From the days of Khalid El-Amin leading the UCONN Huskies to a National Championship to the likes of Jordan Taylor, Royce White and Nate Wolters leading their college teams through the NCAA tournament, Minnesota usually has a pretty strong connection to March Madness.
This year is no different. Our research says there are 14 Minnesotans playing in the tournament this year.
Creighton Blue Jays
Ethan Wragge: At 6-foot-7, the senior from Eden Prairie is listed as the team’s center. However, Wragge is known for launching 3-pointers. 220 of his 227 field goal attempts this season have been 3-pointers. He’s connected on 104 of what fans now call “Wragge Bombs.”
Isaiah Zierden: Former standout guard at Benilde-St. Margaret’s is in his freshman year. His father is former Wolves and current Wizards assistant coach Don Zierden.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Sam Dower: A 6-foot-9 redshirt senior from Osseo High School has been a staple for the Zags. He leads the team at 15 points and more than seven rebounds per game.
Harvard Crimson
Siyani Chambers: The electric-quick starting point guard from Hopkins High School averages 11 points and nearly five assists while shooting 39.7 percent from three. He was the 2013 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and helped Harvard stun No. 3 seed New Mexico in the second round of last year’s NCAA tournament.
Jonah Travis: The older brother of DeLaSalle standout and Stanford-bound power forward Reid Travis. Jonah, a junior forward, averages 4.6 points off the bench.
North Dakota State Bison
Marshall Bjorklund: 6-foot-8 senior from Sibley East High School is second on the team in scoring (13.4 points per game).
Mike Felt: The 6-foot-4 senior guard from Redwood Falls leads the team with 44 made 3-pointers this season.
Zach Checkal: He’s a freshman guard from Delano whose played in only eight games.
Jordan Aaberg: He’s a 6-foot-9 senior forward from Rothsay. He plays a key role off the bench.
Fred Newell: Senior from Lakeville North High School doesn’t play very often.
Saint Louis Billikens
Jordair Jett: The 6-foot-1 senior guard once had a quadruple-double in a high school game for St. Bernard’s. He starts at guard and averages 13.7 points, four rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He’s one of the best defensive guards in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Wisconsin Badgers
Riley Dearing: The former Minnetonka standout is redshirting his freshman year at Wisconsin.
Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
Marquel Curtis: The 6-foot-4 junior guard/forward from Plymouth is averaging 2.9 points per game off the bench, but he hasn’t played since mid-December.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
Kyle Washington: Former Champlin Park star is in his freshman season. He had six points and two rebounds in N.C. State’s first-round win over Xavier.
