March Madness 2019: Zion Williamson exits NCAA event, joins other unforgettable university players to by no means win a identify

One of the few constants of college basketball is that things do not move as anticipated. Duke become the runaway favorite to win the NCAA Tournament this 12 months, led with the aid of the likes of Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett. However, with the Blue Devils’ abrupt go out on the fingers of Michigan State on Sunday (after striking on using the pores and skin of their teeth in opposition to UCF and Virginia Tech), it seems like Williamson will stop his college career without a name. Of course, it goes without announcing that now not every one-and-executed can be Anthony Davis. Kentucky in 2011-12 became an also loaded team. However, it wasn’t as pinnacle-heavy. Five men on that Kentucky squad averaged double figures; only four men on Duke’s roster scored massive points.

So, with that in mind, permit’s test a number of the fine players to percentage Zion’s destiny — that’s to mention they were terrific, unforgettable college gamers who were not able to notch a championship. Thirteen. Adam Morrison, Gonzaga (2003-2005) This is kind of an entire life fulfillment award for Gonzaga, a team that feels find it irresistible truly have to have some championships to its name within the Mark Few-era however simply hasn’t gotten over the hump. Morrison showed consistent development throughout his university career, culminating in his junior yr when he averaged 28.1 factors per game, gained the United States Basketball Writer’s Association Player of the Year Award, and led Gonzaga to a Sweet sixteen berth, in which it in the long run misplaced to UCLA. Morrison became one of the biggest phenomenons in college basketball, and he helped increase Gonzaga to greater than a mid-important Cinderella squad.

Glenn Robinson, Purdue (1992-1993)

Glenn Robinson — a.Ok.A. Big Dog — went from Gary, Indiana to Purdue. He became a consensus All-American in both of his seasons and won the Wooden Award for the 1993-94 season. In the ‘ninety-four matches, Robinson led Purdue to an Elite Eight appearance, but the Boilermakers lost to Duke in the long run.
Robinson averaged 27. Five points in step with recreation for Purdue highlighted using 30.Three in his sophomore yr. He hauled in over 10 rebounds consistent with recreation in that equal season and scored over 1,000 factors in general. Robinson scored forty-four factors simply to get Purdue past Kansas within the Sweet sixteen. However, an injury against Duke saved Robinson limited to 13 factors.

Derrick Rose, Memphis (2007)

It feels like John Calipari has been with Kentucky for eternity; however, he was at Memphis as soon as upon a time. Derrick Rose became one of all his first massive one-and-executed gamers. For what it’s well worth, we’re now not recognizing vacated wins as a part of this piece because Memphis’ run to the National Championship recreation became completely insane. This team technically completed zero-1, but when that one loss changed into the National Championship, there may be a tale there. Rose averaged nearly 21 points in step with a game in match play after averaging 15 factors for the regular season. Memphis turned into the USA’s most interesting crew earlier than losing a time beyond regulation thriller to Kansas. D-Rose then went seasoned after his one university season.

J.J. Redick, Duke (2002-2005)

J.J. Redick by hook or by crook became a staple of what anybody dislikes about Duke, and all he clearly did became make some jumpers. Redick played for four years and, at that point, shot 40.6 percent from past the arc and 44.3 percentage from the sphere. With Redick, Duke made three Sweet 16s and a Final Four, but something always appeared to trip the team up at the end line. Nevertheless, Redick ended his career as a -time consensus All-American and has a Wooden and Naismith Award to his call. He wasn’t without a doubt a leader of the team till his junior 12 months, as Dahntay Jones and Luol Deng surpassed thru while he changed into a freshman and a sophomore, respectively. Redick averaged 24. Four points according to the sport and turned into the ACC Player of the Year for in both his junior and senior years. Although his Duke groups in no way got beyond the Final Four, he’s now remembered as one of the definitive players in Duke’s records — for better or for worse.

 Chris Webber, Michigan (1991-1992)

The Fab Five’s tale is famous, and the face of that group becomes Chris Webber. He averaged a groovy 17.4 points with Michigan according to the sport, including a coloration below 20 points as a sophomore. He also averaged 10 boards with the Wolverines… And much less than one phantom timeout, according to the sport.

Webber played a number of his pleasant ball inside the tourney, and Michigan was a two-time countrywide runner-up with C-Web paving the way (I already mentioned vacated wins do not count, right?). He averaged 17. Eight factors and 10. Five forums in postseason play; however, Michigan changed into blown out using Duke in 1992 and edged out via North Carolina in 1993. He nonetheless became a prime player in university basketball history — not to mention Michigan’s.

Zion Williamson, Duke (2018)

OK, it’s worth noting that Williamson hasn’t declared for the draft yet, but we’re going to count on for now that he’s going to. He’d be the No. 1 usual choice regardless of who gets it. Duke made it to the Elite Eight with Williamson leading an entirely stacked roster that included the likes of R.J. Barrett (any other likely one-and-finished), Cameron Reddish (whose inventory has dropped but remains possible to pop out for subsequent year’s draft), and Tre Jones. Williamson, however, is unarguably the draw in that ridiculous class.