Every college basketball team needs a glue guy. The guy who can do the little things to help them win. Glue guys are not overly helpful in fantasy college basketball because they generally don't accrue statistics on par with the star or the big man in the pivot. Nevertheless, every fantasy college basketball team can't be all stars and centers, so once you get past that upper echelon, the glue guys may set your team apart because of your depth. This week's SEC/Pac-10 roundup does not feature top scorers (who have been profiled in previous entries of this report), but these players can be found on the edge of roster worthiness. If you pick them up, you might just get that extra push to help you through your tournaments in February and March.
Ravern Johnson, G, Mississippi State Bulldogs
The 6-foot-7 Johnson is the Bulldogs' best perimeter option. He is hitting 43.4% of his three-pointers and averaging 14.0 points. However, there are some ominous reasons why he isn't owned in more leagues. First off, his best attribute - that three-point shot - has been off of late. He has only hit 3 of his last 22 three-pointers over the last four games. Despite playing guard, Johnson also seems unable to create buckets for teammates. He only had one assist in his last 10 games and has 11 total assists through 21 games. Lastly, he is having a horrible year at the line. After hitting 84.8% of his freebies as a sophomore, he is making just 58.4% of his free throws this year. Fortunately, he doesn't go to the line very often (just 1.4 free throws per game), so he won't hurt you too much there. The good thing is that despite these issues, Johnson continues to score. He has 44 points in his last three games and is adept at hitting mid-range jumpers. There is plenty not to like about Johnson, but if you need a 15-point scorer, he may be your man.
Tay Waller, G, Auburn Tigers
Like Johnson, Waller is his team's best three-point shooter. Unlike Johnson, however, Waller is in the midst of a hot streak. He has scored 41 points with seven steals in his last two games and has hit eight three-pointers in 18 attempts. The 6-foot-2 senior is also slightly more versatile than his conference mate in that he provides 0.9 assists (compared to Johnson's 0.5) and 1.3 steals. A person wiser than me once said it comes and it goes. Waller seems to be coming, but this hot streak will probably go in the short term. Waller is averaging just 12.6 points this season and anyone who takes more than 70% of their shots from three-point territory is bound to have some ups and downs. To his credit, Waller has hit at least two three-pointers in all but one game this season and converts 38.7% of his long range attempts. You may be able to enjoy some short term gains if you pick him now, but he probably won't help you in the long term.
Tony Mitchell, F, Alabama Crimson Tide
Across the state in Tuscaloosa, there is a player with a nice looking future. Mitchell, a 6-foot-6 freshman, has done a little of everything for the Crimson Tide and may be a future star. The native of Swainsboro, GA has started nine games and become the team's defensive ace. He has provided 1.7 steals in limited time and has six steals in his last three games. Mitchell has also done a lot of board work of late and brought down 36 rebounds in his last four games, including a career-high 12 in a Jan. 23 win over Mississippi State. Mitchell is not asked to shoot a great deal, but when he does shoot he converts 54.6% of his attempts and is averaging 8.9 points in 21.8 minutes. As the freshman gets accustomed to the starting lineup and greater responsibility, he may get more offensive opportunities. He'll play second banana to JaMychal Green in the Tide's frontcourt for the next few years, but there's no reason he won't be able to become a fine fantasy player soon.
Rihards Kuksiks, G/F, Arizona State Sun Devils
Unlike last season, this year's Sun Devils don't seem to have any standout players. They have a bunch of functional pieces and Kuksiks, a 6-foot-6 junior, is one. He is currently leading the team in scoring at 12.8 points, and like his SEC brethren mentioned above, he mainly does his damage from outside of the three-point arc. He is converting 39.2% of his three-pointers for 2.7 threes per game and he takes more than 70% of his shots from long range. Kuksiks tends to be an all-or-nothing player. In his last seven games, he has either hit at least four three-pointers (as he has done four times) or one or two. If you can pick out the games when he is going to be hitting from long range, then you are a wiser man than me. The native of Latvia does play consistent minutes and provides 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals along with his points. More than anything, however, he is a shooter, so if that's what you need, you could do worse.
Calvin Haynes, G, Oregon State Beavers
Like Kuksiks, Haynes leads his team in scoring at a modest 13.0 points. He also runs hot and cold, but his streaks seem to be more sustained than his Sun Devil counterpart. Currently, Haynes is in a nice groove and has scored 66 points in his last three games, including a pair of 25-point performances. He is making 42.4% of his three-pointers and just slightly better than that from within the arc. He does not, however, tend to stay outside and takes just under 40% of his shots from long range. In his three-game hot streak, Haynes has been forcing the action more often and has gone to the line 19 times (making 15). Like other players on this list, he won't help you much beyond the scoring column. He averages just 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals, but if you are in a Pac 10-centric league, he is probably the Beaver to own.
Jeremy Jacob, F, Oregon Ducks
After playing sporadically for the first three months of the season, it appears that it is finally Jacob's turn to see the light of the Duck starting lineup and he is taking advantage of the opportunity. The 6-foot-7 sophomore who transferred from Georgia after the 2007-08 season has scored 30 points in his last two games, including a career-high 19 in a Jan. 30 win over USC. Jacob has scored in double-figures in the last four games and does most of his damage around the basket. He started his mini-streak on Jan. 21 by hitting all six of his shots in 13 minutes in a loss to California. That earned him 20 minutes against Stanford in the subsequent game, and he followed those two games with 36 minutes per game in the homestand against the southern California schools. With coach Ernie Kent juggling his lineup all year long, if Jacob can remain consistent, he should get playing time and continue to score.
Nikola Koprivica, G/F, Washington State Cougars
Similar to Jacob, Koprivica is coming off his best game. Klay Thompson was held out of the starting lineup for being late, so the 6-foot-6 Serbian made his first start of the season against Washington and had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. I remember watching Washington State last year against Baylor and being impressed by the then-junior, and he has taken his game to a new level under coach Ken Bone. Koprivica is scoring 9.1 points and has double-digit points in his last five games and eight of his last 11. He is hitting 50% of his three-pointers for 1.4 treys per game and has 7.6 rebounds per game over his last five contests. It's unlikely that Thompson will stay out of the starting lineup for long, but it may be that Koprivica has earned himself more playing time. More playing time generally means more shots, so the senior could end his career with a bang.