Analyst Snubs Purdue's Braden Smith as Top-10 Player in 2025 NCAA Tournament

Braden Smith doesn't really need another chip on his shoulder, but he's getting one from college basketball analyst Andy Katz, who doesn't believe the Purdue guard is a top-10 player in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Purdue's Braden Smith (3) during pregame warm-ups before the start of the Indiana versus Purdue men's basketball game / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

PROVIDENCE — Braden Smith doesn't really need any additional motivation as No. 4 seed Purdue plays No. 13 seed High Point in Thursday's opening round of the NCAA Tournament (12:40 p.m. ET, truTV). But, if he needs something to fuel his fire, college basketball analyst Andy Katz may have provided the starter fluid.

This week, Katz provided a list of the top-10 players participating in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Despite being the Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team All-American selection, Smith was not included on the analyst's list.

The rundown of Katz's top-10 players includes:

• Cooper Flagg, Duke
• Johni Broome, Auburn
• Derik Queen, Maryland
• JT Toppin, Texas Tech
• Mark Sears, Alabama
• Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
• PJ Haggery, Memphis
• Donovan Dent, New Mexico
• Chucky Hepburn, Louisville
• Nique Clifford, Colorado State

Andy Katz ranks the top 🔟 players appearing in #MarchMadness 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Aqe4njYvrv

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2025

Smith ended the season averaging 16.1 points, 8.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. It's surprising that he's not included on this top-10 list, especially with the things he has accomplished this year.

We'll see if he proves Katz wrong during Thursday afternoon's game against High Point.

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