It is officially the best time of year. March Madness is here! And with it comes the wildest three weeks in college basketball.

The NCAA Selection Committee did a terrible job this year – I mean, Tulsa? Really? The Golden Hurricane were in NOBODY’s projected bracket before Selection Sunday. And where to start with Texas A&M being a No. 3 seed over Kentucky at a No. 4? They shared the SEC regular season title and UK just beat the Aggies on Sunday in a championship game. Those are just two of the many, many complaints to be filed against the Committee. But I digress.

No matter what the seeds are, and no matter what matchups were created, one thing is certain: we are going to see some thrilling action in what is the by far the most wide open race in tournament history. Championship Week gave us an unbelievable sneak peek into how the month of March is going to play out, with UConn’s Jalen Adams hitting one of the most memorable shots of all-time – a game-tying miracle heave at the buzzer from beyond half court to tie the game in 3OT, which essentially sent the Huskies to the Big Dance. And, of course, we saw Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield hit the greatest half-court shot that didn’t count the very next day.

It is individual performances like these that make March Madness beautiful. Young kids – some not even able to legally drink yet – making huge shots under ridiculous pressure circumstances.

And what makes this year even better is Fantasy Alarm’s first-ever March Madness Player Pool competition. Brought to you by our very own Jeff Mans, the first March Mans-ness pool is going to be, as all college-aged kids are saying these days, “LIT.”

The greatest part about this entire DFS-like approach to the NCAA Tournament is that it is FREE and EASY to play so it is literally a NO-RISK, HIGH-REWARD situation with NO DRAFT and NO SALARY CAP. Theoretically, you could roster Hield, Denzel Valentine, and Malcolm Brogdon at the same time, which you absolutely should.

Here is the most outrageous part of the contest: the guys at Fantasy Alarm are giving away real-life CASH to the top 5 winners, including $1,000 as the GRAND PRIZE to the 1st place winner, plus six months FREE of our AWARD-WINNING DFS Playbook Pro Subscription. Throw in $250 and 4 FREE months of the subscription for the 2nd place finisher, and $100 and 2 FREE months to 3rd place and there’s no reason you would not want to enter this competition.

Oh, and did we mention…IT’S FREE! Seriously, you guys, this is the equivalent of a gas station cashier handing you 10 free scratch-off lottery tickets and simply saying, “Have at it!” You’re not gonna not scratch ‘em off, right?

Here is an official list of all of the rules and regulations.

Obviously, the point is to pick players whose teams you think will go far in the tournament, so the higher-seeded teams will be the hottest commodities. Luckily, this contest has no draft or salary cap, so you are free to pick whomever you would like with no limitations. With 68 teams in the field, there are almost too many players to choose from to make a set of 10. I have whittled the list down to 23 guys to keep an eye on when the tournament kicks off on Thursday morning. Reminder: the “First Four” round in Dayton, Ohio is not being counted.

Obvious Choices

Five guys you need on your team if you have any hopes of winning a title.

1.) Denzel Valentine (G – Michigan State)

The do-everything guard does, well, everything. Valentine is the only player in the history of college basketball to average 19 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists since the NCAA officially began recording assists in 1983. The guard is efficient in everything he does and he is about to lead a team that always seems to be right in the thick of things come tournament time. Death. Taxes. Tom Izzo in March.

2.) Buddy Hield (G – Oklahoma)

This is a no-brainer. Hield was unarguably the best player in the country this season and that will be proven when he wins the John Wooden Award in April. Hield averaged 25.0 points per game (second in the country) while making 4.0 3-pointers per game at a 46-percent clip from downtown. Ridiculous.

3.) Malcolm Brogdon (G – Virginia)

The ACC Player of the Year has been the leader for the Cavs in 2015-16. Brogdon shoots well from every spot on the court – including from the charity stripe – and he takes care of the ball while staying out of foul trouble and averaging 34 minutes per game. Throw in the fact that being guarded by him is probably what it feels like to be detained in handcuffs and trapped inside of a jar of peanut butter, and you have a guy you need on your squad.

4.) Brice Johnson (F – North Carolina)

Here is where it gets a little tricky. Johnson is an absolute beast for the Tar Heels, but the problem lies in the fact that UNC is so balanced on offense that no one is going to rack up all of their points. But Johnson has consistent double-double – and triple-double – ability, which brings an added points bonus in this contest.

5.) Ben Simmons (F – LSU)

Too soon? The future No. 1 overall pick had a fantastic season, but his team did not. The Tigers are not dancing in March.

5.) Devin Williams (C – West Virginia)

Hear me out. This may not exactly be a slam-dunk pick, but Williams is the key to the Mountaineers’ potential Final Four run. Press Virginia, WVU’s nickname due to their full-court pressing style, rely on depth and a run-and-gun style. But the ‘Eers rely on Williams’ inside game as the 6-foot-9, 255-pound goggles-wearing dude is a bull down low with averages of 13.9 ppg and 9.3 rebounds per game. You’re not going to find a much better option at center.

Risk it to get the biscuit

Five guys who can rack up points and put you in the money…if they make it far enough.

1.) Kris Dunn (G – Providence)

Dunn could have opted for the NBA Draft last season and been a surefire lottery pick, but he decided to come back for one last go-round at the college level. While he did not have the type of year he expected statistically, Dunn improved his game in other areas, including taking care of the ball. He is prone to turning the ball over (3.5 TO’s per game) but if he cuts that number down and leads the Friars past UNC in Round 2, Dunn could win you a fantasy title.

2.) Ivan Rabb (F – California)

The only time I was able to see Rabb play this season he absolutely lit it up when he posted 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks against Oregon State in the Pac-12 Tournament last week. Rabb can easily get you a double-double, but the one area where he lacks confidence is at the free throw line. The entire young Cal squad struggles at the stripe, but if they can overcome those troubles they are a dark horse to make the Final Four.

3.) Kyle Wiltjer (F – Gonzaga)

The Zags barely snuck into the tournament, but a huge reason they got in was because of the Kentucky transfer. Wiltjer has plenty of big-time March experience, having won a national championship with the Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist-led Wildcats in 2012-13. Now, the offense runs through Wiltjer, and if Gonzaga can make a Sweet 16 run – entirely possible with a first-round matchup against a young Seton Hall team and a potential second-round meeting with a Utah team that just got dogged by 31 against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game – the versatile big man, a terrific long-range shooter, will be at the center of it all.

4.) A.J. Hammons (C – Purdue)

Hammons is arguably the most talented big man in the country. The only problem is he might not get the minutes he needs to be worth the pick. Hammons and the Boilermakers’ other center, 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas, are the focal point of the offense. But neither sees the floor at the same time, as they work much more effectively when serving as the No. 1 option on the court.

5.) Jakob Poetl (C – Utah)

Enjoy the Austrian sensation in college while you can. Jakob Poetl (pronounced “Yaw-Cub Pur-Tull”) probably could have been a top-10 draft pick last year, but he has solidified that spot with another outstanding season by earning the Pac-12 Player of the Year. But outside of Poetl, the Utes don’t really have much and might have trouble getting past the second round, where a potential matchup with Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis – son of NBA great Arvydas – awaits.

Stay away

Five guys to not touch with a 10-foot pole.

1.) Anybody from Villanova

Here’s all you need to know: the Wildcats haven’t made it past the second round since Scottie Reynolds’ game-winning floater sent them to the Final Four in 2009. Every year it seems ‘Nova is a top seed and a hot pick to make a deep run. But every year they crash and burn. Josh Hart would be the only guy to roster, but do yourself a favor and back away from every Villanova player.

2.) Marcus Paige (G – North Carolina)

The Tar Heels point guard has been wildly inconsistent this season and hasn’t been able to find his shot from long range. If Paige can hit from downtown, UNC is the favorite to win the whole thing. But if he can’t, they might not even breach the Sweet 16. My money would be on the latter.

3.) Wayne Selden (G – Kansas)

Selden is probably the most athletic player in the entire field. Just watch the human pogo stick’s dunk highlights on Twitter and you’ll see what I mean. But Selden doesn’t light up any particular category enough to warrant fantasy consideration, and how in the hell does a SHOOTING guard shoot 59 percent from the foul line?

4.) Yogi Ferrell (G – Indiana)

Ferrell is without question an ultra-talented point guard. But the fast-paced Hoosiers are under-seeded and set for the classic 12 over 5 upset against Tennessee-Chattanooga. And even if Indiana makes it past the first round, a date with Kentucky most likely awaits, where Tyler Ulis, the SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, would guard him.

5.) Melo Trimble (G – Maryland)

I’ll keep this short and simple. Trimble is way too inconsistent to waste a roster spot on him. If Good Maryland shows up, they can beat anybody. But if Bad Maryland takes the court, they can lose to anybody. Expect the latter to happen in the first round to a South Dakota State team that is battle-tested and boasts Wisconsin transfer George Marshall, who has one of the quickest first steps in college basketball, at the helm.

Wild cards

Five guys who could win you some cash…or bankrupt you.

1.) Georges Niang (F – Iowa State)

Niang holds averages of 20-6-3, but there is a huge red flag here: the Cyclones hate playing defense. As evidenced by their upset first-round loss to UAB last March, Iowa State cannot be trusted because they were embarrassingly awful that day (can you tell I’m still bitter from picking them in my Final Four?). The Cyclones have five guys averaging double figures with Niang leading the way. Clearly, they are balanced on offense, but if they can’t figure out how to guard it will result in another early exit.

2.) Jamal Murray (G – Kentucky)

Murray is the highest-scoring player John Calipari has ever had at UK (20.1 ppg) and not a single person would shake their head if you took the future top-5 pick. But just beware the Wildcats could very well fall victim to an upset to Stony Brook, and if they avoid a first-round upset they would have a tough road against the winner of Indiana/Chattanooga and a potential Sweet 16 matchup with North Carolina.

3.) Tyler Ulis (G – Kentucky)

Ulis has made his case as the best point guard in the Calipari Era at Kentucky – high praise for a group that includes John Wall and Brandon Knight. He is the first SEC guard to win DPOY in the conference since Georgia’s Rashad White in 2004. But please see (Murray, Jamal) as to why it’s a risky pick.

4.) Isaiah Whitehead (G – Seton Hall)

Whitehead is a ball-dominant guard who can go out and get you 30 points. But the Pirates are such a young team that could easily get preyed upon by an older Gonzaga team that has scratched and clawed their way to the school’s 18th straight tournament appearance.

5.) Anybody from UConn

The Huskies just do not die come March. Two of their last three tournament appearances have resulted in national titles. First, from the Kemba Walker-led unit in 2011 then 2013 when the “Hungry Huskies” won it all as a No. 7 seed behind Shabazz Napier. Don’t ever sleep on Kevin Ollie and the boys from Stoors. Daniel Hamilton is a beast for UConn this year.

Under the radar

Three guys from small schools who have the capability to go on a run, but probably won’t make it far enough to waste a pick on – unless you’re feeling a little ballsy.

1.) Jameel Warney (C – Stony Brook)

All you need to know: Warney put up 43 points on 18-of-22 shooting to go with 10 boards and four blocks in the America East Championship. He averaged 19 and 11 with 3 blocks per game on the season. Another need-to-know fact: the Seawolves face Kentucky in the first round. A Sweet 16 appearance is their ceiling, but a one-game stay is more likely.

2.) Mike Daum (F – South Dakota State)

The freshman big man can hit shots from anywhere on the court, and the Jackrabbits have a first-round matchup with Maryland, a team ripe for an upset. The Terrapins struggled against teams that can spread the floor, and that’s exactly what SDSU can do. But the Jacks won’t make it farther than the Sweet 16 in the best-case scenario.

3.) A.J. English (G – Iona)

The Gaels are 12-1 in their last 13 games heading into the tournament, and the No. 10 leading scorer in the nation is the main reason why. One of the game’s most unheralded stars can hit from Stephen Curry range with consistency and he could be that guy who carries his team on a special run by putting up 30 points in back-to-back games. Iona is always among the nation’s highest-scoring teams and that was no different this season. A first-round matchup with fellow high-octane scoring Iowa State is as juicy as it gets. Let’s just hope the lights on the scoreboard are still working by the time the final buzzer sounds.