Ranking the 20 biggest freshman runs in males’s March Madness
- Myron MedcalfMar 21, 2025, 07:00 AM ET Close Covers college basketball Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato
Duke’s Cooper Flagg is wishing to join a list of freshmen to lead their groups to national championships. The national player of the year front-runner and presumed No. 1 choice in June’s NBA draft could join that group if he leads the Blue Devils to their sixth national title and initially of the Jon Scheyer era.Below is a ranking of the 20 biggest NCAA tournament runs by freshmen– who weren’t qualified to play up until 1972– in the history of guys’s college basketball. We limited consideration to players who helped their groups reach the nationwide title game, giving more weight to those who in fact won the crown and accounting for quality of performances through the complete competition(not just a remarkable game or two). Our apologies to all of the great freshmen who disappointed the final game, however we had to cut the note down in some way.20. Derrick Coleman, Syracuse (1987)Coleman did not leave the 1987 NCAA competition with a champion, however he came close. As a freshman, he averaged
10.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks as he led the Orange to wins over multiple groups with future NBA standouts– including Florida and North Carolina– before Syracuse lost the title game to Bobby Knight’s Indiana squad, which was led by Steve Alford.Editor’s Picks
1 Related 19. Gene Banks, Duke (1978)Believe it or not, Duke basketball didn’t start with Mike Krzyzewski. 2 years before the famous coach’s arrival, Banks fueled Duke’s trek to the program’s second nationwide title game, where the Blue Devils lost to Kentucky. But Banks was dazzling: He balanced 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds in 5 NCAA tournament games as a freshman.18.
Gerry McNamara Jr., Syracuse (2003 )
Yes, Carmelo Anthony was the star of Syracuse’s splendid run to the 2003 championship game, but McNamara was a capable Robin to Anthony’s Batman. McNamara averaged 13.3 points and 2.5 takes in the tournament, connecting on 41% of his 3-point attempts, which assisted him make a spot on the all-tournament team next to Anthony.17.
Stephon Castle, UConn (2024 )
Throughout UConn’s second successive national championship run last season, opposing backcourts devoted 24 turnovers versus the Huskies in the tournament. Castle (12.5 points per game in 6 games) played elite defense, most especially in the national championship game when Purdue star Braden Smith (4-for-12) resisted his pressure. Castle showed early signs of future NBA stardom during that run a year ago.16.
Patrick Ewing, Georgetown (1982 )
Before Michael Jordan became a national star for his game winner in the 1982 title game, Ewing nearly stole Jordan’s magnificence. In his team’s 63-62 loss to North Carolina in the championship, the 7-foot big male registered 23 points, 11 rebounds, 3 takes and 2 blocks. Although Ewing (13.2 points per game in the 1982 NCAA tournament) was dissatisfied that night, he led Georgetown to the nationwide title 2 years later.15.
Mike Conley Jr., Ohio State (2007 )
Before he was a 17-year NBA veteran, Conley was an essential contributor to Ohio State’s go to the national championship in the 2006-07 season, averaging 16.0 points, 4.8 helps, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals during that tournament. He played with a maturity that couple of freshman point guards had ever showcased on the biggest stage in college basketball.14.
Chris Webber, Michigan (1992 )
The leader of the Fab Five, Webber helped his group reach the title game in the 1992 NCAA competition, where the Wolverines faced one of the best Duke squads of perpetuity (see: Christian Laettner) and lost by 20 points. But Webber was phenomenal in the tournament, balancing 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.
Chris Webber (center )
and Jalen Rose(left)were part of Michigan’s Fab Five. AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File 13. Jalen Rose, Michigan(1992)Michigan’s 1992 title run would not have occurred without Webber’s efforts, but Rose– another key member of the Fab 5– should have acknowledgment for his performance, too. On that Wolverines team that was up to Laettner’s Blue Devils in the nationwide title game, Rose balanced 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists over six NCAA competition games.12.
Toby Bailey, UCLA (1995 )
UCLA’s 1995 national title would not have been possible without Bailey, who earned an area on the all-tournament team as an outcome of his efforts that March. While he balanced double figures throughout the postseason, his performance in his team’s champion win over safeguarding champ Arkansas (26 points, 9 rebounds) solidified his tradition with the Bruins.11.
Jeremy Lamb, UConn (2011 )
As he led the Huskies to their third championship game in 2011, Kemba Walker ended up being a super star and made the nickname “Heart Kemba.” However he likewise required Lamb, who averaged 16.1 points and connected on 63% of his 3-point efforts– that’s not a typo– in the NCAA tournament during an incredible postseason campaign for the Huskies freshman.10.
Arnie Ferrin, Utah (1944 )
Although freshmen were not eligible to contend in basketball until the early 1970s, exceptions were made during wartime. With the United States in the middle of The second world war, Ferrin– and other freshmen– were offered the uncommon chance to compete. He did not waste the moment, ending up being the very first freshman to win the postseason’s Most Outstanding Player after he scored 22 points in Utah’s 42-40 win over Dartmouth in the title game.9.
Greg Oden, Ohio State (2007 )
Oden played the whole 2006-07 season with a greatly taped best wrist due to the fact that of ligament damage that needed surgery. We’ll never know what Oden– who still balanced 16.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in the NCAA competition– might have done at one hundred percent health, however he was still extraordinary, scoring 25 points in the champion loss to Florida.8. Mark Aguirre, DePaul (1979 )
More than 40 million people viewed the 1979 national championship between Magic Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans and Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores in 1979, however Aguirre almost stopped it from happening with a 19-point efficiency in DePaul’s narrow 76-74 loss to Indiana State in the Final Four. Overall, Aguirre averaged 23.4 PPG and connected on 52% of his shots in the 1979 NCAA competition.7.
Derrick Rose, Memphis (2008 )
If he had made one more complimentary throw in the last seconds of a loss to Kansas in the nationwide title game, Rose would be higher on this list. Instead, Mario Chalmers became a star at Rose’s expenditure thanks to a game-tying 3-pointer late in the game. Still, Rose had an incredible run for a Memphis squad that disappointed a ring, averaging 20.8 PPG, 6.0 APG and 1.3 SPG in the NCAA tournament.To numerous, Jordan
is the best basketball player of perpetuity– a narrative that started throughout his freshman season at North Carolina, when he scored 16 points and struck the game-winning shot in the last seconds of a 63-62 success over Georgetown in the title game. Jordan wasn’t a star yet, but he was plainly on his method, balancing 13.2 PPG in the NCAA competition.
Michael Jordan led North Carolina to its second national title in 1982. AP Photo/ File
5. Tyus Jones, Duke (2015 )
During the final national championship run of Mike Krzyzewski’s career, Jones was the leader of a Blue Devils squad anchored by an excellent collection of freshmen. However Jones, one of the most Impressive Player of the 2015 Last Four, stuck out with approximately 13.0 PPG, 4.5 APG and 1.6 SPG to choose 42% shooting from beyond the arc in the NCAA tournament. He scored 23 points in Duke’s come-from-behind triumph in its championship game win over Wisconsin.4.
Mike Bibby, Arizona (1997 )
If Miles Simon had actually not won The majority of Impressive Gamer, the award most likely would have gone to Bibby at the end of the 1997 NCAA competition. Long before his prolonged NBA career, Bibby averaged 18.0 PPG and made 49% of his 3-point efforts throughout Arizona’s go to the title. He likewise ended up with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in his team’s overtime win against Kentucky in the championship game.3. Pervis Ellison, Louisville (1986 )
As a freshman at Louisville, Ellison earned the label “Never ever Anxious Pervis” for his clutch performances that helped him Many Outstanding Player honors, including a 25-point, 11-rebound effort in Louisville’s 72-69 success over Duke in the championship game game. In general, Ellison averaged 15.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 1.8 BPG in the NCAA tournament.2.
Anthony Davis, Kentucky (2012 )
The freshman punctuated a season filled with distinctions– Wood Award, A Lot Of Outstanding Player in the NCAA competition and SEC player of the year– by carrying Kentucky to the 2012 national championship with approximately 13.6 PPG, 12.3 RPG and 4.8 BPG in the tournament. Due to the fact that of his defensive presents, four of Kentucky’s opponents in the NCAA tournament failed to score more than 100 points per 100 ownerships, the requirement for an excellent offense.1. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (2003 )
Long before his boy Kiyan signed to bet Syracuse, Anthony made Many Impressive Player honors after he led the Orange to their only championship game. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 9.8 RPG with 48% shooting from beyond the arc in the competition, acting as the catalyst for wins over No. 1 seeds Oklahoma in the Elite Eight and Texas in the Last 4. He went on to score 20 points in his team’s 81-78 success over a veteran Kansas team in the title game to complete the best run by a freshman in NCAA competition history.