2024 NCAA Tournament All-First Weekend Team: Star players from the first two rounds of March Madness

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March Madness is only as memorable as the individual performances delivered within. For instance, we remember legendary March showings from the likes of Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker and Danny Manning just as much as we remember those BYU, UConn or Kansas teams on which they played. 

Not only has the 2024 NCAA Tournament delivered big upsets, shocking moments and fun finishes, but several players have used this platform to launch themselves into a different stratosphere of recognition.

So before we brush the first weekend of this great tournament aside and start previewing what is ahead (trust me, we will do plenty of that!), let’s first take a moment to tip our caps to those who made the first weekend of this year’s March Madness so magical. 

First team

Zach Edey, Purdue: Purdue’s star center set records in the first weekend, becoming the first player with more than 50 points, 35 rebounds and a field goal percentage above 65% through two NCAA Tournament games since Lew Alcindor in 1968. He has 53 points, 35 rebounds and six blocks in two blowout wins for the Boilermakers.

Donovan Clingan, UConn: Neither Stetson nor Northwestern had answers for Clingan in the first two games. He had 19 points in 20 minutes against the Hatters in Round, and the Huskies standout followed that up with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks in 27 minutes against the Wildcats in Round 2. Clingan is just the fourth player since tournament expansion to have at least 14 rebounds and eight blocks in a game, joining the likes of Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Cole Aldrich.

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois: No one has so much as made Illinois sweat so far. Shannon Jr. has dominated for the Illini with 26- and 30-point outings against Morehead State and Duquesne, respectively. He has scored 20 or more in six consecutive games and enters the second weekend as one of the hottest players left in the field.

Tyler Kolek,…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2024-ncaa-tournament-all-first-weekend-team-star-players-from-the-first-two-rounds-of-march-madness/

Author : Kyle Boone

Publish date : 2024-03-26 14:25:30

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