Saturday marks a week before the 2025 calendar turns the page to March, the best month in college basketball. But February is still the prime month for college basketball during the regular season.
While the SEC and Big 12 have a blockbuster game almost every day it seems, you are missing out on the mid-major players that can help a team make an unexpected run in the NCAA Tournament.
In this edition of Sam’s Section, we will look at some of my favorite players who have flown under the radar but could help a team bust brackets.
Donovan Dent, G, New Mexico (19.6 ppg, 6.5 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, 49 FG%, 36.7 3P%, 77.9 FT%)
New Mexico guard Donovan Dent, center, celebrates with fans and Mustapha Amzil (22) after scoring the game-winning basket against Colorado State in an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)
Dent is one of my favorite players in college basketball. He is having a massive year after leading New Mexico to the Mountain West Championship, where they became a popular Cinderella pick before the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Even though he is playing for an unranked New Mexico team, he can help lead the Lobos to a deep tournament run in March. He has not failed to score in double figures this season. He ranks in the 97th percentile in points per 40 minutes, averaging 22.8.
Dent is lethal on the fast break and inside the arc, but he does refrain from shooting from the perimeter. He is one of the best passers in the country, ranking 10th in assists per game. He is not the only clutch player on the team, but he can turn it up scoring-wise when needed. He scored a career-high 40 points in a big non-conference win over VCU. He is a defensive force, ranking in the 92nd percentile in Hakeem percentage (steals + blocks) at 5.2%. Not only does Dent lead the Mountain West in scoring, but also in field goals made per game.
New Mexico ranks in the top 75 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Much like St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, his brother Richard has the Lobos with a top 30 defense including a top 15 shot-blocking team. New Mexico plays a speedy tempo, ranking fourth in the nation. You know you are having a strong season when KenPom compares you to former Colorado guard KJ Simpson, who made the All-Pac-12 First Team last season.
John Poulakidas, G, Yale (19.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 45.7 FG%, 42.8 3P%, 89.7 FT%)
Thank me later. Poulakidas was a consistent double-figure scorer even though Yale was led by Danny Wolf, now one of Michigan’s premier centers. He has broken out this season, leading the Ivy League in scoring, field goals made per game and free throw percentage. Only once has Poulakidas failed to score 10 points or more in a game. In an eight-point loss at Purdue, Poulakidas kept Yale’s hopes alive, scoring 23 points with five 3-pointers made. He ranks in the 99th percentile in points per 40 minutes, averaging 24.7. He is in the same percentile for turnover percentage at 4.3%, which means he handles the ball well.
Unlike Dent, Poulakidas is not known to be a threat on the fast break but makes up for it with his perimeter shooting. He was a key reason the Bulldogs upset Auburn in the NCAA Tournament last season, scoring 28 points and knocking down six 3-pointers. Thanks to him, Yale is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country (39.3%) and is riding on a 10-game winning streak.
Ian Martinez, G, Utah State (17.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 45.4 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 87.9 FT%)
Martinez began his career in Salt Lake City with the Utah Utes before transferring to Maryland, where he spent the next two seasons of his college career. Since the 2023-24 season, Martinez has been back in the Beehive State. But this time, he is in Logan with Utah State. He has thrived with the Aggies, averaging 15.3 points per game in the past two seasons.
Utah State is underrated this season; They are ranked in the top 50 on KenPom and boast a top 15 offense in terms of efficiency. The strongest parts of the Aggies’ offense include a fringe top 10 effective field goal percentage (56.8%) and 2-point percentage (58.9%). Like Dent and Poulakidas, Martinez boasts one of the best points per 40-minute averages at 23.1. Unlike Dent, Martinez is not afraid to let the 3-pointers fly. Despite making 38.1% of his shots from downtown, he ranks third in the Mountain West in 3-pointers made per game (2.4). In Utah State’s first-round win over TCU last season, Martinez was a major factor, scoring 21 points and handing out four assists.
While Utah State does not boast a strong schedule, Martinez has not failed to score 10 points or more and has scored as high as 32 points this season. KenPom compares Martinez to former UConn guard Christian Vital during the 2019-20 campaign.