The pressure is always heightened in March.
The beginning of the month brings with it Free Throw Awareness Month and all the pressure that comes with big games.
The NBA is in the middle of its playoff chase as teams get more serious for the sprint to the end of the season and the postseason ahead. College basketball is hitting its NCAA Tournament and preparing to crown its national champion.
March is when everyone gets serious about basketball's present and its future. This is when the players stake their claim to the title and new players emerge to preview who will run the basketball world. That goes for both the NBA and college games.
March is where a lot of players make their names.
For NBA fans, the NCAA Tournament and the pressure-packed games -- not to mention a whole afternoon's worth of games and all-day basketball is just the best -- are when they start to look more closely at the draft prospects. These are high-profile games and the last games many players will play before they are dissected for the draft process.
Even in the middle of the Playoff chase, it is important to sit down and think about the draft process. No team should skip steps and skip out on the draft. Even if this is a particularly down year for the draft.
Or even if the team finds itself in the playoff picture for the first time in a long time.
Yes, the Magic are going to approach this draft perhaps a bit differently than years before. On the eve of the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament (Wagner and Colorado State advanced already in Tuesday's First Four games with another pair of games Wednesday), the Magic hold the 21st pick in the draft.
That is a lot different than the sixth pick.
And, on top of that, Anthony Black (the sixth pick from last year) and Jett Howard (the 11th pick) are out of the rotation. Orlando may not necessarily have room for another rookie or could more regularly defer rookies to the G-League for their first seasons.
Still, there is the chance to get talent and add players to the roster. And everyone has to do their homework in the draft. Everyone needs to add the best players they can.
The Magic may be drafting later in the draft than usual, but they should still watch the NCAA Tournament with an eye on the draft to mine some talent. And so should you.
Here are the players to keep an eye on for the NCAA Tournament this weekend.
5 Orlando Magic prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
vs. 15 Saint Peter's (Thursday, 9:20 p.m., TNT)
The Orlando Magic have likely played their way out of Dalton Knecht's range. But it is certainly nice to dream about grabbing a veteran rangy movement shooter capable of having big games. It seems like this is the biggest thing the Magic might be looking for this summer.
Knecht in a lot of ways felt perfect for what the Magic are looking for.
Knecht averaged 21.1 points per game, successfully transferring over his scoring production from Northern Colorado to Tennessee and the SEC. He shot 39.7 percent from three and 76.4 percent from the line.
Knecht had several big games too, scoring 30 or more points seven times this season including a 40-point game in the season finale against Kentucky. That is an impressive showing. And he made 6 of 15 3-pointers in that game.
If the Magic need anything to their lineup, it is some volume 3-point shooting and someone who can work effectively off the ball and off movement and take a lot of threes. Orlando has found a happy medium not taking a ton of threes, but it is hard to be a poor shooting team with some of the fewest attempts in the league.
Orlando almost certainly will make shooting a priority. But the team is still going to put a focus on size from its shooting. It wants bigger players at every position. That is who Knecht is.
Knecht is listed at 6-foot-6, 197 pounds, giving him the kind of size the Magic would certainly look for at the wing position. While Knecht has not been asked to be a solid defender, that is a role he could easily grow into or be covered for.
At this point, Knecht has likely played himself into the back end of the Lottery if not flirting with the top-10. Knecht though is the prospect many Magic fans probably would be obsessed with if not for Orlando climbing out of the top 20 for now.
Also Keep An Eye On
Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor (vs. 14 Colgate, Friday, 12:40 p.m. on TruTV)
Ja'Kobe Walter is not the shooter that Dalton Knecht is, but he has all the physical attributes the Orlando Magic typically like with good size at 6-foot-5 and a tough, physical style of play for the Bears.
He averaged 14.2 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game this season. His shooting is a bit suspect this season. But he was fine in high school from deep. That could have him range anywhere in the late-Lottery to where Orlando is picking.
5 Orlando Magic prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament
Johnny Furphy, Kansas
vs. 13 Samford (Thursday, 9:55 p.m., TBS)
If the Orlando Magic have a type, it is long, athletic wings who can play multiple positions and put pressure on the rim. That is the whole of the Magic philosophy. They want players who will get after and defend multiple positions while being able to attack and make decisions off the dribble.
Orlando's philosophy is about finding players who can do a bit of everything.
That is why some focus will be on Johnny Furphy, an athletic forward from Kansas.
Furphy had a slow start to the season but came on strong in Big 12 play. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged only 8.8 points per game for the season on 47.6/35.4/77.0 shooting splits. But in the rough-and-tumble Big 12, he averaged 11.4 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game on 49.6/36.5/78.5 shooting splits.
That is the kind of progress that scouts certainly like to see. He got better as the season went on and as the competition got tougher. Furphy showed some toughness on defense and he is an athletic finisher around the basket. He worked well as a role player for the Jayhawks throughout the season.
Kansas' season was tough. And injuries are going to slow them down in the NCAA Tournament.
They will be without Kevin McCullar, the team's leading scorer and another player who should fall into the Magic's range after averaging 18.3 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game this season. Even Furphy was dealing with some nagging injuries late in the season.
Johnny Furphy may struggle in the NCAA Tournament with the added attention that comes with Kevin McCullar and center Hunter Dickinson being out for the tournament (they are a popular pick to get upset in the first round).
Furphy though fits a lot of the markers the Magic look for. And he is a player who would be a solid catch-and-shoot option and complementary player for a young Magic team.
Also Keep An Eye On
Ryan Dunn, Virginia (Lost to Colorado State in First Four on Tuesday)
This is what you get for writing your NCAA Tournament preview late in a weak draft. Virginia got a ton of criticism for their selection into the NCAA Tournament and their 67-42 loss to Colorado State in Tuesday's First Four game (including 15 points in the first half) did little to make anyone think the Cavaliers should have been in the field.
Dunn though was a bright spot. He had five points and five rebounds in Tuesday's loss. He averaged 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He shot just 20.0 percent from three.
But Dunn is one of the best defenders in this draft class. And the Magic are always going to have an eye on defensive-minded players.
5 Orlando Magic prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament
DaRon Holmes, Dayton
vs. 10 Nevada (Thursday, 4:30 p.m., TBS)
The Orlando Magic this year seem to feel pretty comfortable with their options at center. Wendell Carter is strong positionally and can cover anyone on the floor at times. Moe Wagner is a master at drawing charges and working around the basket. And Goga Bitadze is a wrecker at the basket.
That does not mean the center position is steady. There are at least a few questions about Carter's long-term viability at center -- and some wandering eyes toward big-man free agents. And Bitadze's strong showing this year might price him out of the Magic's range in free agency this summer.
Orlando probably will feel comfortable going with Carter and Wagner next year. Perhaps the team should use this pick on shoring up the center position. Even with a player who could split time between the NBA and the G-League.
There are some center options (and we will get to another one later on here). But keep an eye on Dayton big man DaRon Holmes.
The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 20.4 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks per game on his way to being named the Atlantic 10's Player of the Year. He even shot 38.5 percent from three on 2.5 attempts per game after not shooting threes at all in his first two years at Dayton.
Holmes is as close to the complete package as there is among big men. If the league is looking for skill from the center spot, Holmes brings some of that.
A lot of the projections for Holmes have him going early in the second round. But that suddenly is exactly where the Magic are picking in the first round if they want to take a reach for some need.
The concern with Holmes is about his overall athleticism and ability to play above the rim beyond his questionable shooting. That may not exactly solve the Magic's problems and why they might be interested.
But he is a tough defender and could easily find a place in the league.
Also Keep An Eye On
Kyle Filipowski, Duke (vs. 13 Vermont, Friday, 7:10 p.m., CBS)
The bigger name among the centers is the 7-footer with the high profile from Duke.
Kyle Filipowski is averaging 17.1 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game this year. That dropped to 15.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks per game in the ACC.
Filiposki has size and he is obviously a tough player to move around. But his lack of mobility and outside game limits what he can do in the NBA and likely makes him a strong product for the college game.
5 Orlando Magic prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament
Jared McCain, Duke
vs. 13 Vermont (Friday, 7:10 p.m., CBS)
Many Orlando Magic fans are expecting the team to address the point guard position meaningfully this offseason. One way or another, they expect them to add a guard and shore up the team's outside shooting next to Jalen Suggs.
How they do it is still anyone's guess.
That is why everyone should have their eye on Duke guard Jared McCain.
Nobody probably improved his standing in conference play more than McCain and he could be flirting with the Lottery if he can turn in a good NCAA Tournament.
The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 39.9 percent from three (86.8 percent from the foul line) for the season. In ACC play, he upped it to 14.4 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 37.5 percent shooting from three.
McCain has had some solid scoring performances throughout the season too.
McCain does not always play like a traditional point guard. He is not a traditional ball-handler and distributor. That may be a detraction for a lot of teams.
But for the Magic that may not be as important. They have played Cole Anthony off the ball a lot this year off the bench and put ball-handling responsibilities on Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles and Franz Wagner. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner do a lot of the playmaking.
What the Magic may be looking for in a lead guard is someone who can spread the floor. That is something McCain appears capable of doing. That may make him an ideal fit for the Magic -- that is why Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has him mocked to the Magic at the moment.
McCain is going to have to prove a lot and could be an option to return to school without a strong showing. But McCain is definitely someone to have an eye on.
Also Keep An Eye On
Tyler Kolek, Marquette (vs. 15 Western Kentucky, Friday, 2 p.m., TBS)
A lot is being made about the Big East's absence from the NCAA Tournament. But when Marquette is at full force, they are a serious title threat. They just are not at full force right now because of an oblique injury to Tyler Kolek.
The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 15.0 points per game and 7.6 assists per game while putting up shooting splits of 48.6/40.0/88.0. The four-year player has a lot of things to like.
But he has not played since the end of February. He is expected back for the NCAA Tournament but it is a question how much he can give.
5 Orlando Magic prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament
Yves Missi, Baylor
vs. 14 Colgate (Friday, 12:40 p.m., TruTV)
If the Orlando Magic are hunting for some more traditional rim protection at center, then DaRon Holmes is probably not their guy. Rim protection is a serious concern for the Magic and it is something that they will have to see if they can survive without (beyond Jonathan Isaac that is) in the playoffs.
Orlando may want to add a pure shot-blocker especially if the plan is to develop one over the long term.
That is where Baylor big man Yves Missi steps in. The 6-foot-10 big man averages 11.1 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game and 1.6 blocks per game. He posted similar stats in Big 12 play.
Missi is very athletic and affects shots around the basket. That is something that has a lot of value no matter the skill set.
But Missi is still extremely raw. He does not have much of an offensive game beyond putbacks and even those can be adventures. He still has a long way to go and plays mostly on instinct.
That works really well at the college level when teh competition level is inconsistent. That will not skate in the NBA. Missi will need some time in the G-League to get up to speed and refine his skills.
Still, he has a 7-foot-5 wingspan and that is probably the sentence that matters most (and our first wingspan mention in this post!) considering the Orlando Magic's draft history. yOU have to put him in the running considering the Magic's needs.
Right now everything comes in flashes for Missi. But the potnetial is all there and that is going to get everyone excited even if it takes him some time to find his footing in the league.
Undoubtedly, his shot blocking and defensive versatility make him a potentially attractive option for a team like the Magic.
Also Keep An Eye On
Zach Edey, Purdue (vs. 16 Grambling State, Friday, 7:25 p.m., TBS)
Zach Edey has been the class of the big men in the college basketball world for several years, averaging 24.4 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game and 2.2 blocks per game. Edey is just a big guy who devours everything around the basket.
Edey works at the college level because of his size. But he is not particularly mobile and can struggle against teams that get physical with him. The NBA game is very different and he will have a lot to prove at the next level.