It's playoff time in fantasy college basketball, with the first round kicking off in many leagues either this week or next week. As a result, owners face a typical conundrum: do you go with the players that got you there, or do you look at some late trends and start players with the hot hand or bench guys that have struggled lately? In the ACC, there have been several players exceeding their season performance in recent games, while others have slowed down dramatically over the past several contests. We looked at season totals in points, rebounds and assists and then found players whose last five games have produced point-rebound-assist totals that are either five more or five less than the rest of the season. Here's three on the rise, and three on the decline - you'll notice a conference schism, too.
RISING
Dominique Jones, G, South Florida Bulls
I've talked about Jones in not-so-glowing terms previously this year, but I can't say a bad word about him lately. He's been absolutely outstanding recently, scoring at least 28 points in four straight games, including a ridiculous 46-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist performance against Providence in late January. He only had 10 points in the Bulls' last contest against Notre Dame, but that does not diminish his fantastic play over the past 10 games or so. Even before the four-game stretch of at least 28 points, he had scored 20 points in five straight games; overall, since the calendar turned to 2010, Jones is averaging 27.5 points.
Will Walker, G, DePaul Blue Demons
Walker came into the season looking to improve on his solid numbers from last year, and he certainly has. However, you might not have expected that with the way he started the year. Walker was inconsistent for most of the first 18 games, but he has come on strong lately. Over the last five games, including a 35-point performance against Notre Dame on January 23, Walker is averaging 22.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists. On the season, he is averaging 16.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists; clearly, his scoring has improved, as he has exceeded his season average in points five times in his last six games.
Kris Joseph, F, Syracuse Orange
While you may not think Joseph is a viable fantasy option because he comes off the bench for Syracuse, you should rethink that. Simply put, Joseph is a legit player capable of putting up starter-worthy numbers for your fantasy team. His season averages aren't tremendous: 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds. However, look at his last five or six games. Including a 14-point, 11-rebound game against Marquette on Jan. 23, Joseph is averaging 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in his last six contests. He has scored at least 14 points in each of those games and has grabbed at least six rebounds in four of those six.
FALLING
Ed Davis, F, North Carolina Tar Heels
Don't be fooled by Davis' season numbers; he is struggling lately. Sure, he started the season with nine double-doubles in his first 16 games and was looking like a dominant performer - it helped him post season totals of 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. However, over the past seven games, he has been a shadow of his former self. In those games, Davis is averaging 8.7 points and 8.0 rebounds - and that includes a 16-rebound performance against Maryland. Davis has scored four points in three of his last seven games, and might not even be worthy of starting in your fantasy playoffs. It's no surprise UNC is 1-7 in its last seven games.
Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
I'm not going to advocate sitting Aminu; he's just way too good to keep on your bench despite some recent struggles. On the season, Aminu is averaging 16.4 points and 11.0 rebounds - absolutely dominant numbers for the sophomore. However, his scoring has dipped since late January. In his last six games, Aminu is averaging 13.2 points and 9.3 rebounds. Moreover, take out a 22-point performance against Boston College on Tuesday, and those numbers are even worse. Like I said, those numbers are still fantastic for most players, but they're quite a dip for a player who was putting up nearly 30 total points-rebounds-assists all season.
Gani Lawal, F, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Try to ignore Lawal's 17 points and 18 rebounds that he posted in a two-point loss to Miami (Fl.) on Wednesday night. Prior to that - and when this column began - Lawal was mired in a slump over the past five games. On the season, Lawal is averaging 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, but those numbers were significantly worse since January 24. In his last five games before tonight, Lawal was averaging just 9.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. Foul trouble played a factor, as he picked up at least three fouls in four of those five games, while the improvement of Iman Shumpert and some of the other supporting Yellow Jackets also played a role.