March Madness Hero DJ Burns to Play in The Basketball Tournament

DJ Burns may have another Cinderella run in him. The former North Carolina State star and March Madness darling has committed to play in The Basketball Tournament this summer.
He will be representing Team Challenge ALS, a fan-favorite squad that has played in TBT five different times. They were formed to raise awareness for the disease, and have received support from a variety of fans.
With that as its motto, Burns will fit in perfectly. While he was at NC State, he captured the adoration of fans of many schools for his unorthodox play style. A 6-foot-9, 275-pound big-man, Burns showcased nimble and effective footwork and the passing acumen of a guard.
In 2024, Burns led an 11th-seeded NC State team to the program's first Final Four since 1983. The Wolfpack became the sixth 11-seed to make a Final Four, which is the lowest seed to ever do it.
Burns averaged 14.2 points, 3.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds over five NCAA Tournament games, capturing the hearts of fans as NC State eliminated Texas Tech, Oakland, Marquette and Duke, before falling to Purdue in the Final Four.
Following his senior season, Burns was not selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Now, he'll get a chance to remind basketball fans why they fell in love with him when he appears in TBT, which starts on July 18.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience The Basketball Tournament
recommended
Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

12 minutes ago

• Yahoo

St. Cloud State's Brian Idalski hired as first coach of PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver

Brian Idalski is leaving St. Cloud State after being hired as coach of the PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver, the league announced Monday. The 54-year-old has more than 20 years of women's hockey coaching experience, including overseeing China's national team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Idalski also coached the KRS Vanke Rays to two Russian-women's league ZhHL championships over a three-year period. Advertisement Vancouver's inaugural roster includes former Vanke Rays players, Michela Cava and Hannah Miller, who also played for China in 2022. Idalski's hiring comes a day before the PWHL draft. Vancouver will select seventh followed by Seattle, with the expansion teams switching the final two spots in each successive round of the six-round draft. 'Brian is a proven winner who knows our sport, the players, and has coached at the highest levels,' general manager Cara Gardner Morey said. 'What stands out in Brian's experience is his ability to build and transform the programs he is a part of, from his work in professional leagues, at the Olympics, and turning collegiate teams into nationally ranked contenders.' From Warren, Michigan, Idalski spent the past three seasons at St. Cloud State, where he earned college hockey coach of the year honors in 2023 after the team tied a school record with 18 wins. His teams have combined for five NCAA Tournament appearances, with previous stops at North Dakota and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 'I've been associated with a lot of players across the PWHL, either coaching them personally or against them over the years, so this role brings me full circle with an eagerness to work with the league's world-class talent,' Idalski said. Seattle filled its coaching position by hiring Steve O'Rourke last week. ___ AP women's hockey: John Wawrow, The Associated Press

San Francisco Chronicle​

17 minutes ago

• San Francisco Chronicle​

St. Cloud State's Brian Idalski hired as first coach of PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver

Brian Idalski is leaving St. Cloud State after being hired as coach of the PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver, the league announced Monday. The 54-year-old has more than 20 years of women's hockey coaching experience, including overseeing China's national team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Idalski also coached the KRS Vanke Rays to two Russian-women's league ZhHL championships over a three-year period. Vancouver's inaugural roster includes former Vanke Rays players, Michela Cava and Hannah Miller, who also played for China in 2022. Idalski's hiring comes a day before the PWHL draft. Vancouver will select seventh followed by Seattle, with the expansion teams switching the final two spots in each successive round of the six-round draft. 'Brian is a proven winner who knows our sport, the players, and has coached at the highest levels,' general manager Cara Gardner Morey said. 'What stands out in Brian's experience is his ability to build and transform the programs he is a part of, from his work in professional leagues, at the Olympics, and turning collegiate teams into nationally ranked contenders.' From Warren, Michigan, Idalski spent the past three seasons at St. Cloud State, where he earned college hockey coach of the year honors in 2023 after the team tied a school record with 18 wins. His teams have combined for five NCAA Tournament appearances, with previous stops at North Dakota and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 'I've been associated with a lot of players across the PWHL, either coaching them personally or against them over the years, so this role brings me full circle with an eagerness to work with the league's world-class talent,' Idalski said. ___

Fox Sports

18 minutes ago

• Fox Sports

St. Cloud State's Brian Idalski hired as first coach of PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver

Associated Press Brian Idalski is leaving St. Cloud State after being hired as coach of the PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver, the league announced Monday. The 54-year-old has more than 20 years of women's hockey coaching experience, including overseeing China's national team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Idalski also coached the KRS Vanke Rays to two Russian-women's league ZhHL championships over a three-year period. Vancouver's inaugural roster includes former Vanke Rays players, Michela Cava and Hannah Miller, who also played for China in 2022. Idalski's hiring comes a day before the PWHL draft. Vancouver will select seventh followed by Seattle, with the expansion teams switching the final two spots in each successive round of the six-round draft. 'Brian is a proven winner who knows our sport, the players, and has coached at the highest levels,' general manager Cara Gardner Morey said. 'What stands out in Brian's experience is his ability to build and transform the programs he is a part of, from his work in professional leagues, at the Olympics, and turning collegiate teams into nationally ranked contenders.' From Warren, Michigan, Idalski spent the past three seasons at St. Cloud State, where he earned college hockey coach of the year honors in 2023 after the team tied a school record with 18 wins. His teams have combined for five NCAA Tournament appearances, with previous stops at North Dakota and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 'I've been associated with a lot of players across the PWHL, either coaching them personally or against them over the years, so this role brings me full circle with an eagerness to work with the league's world-class talent,' Idalski said. Seattle filled its coaching position by hiring Steve O'Rourke last week. ___ AP women's hockey: in this topic