The Name Game – – 2025

Out there in the sports world, this is a day where sports radio takes a sharp pivot.  Yesterday was a day of spleen venting about which teams were snubbed by the March Madness Selection Committee and which teams did not deserve their placement in the tournament field.  However, today the focus is on bracket analysis and finding this year’s “bracket buster”.

Here in Curmudgeon Central, every day is a pivot-point; that is a phenomenon of no great consequence here.  So, today I will present a recurring theme for this time of the year.  I call it “The Name Game” after the song by Shirley Ellis from back in the 1960s.  I have scanned the rosters of the 68 NCAA men’s tournament teams and sorted player names into imaginary categories.  There is nothing serious here; it is a mindless exercise.

I’ll begin with several players whose names are Complete Sentences:

• Ian Burns – – Michigan
• Trent Burns – – Missouri
• Kael Combs – – Drake
• Jeremiah Fears – – Oklahoma
• Jeremy Fears, Jr. – – Michigan St.
• Chase Henderson – – Montana
• Chase Johnston – – High Point
• Chase McCarty – – Houston
• Will Richard – – Florida
• Chase Ross – – Marquette
• Lance Waddles – – Omaha

As I scan the rosters, I like to imagine that some players’ names portend what they will do for their careers once their college athletic endeavors come to an end.  I call this the Career Omens List:

• Blaze Angelloti – – St. Francis – – Firefighter
• Darrion Baker – – SIU Edwardsville – – Obviously …
• Tavion Banks – – Drake – – Hedge Fund Operator
• D’Ante Bass – – Alabama St. – – Fishing Guide
• Tamar Bates – – Missouri – – Hotel Owner
• Bowen Born – – Colorado St. – – OBGYN
• Jason Brooks – – UC-San Diego – – Hydrologist
• Skyy Clark – – UCLA – – Astronaut
• Jeremy Clayville – – St. Francis – – Sculptor
• Jackson Cook – – Arizona – – Celebrity Chef
• Kahmani Cooper – – Omaha – – Barrell Maker
• Omar Cooper – – McNeese St. – – Kahmani Cooper’s Partner
• Shawn Cotton, Jr. – – Grand Canyon – – Horticulturist
• Kayden Fish – – Iowa St. – – Marine Biologist
• Chris Ford – – Robert Morris – – Auto Dealership Owner
• Riley Fox – – Yale – – Network News Anchor
• Boogie Fland – – Arkansas – – Dancer
• Jo Jo Fullwood – – UNC-Wilmington – – Carpenter
• Ben Gold – – Marquette – – Mining Engineer
• Caleb Grill – – Missouri – – BBQ-Pit Master
• Jazz Henderson – – Texas Tech – – Clearly …
• Arlandus Keyes – – Mount St. Mary’s – – Locksmith
• Jaxon Kohler – – Michigan St. – – Plumber
• Chase Hunter – – Clemson – – Safari Guide
• Dillon Hunter – – Clemson – – Chase’s Partner
• Gestin Liberis – – St. Francis – – Librarian
• Sebastian Mack – – UCLA – – Trucker
• Dante Maddox, Jr. – – Xavier – – Epic Poet
• Ring Malith – — SIU Edwardsville – – Marriage Counsellor
• Cam Manyawu – – Drake – – Penske Pit Crew Member
• Chance McMillian – – Texas Tech – – Professional Gambler
• Luke Northweather – – Oklahoma – – Meteorologist
• Micah Octave – – Alabama St. – – Musician
• Reuben Prey – – St. John’s – – Big Game Hunter
• Colin Porter – – Liberty – – Longshoreman
• Cannon Richards – – Wofford – – US Army Artillery Officer
• JT Rock – – Iowa St. – – Geologist
• Te’Jon Sawyer – – Montana – – Another Carpenter
• Emanuel Sharp – – Houston – – Musician
• DJ Smith – – Robert Morris – – Too easy …
• Bryson Spell – – Liberty – – Elementary School Teacher
• Ace Talbert – – St. Francis – – Poker Player
• Mason Whittaker – – American – – Bricklayer
• Justice Williams – – Robert Morris – – Supreme Court Member
• Money Williams – – Montana – – Banker
• Trey Weiand – – St. Francis – – Poker Player
• Michael Wolf – – Xavier – – Leader of the pack
• Kam Woods – – Robert Morris – – Forester

Next, I found lots of players with alliterative names.  Several players on this list have an alliterative trifecta; there are usually several names of that type every year.  However, I continue to seek an alliterative superfecta such as:

• Billy Bob Baker – – Brown
• Thomas Tool – – Texas Tech
• The hunt goes on …

Here is this year’s list of Alliterative Names:

• Andrew Aliya – – Drake
• Atiki Ally Atike – – New Mexico – – Trifecta.  If only he played for Auburn …
• Ansley Almonor – – Kentucky
• Al Amadou – – Marquette
• Addison Arnold – – Arizona – – Trifecta
• Anthony Arrington, Jr, – – Wofford
• Coby Campbell – – Troy
• Cooper Campbell – – Troy
• Cameron Carr – – Baylor
• Coen Carr – – Michigan St.
• Collin Chandler – – Kentucky
• Carson Cooper – – Michigan St.
• Dre Davis – – Ole Miss
• Dain Dainja – – Memphis
• Donovan Dent – – New Mexico
• Declan Dillon – – SIU Edwardsville
• Don Douglass – – Wofford
• Darlinstone Dubar – – Tennessee
• Elijah Espinosa – – Mount St. Mary’s
• Frankie Fidler – – Michigan St.
• Jason Jakstys – – Illinois
• Jack Janicki – – Wisconsin
• Jadon Jones – – Oklahoma
• Keba Keita – – BYU
• Kerrington Kiel – – Troy
• Karter Knox – – Arkansas
• Kon Knueppel – – Duke
• Kerr Kriisa – – Kentucky – – Trifecta
• Kajus Kublickas – – Florida
• Keaton Kutcher – – Illinois
• Jaelyn Lee – – Texas A&M
• Liam Lloyd – – Arizona
• Langston Love – – Baylor
• Makoi Mabor – – UNC-Wilmington
• Mawot Mag – – BYU
• Mitch Mascari – – Drake
• Mason Miller – – Creighton
• Matt Mayock – – American
• Mavrick Miller – – High Point
• Mercy Miller – – Houston
• Maximo Milovich – – UC-San Diego
• Mark Mitchell – – Missouri – – Trifecta
• Milan Momcilovic – – Iowa St.
• Malik Moore – – Montana – – Trifecta
• Matthew Murrell – – Ole Miss
• Otega Oweh – – Kentucky
• Presley Patterson – – Auburn
• Pharrel Payne – – Texas A&M
• Rodney Rice – Maryland
• Shammah Scott – – Akron
• Tyler Tanner – – Vandy
• Tyler Thompson – – Montana
• Trey Townsend – – Arizona
• Townsend Triple – – BYU
• Víctor Valdez – – Troy
• Zakai Zeigler – – Tennessee

A palindrome is a series of words that read the same forward and backward such as:

“Madam, I’m Adam”

By extension you can think of numerical palindromes where a number would have the same value if you reversed the digits such as “5225”.  I take that extension one step further and notice players’ names that could also be the name of a different person if the words were reversed.  I call these Back-and-Forth Names:

• Harrison Alexander – – Mississippi St.
• Drake Allen – – Utah St.
• Jack Allen – – Grand Canyon
• Marcus Allen – – Missouri
• Tucker Anderson – – Utah St.
• Xavier Amos – – Wisconsin
• Shane Anthony – – UNC-Wilmington
• Lawson Blake – – Arkansas
• Joe Charles – – McNeese St.
• Preston Clark – – Texas
• Connor Dick – – Montana
• Campbell Duncan – – Tennessee
• Jack Francis – – Texas Tech
• Ja’Vier Francis – – Houston
• Jackson Francois – – Arizona
• Ben Gregg – – Gonzaga
• Jordan Hamilton – – SIU Edwardsville
• Isaia Howard – – Drake
• Jace Howard – – Michigan
• Birgir Irving – – High Point
• Julian Larry – – Texas
• Jordon Marshall – – Alabama St.
• Tramon Mark – – Texas
• Grant Nelson – – Alabama
• Travis Perry – – Kentucky
• Taelon Peter – – Liberty
• Cole Sherman – – Louisville
• Valentino Simon – – Omaha
• Emmanuel Stephen – – Arizona
• Daniel Thomas – – New Mexico
• Kamryn Thomas – – Omaha
• Kyle Thomas – – SIU Edwardsville
• Shane Thomas – – Creighton

In these name searches, I always come across some folks whose names remind me of someone else.  Here is this year’s list of names that make me wonder Are you related to …

• Jack Anderson – – Marquette – – The Investigative Journalist?
• Kanon Catchings – – BYU – – He really is Harvey’s grandson.
• Jordan Geronimo – – Maryland – – He’s a warrior.
• Jack Clark – – VCU – – Didn’t you retire from the Red Sox 30 years ago?
• Robert Cowherd – – Ole Miss – – Colin only has nice things to say about you.
• Kobe Elvis – – Oklahoma – – Who is your relative?  Kobe or Elvis?
• Kimo Ferrari – – San Diego St. – – Do you drive a red sports car?
• Hayden Hefner – – Texas A&M – – Got keys to the Playboy Mansion?
• Chucky Hepburn – – Louisville – – Audrey’s grandson?
• Gehrig Normand – – Michigan St. – – Related to Lou?
• AB Oladipo – – St. Mary’s – – Victor’s nephew?
• Tony Perkins – – Missouri – – Say you are not a “Psycho” …
• Justin Pippin – – Michigan – – Yes, he really is Scottie’s son
• Malik Presley – – Texas – – No, he is not Elvis’ son
• Jack Robison – – Wisconsin – – So close …
• Jakai Robinson – – Bryant – – Even closer …
• Jaxon Robinson – – Kentucky – – Another close call …
• Kobe Rodgers – – Louisville – – Bryant or Aaron?
• Brennan Walton – – Michigan St. – – Bill’s nephew?
• Colin Walton – – Michigan St. – – Brennan’s twin brother – – Really!
• Quinton Webb – – New Mexico – – Just the facts, Ma’am

Next consider these players whose names relate to things from The Bible:

• Isaiah Abraham – – UConn – – A Biblical Exacta
• Samson Aletan – – Yale
• Christian Anderson – – Texas Tech
• Bandon Angel – – Oregon
• Bishop Boswell – – Tennessee
• Joshua Corbin – – UNC-Wilmington
• Elijah Crawford – – BYU
• Justin Cross – – Kansas
• Jeremiah Dargan – – Montana
• Aaron Davis – – Bryant
• Elijah Davis – – UNC
• Isaiah Evans – – Duke
• Luke Flynn – – Wofford
• Isaac Gard – – Wisconsin
• Noah Haaland – – Gonzaga
• Micah Handlogten – – Florida
• Elijah Hawkins – – Texas Tech
• Adam Holod – – American
• Christian Ings – – Norfolk St.
• Isaiah Jackson – – Drake
• Samson Johnson – – UConn
• Noah Jones – – American
• Jacob Ognacevic – – Lipscomb
• Isaac Ondekane – – Omaha
• Malachi Palmer – Maryland
• Jordan Pickett – – SIU Edwardsville
• Jordan Pope – – Texas
• Christian Reeves – – Clemson
• Noah Ross – – UNC-Wilmington
• Micah Simpson – – Alabama St.
• Adam Shoff – – Montana
• Christian Shumate – – McNeese St.
• Elijah Stevens – – American
• Uriah Stokes – – Grand Canyon
• Joshua Streit – – Omaha

To date, we have had 47 President’s of the United States.  This year, I found 25 player names that recall names from that list.  Here are this year’s player names related to US Presidents:

• KJ Adams – – Kansas
• Grant Asman – – Lipscomb
• Lincoln Ball – – American
• Jace Carter – – Texas A&M
• Luke Carter – – Lipscomb
• Jackson Fields – – Troy
• Carter Gilmore – – Wisconsin
• Harrison Hochberg – – Michigan
• Grant Hurst – – Tennessee
• Graham Ike – – Gonzaga
• Dishon Jackson – – Iowa St.
• Kordelius Jefferson – – Houston
• Chaney Johnson – – Auburn
• Kai Johnson – – Montana
• Zachary Jones – – St. Francis
• Jackson McAndrew – – Creighton – – So close to an actual President’s name
• Tyler McGhie – – UC-San Diego
• Tyler Nickel – – Vandy
• Lincoln Palbicki – – Omaha
• Desmond Polk – – SIU-Edwardsville
• Jackson Porch – – Troy
• Jackson Sivills – – Wofford
• Grant Stubblefield – – Omaha
• Solomon Washington – – Texas A&M – – Could also be on The Bible list
• Tru Washington – – New Mexico

I came up with a list of players’ names that make up an Artist’s Palette:

• David Black – – Grand Canyon
• John Blackwell – – Wisconsin
• Isaiah Brown — Florida
• Malik Brown – – Duke
• T’Johnn Brown – – McNeese St.
• JV Brown – – Missouri – – Are you on the Varsity or not?
• Blue Cain – — Georgia – – Could have been here or on the “Biblical Team”
• Hayden Gray – – UC-San Diego
• Isaiah Gray – – Akron
• Josh Gray – – Missouri
• Corbin Green – – Texas Tech
• Jasen Green – – Creighton
• AJ Redd – – Illinois
• JJ White – – Omaha
• Miles White – – Lipscomb
• Tre White – – Illinois

Next up is a short list of names that relate to Nobility/Peerage:

• Pharoah Compton – – San Diego St.
• Frederick King – – Creighton
• Sam King – – Purdue
• Duke Mills – – Oklahoma
• Derik Queen – – Maryland
• Earl Timberlake – – Bryant

Some names make me think of places.  Here are players’ names that have Geographic Overtones:

• Devon Arlington – – Yale
• Raleigh Burgess – – Purdue
• Zach Cleveland – – Liberty
• Gibraltar Coleman – – American
• Grant Darbyshire – – Kentucky
• Dayton Forsythe – – Oklahoma
• Camden Heide – – Purdue
• Dallas Hobbs – – Mount St. Mary’s
• Denver Jones – – Auburn
• David Joplin – – Marquette – – Maybe he’s Janis’ grandson ?
• Dakota Leffew – – Georgia
• Houston Mallette – – Alabama
• Camden McCormick – – UC-San Deigo
• Cameron Sheffield – – Duke
• Dallas Thomas – – Clemson

This next list shows my empathy for copy editors around the country.  If these players make a game winning shot, their names will be prominent in stories and headlines.  If these players’ names are prominent, they need to be spelled correctly – – and that may be a challenge.  In addition, if a copy editor has to produce a single column headline referring to some of these players’ names, it might be impossible.  I call this my Copy Editors’ Nightmare List:

• Joaquim ArauzMoore – – Gonzaga
• Filip Borovicanin – – New Mexico
• Mihailo Boskovic – – BYU
• Somtochukwu Cyril – – Georgia
• Souleymane Diaby – – UConn
• Mouhamed Dioubate – – Alabama
• Zuby Ejiofor – – St. John’s
• Tafara Gapare – – Maryland
• Aubin Gateretse – – Utah St.
• Motiejus Krivas – – Arizona
• Sadiku Ibine Ayo – – St John’s
• Josh Ibukunoluwa – – High Point
• Nojus Indrusaitis – – Iowa St.
• Zvonimir Ivisic – – Arkansas
• Vince Iwuchukwu – – St. John’s
• Kasparas Jakucionis – – Illinois
• Oleksandr Kobzystyi – – Oregon
• Lefteris Liotopoulos – – St. John’s
• Khadim Mboup – – BYU
• Yanis Ndjonga – – Baylor
• Josh Ojianwuna – – Baylor
• Ze’Rik Onyema – – Texas
• Vasilije Serafimoski – – Robert Morris
• Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones – – UC-San Diego
• Abdoulaye Thiam – – High Point
• Aboubacar Traore – – Louisville
• Fousseyni Traore – – BYU
• Szymon Zapala – – Michigan St.

Before putting this baby to bed for another  year, let me simply make note of a few notable names that did not fit comfortably on a larger list:

• Supreme Cook – – Oregon – – Sounds yummy to me
• Federiko Federiko – – Texas Tech – – Alliterative plus Repetitive
• Sincere Parker – – so much better than “Disingenuous Parker”
• Joshua Jefferson – – Iowa St. – – Biblical? Presidential? Alliterative?

Finally, here are two Kansas teammates whose names combine to remind me of something else:

• Rakease Passmore/Zeke Mayo – – Perfect for a BLT sandwich on toast, thank you

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………