It’s officially March Madness, and with the 2026 NCAA Tournament upon us, it’s time to take a look at some of the lore. One of the biggest lore in NCAA Tournament history is the players themselves. March Madness heroes, if you like. From Christian Laettner to Stephen Curry, there have been plenty of memorable March Madness legends.
So who’s next? Here are some potential candidates from each of the nine Big Ten teams in March Madness this year, who could become March legends.
The Big Ten’s Next March Madness Legends
The Big Ten has had some memorable names, including Ohio State’s Aaron Craft, Michigan State’s Cassius Winston, and Michigan’s Jordan Poole, just to name a few. So why not begin with those three teams?
Don’t Sleep on Freshmen
Certainly, the Wolverines and Spartans all have very important upperclassmen or more experienced players you can talk about. Michigan, of course, has the Big Ten Player of the Year in Yaxel Lendeborg, but even if he does what he does, Michigan needs consistent scoring from the outside, especially with LJ Cason out.
Look no further than the guy who has already been impressive throughout the season as a freshman. Yep, Flint, Michigan’s own Trey McKenney. He can flat-out shoot the ball and has been a key piece from the start of the season. McKenney hit big shots and has scored double digits in each of his last three games. Not to mention, he averages 9.7 points per game on the season. Like Poole, McKenney could be destined to hit a March Madness buzzer-beater or have that kill shot moment.
He isn’t the only freshman in his own state that is going to have an impact in the tournament. Michigan State’s Jordan Scott has shown he can do it all on the court. Pair his effort alongside star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., and Tom Izzo has something cooking. Obviously, Scott had his freshman moment in their Big Ten Tourney loss to UCLA, but he’s going to need to deliver everything he’s got.
Building on an Already Impressive Legacy
Others have already put themselves on the map in a national capacity. That’s where you look at the rest of the Big Ten teams in the field. Bruce Thornton of Ohio State will be playing in his first March Madness, but he’s a proven scorer and has all the potential to lead Ohio State futher then most think. The same can be said of other seniors at Purdue, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Bennett Stirtz has already had some March heroics. Just last season when he was at Drake, he scored a combined 42 points in the two games the Bulldogs played in the 2025 Tournament. Now, he and Iowa will try to make a run. Everyone knows the story with Purdue’s Braden Smith. He’s played in a National Championship Game, and he and the Boilermakers are hitting their stride at the right time. He’s two assists away from breaking Bobby Hurley‘s all-time NCAA record. Smith is determined to end it all with the championship.
That brings us to Wisconsin. How can’t you believe that Nick Boyd has already started writing his legend? He’s a player who can go off for 30 at the flip of a coin. Not to mention he’s going to shoot threes like he is Curry. If only he wore the No. 30. Austin Rapp looked like a guy for Wisconsin as well, as he helped the Badgers eliminate a 15-point deficit against Michigan in a matter of minutes. Each of these players has one thing in common: they already have impressive legacies, but can only improve them in March Madness.
What Version Will They Get?
Nebraska and UCLA are the final two teams that haven’t been talked about yet. Why? Because you never know what you’re going to get with these teams, or some of their players, for that matter. The Cornhuskers have had the best season in their history. They will need Rienk Mast to continue to deliver in the post, but the real question is whether Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Braden Frager is ready for that next step after three-straight games of single-digit scoring.
As for the Bruins, if they can replicate what they did against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, especially another massive performance from Eric Dailey Jr. He is the ultimate X factor for the team that already has a standout floor leader in Donovan Dent.
It’s time for the Madness, and the Big Ten has plenty of players who could break out.
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