Colorado players to watch | in the NCAA Tournament
Colorado doesn’t have any men’s college basketball teams that made the NCAA Tournament this year, but the state does boast an array of local players who earned bids with their respective schools. A look at March Madness from the Centennial State perspective: Ronnie Harrell Jr., Creighton The Denver East graduate has come into his own at the college level this season, averaging 7.1 points, 2.7 assists and 6.4 rebounds while providing the Bluejays with a force in the paint and energy in transition. A 6foot-7 guard/forward, the junior has been nicknamed “Spaceman Slim” by teammates and Creighton beat reporters for his lanky athleticism and above-therim play, and he’ll continue to be crucial on the glass as Creighton seeks its first NCAA Tournament win since 2014.
No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Kansas State , 4:50 p.m. Friday, TNT Brian Carey, Texas Southern After rebounding from ankle surgery in the middle of last season, the 5-10 guard played a role off the bench in helping the Tigers claim their second straight Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Carey, a Denver East alumnus and the nephew of longtime Angels coach Rudy Carey, is putting up 2.9 points and 1.6 assists in 17.6 minutes per game as a redshirt sophomore.
No. 16 Texas Southern vs. No. 1 Xavier, 5:20 p.m. Friday, TBS Josh Perkins, Gonzaga
The redshirt junior who played three seasons at Regis Jesuit before transferring to Huntington Prep (in West Virginia) is averaging 12.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and a teamleading 5.4 assists. In addition to his passing ability and leadership, the 6-3 guard has also proved to be a weapon from long distance for the Bulldogs, as he leads the team with 80 3pointers this season.
No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 13 UNCGreensboro, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, TNT Alpha Diallo, Providence
The 6-7 sophomore guard who made a name for himself on the AAU circuit with the Colorado Hawks is a primary reason why the Friars are making a programrecord fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Diallo, who played at Denver West and at academies in New York and New Hampshire, is the older brother of George Washington High School senior center Mo Diallo. Alpha Diallo is averaging 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds.
No. 10 Providence vs. No. 7 Texas A&M, 10:15 a.m. Friday, KCNC-4 Matt Haarms, Purdue
The redshirt freshman forward certainly doesn’t lack in size at 7-3, and he’s seen action off the bench in every game this year for the Boilermakers while averaging 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds. Haarms, who played AAU basketball with Billups Elite, is an Amsterdam native who has also flashed a raw shooting ability on the perimeter.
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Cal State Fullerton, 10:40 a.m. Friday, truTV Luke Wilson, Michigan
A Boulder graduate, the 6-foot freshman guard is a preferred walk-on with the Wolverines and has seen time in two games this year.
No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 14 Montana, 7:50 p.m. Thursday, TBS Clayton Crawford, TCU
The 6-3 senior forward who starred at Aspen is a former golfer for the Horned Frogs who has played in six games this season.
No. 6 TCU vs. No. 11 Syracuse, 7:40 p.m. Friday, KCNC-4