The second round of the NCAA March Madness tournament is officially underway, giving basketball fans every reason to skip work and tune in. Meanwhile, Casey Alexander and the Kansas State Wildcats should be watching closely.
Several mid-major standouts are emerging as intriguing transfer portal targets, and could be on the radar ahead of the 2027 season.Â
March Madness standouts Kansas State could target this offseason
The first round of the NCAA Tournament delivered its usual chaos, and day one was no exception. Storylines poured out of the Round of 64, including High Point guard Chase Johnston knocking down his first two-point basket of the entire season.
As entertaining as Johnston has been, Kansas State is unlikely to prioritize a guard whose impact is largely limited to perimeter shooting – especially with several former Belmont players rumored to be exploring the transfer portal.Â
Add in his expiring eligibility, and while intriguing, he’s far from a long-term solution for the Wildcats, who have no shortage of alternative options.
Siena guard Gavin Doty turned heads in the first round against Duke
The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils almost fell victim to the third 16-seed victory in the round of 64 in tournament history on the opening day. Luckily for head coach John Scheier, the Blue Devils are still dancing.Â
But the biggest headline wasn’t a late-game scare – it was the fact the Saints played all five of their starters for 40 minutes. Among them was Gavin Doty, a 6’5” sophomore averaging 18 points per game.Â
He finished with 21 points against the nation’s top team, falling by just six, with Doty one of three players in double figures before the final horn. That performance wasn’t a one-off, either.Â
The sophomore poured in a season-high 31 against Iona and posted 20-plus in each of the final two MAAC tournament games. Performances like that are exactly what the Wildcats need heading into 2027.Â
Miami (OH) guard Brant Byers among Redhawks with remaining eligibility
You can’t overlook what the Miami (OH) Redhawks accomplished this season, going 31-0 in conference play and knocking off SMU in the First Four. Even with a conference tournament loss to UMass, they still made the field.Â
If some players from that roster decide to move on, expect some recruiting chaos. Sophomore Brant Byers, however, tops the list of mid-major players to watch in the transfer portal.
Byers scored 19 points in the team’s win over the Mustangs, but never really got moving in the round of 64 against Tennessee. He ended the year averaging 14.2 points per game and just over four rebounds.Â
Like Doty, he delivers in the clutch. Add in his experience competing in the MAC, and he matches the level of competition Alexander typically targets.
Missouri Valley Conference names Kansas State can’t afford to miss
Northern Iowa was the lone Missouri Valley Conference team to make this year’s NCAA field. The Panthers, a late 5-seed, advanced past Bradley and Illinois-Chicago to reach the final rounds of Arch Madness.Â
With a talented roster and head coach Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa was a team impossible to ignore in this year’s tournament. A few names could draw interest after their opening loss to St. John’s.
Among the starting five, Will Hornseth, Leon Bond III, and Max Weisbrod all have extra eligibility remaining. If Alexander pursues his former Bruins players, Hornseth stands out as a key prospect. Against the Red Storm, he logged 10 points in 25 minutes.Â
He’s a traditional forward, but also stands 6’8”. Hornseth shot 44.4% from three-point range as a sophomore this season, one of the best marks in all of the conference. Depending on the future of Andrej Kostic, Dorin Buca, and other Wildcats forwards from the 2025–26 roster, Hornseth could realistically become a target.
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