NCAA March Madness is a machine that won’t quit, and it’s all because of the stars. NCAA reports that the college basketball tournament has seen record-breaking numbers in 2024. The women’s tourney alone has generated sold games throughout the opening rounds. The sports organization reported that 292,456 fans attended first and second-round women’s games, which was a 60,779 increase from 2023. However, Iowa City was the top-visited hosting site of the opening rounds. A total of 28,764 fans for the first and second rounds came through to see Caitlin Clark ball.
The feat marked three straight years selling out the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. And while people feel that men lack stars, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Superstars in men’s NCAA basketball raked in 8.5 million viewers in the first round, the most-watched opening day since 2015. Then, the following day, the men’s tournament averaged 8.6 million viewers, the second most ever for the coveted sporting event. While the colleges have their faithful fanbases, the star players brought in the eyes. Household names like Clark and Angel Reese spearheaded record numbers. But more stars have contributed to these history-shattering numbers. And VIBE has you covered.
Here are five stars who demand your attention during the 2024 March Madness.
Mark Sears | Alabama
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Alabama’s star guard is much-see TV. The 22-year-old guard has been on a tear since the tournament started. As the leader of the highest-scoring offense in the world, Sears led the team past Grand Canyon and Charleston. The star player started off the tournament, scoring 30 points against the Charleston Cougars. Mark Sears played 30 minutes and also snagged four rebounds and five assists. Crimson Tide raced past the Cougars to a 109-96 win. Bama’s second round found Sears carrying the team on his back yet again. Sears led the team in scoring, snagging 26 points and 12 rebounds.
With both wins under their belt, the Alabama Crimson Tide looked to continue their championship aspirations against the 1-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. Spectators saw this match as the ultimate test for the surging Roll Tide group. The Tar Heels are a tested and proven Blue Blood college set for guaranteed success. But Bama wasn’t going for that. Bama’s ballers put the Tar Heels away, with Sears scoring 18 points in the close game. Bama won the game 89-87. The squad is set to move forward against Clemson Tigers in the Elite Eight.
Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame
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Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo has quietly been making history. She became one of only five freshmen to ever be named to Associated Press First Team All-American. While you may not think of her as a household name, Hidalgo is actually on par with the Clarks and the Reeses. Hannah leads the nation with 4.6 steals per game. She also leads the ACC in scoring and ranks third in the nation with 23.3 points per game. Hannah Hidalgo also makes noise as a facilitator, clocking in 5.5 assists per game—which is third in the ACC. And her season record translated well into the NCAA tournament.
During the first-round match against the Kent State Golden Eagles, Hidalgo didn’t even lead the team in points; Sonia Citron did. And while Citron is a baller in her own right, Hidalgo helped her teammates eat, leading the Irish with assists. Double H finished the game with 14 points and two rebounds. She then upped her output in the subsequent match against Ole Miss. Three Notre Dame players finished in double-digit points, including Hidalgo’s 19 points. Hidalgo and the fighting Irish are now headed into the Sweet 16, squaring off against the Oregon State Beavers on Friday (March 29).
Ju Ju Watkins | USC
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Some folks don’t know about Ju Ju Watkins, and it’s for good reason. A lot of the USC women’s basketball games aren’t nationally aired. So, most of the country hasn’t seen her greatness, but March Madness has surely changed that. Watkins is currently No. 3 all-time in single-season scoring by a true freshman in America. The Trojan’s 861 points on the year also ranks her No. 5 all-time in Pac-12 history. And once the tournament started, Watkins didn’t have any intentions of slowing down.
In the USC Trojans’ first game of the event, they faced off against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi Islanders. USC blew the Islanders out 87-55, with Ju Ju leading the way. The freshman phenom scored 23 points and snagged five rebounds and four assists. USC then hit the hardwood to face off with the Kansas Jayhawks, where the Trojans won 73-55. Ju Ju pocketed 28 points, leading the team in scoring. She is easily one of the best young stars in NCAA basketball, regardless of gender. And she’s only a freshman. The Trojans are gearing up to go toe-to-toe with the 5-seeded Baylor Bears in the Sweet 16 on Saturday (March 30).
Paige Bueckers | UCONN
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Most people believe Caitlin Clark is the best college player in the country, but there are a lot of fans who feel Paige Bueckers is truly the best. The UConn Husky was temporarily halted when she suffered an ACL injury during the 2022-23 season. She would miss the entire season as she recovered from the damage. Paige then came back swinging in the 2023-24 season, leading UCONN to the Sweet Sixteen. Along the way, the basketball sensation used every game as a subtle reminder that she is, in fact, that girl.
In their first-round match against Jackson State, the Huskies laid the smackdown against the hungry HBCU squad. Paige led the team in scoring, snagging 28 points on the night. The next game against Syracuse was a challenging one, but the Huskies regrouped in the second half and delivered a defensive masterclass. However, their offensive onslaught continued. Bueckers scored 32 points against the Orangewomen, eliminating them from the NCAA tourney. And if that isn’t enough evidence, Dawn Staley, undefeated South Carolina’s head coach, couldn’t even deny her greatness. “Paige is probably the most elite basketball player to ever grace our game,” Staley said in NCAA’s Rooted series.
DJ Burns Jr. | NC State
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DJ Burns Jr. is one of the most dominant big men in the country—and he’s playing old-school basketball. The North Carolina State center previously played for the Tennessee Vols and the Winthrop Eagles of the Big South Conference. Burns was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year in 2020 with the Eagles. The athlete was named the conference’s Player of the Year in 2022. He transferred to NC State in 2022. Now, in 2024, DJ Burns is having the best offensive season of his collegiate career. Burns is currently averaging 12.8 points per game as he shoots 52.7% from the field.
The athlete played a more limited game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first round, scoring only 16 points, but his defense shined that night. He locked down the Red Raiders’ key players, helping hold Richard Isaacs and Kerwin Walton to 12 and 9 points, respectively.
In the second round, Burns was a tyrant on the court during his match against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. He enforced his will against defenders, leading his team with 24 points in the paint. He also had a whopping 11 rebounds on the night.
Burns seems set on increasing his national profile as he and the Wolfpack gear up for their match against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the Sweet Sixteen.
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