Clik here to view.
Here is a look at local players in the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments.
Men
Sami Osmani, Oak Lawn
Osmani took a medical redshirt season during the 2023-2024 season and returned this year for his senior season at Creighton. The 6-4 guard has played in nine games for the Blue Jays this season. Osmani’s best game came on the road against DePaul. He had two points with a rebound and an assist in a 73-49 win at Wintrust Arena on Jan. 21.
Tavari Johnson, Lyons
Johnson has played in and started all 34 games for the Akron Zips this season. In the 5-11 guard’s first two seasons with the Zips, he played in 64 games, including 15 starts. This season, Johnson is averaging 13 points on 46 percent shooting with 1.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. His best game was a 27-point performance in an 86-73 win over Northern Kentucky on Dec. 3. He went 8-for-11 from the field (including four 3-pointers) with two rebounds, five assists and a block. Johnson was also named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team earlier this month.
Women
Sydney Affolter, Marist
The 5-11 senior guard has played in 31 games for Iowa this season, starting all but one. She saw an uptick in minutes and contributed in some big wins throughout Iowa’s season. Affolter is averaging 8.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 29.5 minutes. She had eight double-doubles with probably her best performance coming in a 79-66 win at Michigan on Feb. 26. She scored 18 of her 24 points (9-for-12 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line) in the first half, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. She also grabbed 11 rebounds to go with three assists and two steals in the win. Affolter earned her first All-Big Ten recognition as she was an All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media and was Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
The post Local players punch tickets to March Madness appeared first on Southwest Regional Publishing.
