Coolest Name in the NCAA tourney
Page 2 is once again entrusting you, dear readers, to determine which player has the coolest name in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Our criteria for coolness are similar to how Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart described obscenity in 1964: You know it when you see it. A great basketball name should be fun to say, fun to spell, or funky and unusual. We've selected our 64 favorite player names from this year's NCAA tournament field for your balloting entertainment -- feel free to blame the selection committee if your school got snubbed.
Last year, Purdue guard Bubba Day captured the crown, completing an unlikely run as a No. 15 seed. This year's tournament is wide open, especially because prohibitive favorite God'sgift Achiuwa missed out when St. John's failed to qualify for the Big Dance.
Meanwhile, the No. 1 overall seed in this year's bracket, Fab Melo of Syracuse, was ruled ineligible by his school after our first round of voting began. So we've shut Melo down, too. Sorry, but you gotta get it done in the classroom if you want to win this tournament.
Without further ado, Page 2 presents the Coolest Name in the NCAA tournament bracket.
Editor's note: Voting in our bracket was completed on April 2. Scroll down to see the results.
• Click here to read Page 2's interview with the bracket champion
National championship
Sixth-round results (winner in bold):
| National championship (14,081 votes) |
|---|
| (6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State, 76.8% def. (7) Vander Blue, Marquette, 23.2% |
Final Four
| National semifinals | National championship |
|---|---|
|
Dallas Comegys region champion God Shammgod region champion |
(7) Vander Blue, Marquette
(6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State |
|
Uwe Blab region champion Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region champion |
Fifth-round results (winners in bold):
| Semifinal No. 1 (11,554 votes) | Semifinal No. 2 (11,554 votes) |
|---|---|
| (7) Vander Blue, Marquette, 60.0% (1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati, 40.0% |
(6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State, 63.4% (3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State, 36.6% |
Elite Eight
Fourth-round results (winners in bold):
| Dallas Comegys region (7,729 votes) | God Shammgod region (7,729 votes) |
|---|---|
| (8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State, 35.5% (7) Vander Blue, Marquette, 64.5% |
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati, 52.1% (2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse, 47.9% |
| Uwe Blab region (7,729 votes) | Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region (7,729 votes) |
|---|---|
| (1) Bak Bak, California, 33.0% (6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State, 67.0% |
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, 49.4% (3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State, 50.6% |
| Regional finals | National semifinals |
|---|---|
|
Dallas Comegys region (8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State (7) Vander Blue, Marquette |
|
|
God Shammgod region (1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati (2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse |
| Regional finals | National semifinals |
|---|---|
|
Uwe Blab region (1) Bak Bak, California (6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State |
|
|
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region (1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse (3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State |
Sweet 16
Third-round results (winners in bold):
| Dallas Comegys region (7,891 votes) | God Shammgod region (7,891 votes) |
|---|---|
| (4) Mogboluwaga Oginni, Creighton, 48.0% (8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State, 52.0% |
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati, 55.4% (5) Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt, 44.6% |
| (3) Deuce Bello, Baylor, 46.6% (7) Vander Blue, Marquette, 53.4% |
(2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse, 52.8% (6) Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, 47.2% |
| Uwe Blab region (7,891 votes) | Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region (7,891 votes) |
|---|---|
| (1) Bak Bak, California, 65.1% (4) Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis, 34.9% |
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, 62.9% (13) Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado, 37.1% |
| (2) Dakota Slaughter, Alabama, 29.9% (6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State, 70.1% |
(2) Jordair Jett, Saint Louis, 39.6% (3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State, 60.4% |
Dallas Comegys region
| Third round | Regional final |
|---|---|
|
(8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State (4) Mogboluwaga Oginni, Creighton |
(4) vs. (8) winner (3) vs. (7) winner |
|
(3) Deuce Bello, Baylor (7) Vander Blue, Marquette |
God Shammgod region
| Third round | Regional final |
|---|---|
|
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati (5) Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt |
(1) vs. (5) winner (2) vs. (6) winner |
|
(6) Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse |
Uwe Blab region
| Third round | Regional final |
|---|---|
|
(1) Bak Bak, California (4) Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis |
(1) vs. (4) winner (2) vs. (6) winner |
|
(6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State (2) Dakota Slaughter, Alabama |
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region
| Third round | Regional final |
|---|---|
|
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse (13) Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado |
(1) vs. (13) winner (2) vs. (3) winner |
|
(3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State (2) Jordair Jett, Saint Louis |
Second round
Second-round results (winners in bold):
| Dallas Comegys Region (4,429 votes) | God Shammgod Region (4,429 votes) |
|---|---|
| (8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State, 85.8% (16) Austin Etherington, Indiana, 14.2% |
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati, 83.1% (8) Chace Stanback, UNLV, 16.9% |
| (4) Mogboluwaga Oginni, Creighton, 55.0% (5) Enosch Wolf, Connecticut, 45.0% |
(4) Quincy Acy, Baylor, 28.6% (5) Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt, 71.4% |
| (3) Deuce Bello, Baylor, 62.0% (6) Myck Kabongo, Texas, 38.0% |
(3) Jawanza Poland, South Florida, 39.5% (6) Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, 60.5% |
| (2) Robinson Odoch Opong, LIU, 28.0% (7) Vander Blue, Marquette, 72.0% |
(2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse, 74.1% (10) Tu Holloway, Xavier, 25.9% |
| Uwe Blab region (6,833 votes) | Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region (6,833 votes) |
|---|---|
| (1) Bak Bak, California, 67.6% (9) Peter Pappageorge, Long Beach, 32.3% |
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, 72.9% (8) James Michael McAdoo, UNC, 27.1% |
| (4) Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis, 59.7% (5) Booker Hucks, Long Island, 40.3% |
(5) Tyrone Staggers, Lehigh, 42.4% (13) Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado, 57.6% |
| (6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State, 64.3% (14) Grandy Glaze, Saint Louis, 35.7% |
(3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State, 77.3% (6) Latreze Mushatt, Murray State, 22.7% |
| (2) Dakota Slaughter, Alabama, 80.0% (10) Steve Moundou-Missi, Harvard, 20.0% |
(2) Jordair Jett, Saint Louis, 58.7% (7) Martavious Irving, Kansas State, 41.3% |
Dallas Comegys region
| Second round | Third round |
|---|---|
|
(16) Austin Etherington, Indiana (8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State |
(8) vs. (16) winner (4) vs. (5) winner |
|
(5) Enosch Wolf, Connecticut (4) Mogboluwaga Oginni, Creighton |
|
|
(6) Myck Kabongo, Texas (3) Deuce Bello, Baylor |
(3) vs. (6) winner (2) vs. (7) winner |
|
(7) Vander Blue, Marquette (2) Robinson Odoch Opong, Long Island |
God Shammgod region
| Second round | Third round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati (8) Chace Stanback, Nevada-Las Vegas |
(1) vs. (8) winner (4) vs. (5) winner |
|
(5) Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt (4) Quincy Acy, Baylor |
|
|
(6) Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (3) Jawanza Poland, South Florida |
(3) vs. (6) winner (2) vs. (10) winner |
|
(10) Tu Holloway, Xavier (2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse |
Uwe Blab region
| Second round | Third round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Bak Bak, California (9) Peter Pappageorge, Long Beach State |
(1) vs. (9) winner (4) vs. (5) winner |
|
(5) Booker Hucks, Long Island (4) Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis |
|
|
(6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State (14) Grandy Glaze, Saint Louis |
(6) vs. (14) winner (2) vs. (10) winner |
|
(10) Steve Moundou-Missi, Harvard (2) Dakota Slaughter, Alabama |
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region
| Second round | Third round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse (8) James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina |
(1) vs. (8) winner (5) vs. (13) winner |
|
(5) Tyrone Staggers, Lehigh (13) Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado |
|
|
(6) Latreze Mushatt, Murray State (3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State |
(3) vs. (6) winner (2) vs. (7) winner |
|
(7) Martavious Irving, Kansas State (2) Jordair Jett, Saint Louis |
First round
First-round results (winners in bold):
| Dallas Comegys region (9,828 votes) | God Shammgod region (9,272 votes) |
|---|---|
| (1) Fab Melo*, Syracuse, 76.4% (16) Austin Etherington, Indiana, 23.6% |
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati, 79.2% (16) Osas Ebomwonyi, Lamar, 20.8% |
| (8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State, 58.4% (9) Steve Tchiengang, Vanderbilt, 41.6% |
(8) Chace Stanback, UNLV, 55.6% (9) Will Yeguete, Florida, 44.4% |
| (5) Enosch Wolf, Connecticut, 51.4% (12) Ugo Okam, Harvard, 48.6% |
(5) Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt, 61.4% (12) Tekele Cotton, Wichita State, 38.6% |
| (4) Mogboluwaga Oginni, Creighton, 62.9% (13) Travis Trice, Michigan State, 37.1% |
(4) Quincy Acy, Baylor, 60.1% (13) Tshilidzi Nephawe, New Mexico St., 39.9% |
| (6) Myck Kabongo, Texas, 68.1% (11) Chido Onyiuke, Loyola (Md.), 31.9% |
(6) Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, 60.8% (11) Cor-J Cox, Mississippi Valley State, 39.2% |
| (3) Deuce Bello, Baylor, 71.9% (14) Deividas Dulkys, Florida State, 28.1% |
(3) Jawanza Poland, South Florida, 69.3% (14) Harley Nussman, Murray State, 30.7% |
| (7) Vander Blue, Marquette, 81.1% (10) Brice Massamba, UNLV, 18.9% |
(7) J'hared Hall, Loyola (Md.), 34.9% (10) Tu Holloway, Xavier, 65.1% |
| (2) Robinson Odoch Opong, LIU, 61.9% (15) Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's, 38.1% |
(2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse, 76.9% (15) Ferrakohn Hall, Memphis , 23.1% |
| * ruled ineligible after first-round voting began |
| Uwe Blab region (13,040 votes) | Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region (13,634 votes) |
|---|---|
| (1) Bak Bak, California, 81.4% (16) Clancy Rugg, Vermont, 18.6% |
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, 77.2% (16) Ivo Baltic, Ohio, 22.8% |
| (8) Conroy Baltimore, Lehigh, 23.9% (9) Peter Pappageorge, Long Beach, 76.1% |
(8) James Michael McAdoo, N. Carolina, 69.8% (9) The Plumlee brothers, Duke, 30.2% |
| (5) Booker Hucks, Long Island, 73.2% (12) J'Covan Brown, Texas, 26.8% |
(5) Tyrone Staggers, Lehigh, 51.6% (12) O'Karo Akamune, W. Kentucky, 48.4% |
| (4) Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis, 77.0% (13) Carlton Brundidge, Michigan, 23.0% |
(4) Jon Nwannunu, UNC Asheville, 33.4% (13) Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado, 66.6% |
| (6) Staats Battle, North Carolina St., 84.1% (11) Mike Broghammer, Notre Dame, 15.9% |
(6) Latreze Mushatt, Murray State, 66.7% (11) Retin Obasohan, Alabama, 33.3% |
| (3) Frank Ben-Eze, Davidson, 38.1% (14) Grandy Glaze, Saint Louis, 61.9% |
(3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State, 78.9% (14) Nyandigisi Moikobu, Iona, 21.1% |
| (7) Xavier Thames, San Diego State, 40.0% (10) Steve Moundou-Missi, Harvard, 60.0% |
(7) Martavious Irving, Kansas State, 56.0% (10) Assane Sene, Virginia, 44.0% |
| (2) Dakota Slaughter, Alabama, 77.7% (15) Kievyn Lila-St. Rose, Norfolk St., 22.3% |
(2) Jordair Jett, Saint Louis, 64.5% (15) Charlon Kloof, St. Bonaventure, 35.5% |
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje region
| First round | Second round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Scoop Jardine, Syracuse (16) Ivo Baltic, Ohio |
(1) vs. (16) winner (8) vs. (9) winner |
|
(8) James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina (9) Mason, Miles and Marshall Plumlee, Duke |
|
|
(5) Tyrone Staggers, Lehigh (12) O'Karo Akamune, Western Kentucky |
(5) vs. (12) winner (4) vs. (13) winner |
|
(4) Jon Nwannunu, UNC Asheville (13) Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado |
|
|
(6) Latreze Mushatt, Murray State (11) Retin Obasohan, Alabama |
(6) vs. (11) winner (3) vs. (14) winner |
|
(3) Bubu Palo, Iowa State (14) Nyandigisi Moikobu, Iona |
|
|
(7) Martavious Irving, Kansas State (10) Assane Sene, Virginia |
(7) vs. (10) winner (2) vs. (15) winner |
|
(2) Jordair Jett, Saint Louis (15) Charlon Kloof, St. Bonaventure |
Uwe Blab region
| First round | Second round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Bak Bak, California (16) Clancy Rugg, Vermont |
(1) vs. (16) winner (8) vs. (9) winner |
|
(8) Conroy Baltimore, Lehigh (9) Peter Pappageorge, Long Beach State |
|
|
(5) Booker Hucks, Long Island (12) J'Covan Brown, Texas |
(5) vs. (12) winner (4) vs. (13) winner |
|
(4) Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis (13) Carlton Brundidge, Michigan |
|
|
(6) Staats Battle, North Carolina State (11) Mike Broghammer, Notre Dame |
(6) vs. (11) winner (3) vs. (14) winner |
|
(3) Frank Ben-Eze, Davidson (14) Grandy Glaze, Saint Louis |
|
|
(7) Xavier Thames, San Diego State (10) Steve Moundou-Missi, Harvard |
(7) vs. (10) winner (2) vs. (15) winner |
|
(2) Dakota Slaughter, Alabama (15) Kievyn Lila-St. Rose, Norfolk State |
God Shammgod region
| First round | Second round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati (16) Osas Ebomwonyi, Lamar |
(1) vs. (16) winner (8) vs. (9) winner |
|
(8) Chace Stanback, Nevada-Las Vegas (9) Will Yeguete, Florida |
|
|
(5) Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt (12) Tekele Cotton, Wichita State |
(5) vs. (12) winner (4) vs. (13) winner |
|
(4) Quincy Acy, Baylor (13) Tshilidzi Nephawe, New Mexico State |
|
|
(6) Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (11) Cor-J Cox, Mississippi Valley State |
(6) vs. (11) winner (3) vs. (14) winner |
|
(3) Jawanza Poland, South Florida (14) Harley Nussman, Murray State |
|
|
(7) J'hared Hall, Loyola (Md.) (10) Tu Holloway, Xavier |
(7) vs. (10) winner (2) vs. (15) winner |
|
(2) Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse (15) Ferrakohn Hall, Memphis |
Dallas Comegys region
| First round | Second round |
|---|---|
|
(1) Fab Melo, Syracuse (16) Austin Etherington, Indiana |
(1) vs. (16) winner (8) vs. (9) winner |
|
(8) Tavon Sledge, Iowa State (9) Steve Tchiengang, Vanderbilt |
|
|
(5) Enosch Wolf, Connecticut (12) Ugo Okam, Harvard |
(5) vs. (12) winner (4) vs. (13) winner |
|
(4) Mogboluwaga Oginni, Creighton (13) Travis Trice, Michigan State |
|
|
(6) Myck Kabongo, Texas (11) Chido Onyiuke, Loyola (Md.) |
(6) vs. (11) winner (3) vs. (14) winner |
|
(3) Deuce Bello, Baylor (14) Deividas Dulkys, Florida State |
|
|
(7) Vander Blue, Marquette (10) Brice Massamba, Nevada-Las Vegas |
(7) vs. (10) winner (2) vs. (15) winner |
|
(2) Robinson Odoch Opong, Long Island (15) Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's |
Thomas Neumann is an editor for Page 2. You can follow him on Twitter @tnn95.
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