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The 2022 NCAA Tournament is here. The bracket is beautiful and the stars are about to put on a show. Ranking the top 25 players for March Madness is no easy task. There were some super tough choices because the star power throughout college basketball is as good as it's been.

Every list is going to have its own flavor. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When we watch the same games, we all can have different traits that stand out to us. There are different things each basketball junkie values when watching a basketball player. I just happen to really like guys who play really hard on both ends. If you rebound and are unselfish, I'm pretty much all-in. If I could build a team filled with 6-foot-8 wings who could dribble, pass, shoot and defend all five spots, I'd be in heaven. It's probably why I really like Texas Tech's team this season. But that's my bias and I have to check it at the door.

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Here are the 25 players who opposing coaches will not be happy to see in their respective draws:

Eason is one of the best two-way players in the country. Eason can hound you on defense and torture you on the other end, too. Eason was named the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year and was a first-team, All-SEC selection. LSU is going through a lot of turmoil right now after Will Wade was fired, but it still has a really talented team, headlined by Eason. The Tigers' draw isn't bad, either. Eason is going to get a chance to show what he can do in potential matchups against Iowa State's Izaiah Brockington and potentially Wisconsin's Johnny Davis.

Roddy is one of the best pure scorers in the tournament. The bruising forward scores in so many ways. He's shooting an unconscious 48% on above-the-break 3s. Roddy gets into the lane and finishes at the cup with the best of them, too. The Mountain West is filled with awesome defensive teams, but Roddy had no issues with them at all. He's going to crush the NCAA Tournament. Michigan has been a really rough defensive team this year, and Roddy could easily put up 30.

Williams is a walking, talking BUCKET. The Texas Tech beast is one of the most refined players in the country. He can take big men out to the 3-point line and splash from downtown. Williams is shooting 42% on above-the-break 3s. Oh, and then he'll take you off the bounce effortlessly. If you want to put a speedy guard on him, Williams will go to work on the block, too. Texas Tech has a bunch of dudes, so Williams' counting stats might not be as spectacular (13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds) as others, but he's just an awesome player. There's a reason why he was a unanimous choice for first-team All-Big 12.

Juzang is still working his way back from multiple injuries, but he gets the benefit of the doubt after the massive heater he was on in last year's tournament. Juzang still scares the living daylights out of opposing coaches with his ability to go get 30. His midrange jumper is so smooth, and the UCLA stud isn't afraid to create for his teammates, either. If he can rekindle his magic, the Bruins could be scary yet again.

There has been a narrative out there that Jackson-Davis doesn't get the job done in March. Well, he's changed that. He carried the Hoosiers into the NCAA Tournament with an all-world performance at the Big Ten Tournament. He had 24 points against Hunter Dickinson and Michigan. He gave Illinois' Kofi Cockburn 21 points. And then he erupted for 31 points, 10 rebounds and three assists against Keegan Murray and Iowa. Jackson-Davis is one of the most athletic big men in the country, and he's playing like a man possessed right now. Good luck holding him down.

I would want nothing to do with Dickinson right now. The Michigan big man is as improved as anyone in the country. He's evolved into a capable 3-point shooter, and Dickinson is nearly automatic in the lane. He's shooting 80% at the rim and 55% in the lane. Elbow jumpers? Yeah, that's no problem for Dickinson either (18-for-31, 58%). Michigan is a mess when Dickinson is off the floor because he's so important on both ends. He keeps their defense from being an unmitigated disaster. He then also makes their offense hum at a really high level. Dickinson is good enough to single-handedly carry Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.

Tubelis is just different. The 6-foot-11 forward plays the 4 for Arizona, but he's not a stretch 4 by any means. He's made 10 3s this year, and he's really not been much of a jump shooter this year. But Tubelis brings so much value to the floor with his ability to abuse mismatches on the block, and he's an awesome passer. Tubelis was a first-team, All-Pac 12 selection.

Bacot is one of the most intimidating rebounders in the country, but he's more than just a glass cleaner. Bacot was one of the best players in the ACC this year thanks to a very polished offensive attack. Bacot was patient and took the shots he was really good at. He struggles with left-baseline jumpers, so he didn't take them often (1-for-4). But he's awesome on right-baseline jumpers, so he took plenty of them (14-for-28). That's smart basketball. Bacot has the chance to be the best player on the floor every time he steps onto the hardwood.

Other Baylor players have put up bigger stats, but Flagler is the Bears' best player. He's shooting just a tad under 40% from downtown. His ability to come off screens and fire without an inch of space is just so special. He's ramped up his game in Big 12 play, too. Flagler was an integral piece of Baylor's national championship team last year, but he was never the superstar. That was Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler. This year, it's Flagler's turn to torch the nets and be the lead dog.

Blocked shots aren't always the best indicator of if you're a really good defensive player, but Kessler is the exception. He has an absurd 144 blocks in 32 games. He's notched at least one block in 30 of 32 games, and Kessler has also swiped 1.1 steals per game. He has an unbelievable feel on that end. Oh, and Kessler is a rolling machine who can tear the rim off and wreak havoc on the offensive end, too. Kessler is an unbelievable talent. Kessler is going to have a triple-double with points, rebounds and blocks. Just you wait...

Jaquez has been UCLA's best player this year, not Johnny Juzang. Jaquez's all-around game is just so special. He's an unbelievable one-on-one offensive player who has the ability to take anybody off the dribble or back you down with an old-man game too. He's shooting a whopping 77% at the rim this year. But the things Jaquez does on the defensive end might be even better. Jaquez can guard literally anybody on the floor. He switches on a dime. He rarely misses a defensive assignment either, and he knows the scouting report like the back of his hand. Jazquez's basketball IQ is through the roof.

14. E.J. Liddell, Ohio State

There is absolutely nothing Liddell cannot do. He will defend the other team's best post scorer. He can switch onto guards and stay in front of them. Offensively, he's turned into a sniper from downtown, and his patented midrange game is dirty too. Oh, and he's a back-to-the-basket scorer who will rebound and push it in transition like a point guard. Liddell is an unbelievable talent.

Ninety-eight 3-pointers. Is that everything you need to know about Gillespie? Oh, how about the fact that he also handles a huge ball-handling role for Villanova while playing nasty defense. He's just a really great player with a flair for the dramatic, too. Gillespie will go down as a Villanova legend, but he's itching to add even more to his resume in the Big Dance.

Notae is one of the best pure scorers in the country, period. Guards seem to always excel under Eric Musselman, but Notae might be one of the best of them all. Notae is just a killer. He can be a little inefficient (47.5% eFG), but Notae is ridiculously good in the midrange game. He's shooting 65% at the rim and 50% in the lane. Notae abuses drop coverage, and he's also a triple-double threat, too.

The Footwork God is a delight. Timme is one of the most efficient offensive weapons in the country. The Gonzaga star just has every move in the book probably because he has to go up against Chet Holmgren every day in practice. He came back to lead the Zags back to the national championship game. He wants a different result than last year. Expect Timme to put up huge numbers with a ton of flair in the tournament. He still isn't an awesome defender, but Timme holds his own.

Paolo Banchero is a bruising man-child. The Duke freshman attacks angles and gets to the rim so well. He's a great rebounder, and Banchero is a really good playmaker. You can't play zone against Duke because Banchero picks it apart from the high post. Banchero hasn't shot the 3-pointer as well as he might have hoped (30%), but he's still just a ridiculously hard cover because of his versatility and strength. Getting him out of the lane is the first objective, but under absolutely zero circumstances can you let him get to the left baseline. He's splashed 13-of-23 (56%) midrange jumpers from the left baseline which is 22% above league average.

College basketball's 2021-22 story would be incomplete without Johnny Davis. He's been absolutely sensational. The Big Ten Player of the Year did some heavy lifting to help an overlooked Wisconsin squad earn a share of the conference title. He's averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists this year, and he's a worthy National Player of the Year contender. It's his job to shoot a lot for Wisconsin, so there have been some really inefficient nights throughout the season. But he's made up for it with some absolutely enormous moments too.

Even when his shot isn't falling, Davis is a beast on the defensive end. His spatial awareness on the defensive end is really impressive. Davis can gamble a little bit, but he always does it in smart ways and he'll come out of nowhere and attack an unsuspecting ball-handler like a hyena. Davis is a superstar, but Wisconsin is hoping that they can go on a deep March run, and that's just not going to happen if Davis has an inefficient offensive night. He had nine games this year where he shot less than 40% from the field, and Davis really only shoots 3.6 3-pointers per game, so a ton of those misses are inefficient 2s. Davis only has a 47% effective field goal percentage. That can't happen against the best teams in the NCAA Tournament, or Wisconsin is likely going home.

Jabari Smith is the likely No. 1 pick and the Auburn freshman is just a matchup nightmare. The 6-foot-10 wing is shooting 43% from downtown. He's just an incredibly clean offensive weapon. You really can't take him away, you just have to be super physical with him and hope his jumpers aren't falling. Smith isn't just a jump-shooter though. He counters that with the ability to get to the charity stripe a ton. Smith has shot at least five free throws in 10 of his last 12 games. Smith impacts the game on the other end too. When Smith is on, you're in so much trouble and you cannot do anything about it.

Bennedict Mathurin is an absolute pro. He moves like a pro. He prepares like a pro. He's got the mindset of a pro. Mathurin plays with a fire and a juice that you can't help but love. Arizona is loaded with talent, but Mathurin really stands out as the unquestioned alpha dog. Mathurin absolutely eviscerated UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game. With Kerr Kriisa out nursing an ankle injury, Mathurin took over and scored 27 points and dished out a season-high seven assists. Against top-50 teams, Mathurin raises his game to a new level and splashes 45% of his 3s. He killed Illinois. He killed UCLA. USC couldn't check him. Michigan and Tennessee had no chance either. Mathurin is special.

If Jaden Ivey has the ball late in the game, you should be very scared. The Purdue sophomore guard is a late-game assassin. His first step is so absurd. It's nearly impossible to keep him from getting to the rim. Ivey is tantalizing because when he gets out in transition, he looks legitimately unguardable. Ivey attacks the rim like he has a personal vendetta against it. He's college basketball's version of Ja Morant.

Purdue coach Matt Painter would tell you that Ivey needs to be more consistent on defense. Also, his shooting splits aren't quite as good as you might think. Sure, he's shooting 35% from 3-point range, but that number dips to just a hair over 30% against Top-100 teams. He's also made just 7-of-24 midrange jumpers in his last 10 games. If Ivey finds his shooting stroke in the tournament, Purdue can make a run and he could easily be No. 1 on this list.

Chet Holmgren does ridiculous things that no 7-footer should do on the basketball court. And then he just makes it look effortless. It's absurd. A 7-footer shouldn't have the handles Holmgren has. He's less than 200 pounds and looks like he's never eaten a cheeseburger, but Holmgren is still a menace defensively. Holmgren is shooting 41% from 3-point range and 73% from 2-point range. When he shoots, it's going in, and Holmgren can single-handedly impact how you attack Gonzaga with his absurd shot-blocking and shot-altering skills.

Holmgren will enter March Madness with plenty of gas in the tank. He's only had to play 32+ minutes three times this year. Holmgren's fingerprints will be all over Gonzaga's run.

An elite shooter can carry a team so far in the NCAA Tournament, and Kansas has a certified sniper in Ochai Agbaji. The senior wing is shooting 40% from downtown. He drains 3s against good teams, bad teams and mediocre teams. It just doesn't matter. But Agbaji's pure presence just makes everyone else's lives so much easier for Kansas. He has incredible gravity because he demands the defense's attention. It's really hard to double big man David McCormack with Agbaji lurking. It opens driving lanes for Christian Braun, Remy Martin and Jalen Wilson. Agbaji is just a straight-up stud and a deserving All-American.

If you do not have an elite defensive post presence, Kofi Cockburn will absolutely embarrass you. Just ask Wisconsin. The Illini star pummeled the Badgers' weak post defenders to the tune of 37 points. When Cockburn is in the game, Illinois will get him involved in the pick-'n'-roll game, but they also love to iso Cockburn in the middle of the lane and force opposing teams to make really tough decisions. If Cockburn gets in the lane, it's basically a wrap. The 7-foot, 285-pound monster is shooting 70% at the rim, and Cockburn is a tank on the glass too. When he's engaged and super active, it's a terrifying sight. He draws 7.3 fouls per 40 minutes which is the fifth-most in the country. Cockburn is just a different animal, and if you don't have someone who can at least bang with him, you're going to be in serious trouble.

Get off the tracks, the Keegan Murray freight train is comin'. The Iowa star is legitimately one of the most efficient pure scorers in the country. Murray is averaging 23.6 points per game on 16 shots per game. Think about that. Murray has played 34 games this year. He's missed more than 10 shots in a game just four times all year long. That's absolutely ridiculous for a guy who shoots a ton from the perimeter. Murray will come into the Big Dance as hot as any player in the country. He poured in 32 points against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals thanks to an 8-for-10 shooting display from downtown.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound wing can elevate over you on the perimeter and also take you into the paint. Murray is shooting over 40% on above-the-break 3s which is absolutely nuts. If there's one flaw in his shooting portfolio, it's that he struggles with elbow jumpers (4-for-22). But he just doesn't take many of those. Murray is an absolute treat who carries a heavy offensive load for Iowa, and then turns around and heads down and competes admirably on the defensive end, too.

Oscar Tshiebwe is a rebounding machine. The Kentucky star has the inside track to win National Player of the Year because there's just nothing you can do to stop him. Tshiebwe is leading the country, averaging 15.1 rebounds per game. His relentless pursuit on the glass is just impossible to truly gameplan for. Tshiebwe absolutely wrecks opposing gameplans. He's the nation's best defensive rebounder, but his offensive rebounding is just as important too. He keeps so many possessions alive for a Kentucky offense that doesn't need much help to get rolling. Tshiebwe has not played a single game this season without multiple offensive rebounds.

Don't sleep on his offensive game either. His finishing around the rim has really improved, and the jumper has really come along too. 102 of his shots this season have come outside of the paint, but he's shooting a very respectable 42% on jumpers outside of the lane.

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