March Madness 2026: Who are the best players in the NCAA Tournament?

To get to college basketball's pinnacle, you need players to get there. However, there are years when single players lead their teams to the Final Four and cut down the nets. You have Carmelo Anthony in 2003 guiding Syracuse to the title, in 2011 with UConn's Kemba Walker, and then last year by Florida's Walter Clayton.

Who can be that player in 2026 as we are on the road to Indianapolis?

DAZN News has three players who can pull it off.

DAZN Media

Cameron Boozer: Duke Blue Devils | F | Fr.

By far, the best player in all of college basketball all season long. Boozer ranks in the top 15 in the NCAA in scoring (22.8) and rebounding (10.2). The likely National Player of the Year also averaged 4.1 assists and shot nearly 58% from the field. 

If Duke, the No. 1 overall seed and playing in the East Region, is going to win it all, Boozer has to be the reason why.

AJ Dybantsa: BYU Cougars | F | Fr.

Take Boozer away, and Dybantsa is the frontrunner for Player of the Year. Dybantsa led the NCAA in scoring at 25.3 points per game in the strongest conference in college basketball. To show he also wasn't just a scorer, Dybantsa also averaged 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. 

It's easier to see Dybantsa taking BYU on a Stephen Curry/Davidson-type run in the tournament. 

Yaxel Lendeborg: Michigan | F | Sr.

Seniors in college basketball are such a rarity. Typically, kids play one or two years and then head to the NBA. Not Leneborg. 

The Big 10 Player of the Year doesn't have the flashiest numbers this season: 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game. But Lendeborg has been the glue and the straw that stirs the drink for the No. 1 seed Wolverines. Add the three-point shot like we saw last Saturday to beat Wisconsin, Lendeborg has proven to be a threat in all facets of the game.

March Madness 2026 dates, full schedule

• First Four: Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17-18, from UD Arena in Dayton
• First round (round of 64):  Thursday, March 19, from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, and Moda Center in Portland
• First round (round of 64):  Friday, March 20, from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Viejas Arena in San Diego, and Enterprise Center in St. Louis
• Second round (round of 32): Saturday, March 21, from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, and Moda Center in Portland
• Second round (round of 32): Sunday, March 22, from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Viejas Arena in San Diego, and Enterprise Center in St. Louis
• Sweet 16 (regional semifinals): Thursday, March 26, from Toyota Center in Houston (South Region), SAP Center in San Jose (West Region)
• Sweet 16 (regional semifinals): Friday, March 27, from United Center in Chicago (Midwest Region), Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (East Region)
• Elite Eight (regional finals):  Saturday, March 28, from Toyota Center in Houston (South Region), SAP Center in San Jose (West Region)
• Elite Eight (regional finals):  Sunday, March 29, from United Center in Chicago (Midwest Region), Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (East Region)
• Final Four (national semifinals and national championship): Saturday, April 4 and Monday, April 6 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

Watch March Madness 2026 for free on DAZN

DAZN is the home of March Madness with games streamed live and on demand. Even better, right now, every game is free to watch on DAZN.

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