Former Revs Academy forward Izaiah Jennings and Louisville await their opponent. (University of Louisville Athletics)
While the NCAA tournament features just three teams from New England, that doesn't mean local presence dries up on the national stage.
In fact, nine of 16 teams that received a first-round bye have a New England player in a starting role or as a key substitute. So if you find yourself looking for a local angle in Thursday's openers or Sunday's second round, don't fret. There's bound to be one.
To sort through it all, we've highlighted 15 players from the region worth keeping an eye out for. Redshirt freshman defender Nick Woodruff (Attleboro, Mass.) at Michigan State isn't included, because he's recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery.
Let's get right on into things.
