GLENDALE, Ariz. — The NCAA Tournament’s biggest star plays four instruments: tuba, piano, baritone saxophone and upright bass.
He is a fan of fashion and anime, and is a limited athlete who cannot wow you with his limited athletic ability.
Despite quitting the sport in eighth grade, some NFL draft analysts believe he has a bright future in football, thanks to his 6-foot-9, 275-pound frame, soft hands and nimble feet. I believe there is.
Introducing DJ Burns Jr. The fun-loving forward from North Carolina State University led the 11th-seeded Wolfpack to his first Final Four since 1983 and made a name for himself in the process.
Defending national champion Connecticut got through the first four games untested in a tournament where Purdue and back-to-back Associated Press Player of the Year Zach Eady overcame inclement weather last March. Burns was a draw that few expected until now.
Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic also brought him up in his press conference.
“I think he’s very skilled, especially [as a] He’s left-handed,” Jokic said, not one to give unwarranted compliments. “I want to be left-handed. My teammates seem to like playing with him. I’ve got to be a good guy.”
“I think he’s going to be the mayor of Raleigh one day,” North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts added ahead of Saturday night’s national semifinal against No. 1 Purdue at State Farm Stadium.
Burns was surrounded by a swarm of media and was bombarded with questions about his future, his body and his play.
He doesn’t plan on playing football (“I’m a basketball player”), doesn’t mind jokes about his size (“People need to talk about something”), and his post-game This comment was inspired by watching the match. There were a lot of clips of Hakeem Olajuwon as a kid (“I ended up in Zach Randolph’s body”).
He’s trying to enjoy the moment.
“I would say this is extraordinary,” Burns said. Among other things, Burns has signed name, image and likeness deals with Manscaped, Raising Canes and Adidas, among others. “Don’t do too much of this. Being here can’t be compared to anything else. This is like a big party for everyone watching.”
Teammates say Burns has a lighthearted personality.
Ben Middlebrooks, a transfer from Clemson, recalled the first time he met Barnes.
He walks into the gym wearing sunglasses, a large chain around his neck, and music playing.
He made fellow starting forward Mohamed Diarra laugh in their first encounter.
After the Elite Eight’s win over Duke, he took time to take a photo with security at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
“When he walks into the room, you know he’s there,” Middlebrooks said. “He gives life to all and energy to all.”
It’s been quite the journey for the big man from Rock Hill, South Carolina, who started his career at Tennessee, developed into a quality player at Winthrop, and landed at North Carolina State before last season.
The Wolfpack wasn’t heading anywhere when the ACC Tournament began. Coach Kevin Keatts was expected to lose his job.
They haven’t lost since then and have won nine straight elimination games.
During this time, Barnes averaged an impressive 16.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
In the win over Duke, he scored 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting, outperforming potential lottery pick Kyle Filipowski.
“I think the way people treated him was unfair in some ways,” Eadie said. “People treat him like a sideshow. He’s a really good basketball player, don’t get me wrong, and we’re going to respect him and treat him that way, because he’s earned it. Because there is.”
Middlebrooks understands better than anyone how difficult it is to protect Barnes.
He played against him when he was at Clemson and has practiced all season.
Some days, a 2 hour workout can feel like 8 hours. This is because it is very difficult to defend a very strong, agile and skilled post defender.
“I remember saying, ‘What the hell am I supposed to do with this guy?'” Middlebrooks recalled that first meeting.
All eyes will be on Barnes and Eadie Saturday night.
No one stopped either player in this tournament.
Eady is expected to become the first player since Ralph Sampson in 1982-83 to unanimously win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards, and he scored 40 points and 16 rebounds in a stunning victory over second-seeded Tennessee. Ta.
Barnes won’t be in awe of him.
“I don’t care about his accomplishments. He has to lace up his shoes just like I do,” he said. “Certainly no player would put as much pressure on him to score as I do. Maybe he did, but not on a stage like this.”
