ESPN broadcast the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on American TV for the first time in 1980. Several years later, CBS announcer Brent Musburger used the nickname March Madness on air, capturing perfectly the passion, unpredictability and intensity everyone was witnessing on the court. The NCAA later copyrighted the phrase “March Madness”, turning the basketball extravaganza into the country’s second-most popular sports event after the Superbowl.
The NCAA tournament has grown so popular that earlier this month the Pentagon had to officially warn employees not to watch games at work.
March Madness wraps up this weekend with the 2017 Final Four. Before the games tip off, check out our rundown of every active VTB United League player to ever compete in the NCAA tournament.
First Round
Mark Tollefsen (Kalev)
College: San Francisco (2012-15), Arizona (2015-16)
NCAA stats: 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 53.6% from the field, 37.6% 3-point attempts, 71.3% free throws
VTB League stats: 10.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 47.7% from the field, 45.5% 3-point attempts, 60.0% free throws
Mark Tollefsen gave up a leadership role at San Francisco in his senior season to test himself at one of the nation’s most prestigious programs, University of Arizona. He lost his starting position near the end of the season, however, and only spent seven minutes on the court in Arizona’s opening-round loss, failing to score.
E.J. Rowland (Khimki)
College: Saint Mary’s (2003-05)
NCAA stats: 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 41.8% from the field, 31.0% 3-point attempts, 66.6% free throws
VTB League stats: 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 49.1% from the field, 30.4% 3-point attempts, 80.8% free throws
Together with teammate Daniel Kickert, who played for Azovmash in the VTB United League during the 2013-14 season, E.J. Rowland helped Saint Mary’s reach only its 4th NCAA tournament ever. Unfortunately, the 10-seed Gaels were knocked out in the first round and Rowland moved on to the pros.
Artsiom Parakhouski (UNICS)
College: Radford (2008-10)
NCAA stats: 18.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 56.1% from the field, 60.0% free throws
VTB League stats: 11.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 61.8% from the field, 64.5% free throws
The Belarusian center’s comparisons to Shaquille O’Neal aren’t too exaggerated. Parakhouski twice won player of the year in the Big South conference, led Radford to the NCAA tournament in 2009 and led the nation in rebounding in 2010! Coincidentally, his coach was Brad Greenberg, who spent time in charge at Avtodor several years ago.
In the first round of March Madness, Parakhouski went up against legendary North Carolina, who went on to win the title that season. Michael Jordan’s alma mater cruised against Radford, 101-58.
Second Round
Markel Brown (Khimki)
College: Oklahoma State (2010-14)
NCAA stats: 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 43.9% from the field, 34.7% 3-point attempts, 73.3% free throws
VTB League stats: 5.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 36.2% from the field, 34.6% 3-point attempts, 92.9% free throws
Markel Brown starred at Oklahoma State from 2012-14 alongside Marcus Smart, who’s now with the Celtics in the NBA. During the regular season, Brown put up big numbers on offense and intimidated opponents with his vicious dunking. But that wasn’t enough in March Madness. Oklahoma State came up short in two tournament appearances, getting bounced in the first round.
Josh Adams (Avtodor)
College: Wyoming (2012-16)
NCAA stats: 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 43.5% from the field, 33.1% 3-point attempts, 75.8% free throws
VTB League stats: 9.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 44.7% from the field, 31.4% 3-point attempts, 77.8% free throws
Wyoming’s high-flying duo of Josh Adams and Larry Nance, Jr. made a lot of noise during the 2014-15 campaign, leading the school to its first postseason appearance since 2002, but the season ended abruptly with a 71-54 loss to 5-seed Northern Iowa in the first round. Adams only scored four points in the defeat.
Nance, Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps, moving to the NBA. Adams, on the other hand, stuck around, winning Mountain West Conference Player of the Year in his senior season.
Ryan Broekhoff (Lokomotiv-Kuban)
College: Valparaiso (2009-13)
NCAA stats: 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 46.4% from the field, 40.8% 3-point attempts, 81.8% free throws
VTB League stats: 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 47.8% from the field, 43.8% 3-point attempts, 73.7% free throws
As a freshman, the Aussie was 8th on the team in minutes. He began starting games as a sophomore, before winning Player of the Year honors in his junior year and leading Valpo to the tournament as a senior. He ended on a sour note, however, shooting 1-9 behind the arc in a first-round loss to Michigan State (65-54).
Third Round
Aaron White (Zenit)
College: Iowa (2011-15)
NCAA stats: 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 51.7% from the field, 28.1% 3-point attempts, 77.3% free throws
VTB League stats: 8.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 43.2% from the field, 35.6% 3-point attempts, 73.3% free throws
Aaron White enjoyed his best season as a senior. The forward led the Hawkeyes to a spot in the NCAA tournament, helping the team to a win over 10-seed Davidson. White scored 26 points in the victory (83-52). Former Iowa teammate Jarrod Uthoff, a second-round pick in 2016, debuted for the Toronto Raptors this season.
Trevor Mbakwe (Zenit)
College: Marquette (2007-08), Minnesota (2010-13)
NCAA stats: 10.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 56.9% from the field, 62.9% free throws
VTB League stats: 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 69.8% from the field, 66.7% free throws
The Minnesota native took a circuitous, but fascinating path to the tournament. He played for Marquette in 2008, but after losing his spot in the rotation and suffering a serious knee injury, he decided to return home to Minnesota. Two years later, he re-injured his knee, missing another season. Mbakwe’s determination paid off in 2013 as he led the Gophers to a a first-round win over UCLA, the school’s first victory in the tournament since 1997.
Demonte Harper (Zenit)
College: Morehead State (2007-11)
NCAA stats: 10.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 40.6% from the field, 35.8% 3-point attempts, 70.4% free throws
VTB League stats: 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 41.2% from the field, 40.0% 3-point attempts, 63.8% free throws
Morehead State, led by Demonte Harper and Kenneth Faried (two-time conference player of the year and NBA star), attracted little attention entering the 2011 edition of March Madness. The Eagles didn’t care, stunning Louisville in the first round as a 13-seed on Harper’s game-winning 3-pointer.
Rod Odom (Astana)
College: Vanderbilt (2010-14)
NCAA stats: 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 38.7% from the field, 37.2% 3-point attempts, 66.1% free throws
VTB League stats: 10.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 39.3% from the field, 32.7% 3-point attempts, 75.6% free throws
Odom didn’t play a big role in Vanderbilt’s tournament success in the early 2010’s. Playing alongside future NBA’ers like John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli and Jeff Taylor, Odom only scored five points in three appearances. He played a much bigger role on the team as an upperclassman, but the Commodores failed to reach the tournament.
Regional Semifinals
Justin Gray (Tsmoki-Minsk)
College: Wake Forest (2002-06)
NCAA stats: 16.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 39.9% from the field, 37.1% 3-point attempts, 80.5% free throws
VTB League stats: 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 37.0% from the field, 36.6% 3-point attempts, 82.9% free throws
The Tsmoki-Minsk guard played alongside one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, Chris Paul, while at Wake Forest. He was no slouch, either, leading the team in scoring for three consecutive seasons. Nonetheless, the Demon Deacons were never able to get past the Sweet Sixteen during Gray’s tenure.
Ian Miller (Astana)
College: Florida State (2010-14)
NCAA stats: 9.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 40.4% from the field, 35.8% 3-point attempts, 80.6% free throws
VTB League stats: 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 38.3% from the field, 34.1% 3-point attempts, 82.3% free throws
Ian Miller didn’t start in any of his five NCAA tournament appearances or play a big role on offense. Chris Singleton, former Loko center and Miller teammate at FSU, was the star on that team.
Abdul Gaddy (VEF)
College: Washington (2009-13)
NCAA stats: 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 42.8% from the field, 31.7% 3-point attempts, 66.2% free throws
VTB League stats: 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 35.8% from the field, 27.0% 3-point attempts, 54.2% free throws
Abdul Gaddy was lucky enough to experience March Madness as a freshman, starting on a loaded Washington squad with Isaiah Thomas, Quincy Pondexter and Justin Holiday. The Huskies’ 2010 run came to an end in the Sweet 16, thanks to West Virginia and Loko forward Kevin Jones.
Taylor Rochestie (Lokomotiv-Kuban)
College: Tulane (2004-05), Washington State (2006-09)
NCAA stats: 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 42.5% from the field, 38.6% 3-point attempts, 82.5% free throws
VTB League stats: 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 45.2% from the field, 39.1% 3-point attempts, 90.5% free throws
After transferring to Washington State, Rochestie enjoyed several appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the third round as the team’s starting point guard in 2008. The Cougars, however, would go no further, losing to one-seed North Carolina, led by future NBA star Ty Lawson.
Jeremy Evans (Khimki)
College: Western Kentucky (2006-10)
NCAA stats: 7.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 63.9% from the field, 36.4% 3-point attempts, 68.4% free throws
VTB League stats: 5.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 56.3% from the field, 100.0% free throws
The 2008 NCAA tournament was almost certainly the highlight of Evans’ college career. Together with Courtney Lee and A.J. Slaughter, Evans helped the Hilltoppers reach the Sweet 16, before losing to UCLA (88-78), who featured Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love on the roster. Love was a monster in that game, recording 29 points (10-14 shooting) and 14 rebounds.
Robbie Hummel (Khimki)
College: Purdue (2007-12)
NCAA stats: 14.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 44.3% from the field, 38.9% 3-point attempts, 84.1% free throws
VTB League stats: 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 49.2% from the field, 48.7% 3-point attempts, 91.7% free throws
Hummel reached the tournament three times, including a run to the regional semifinals in 2009. The Boilermakers were eliminated by one-seed UConn.
Dijon Thompson (Nizhny Novgorod)
College: UCLA (2001-05)
NCAA stats: 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 46.4% from the field, 36.2% 3-point attempts, 78.1% free throws
VTB League stats: 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 48.8% from the field, 36.4% 3-point attempts, 75.1% free throws
UCLA enjoyed a memorable second-round win over Cincinnati in 2002. The game went to double overtime, with the two teams combining for 206 points (105-101). Thompson scored 10 points in 21 minutes as a freshman in the victory.
Alex Gordon (VEF)
College: Vanderbilt (2004-08)
NCAA stats: 7.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 38.5% from the field, 37.9% 3-point attempts, 76.2% free throws
VTB League stats: 6.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 44.4% from the field, 38.9% 3-point attempts, 50.0% free throws
Gordon was never a star at Vanderbilt, but did reach the Sweet 16 in 2007, taking down Taylor Rochestie’s Washington State in the process.
Cedric Simmons (Kalev)
College: NC State (2004-06)
NCAA stats: 7.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 56.5% from the field, 65.2% free throws
VTB League stats: 8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 53.9% from the field, 52.9% free throws
Simmons helped NC State spring two upsets in the 2005 tournament, as the Wolfpack took down 7-seed Charlotte and 2-seed UConn. The following season, NC State reached the second round where it was eliminated by Texas (75-54), despite a strong performance from Simmons against LaMarcus Aldridge.
Antonio Graves (Tsmoki-Minsk)
College: Pitt (2003-07)
NCAA stats: 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 40.7% from the field, 37.9% 3-point attempts, 66.8% free throws
VTB League stats: 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 37.1% from the field, 25.0% 3-point attempts, 71.4% free throws
Antonio Graves never scored a lot points at Pitt, averaging in single digits throughout his college career, to go with 37 total points in nine tournament games. But he played an important role on defense, earning big minutes for the Panthers.
Regional Finals
Jacob Pullen (Khimki)
College: Kansas State (2007-11)
NCAA stats: 15.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 40.8% from the field, 36.1% 3-point attempts, 77.0% free throws
VTB League stats: 8.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 37.8% from the field, 38.4% 3-point attempts, 83.9% free throws
Jacob Pullen enjoyed a wonderful 2010 tournament, averaging nearly 20 points per game as Kansas State advanced to the regional finals. He was unstoppable in the second round against BYU, putting up 32 points on 7-12 shooting from outside.
A year later, Pullen would become Kansas State’s all-time scoring leader in the team’s final tournament game, a second-round loss to Wisconsin.
Kenny Boynton (Nizhny Novgorod)
College: Florida (2009-13)
NCAA stats: 14.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 39.9% from the field, 34.0% 3-point attempts, 78.6% free throws
VTB League stats: 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 45.4% from the field, 39.8% 3-point attempts, 83.1% free throws
Boynton didn’t always have dreads, but he was ranked top-10 in his class entering college, which explains why he ended up at a powerhouse program like Florida. Boynton didn’t always live up to expectations, but advanced to the Elite 8 three times under Billy Donovan, the current Oklahoma City Thunder coach.
Final Four
Kevin Jones (Lokomotiv-Kuban)
College: West Virginia (2008-12)
NCAA stats: 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 49.4% from the field, 31.5% 3-point attempts, 67.7% free throws
VTB League stats: 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 60.4% from the field, 60.0% 3-point attempts, 76.3% free throws
Kevin Jones made the tournament four times, advancing to the Final Four as a sophomore in 2010. He wasn’t the biggest star on that team, but enjoyed a breakout game against 1-seed Kentucky and DeMarcus Cousins in the regional finals, helping the Mountaineers reach their first Final Four in 51 years.
Championship Game
Keith Langford (UNICS)
College: Kansas (2001-05)
NCAA stats: 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 49.5% from the field, 32.8% 3-point attempts, 64.9% free throws
VTB League stats: 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 48.9% from the field, 39.5% 3-point attempts, 75.4% free throws
Keith Langford didn’t play much as a freshman, but that changed quickly in his sophomore season as helped the Jayhawks advance to the national championship game. Overall, Langford appeared in 16 tournament games, playing alongside Kirk Heinrich and Nick Collison.
2003 was a memorable season for Kansas and Langford. The Jayhawks took down Duke in the regional semifinals, 69-65 as Langford limited lights-out shooter J.J. Reddick to 2-16 shooting (1-11 from downtown). In the Elite 8 round, Langford guided Kansas to a comprehensive 94-61 win over Dwyane Wade and Marquette, scoring 23 points (11-13 from the field). Playing in the championship game against Syracuse, Langford scored 19 points in 23 minutes, but fouled out late in the second half as Syracuse and Carmelo Anthony squeaked out an 81-78 win.
James Augustine (CSKA)
College: Illinois (2002-06)
NCAA stats: 10.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 61.7% from the field, 68.7% free throws
VTB League stats: 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 63.3% from the field, 65.3% free throws
Illinois basketball does not have a rich legacy, but the Fighting Illini enjoyed a banner season in 2005, posting a 37-2 record and earning a 1-seed in the tournament. Led by future NBA All-Star Deron Williams, Illinois advanced to the championship game, facing North Carolina. Who knows, perhaps Illinois would have won a title if not for Augustine’s foul trouble. The big man only played nine minutes, watching the second half from the bench as Tar Heel center Sean May dominated in the win (26 points, 10-11 from the field, 10 rebounds), earning the Final Four MVP.
***
No active League players have won an NCAA championship. Five former players, however, did play on championship teams: Drew Nicholas (ex-CSKA) with Maryland in 2002, Josh Boone (ex-Khimki and Kalev) with UConn in 2004, Alexander Kaun (ex-CSKA) with Kansas in 2008, Marquis Teague (ex-Avtodor) with Kentucky in 2012, and Walter Hodge (ex-Zenit) who won back-to-back titles with Florida in 2006 and 2007.
