Some of the Legends of March

Legends of March Madness

Selection Sunday is four days away, which means the greatest sports tournament is about to begin. What better way to prepare for this incredible tournament than by looking back at players who became superstars during this time of year? This is a tribute to some of the legends of March Madness.

Jimmer Fredette - 2011

One of the best shooters March has ever seen, James Taft Fredette—better known as “Jimmer.” Fredette was a senior on a BYU basketball team that finished its regular season with a record of 32-5. They were rewarded with a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

When March rolled around, Jimmer was elite. He dropped 52 points in a Mountain West Tournament win before the NCAA Tournament, and during the tournament itself, he averaged 33 points per game. He scored 32 points in a first-round win against Wofford, 34 points in a second-round victory over Gonzaga, and 32 points in BYU’s Sweet 16 loss to the Florida Gators.

Fredette was lethal. He was unafraid to shoot the long ball, and his incredible shot-making ability made him the deadliest player on the court.

Yes, Fredette may be remembered as one of the biggest NBA draft busts, but he will also be remembered as one of the legends of March.

Carmelo Anthony - 2003

Carmelo Anthony played just one season for the Syracuse Orange before taking his talents to the NBA. In that lone season, Anthony led Syracuse through the NCAA Tournament and delivered their first-ever National Championship.

Melo’s level of play was elite. He was so dominant that he was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. During the tournament, he averaged 20.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. In the Final Four, he was even better—averaging 26.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.

With Anthony leading the way, the Orange finished the season 30-5 overall, including a 13-3 Big East record. That year, Melo not only solidified himself as an NCAA Tournament legend but also as a Syracuse Orange icon.

Jack Gohlke - 2024

One of the more recent legends, Jack Gohlke, only played two games in March Madness last year. Despite the brief tournament run, Gohlke became a March Madness star.

Gohlke spent five years playing for Hillsdale College, a Division II basketball team in Hillsdale, Michigan. After five years at Hillsdale, he transferred to Oakland for his final year of collegiate hoops. As a senior, he averaged 14.2 points per game and shot 40% from beyond the arc.

That year, Oakland made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 14 seed. Their first game was against the heavily favored No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats. Despite the odds, Oakland pulled off a massive 80-76 upset. Gohlke led the way with 32 points on 10 three-pointers, shooting 50% from deep. His incredible shooting drew comparisons to Jimmer Fredette, and the fact that he was relatively unknown before the tournament made for an incredible storyline.

Unfortunately, the magic didn’t continue for Gohlke, as Oakland lost to No. 11 NC State in the next round. However, he still put up 22 points on solid shooting.

He may not have played many games, but Jack Gohlke still became a star of March last year.

Stephen Curry - 2008

Before he became the greatest shooter of all time, before he won his first NBA MVP and championship, Steph Curry was lighting up college basketball in March. The Baby-Faced Assassin has always been a great shooter—even in his college days.

In 2008, Curry was a sophomore leading a Davidson basketball team that entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed. Over the course of four games, Curry carried Davidson to the Elite Eight, where they faced No. 1 Kansas. Along the way, Davidson upset No. 2 Georgetown and No. 3 Wisconsin.

Curry averaged 32 points per game during the tournament, including a 40-point explosion against Gonzaga in the first round. He also averaged 5.8 three-pointers per game and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region.

Chef Curry will always be one of the greatest NBA players of all time, but he will also always be one of the legends of March Madness.

DJ Burns - 2024

The fifth and final player on this list is another star from last year’s NCAA Tournament: the great DJ Burns.

Burns became well-known for his fun personality last year, but don’t let his laid-back demeanor fool you—the dude could hoop.

DJ Burns was part of a No. 11 NC State team that barely made it into March Madness. The only reason the Wolfpack were in the tournament was because they won the ACC Tournament—where Burns was named ACC Tournament MVP.

Despite winning the ACC Tournament, NC State wasn’t expected to make a deep run in March Madness.

Well, against all odds, NC State did just that—and DJ Burns was the ringleader. He averaged 18.3 points per game during the tournament, helping NC State secure huge wins over Duke and No. 2 Marquette on their way to the Final Four.

Burns had his best game of the tournament in the Elite Eight against Duke. The big man dominated with 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting, along with two blocks, four rebounds, and six assists.

NC State eventually lost to Purdue in the Final Four, but DJ Burns had already established himself as a March Madness legend.

Yes, he may have looked big, and yes, he may have talked like someone who wasn’t serious about hooping—but the dude could flat-out play. He was one of my favorite players to watch last season and remains one of my favorite college hoopers ever.

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