
G: Kyrie Irving (26.4)
Wing: Jayson Tatum (20.3)
Wing: Brandon Ingram (20.3)
F: Zion Williamson (25.4)
C: Wendell Carter Jr. (16.1)
That is a terrifying lineup. It might even be the best in the competition. The center is clearly the weakness, but Carter has impressed as a nightly double-double threat.
The rest of the roster speaks for itself, however, and the duo of Tatum and Williamson have the potential to be the two best players in the league a few years down the road. That duo, alongside Irving and Ingram, makes up a foursome of players where each contributor averages over 23 points per game.
The talent doesn't stop there, however. J.J. Redick, Seth Curry and Luke Kennard can all come off the bench to rip the net from long range. RJ Barrett, Marvin Bagley III and Gary Trent Jr. are all young, talented scorers. Justise Winslow, Rodney Hood and Cam Reddish are all wings with different skill sets depending on the team's needs.
No. 1 Seed: Kentucky (28 active alumni)
Anthony Davis talks things over with former coach John Calipari.USA TodayJohn Calipari has developed such a large quantity of high quality NBA talent that you can literally create three more-than-competent lineups from the program's alumni. The worst of the three would look like this:
G: Rajon Rondo (13.5)
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17.7)
G: Eric Bledsoe (18.9)
F: P.J. Washington (12.4)
C: Nerlens Noel (22.2)
… or something like that. There are several other options to fill up a solid squad. As for team two:
G: De'Aaron Fox (19.7)
G: John Wall (N/A)
G: Tyler Herro (11.5)
F: Julius Randle (16.6)
C: Enes Kanter (22.1)
That is a lineup with not one, not two, but three legitimate All-Star candidates in the backcourt, and two reliable options to man the paint. While it's not necessarily a lineup that could compete with the top-heavy teams that dominate the NBA, it would probably outperform several leagues around the league.
Team one, however, is a whole different animal:
G: Jamal Murray (18.0)
G: Devin Booker (20.5)
F: Bam Adebayo (20.9)
F: Anthony Davis (28.1)
C: Karl-Anthony Towns (26.7)
There's room for debate on who should belong on which roster — Julius Randle and Bam Adebayo, for example, could foreseeably swap places — but whichever way you look at it, the amount of Kentucky alumni who have found success in the pros undeniably makes them the top seed.
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