Pick of the Playoff Litter: All-Time All-NCAA Tournament Team

For those who eat, sleep and breathe the NCAA Tournament, the sensory overload of the playoffs is a banquet and every year is a feast. Nourishing your appetite for assessing postseason play, the following questions linger: Who were the most pristine postseason players in the nation's premier multi-week sports spectacle? Who always seemed hot and who was not? Who was a stud instead of a dud?

In order for CollegeHoopedia.com to whittle the illustrious field of candidates to a manageable number, the following first- and second-team selections had to appear in at least two NCAA Tournaments, including at least one Final Four. Such restrictive criteria eliminates from top 10 consideration all-time greats who appeared in the tournament just one year such as Auburn forward Charles Barkley, Indiana State forward Larry Bird, Kansas center Wilt Chamberlain and North Carolina State forward David Thompson.

Naturally, the all-time tourney first- and second-teams would look much different if they were determined without regard to position. They could have easily been dominated by big men. After all, the five individuals to be selected Most Outstanding Player in back-to-back Final Fours were centers. But isn't a textbook team comprised of one center, two forwards and two guards? In deference to a traditional lineup, the All-NCAA Tournament first- and second-team picks include each of the traditional five positions.

Another copout would have been to simply accept the instant visibility of one-name icons such as Magic, Bird and Michael and cite them among the 10 greatest players in tourney history. But the prolific pro careers of Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, a trio combining to win nine consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player awards from 1983-84 through 1991-92 (three apiece), somewhat distorts their impact in college postseason play. Notwithstanding the TV appeal of the Bird/Magic championship game matchup in 1979 and Jordan's game-winning basket as a freshman in the 1982 national final against Georgetown, a closer examination of the facts shows that other collegians were more efficient more often in the NCAA Tournament. Consider the following tourney trauma for Johnson, Bird and Jordan:

• Johnson shot a meager 27.8% from the floor (10 of 36) in three 1978 tourney games as a freshman for Michigan State before leading the Spartans to the NCAA title the next year. He had more turnovers (six) than assists (five) in the 1979 final. Johnson outscored and outrebounded teammate Greg Kelser in just one of eight playoff games they played together.

• Bird boosted Indiana State to the 1979 final in his lone NCAA tourney, but put the 'oops' in hoops by committing a Final Four-record 17 turnovers. He hit just 7 of 21 field-goal attempts and had three times as many turnovers (six) as assists (two) in the championship game against Michigan State.

• Jordan's NBA playoff scoring average with the Chicago Bulls more than doubled the NCAA Tournament scoring average he compiled for North Carolina. Jordan averaged 16.5 points per NCAA playoff game with the Tar Heels, scoring 20 or more in just two of 10 postseason games from 1982 through 1984. His Airness scored fewer than 18 points in two of the four playoff contests he led Carolina in scoring. Most people don't remember his inauspicious playoff debut when he collected six points, one rebound, no assists and no steals in 37 minutes of a 52-50 opening-round victory against James Madison in the East Regional. And Jordan's final NCAA Tournament appearance before he left school early for the NBA was nothing to write home about, either. The college player of the year was restricted to six points in the first 35 minutes of the 1984 East Regional semifinals against Indiana and finished with 13 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal in 26 foul-plagued minutes when the top-ranked Tar Heels were eliminated (72-68).

Generally, sizzling scorers have learned it's not a day at the beach in postseason play. For instance, former NBA sensation Clyde Drexler averaged more than 17 points per game each of his last 13 NBA seasons, but he scored more than 17 points in just one of 11 NCAA Tournament games for the University of Houston from 1981 through 1983. Premier playmaker Steve Nash managed only one field goal in three of five playoff contests in the mid-1990s, shooting a paltry 29.2% from the floor. Two-time NBA slam-dunk champion Jason Richardson (5th pick overall in 2001) was grounded by the NCAA playoffs, going scoreless in three consecutive contests as a Michigan State freshman in 2000. All-Americans Thomas Robinson (Kansas) and Tyler Zeller (North Carolina) each went scoreless in two NCAA playoff games. Eventual All-Americans Marcus Denmon (Missouri), Danny Ferry (Duke), Ben Gordon (Connecticut), Marcus Morris (Kansas) and Terrence Williams (Louisville) also went scoreless in a tourney game. Ferry scored fewer than 10 points in six straight tourney tilts before averaging 20 ppg in his last 11 playoff outings and Syracuse All-American Kris Joseph never scored more than 12 points in 11 NCAA playoff contests from 2009 through 2012.

Duke's Christian Laettner, who was the all-time playoff scoring leader with 407 points from 1989 through 1992, tallied fewer than 15 points in six of his first seven tournament games. Just four of the top 20 in career scoring in the NCAA playoffs accumulated more than 10 points in every tourney game they participated - UCLA's Lew Alcindor (1967-68-69), Princeton's Bill Bradley (1963-64-65), Arizona's Sean Elliott (1986-87-88-89) and Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson (1958-59-60).

Michigan State All-American Draymond Green posted back-to-back triple doubles in 2011 and 2012 but still doesn't rank among the all-time best players in tourney history. If some of these historical facts aroused your curiosity, here is additional tournament insight that should fuel debates concerning who should be on college basketball's Mount Rushmore after excelling the most as NCAA playoff performers:

FIRST TEAM

LEW ALCINDOR - The only individual selected the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player three times averaged 25.7 points and 18.8 rebounds and shot 64.1% from the floor in six Final Four games for UCLA from 1967 through 1969. Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is the only player to couple three unanimous first-team All-America seasons with three NCAA titles. Of the 10 different individuals to average more than 23 points per game for a national champion a total of 12 times, Alcindor achieved the feat all three of his seasons with the Bruins. He is also the only player to hit better than 70 percent of his field-goal attempts in two NCAA title games.

UCLA '67, the first varsity season for Alcindor, set the record for largest average margin of victory for a champion when the Bruins started a dazzling streak of 10 consecutive Final Four appearances. They won their 12 NCAA playoff games with Alcindor manning the middle by an average margin of 21.5 points. The three Alcindor-led UCLA teams rank among the seven NCAA champions with average margins of victory in a tournament of more than 19 points per game. He led the Bruins in scoring in 10 of 12 playoff contests. It's no wonder a perceptive scribe wrote that the acronym NCAA took on a new meaning during the Alcindor Era--"No Chance Against Alcindor."

BILL BRADLEY - The former U.S. Senator (D-N.J.) and 2000 presidential candidate holds the record for most points in a single Final Four game (58 against Wichita State in 1965 national third-place game). He scored 39 points in the second half of the consolation game. The Rhodes Scholar was the only player to have a double-digit season scoring average (30.5 points per game) for Princeton's Final Four team.

Bradley also holds the career playoff record for highest free-throw percentage (minimum of 50 attempts). He was 89 of 96 from the foul line (90.6%) from 1963 through 1965. In five of his nine playoff games, Bradley made at least 10 free throws while missing no more than one attempt from the charity stripe. He made 16 of 16 free throws against St. Joseph's in the first round of the 1963 East Regional and 13 of 13 foul shots against Providence in the 1965 East Regional final to become the only player to twice convert more than 12 free throws without a miss in playoff games. He was the game-high scorer in eight of nine tourney contests.

ELVIN HAYES - He is the only player to lead a tournament in scoring by more than 60 points. Alcindor and his UCLA teammates helped hold Hayes to 10 points in the 1968 national semifinals, but the Big E finished with 167 points in five games with Houston that year. Alcindor was runner-up with 103 points in four contests.

Hayes became the only player in tournament history to collect more than 40 points and 25 rebounds in the same game when he amassed 49 points and 27 rebounds in a 94-76 decision over Loyola of Chicago in the first round of the 1968 Midwest Regional. He holds the records for most rebounds in a playoff series (97 in five games as a senior in 1968) and career (222 in 13 games). He had five games with at least 24 rebounds, including the first three playoff games in 1968, before being held to five in a 101-69 national semifinal loss against UCLA. Hayes also holds the record for most playoff field goals in a career with 152.

GAIL GOODRICH - Despite standing at least three inches shorter than both standout opponents, the 6-1 lefthander outscored consensus second-team All-American Jeff Mullins of Duke, 27-22, in the 1964 final and outscored unanimous first-team All-American Cazzie Russell of Michigan, 42-28, in the 1965 final. Goodrich, the only guard to score more than 35 points in an NCAA final, averaged 35 points per game for UCLA in the 1965 tourney. He was also the Bruins' leading scorer the previous year (21.5-point average as a junior) when he became the shortest undergraduate to average more than 20 points per game for an NCAA titlist.

Goodrich and Walt Hazzard (18.6 ppg) represent the only backcourt duo to be the top two scorers on the season for an NCAA championship team. Of the eight times a school successfully defended its major college championship, Goodrich is the only guard to be the team's leading scorer in back-to-back years. The Bruins won 58 of 60 games in those two championship seasons although they didn't have a regular taller than 6-7.

JERRY WEST - He is the only player to score at least 25 points in eight consecutive tournament games (all of which he led in scoring). West is also the only player to rank among the top five in scoring average in both the NCAA Tournament (30.6 points per game) and NBA playoffs (29.1 ppg). He was denied a championship ring with West Virginia in his only Final Four appearance in 1959 when Cal center Darral Imhoff, a player who would become an Olympic and NBA teammate, tipped in a decisive basket in the closing seconds.

JOHN WOODEN - Legendary coach appeared in 12 Final Fours, but he established the amazing record after a shaky start, losing his first five NCAA playoff games with UCLA from 1950-'56 by an average of 11.4 points. Wooden didn't participate in a Final Four until his 14th season with the Bruins (fourth-place finish in 1962).

"When I look back at the early years when we got in the tournament and lost early, I realize I didn't handle it well," Wooden said. "We should have done better. When we got in tournament play in my early years, I overworked them mentally and emotionally. I forgot what got us there. I always wanted to add something else, and I tried to teach something new in a hurry. I think subconsciously I wanted to win so much that I hurt ourselves in doing that. I think I learned a lot as I got more tournament experience."

UCLA won 47 of its last 52 NCAA playoff games under him, with four of the five losses by a total of just eight points. The Bruins prevailed in all of their 10 championship games with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame selection at the helm, winning seven of the 10 finals by more than 10 points for an incredible 13.4-point average margin of victory. Six of UCLA's seven consecutive national champions won their playoff games by an average margin of at least 16 points.

Which of the Wizard of Westwood's 10 national champions did he think was his best?

"I've never come out and said it," Wooden said, "but it would be hard to pick a team over the 1968 team. I will say it would be the most difficult team to prepare for and play against offensively and defensively. It created so many problems. It had such great balance.

"We had the big center (Alcindor) who is the most valuable player of all time. Mike Warren was a three-year starter who may have been the most intelligent floor leader ever. Lucius Allen was a very physical, talented individual who was extremely quick. Lynn Shackleford was a great shooter out of the corner who didn't allow defenses to sag on Jabbar. Mike Lynn didn't have power, but he had as fine a pair of hands around the boards as I have ever seen."

To try to give an idea of the magnitude of Wooden's 21 Final Four triumphs, consider that, at one point, he had two more Final Four victories than the total compiled by more than 25 coaches with over 500 career wins (minimum of 10 seasons at Division I). Incredibly, his 10 championship teams from 1964 through 1975 lost a total of just 10 regular-season games and never trailed at halftime in an NCAA Tournament final.

Wooden's UCLA teams won 38 consecutive NCAA playoff games between their 1963 losses to Arizona State (79-75 in overtime in West Regional semifinal) and San Francisco (76-75 in regional third-place game) until a 1974 defeat against North Carolina State (80-77 in double overtime in national semifinals). The Bruins didn't pick on patsies despite winning 28 of the 38 games by more than 10 points (16.4-point average margin of victory overall). Thirty of the 38 opponents incurred fewer than seven losses entering their contest against UCLA.

SECOND TEAM

BILL RUSSELL - Grabbed an incredible 50 rebounds for San Francisco at the 1956 Final Four (23 against SMU in the semifinals and 27 against Iowa in the championship game). No other player has retrieved more than 41 missed shots in two Final Four games or more than 21 in the final.

SEAN ELLIOTT - Of the more than 60 different players to score at least 2,500 points and/or rank among the top 25 in career scoring average, he is the only one to have a winning NCAA playoff record in his career plus post higher scoring, rebounding and field-goal shooting playoff averages than he compiled in the regular season. He scored at least 17 points in all 10 of his NCAA playoff games with Arizona.

BOB PETTIT - Of the more than 40 different players to score more than 225 points in the NCAA playoffs and/or average over 25 points per tournament game (minimum of six games), he is the only one to score more than 22 points in every postseason contest (six games with LSU in 1953 and 1954). He was perhaps the most consistent big scorer in NCAA Tournament history with a single-digit differential between his high game (36 points) and his low game (27). Pettit wasn't named to the 1953 All-Tournament team despite leading the Tigers to the Final Four and averaging 30.5 points per game in four NCAA playoff contests. He averaged the same number of points in two tourney games the next year.

BOBBY HURLEY - Duke's 6-0 guard was selected Most Outstanding Player at the 1992 Final Four. He was the shortest player to earn the award since 5-11 Hal Lear helped Temple to a national third-place finish in 1956. The only Final Four Most Outstanding Player shorter than Hurley from a championship team was 5-11 Kenny Sailors of Wyoming in 1943. Hurley shot a mediocre 41 percent from the floor in his college career, but he was the Blue Devils' linchpin with his playmaking and intangible contributions. He holds the career record for most playoff assists (145) and three-pointers (42) although his bid to become the first player to start four consecutive NCAA finals was thwarted when California upset Duke in the second round of the 1993 Midwest Regional despite Hurley's career-high 32 points. After averaging just 5.4 points per game in his first eight NCAA Tournament contests, he averaged 22.8 in his last five playoff outings.

OSCAR ROBERTSON - Averaged at least 29 points and 10 rebounds per game each of his three years in the tourney with Cincinnati. The Big O isn't a first-team pick because California restricted him to a total of 37 points in two Final Four games (1959 and 1960). He hit just nine of 32 from the floor against the Bears. Robertson, the nation's leading scorer all three of his varsity seasons with averages of more than 32 points per game, is the only team-leading scorer to twice go more than 10 points below his season scoring average when his school lost in the national semifinals or final.

MIKE KRZYZEWSKI - Edges out Cincinnati's Ed Jucker (11-1 record) after passing ACC rival Dean Smith (North Carolina) as the all-time winningest coach in NCAA playoff history. Five-time national coach of the year guided Duke to back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles in 1991 and 1992. Reached NCAA Final Four 11 times by winning all but one regional final.

FIRST TEAM

Coach: John Wooden, UCLA (47-10 record in 16 appearances).

SECOND TEAM

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (all-time leader in NCAA playoff victories).
NOTE: Statistical averages are for NCAA Tournament

PLAYOFF EXCELLENCE HONORABLE MENTION
(Minimum of six NCAA Tournament games.)

In 2008, Davidson sophomore Stephen Curry joined Clyde Lovellette (Kansas), Jerry Chambers (Utah) and Glenn Robinson (Purdue) as the only players to reach the 30-point plateau in their first four NCAA playoff games. But Curry didn't meet the minimum of appearing in six NCAA Tournament games to be included in the following list.

Player, Position, School
Steve Alford, G, Indiana
Averaged 21.3 points in 10 NCAA Tournament games in 1984, 1986 and 1987 (8-2 record). He led the Hoosiers in scoring in seven of the contests.

Ray Allen, G, Connecticut
Averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds in 10 games from 1994 through 1996 (7-3 record).

Kenny Anderson, G, Georgia Tech
The only freshman to score more than 20 points in four playoff games averaged 27 ppg in his first four outings.

B.J. Armstrong, G, Iowa
Averaged 19.8 points and 4.9 assists in nine games from 1987 through 1989 (6-3 record; did not play in 1986 playoffs).

Len Bias, F, Maryland
Averaged 18.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in nine games from 1983 through 1986 (5-4 record).

Ron Brewer, G, Arkansas
Averaged 19.2 points and four rebounds in six games in 1977 and 1978 (4-2 record).

Gene Brown, G, San Francisco
Averaged 16.8 points in 10 games from 1956 through 1958 (8-2 record).

Austin Carr, G, Notre Dame
After scoring just six points in his first tournament game (re-injured against Miami of Ohio) as a sophomore, Carr averaged 47.2 points in his last six playoff contests to finish with a tourney record 41.3-point average. The Fighting Irish won just two of the seven games, however.

Len Chappell, F-C, Wake Forest
Averaged 27.6 ppg and 17.1 rpg in eight games in 1961 and 1962 (6-2 record). He was the Demon Deacons' leading scorer in all eight contests.

Jimmy Collins, G, New Mexico State
Averaged 19.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 11 games from 1968 through 1970 (7-4 record). He at least shared the Aggies' team-high scoring total in all 11 contests.

Nick Collison, F, Kansas
Leading scorer and rebounder for 2003 NCAA Tournament runner-up (30-8 record) and second-leading scorer and rebounder for 2002 Final Four team (33-4). Averaged 16.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in 16 games from 2000 through 2003 (12-4 record).

Mel Counts, C, Oregon State
Averaged 23.2 ppg and 14.1 rpg in nine games from 1962 through 1964 (5-4 record).

Adrian Dantley, F, Notre Dame
Averaged 25.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in eight games from 1974 through 1976 (4-4 record).

Terry Dehere, G, Seton Hall
Averaged 23.2 points in nine games from 1991 through 1993 (6-3 record). He led the Pirates in scoring in all nine outings.

Juan Dixon, G, Maryland
After struggling as a freshman, he averaged 21.2 points in his last 13 games from 2000 through 2002. The Terrapins won 10 of the last 11 of those playoff contests.

Tim Duncan, C, Wake Forest
Averaged 17.6 points, 15 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots in 11 games from 1994 through 1997 (7-4 record).

Acie Earl, C, Iowa
Averaged 19.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots in six games from 1991 through 1993 (3-3 record). Eight of his rejections came against champion-to-be Duke in 1992.

Patrick Ewing, C, Georgetown
The Hoyas compiled a glittering 15-3 playoff record during his four-year reign of terror, but he never scored as many as 25 points in a tournament game.

Henry Finkel, C, Dayton
Averaged 27.8 points and 13.8 rebounds in six games in 1965 and 1966 (3-3 record). He was game-high scorer in five of the six contests.

Randy Foye, G, Villanova
Averaged 22.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in seven games in 2005 and 2006 (5-2 record). He scored at least 24 points in four contests.

Tom Gola, F, La Salle
The only individual to earn NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and NIT Most Valuable Player awards in his career.

Johnny Green, F-C, Michigan State
Averaged 16.2 points and 19.7 rebounds in six games in 1957 and 1959 (3-3 record).

Alex Groza, C, Kentucky
The only player to appear at a minimum of two Final Fours and be the game-high scorer in every Final Four contest he participated.

Rudy Hackett, F-C, Syracuse
Averaged 17.7 points and 11 rebounds in nine games from 1973 through 1975 (5-4 record).

Richard Hamilton, G-F, Connecticut
Averaged 23.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 10 games in 1998 and 1999 (9-1 record). He led the Huskies in scoring in nine of the 10 contests.

Vern Hatton, G, Kentucky
Averaged 17 points in eight games from 1956 through 1958 (6-2 record).

Tom Hawkins, F, Notre Dame
Averaged 23.5 ppg in six contests in 1957 and 1958 (4-2 record).

Paul Hogue, C, Cincinnati
Averaged 19 points and 16 rebounds in six Final Four games from 1960 through 1962. Posted higher averages (18.4 ppg and 13.3 rpg) in 12 NCAA Tournament contests (11-1 record) than his respective career marks.

Bob Houbregs, F-C, Washington
Averaged 27.4 ppg in seven games in 1951 and 1953 (5-2 record).

Les Hunter, C, Loyola of Chicago
Averaged 18.9 points and 13.3 rebounds in eight games in 1963 and 1964 (7-1 record).

Dan Issel, C, Kentucky
Averaged 29.3 ppg and 11.3 rpg in six contests from 1968 through 1970.

Allen Iverson, G, Georgetown
Averaged 23.9 points and four rebounds in seven games in 1995 and 1996 (5-2 record). He was the Hoyas' leading scorer in all seven contests.

Larry Johnson, F, UNLV
Averaged 20.2 points and 11.5 rebounds in 11 games in 1990 and 1991 (10-1 record).

Ollie Johnson, C, San Francisco
Averaged 25.8 points and 16.2 rebounds in six games from 1963 through 1965 (3-3 record).

Eddie Jones, F, Temple
Averaged 19.4 points and 5 rebounds in seven games from 1992 through 1994 (4-3 record).

Wali Jones, G, Villanova
Two-time All-East Regional selection averaged 22.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in six games in 1962 and 1964 (4-2 record). He scored a game-high 25 points as a sophomore in a regional final loss to Wake Forest and a game-high 34 points as a senior in a 74-62 victory over Bill Bradley-led Princeton in a third-place contest. It was the only time in Bradley's nine playoff games that he wasn't the leading scorer. Jones outscored All-American Len Chappell in the Wake Forest contest.

Greg Kelser, F, Michigan State
Averaged 24 ppg and 11.3 rpg in eight contests in 1978 and 1979 (7-1 record).

Greg "Bo" Kimble, F-G, Loyola Marymount
Averaged 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals in seven games from 1988 through 1990 (4-3 record). Scored at least 37 points in three of his last four playoff outings.

Stacey King, C, Oklahoma
Averaged 20.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 12 games from 1987 through 1989 (9-3 record).

Brevin Knight, G, Stanford
Averaged 20 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in seven games from 1995 through 1997 (4-3 record).

Barry Kramer, F, NYU
Averaged 25.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in six games in 1962 and 1963 (3-3 record).

Bob Kurland, C, Oklahoma State
The only player to score more than half of a championship team's points in a single NCAA Tournament (total of 72 points accounted for 51.8 percent of the Aggies' output in three playoff games in 1946).

Christian Laettner, F, Duke
Holds records for most career free throws made (142) and attempted (167) in helping the Blue Devils compile a 21-2 playoff mark in his four years. His high game was 31 against Kentucky in a 104-103 victory in the 1992 East Regional final. Laettner capped a flawless offensive performance, hitting all 10 of his field-goal attempts and all 10 of his free throws against the Wildcats, by scoring Duke's last eight points in overtime, including a stunning 18-foot turnaround jumper at the buzzer after catching a pass from the baseline on the opposite end of the court. He also hit what probably was an even more difficult off-balance, last-second shot to give Duke a 79-78 win against Connecticut in the 1990 East Regional final.

Dwight "Bo" Lamar, G, Southwestern Louisiana
Averaged 29.2 points in six Division I Tournament games in 1972 and 1973 (3-3 record). Supplied game-high point total in all six contests.

Bob Lanier, C, St. Bonaventure
Averaged 25.2 points and 14.2 rebounds in six games in 1968 and 1970 (4-2 record; missed 1970 Final Four after tearing a knee ligament in East Regional final).

David "Big Daddy" Lattin, C, Texas Western
Averaged 19.4 ppg and 10.6 rpg in eight games in 1966 and 1967. He averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds in the first three games of the 1966 playoffs to power the champion-to-be Miners to the Final Four.

Troy Lewis, G, Purdue
Averaged 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in seven games from 1985 through 1988 (3-4 record).

Bill Logan, C, Iowa
Averaged 19.4 points in eight games in 1955 and 1956 (5-3 record).

Clyde Lovellette, C, Kansas
The only player to lead the nation in scoring average in the same season (1952) he played for a team reaching the NCAA Tournament championship game. Averaging 35.3 points per game in the 1952 tourney, he was the first player to score more than 30 points in a Final Four contest and the only player to crack the 30-point plateau in the national semifinals and final in the same season.

Jerry Lucas, C, Ohio State
Averaged 22.8 ppg and 12 rpg at the Final Four in 1960 and 1961. But he was held to nine points in both of his tourney openers when he was national player of the year in 1961 and 1962.

Maurice Lucas, F-C, Marquette
Averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds in eight games in 1973 and 1974 (6-2 record).

Mark Macon, G, Temple
Averaged 23.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in nine games in 1988, 1990 and 1991 (6-3 record).

Mike Maloy, C, Davidson
Averaged 22.3 ppg and 12.4 rpg in seven games from 1968 through 1970 (4-3 record).

Danny Manning, F, Kansas
The only player to score more than 62 percent of his team's points in an NCAA Tournament game (42 points in the Jayhawks' 67-63 victory against Southwest Missouri State in the second round of the 1987 Southeast Regional). He was the game-high scorer in all six of their contests en route to the 1988 title.

Jamal Mashburn, F, Kentucky
Averaged 21.4 points and eight rebounds in nine games in 1992 and 1993 (7-2 record). He was the Wildcats' leading scorer in five consecutive playoff contests.

Don May, F, Dayton
Averaged 20.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in eight games in 1966 and 1967 (5-3 record).

Sean May, F-C, North Carolina
Final Four Most Outstanding Player for 2005 champion averaged 19.9 points and 9.9 rebounds in eight NCAA Tournament games in 2004 and 2005 (7-1 record).

Jim McDaniels, C, Western Kentucky
Averaged 29.3 points and 12.2 rebounds in six games in 1970 and 1971 (4-2 record). He was WKU's leading scorer in five of the six playoff contests.

Andre Miller, G, Utah
Leader in assists, second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for the Utes' 1998 NCAA Tournament runner-up averaged 14.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 15 games from 1996 through 1999 (11-4 record).

Rodney Monroe, G, North Carolina State
Averaged 24 points and four rebounds in six games in 1988, 1989 and 1991 (3-3 record).

Lawrence Moten, G, Syracuse
Averaged 23.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in seven games in 1992, 1994 and 1995 (4-3 record).

Chris Mullin, G-F, St. John's
Averaged 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 10 games from 1982 through 1985 (6-4 record).

Jeff Mullins, F, Duke
Averaged 25 ppg and 7.9 rpg in the playoffs for two Final Four teams. He scored more than 20 points in seven of eight tourney contests.

Jameer Nelson, G, St. Joseph's
Averaged 22.4 points, 6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.3 steals in seven games in 2001, 2003 and 2004 (4-3 record). He scored at least 24 points in four of his last five playoff contests.

Hakeem Olajuwon, C, Houston
The 1983 Final Four Most Outstanding Player was the only individual to earn the honor from 1972 through 1994 and not play for the titlist.

Mike Olliver, G, Lamar
Averaged 22.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in seven games from 1979 through 1981 (4-3 record). He was the Cardinals' leading scorer in his last five playoff games.

Billy Owens, F, Syracuse
Averaged 18.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in eight games from 1989 through 1991 (5-3 record).

Anthony Peeler, G, Missouri
Averaged 24.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in six games in 1989, 1990 and 1992 (3-3 record).

Chuck Person, F, Auburn
Averaged 20.3 points and nine rebounds in eight games from 1984 through 1986 (5-3 record). Scored at least 20 points in six of his last seven playoff contests.

Paul Pierce, F-G, Kansas
Averaged 18.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in nine games from 1996 through 1998 (6-3 record).

Kevin Pittsnogle, F, West Virginia
Averaged 17.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in seven games in 2005 and 2006 (5-2 record). In six of the contests, he scored more than his career average of 13.3 ppg.

Howard Porter, F, Villanova
The 1971 Final Four Most Outstanding Player averaged 24.1 ppg and 12.4 rpg in nine playoff games from 1969 through 1971 (6-3 record).

Tony Price, F, Penn
Averaged 21.9 ppg and 9 rpg in eight games in 1978 and 1979 (5-3 record). He was the Quakers' leading scorer in all six contests when they finished fourth in the nation in 1979.

Bobby Rascoe, F, Western Kentucky
Averaged 23.5 points and six rebounds in six games in 1960 and 1962 (3-3 record).

Khalid Reeves, G, Arizona
Averaged 18.3 points, 3.3 assists and three rebounds in 10 from 1991 through 1994 (6-4 record).

J.R. Reid, F-G, North Carolina
Averaged 20.4 points and 8.5 rebounds in 10 games from 1987 through 1989 (7-3 record).

Glen Rice Sr., F, Michigan
Averaged 23.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 13 games from 1986 through 1989 (10-3 record). He was the Wolverines' leading scorer in all six contests during their 1989 championship run when he set a single tourney record with 184 points.

Mitch Richmond, G-F, Kansas State
Averaged 23.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in six games in 1987 and 1988 (4-2 record).

David Rivers, G, Notre Dame
Averaged 21.3 points and 4.4 assists in seven games from 1985 through 1988 (3-4 record). He led the Fighting Irish in scoring in his first six playoff contests, including twice against North Carolina.

David Robinson, C, Navy
Averaged 28.6 points and 12.3 rebounds in seven games from 1985 through 1987 (4-3 record). He was game-high scorer in four playoff contests, including a school-record 50 points against Michigan in his final appearance.

Rumeal Robinson, G, Michigan
Averaged 17.5 ppg and 8.5 apg in 11 games from 1988 through 1990 (9-2 record).

Dick Rosenthal, F-C, Notre Dame
Averaged 21.7 points in six games in 1953 and 1954 (4-2 record).

Cazzie Russell, G, Michigan
Averaged at least 24 ppg each of his three years in the tourney.

Don Schlundt, C, Indiana
Averaged 27 points in six games in 1953 and 1954 (5-1 record). He was the Hoosiers' leading scorer in five of the playoff contests.

Charlie Scott, G-F, North Carolina
Averaged 21.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in eight games in 1968 and 1969 (5-3 record). He was game-high scorer in his last three playoff contests.

Dennis Scott, G-F, Georgia Tech
Averaged 25.9 ppg and 5.9 rpg in eight playoff games from 1988 through 1990 (5-3 record). He was game-high scorer in four of five contests in 1990.

Rony Seikaly, C, Syracuse
Averaged 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots in 12 games from 1985 through 1988 (8-4 record).

Miles Simon, G, Arizona
Averaged 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 14 games from 1995 through 1998 (11-3 record). He was game-high scorer in his last three playoff contests.

Joe Smith, C, Maryland
Averaged 20.8 points and 12.2 rebounds in six games in 1994 and 1995 (4-2 record).

Isiah Thomas, G, Indiana
He is the only guard among the nine freshmen and sophomores to lead a national champion in scoring average. Averaged 19.7 points and 7.9 assists in seven games in 1980 and 1981 (6-1 record).

David Thompson, F, North Carolina State
The last player to score the most points in a single game of a tournament and play for a championship team (40 points vs. Providence in the 1974 East Regional semifinals). He is the only undergraduate non-center to average more than 23 ppg for a national champion.

George Thompson, F, Marquette
Averaged 23.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in six games in 1968 and 1969 (4-2 record). He was the Warriors' leading scorer in five of the six playoff contests.

Dwyane Wade, F-G, Marquette
Averaged 21.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in six games in 2002 and 2003 (4-2 record).

Kenny Walker, F, Kentucky
Averaged 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in 14 games from 1983 through 1986 (10-4 record). Led the Wildcats in scoring in his last seven playoff contests with them, including game-high totals in six of those tilts.

John Wallace, F, Syracuse
Averaged 20.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in 11 games from 1994 through 1996 (8-3 record). He was the leading scorer for the Orangemen in his last eight playoff contests.

Rex Walters, G, Kansas
Averaged 18.6 points and 5.1 assists in seven games in 1992 and 1993 (5-2 record). He was game-high scorer in the Jayhawks' first three playoff contests in 1993.

Bill Walton, C, UCLA
Averaged 28.8 points and 17.8 rebounds per game at the Final Four in 1972 and 1973. His championship game-record 44 points against Memphis State in 1973 when he hit 21 of 22 field-goal attempts will probably never be duplicated. On the other hand, he had one playoff game of fewer than 10 points each of the three seasons he was national player of the year.

Kenny Washington, F, UCLA
He became the only player with a single-digit season scoring average (6.1) to tally more than 25 points in a championship game when he scored 26 points in a 98-83 triumph over Duke in the 1964 final. Earned All-Tournament recognition the next year.

Deron Williams, G, Illinois
Averaged 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 11 NCAA Tournament games from 2003 through 2005 (8-3 record). He had three outings with more than 20 points.

Corliss Williamson, F, Arkansas
Two-time All-NCAA Tournament selection averaged 20.2 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 59.4% from the floor in 15 games from 1993 through 1995 (13-2 record).

Al Wood, F, North Carolina
Averaged 20.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in eight games from 1978 through 1981 (4-4 record). He was the Tar Heels' leading scorer in six of those playoff contests.