How every Phoenix Suns player played in the NCAA tournament

Tariq Owens

2015: Tennessee did not make tourney
2016: Transfer
2017: St. John’s did not make tourney
2018: St. John’s did not make tourney
2019: (3) Texas Tech lost to (1) Virginia in championship

Not to be one-upped by Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns two-way player Tariq Owens saw his five years in college and raised him a team.

Owens played for three teams during his college tenure, Tennessee, St. John’s, and eventually Texas Tech, where he shined in the 2019 tournament, catching the eyes James Jones.

During Texas Tech’s improbable run, Owens didn’t do a ton of scoring. He only put up 8 points per game, however, he finished with a total of 14 blocks (2.3 per game) and was a defensive presence all tournament long.

James Jones must have put a lot of stock into the 2019 March Madness because we are starting to see a trend. With no tourney this year, it is unfortunate a mediocre player on a team that happens to go far will likely not get a chance to become a Phoenix Suns two-way player next season.