The NCAA tournament often serves as a proving ground for the biggest stars in college basketball, whether in terms of a lasting legacy or improving draft stock.
However, it's equally enjoyable to see which stars from lesser-known mid-major teams emerge on a national scale. Guys like T.J. Sorrentine, Ali Farokhmanesh and Sherwood Brown are among the recent examples.
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As the gulf between the established elite and relative minnows in college basketball closes, you're seeing more and more talent that would've gravitated toward the bigger schools instead opting to go elsewhere. Those players might not be afforded the big stage often, but when they do get the opportunity, they make the most of it.
The four players below are a small handful of the mid-major stars who should receive special attention this March.
Mid-Major Stars to Watch
Tyler Harvey, Eastern Washington
Tyler Harvey led the country in scoring this year, averaging 22.9 points a night. The Eastern Washington junior is the kind of dynamic offensive presence who can take a game over, and he might have to with the Eagles taking on the Georgetown Hoyas in the second round.
Fans tend to generalize when it comes to players like Harvey. Without watching any of his games, they'll argue that he's just an inefficient scorer who only gets a ton of points because he takes a ton of shots.
While Harvey does average 15.2 attempts a game, he's shooting a healthy 42.8 percent from behind the arc and 47 percent from the field. ESPN's Chad Ford also shot down any sort of criticism that Harvey's shot selection is a problem:
DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony also illustrated just how lethal Harvey can off the dribble:
Hopefully, he doesn't pull a Nate Wolters and fall apart in his team's first game.
If Harvey and Eastern Washington fail to make much noise this March, it would be the end of the world. As CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie noted, the Eagles' best days might be ahead of them:
Vashil Fernandez, Valparaiso
How about we give some love to a guy who doesn't make his name on the offensive end?
Vashil Fernandez doesn't have a gaudy stat line. He's only averaging 6.9 points and 5.9 rebounds. The Valparaiso big man instead excels under the glass, where he's blocking 2.9 shots a game.
According to Sports-Reference.com, Fernandez is third in the country behind Connecticut's Amida Brimah and Illinois State's Reggie Lynch in block percentage, which attempts to quantify the percentage of a team's two-point shots a player blocks.
It will be interesting to see if Fernandez can disrupt the Maryland Terrapins' offense with his shot-blocking inside. Valpo doesn't boast a high-powered scoring attack. It will need to keep the score low in order to advance.
Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks are one of the more intriguing mid-major teams in the tournament, and junior Thomas Walkup is a big reason why. Walkup does a little bit of everything—he's first on the team in scoring (15.7 PPG), first in rebounds (6.4 RPG) and second in assists (3.7 APG).
According to KenPom.com, Stephen F. Austin ranks 19th in adjusted offense. Walkup credits that in part to his teammates' versatility.
"We have a lot of guys who can do multiple things: shoot it, drive it, pass it," he said, per Kyle Goon of The Salt Lake Tribune. "When you have guys who can do so many things at once, you can share the ball really well."
The Lumberjacks offense will be tested in a big way against the Utah Utes, who have one of the better defensive units in the country.
If Walkup rises to the occasion, Stephen F. Austin might book its place in the third round.
Mamadou Ndiaye, UC Irvine
Remember how much fun it was to watch Sim Bhullar in the NCAA tournament? Mamadou Ndiaye can fill that void this year. The UC Irvine center stands at a gargantuan 7'6" and weighs in at nearly 300 pounds:
A guy like Ndiaye can be a great equalizer for a mid-major when taking on an opponent that owns an advantage in just about every category. The sophomore isn't the most technically proficient big man in the country, but his massive frame means he's a handful for any team.
While Ndiaye's blocks are down from average of 3.1 last year, that's likely a result of teams altering their game plan when they take on the Anteaters. You see it all the time with shot-blockers—their numbers decline, but that doesn't mean they're impacting a game any less.
Even if UC Irvine falls to the Louisville Cardinals in the second round, it will be a ton of fun to watch Ndiaye work inside.
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