Minnesotans to watch in the NCAA tournament

March 13, 2017 at 6:01PM
Wisconsin's Ethan Happ, left, fouls Northwestern's Sanjay Lumpkin (34) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, in Madison, Wis. Northwestern upset Wisconsin 66-59. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Wisconsin's Ethan Happ, left, fouls Northwestern's Sanjay Lumpkin (34) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, in Madison, Wis. Northwestern upset Wisconsin 66-59. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) (Andy Manis — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Over 20 Minnesotans are on the rosters of NCAA tournament teams. Here are eight who don't play for the Gophers but could have a big impact on the big stage.

Bjorn Broman

Winthrop

Yr./Pos.: Soph./G

High School: Lakeview Christian Academy (Duluth)

• Bjorn is the younger of two Broman bothers on the Winthrop roster. He has started 29 games and averages 5.5 points and 2.2 assists per game. Anders Broman is the team's third-best scorer with 8.3 points off the bench. Anders is Minnesota's prep career scoring leader, and Bjorn is No. 2.

Geno Crandall

North Dakota

Yr./pos.: Soph./G

High School: DeLaSalle

• Crandall led the team in assists (118) and steals (59) and was the second-highest scorer at 15.6 points per game. He earned Big Sky second-team all-conference honors. Crandall is one of five Minnesotans on North Dakota's roster. Carson Shanks (Prior Lake) and Josh Collins (DeLaSalle) are contributors off the bench.

Quinton Hooker

North Dakota

Yr./pos.: Sr./G

High School: Park Center

• Hooker scored 28 points in the Big Sky tournament championship game to lead North Dakota to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. He averaged a team-high 19 points per game and his 4.9 rebounds, 101 assists and 52 steals were second-best on the team. He was all-conference for the second consecutive season.

Sanjay Lumpkin

Northwestern

Yr./pos.: Sr./G-F

High School: Benilde-St. Margaret's

• The team captain helped guide the program to its first NCAA tournament berth. Lumpkin started all 34 games and averaged 6.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. His .565 field-goal percentage was second-best on the team. Lumpkin started his 100th career game and passed 500 career rebounds this season.

Zach Lofton

Texas Southern

Yr./pos.: Jr./G

High School: Columbia Heights

• Lofton, who transferred from the University of Minnesota after being dismissed from the team in July 2015, was the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year. The 6-3 guard led the Tigers to a SWAC tournament championship and compiled a team-high 17 points per game and 46 steals.

J.P. Macura

Xavier

Yr./pos.: Jr./G

High School: Lakeville North

• Macura was the only player to start all 33 games for Xavier this season. His 14.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game were third-best on the team. He led the team with 49 steals and an .801 free-throw percentage. Macura scored a game-high 22 points in his last game, a loss to Creighton in the Big East tournament.

Marcus Marshall

Nevada

Yr./pos.: Sr./G

High School: St. Paul Johnson

• Marshall is Nevada's top scorer with 19.8 pointers per game and led the Wolf Pack to a Mountain West Conference tournament title. He was All-Mountain West, and was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Missouri State. Marshall dominated a Feb. game against Utah State, scoring 22 points.

Kyle Washington

Cincinnati

Yr./pos.: Jr./F

High School: Benilde-St. Margaret's

• Washington is the Bearcats' second-leading scorer and rebounder with 13.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also leads the team with 42 blocks. Washington earned All-American Athletic Conference honors in his first season with Cincinnati after transferring from North Carolina State.


about the writer

about the writer

Jason Gonzalez

Reporter

See More

More from Gophers

card image

Riding a seven-game bowl winning streak, Minnesota will close out the 2024 season when it faces ACC representative Virginia Tech on Jan. 3 in Charlotte, NC.