While you work up your bracket and study every last statistic on team performance, don't lose sight of the individual players behind all those numbers.
When the season began in the fall, the talk was of returning players like Purdue's Zach Edey and Duke's Kyle Filipowski. Those two have lived up to the expectations. They've also been joined by several emerging stars in 2023-24.
With players staying longer and transferring more freely, there's a definite veteran feel to the sport's biggest names. Still, you'll run across a first-year star or two on our list of the bracket's most promising performers.
One striking aspect of this year's tournament field is that it includes virtually every player on the AP All-America's first, second and third teams. You have to look at the honorable mentions and a star like Devin Carter of Providence to run across a name that's not in the field of 68. There's plenty of star power in this tournament.
Meet the 68 impact players of the 2024 men's field. Players are organized by region and matchup. And, yes, some teams get more than one entry.
East Region
Tristen Newton, No. 1 UConn Huskies
Newton is a scoring point guard who gets to the rim on offense and hits the glass on D. His triple-double against Villanova in February was vintage Newton: 10 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists.