There is little doubt where the power of fantasy basketball teams comes from: the forwards. This year's crop of versatile bigs is one of the best in recent memory. If you are going to win your NCAA fantasy league, you are going to need at least a few of these players. We've lumped swingmen in with the rest of the forwards, which adds even more value to the position.
Evan Turner, Ohio State Buckeyes
It's tough to find more superlatives for Turner's play, particularly after his buzzer-beater in OSU's first Big Ten Tournament game followed by back-to-back 31-point performances. He wound up with 16 double-doubles in 28 games along with a pair of triple-doubles. There isn't a more well-rounded fantasy player than Turner who averaged 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Consider those numbers were dragged down by the game against Eastern Michigan where Turner got hurt after playing just seven minutes. He'll likely be the top pick in post-season drafts, and rightfully so.
DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky Wildcats
They don't come much more consistent. Cousins is a double-double machine (he has 20 this season,) and that should continue to be the norm as long as Kentucky remains in the Dance. At 6-foot-11, 270 pounds, there aren't many folks out there capable of guarding Cousins. He only averaged 23.2 minutes each time out, which should make him even more ready to shoulder the load down low for the Wildcats. This weekend should be fun - limited playing time versus 16 seed ETSU, followed by a matchup with either Wake's Chas McFarland or Texas' monstrous Dexter Pittman. These two might be the only bodies who pose a challenge for Cousins in the East Region.
Wesley Johnson, Syracuse Orange
Don't let the hand injury dissuade you too much; Johnson is still worthy of a high pick in fantasy drafts. He scored 24 points and grabbed seven boards in the Big East tournament against Georgetown - he'll be fine. Johnson was one of the most productive players in the country all season, posting 11 double-doubles and scoring at least 19 points on 11 occasions. He throws in 2.3 assists as well.
Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia Mountaineers
Although John Wall and Evan Turner get the most press as clutch players, there might be no one better at the buzzer than Butler. He has six game-winning shots this season, including two in the Big East Tournament. He has scored at least 20 points in four of his last five games to end the season, and is also rebounding and distributing at a solid clip. With WVU hot, look out for Butler.
Kyle Singler, Duke Blue Devils
The lone forward amongst Duke's "Big Three," Singler is probably the most complete player. He averages 17.6 points, 6.9 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals and had seven double-doubles on the year. To be honest, there isn't a lot to say about Singler, and amigos Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith. Collectively, the three players have failed to reach double-figures in points just six times all season. Smith and Singler failed both to do so against Georgia Tech in a January 9th loss, but even that loss was by just four points. As much as it pains me to say this, these guys are hard to stop, and Singler looks poised to help Duke to their best tournament appearance in years.
Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The light bulb has gone off for Favors. After a miserable four point, two rebound effort at Wake Forest February 13th, the 6-foot-10, 246 pound freshman has averaged 16.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in the remaining nine tilts. There simply aren't many players capable of guarding a big man this skilled. He is the type of post player that can carry a team deep in March, and he is peeking at the right time. The Jackets are off an impressive run in last week's ACC Tournament, and while the draw against an Oklahoma State team isn't ideal, expect Favors to be his usual wrecking ball self.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky Wildcats
It may have taken most of the season, but Patterson seems to have found his niche in the John Wall, Coach Cal Kentucky offense. Prior to a four point outing in the SEC semi's, Patterson had reached double-figures points in eight straight. He bounced back to score 15 in the finals, and might just be the wildcard to the Wildcats' tournament hopes. After going 0 of 4 from three-point territory in his first two seasons in Lexington, Patterson has hit 22 of 58 (37.9%) this year. Teams will force UK to make outside shots over the next three weeks, and Patterson hopes to provide the calming, upperclassman experience to a group of rookies.
Darington Hobson, G/F, New Mexico Lobos
If repeated enough, will something stick? I've repeatedly called Darington Hobson the Evan Turner of the west and I am hoping that moniker will stick. Of course, it would help if Hobson would can a 35-footer to win a tournament game, but I am not going to be picky. Hobson is the main gun for the Lobos and averaged 16.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in his first year in New Mexico. The 6-foot-7 swingman seven double-doubles in his last nine games and should have little problem destroying Montana (the school, not the entire state).
Marcus Morris, Kansas Jayhawks
For all of the praise that Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich get, Marcus Morris has been one of the players that kept Kansas ticking along as well as it has. It may not always show up on the stat sheet, but Morris does a lot of the hustle plays that don't always show up in the box score. Morris' play really got better once Kansas entered Big 12 play. He's extremely active on the boards and comes up with a lot of second chance points for the Jayhawks. Morris was rewarded for his excellent play when he was named to the All Big 12 Second Team. Lehigh is not likely going to have an answer for Morris, so look for him to make the most out of it.
Trevor Booker, Clemson Tigers
Booker is Clemson's leading scorer and rebounder, and an All-ACC selection. But his numbers are down across the board from last season, and the Tigers enter the Dance having won just two of their last five games. Booker averages 15.3 points and 8.3 boards a contest, and while his scoring is identical to a year ago, the rebounds are down 1.4 per game, and he is blocking half a shot less as well. Even worse, his free throw percentage has dropped from 70.5% in '08-'09 to 59.2% in '09-'10. That makes him a liability late, and you can't win with your best player on the sidelines. Clemson has enough talent to make a run, but Booker will need to be a little nostalgic and rekindle images of years past if the Tigers expect to escape Missouri.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia Mountaineers
Coming into the season, Ebanks was touted as a breakout candidate who was supposed to put up around 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. However, his averages went up just slightly, about 12 points, eight boards and 2.5 assists. Ebanks has shown flashes all season, racking up six double-doubles. On the other hand, he struggled mightily in the conference tournament, taking eight shots and totaling 10 points in his final two games.
Kevin Jones, West Virginia Mountaineers
He does not get as much press as teammates Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks, but Jones is just as important to the Mountaineers. He is an inside-outside threat at the forward position, causing match-up problems with his ability to hit the three as well as score around the rim. Jones scored double-figures in his first 14 games, although he did post five single-digit scoring games in the final two months.
Kris Joseph, Syracuse Orange
Keep an eye on Joseph as a sleeper heading into the NCAA Tournament. With starting big man Arinze Onuaku expected to miss the first weekend, Joseph will slide into the starting lineup. With increased minutes, expect increased production. He finished very strong, scoring double-figures in 11 of his final 13 games, including six games of at least 15 points. He also grabbed at least seven boards 13 times.
Jamar Samuels, Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State wins when Jamar Samuels plays well. Samuels is a sneaky rebounder and is all over the paint on defense. He gets his hand on the ball on defense and is able to poke the ball away from the men he is guarding. For Kansas State to make a run in the tournament, they will need consistent production out of Samuels. He has shown a tendency to get in foul trouble, taking him out of rhythm and depriving himself of valuable minutes on the floor. If Samuels can stay out of foul trouble and keep focused, look for him to help Kansas State in their tourney run.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
There might not be a team in the field of 65 as cold as Wake Forest, who comes in losers of five of their last six games. But outside of a game in Tallahassee during that stretch, the struggles haven't been the fault of the 6-foot-9 sophomore. Aminu averages a double-double with 15.7 points and 10.7 boards. As good as Aminu is, he isn't the most passionate, vocal leader to the casual observer. Maybe the chatter of Wake Forest not being worthy of an NCAA bid will light a fire under Aminu. The talent on this roster exists to beat Texas and put a scare in Kentucky. They could just as easily get waxed in their first contest. Either way, I'm betting Aminu has some impressive numbers.
Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
As great as Derrick Favors has been in the last month and a half, Lawal actually leads the Jackets in both scoring and rebounding for the year. And while the 6-foot-9 junior can be a bit of an enigma (see his six point, five rebounds in 22 minutes performance last Sunday), Lawal has an impressive 12 double-doubles this season. Prior to the Jackets run in Greensboro, they had lost three of four, and six of their last nine games. It's impossible to know who will show up in Milwaukee against Oklahoma State, but if Lawal can help carry over the team's momentum, they can threaten both the Cowboys and Ohio State this weekend.
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State Spartans
Perhaps the realization that his college career is coming to a close just started to sink in with Morgan. Whatever the case, he finished the season by averaging 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over the last six games. The talent has always been there with Morgan, but injuries or illness have always seemed to get in the way. If Sparty hopes to make another deep tournament run, they'll need Morgan to sustain the momentum he's picked up over the past few weeks.
Quincy Pondexter, Washington Huskies
Pondexter has had a great senior year averaging 19.8 points and 7.5 rebounds while posting 10 double-doubles. He has a classic mid-post game and can score on a variety of moves. He has played well on the road of late after struggling away from Seattle early in the season. He won't be a high pick in your draft but you won't find many guys available late that can get 20 and 10. Marquette and New Mexico will keep the pace of the game moving so if the Huskies can pull an upset he can provide a nice boost to your team.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The most productive player in college basketball season will be an interesting player in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 22.4 points and 9.2 rebounds overall on the season, but put up just 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in the four games since he returned from a five-game absence due to injury. Will 'Gody get his usual 35 minutes, or continue to play 20-25 per game?
Lazar Hayward, Marquette Golden Eagles
If Marquette didn't get such a tough draw in the NCAA Tournament, I might be tempted to move Hayward up a few spots. He scored at least 20 points on 15 different occasions, and also had eight double-doubles throughout the season. He is a difficult match-up for most opponents, given his ability to score around the rim and step out and knock down the three.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville Cardinals
If Samuels was determined to dominate every night, he would be one of the most productive players in the country. Unfortunately, he is content to get the ball every so often and go multiple games without getting double-digit shots off. For example, he scored 36 points against Notre Dame, but got off only 21 shots in his final three games of the season. He needs more touches to keep his 15 and 7 averages.
Ryan Wittman, Cornell Big Red
One of the flat-out best three-point shooters in the country, Wittman knocked down 42 percent of his outside shots, attempting 238 three-pointers. He scored in single-digits only once all season, in the second game of the campaign against Massachusetts. Wittman scored at least 20 points on 10 occasions, including 24 points against Kansas. He will not back down from anyone.
Draymond Green, Michigan State Spartans
Green made some big plays during Michigan State's NCAA run last season, and he parlayed that into a solid sophomore season which saw him average 10.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals. Green posted seven double-doubles and had 10 games with at least 10 boards. He's a great "glue guy," who does a little bit of everything, which is always a bonus in fantasy circles.
Lavoy Allen, Temple Owls
All I really want to say is I'm depressed we can't get Allen center eligibility. At 6-foot-9, 225 pounds, I understand why, but with production like his recently, he'd be the best center in the land! In his last eight contests, all Owl wins, Allen has gone for 12.4 points and 12.9 rebounds, highlighted by a 17 point, 19 board effort at La Salle. The Owls' style forces plenty of missed shots, and Allen is clearly the benefactor. With matchups against Cornell and maybe Wisconsin looming, points figure to be at a premium. Rebounds won't be. Nor will Allen's consistent production.
Wayne Chism, Tennessee Volunteers
A player who has been all over the map this season, Chism appeared to hit a stride in the SEC tournament before being derailed abruptly by Kentucky. Still, in three games in Nashville, the All-SEC performer averaged 13.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. Tennessee will need every bit the similar performance this weekend in Providence if they expect their season to continue. Chism's ability to rebound versus San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas is only the tip of the iceberg here. Should he help UT escape an upset, a likely showdown against Greg Monroe and Georgetown will ensue. A team that had sleeper potential late last week suddenly looks like a lost cause. Chism will shoulder the load, so let's see what he is capable of.
Matt Bouldin, G/F, Gonzaga Bulldogs
The 6-foot-5 senior could be an intriguing player that would help you in multiple categories with averages of 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 threes and 1.4 steals. He is the creator for the Bulldogs offense and will have the ball in his hands during crunch time. Although he shot 46% for the season, he did have eight games were he shot 33% or worse. He is going to be guarded by players more athletic than him and that could cause his shooting percentages to plummet. Florida State leads the country in field goal defense and Syracuse could be waiting in the second round so his numbers could be down. Keep in mind though; it is tough to find guys that can help you in rebounds and assists.
Gordon Hayward, G/F, Butler Bulldogs
Other than three-point shooting, Hayward's sophomore campaign was superior to his sweet freshman season in almost every way. The 6-foot-8 swingman provided 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds and spurred the Bulldogs on to an undefeated conference season. He did cause some worries by missing the regular season finale against Valparaiso with a stiff back, but showed no ill effects in the Horizon tournament. Hayward will have to deal with UTEP's athleticism, but he produced adeptly in the non-conference schedule against bigger teams like Minnesota and Clemson.
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt Commodores
The sophomore wing appeared ready to break out early this season, but has struggled of late. For the year, the ultra athletic forward is averaging 13.4 points and 5.2 boards, good for second and third on the team respectively. In his last four outings Taylor has lost his grove and is putting up just 7.5 points and pulling down 4.3 rebounds while shooting just 31.2% from the floor. Ouch. Not the best time for a slump, but it just takes one game to regain your confidence. And if Taylor doesn't do just that, the 'Dores may only have one game left in their season.
David Lighty, Ohio State Buckeyes
After missing most of last season with a foot injury and eventually taking a medical redshirt, Lighty came back strong this season to average 12.7 points, 4.6 boards, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals. Overall, his production has been sporadic with fewer than 10 points in about a third of OSU's games, making his fantasy worth difficult to predict. Lighty enters the Big Dance on the heels of a strong performance in the Big Ten Championship game where he scored 20 points and took the game over during one second half stretch.
Elias Harris, Gonzaga Bulldogs
The 6-foot-7 freshman from Germany is the type of player that oozes upside. As with most freshmen, he is inconsistent. His averages are modest (14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds) but he has season highs of 31 points and 16 rebounds. He may be running out of gas as well as he hasn't scored 20 points since January 30th. He is a roll the dice player that could provide huge dividends or leave you wishing someone else drafted him. Gonzaga being an eight seed lowers his value because it will be difficult for the Bulldogs to play more than two games with Syracuse waiting in the second round if they get by the Seminoles.
Patrick Christopher, G/F, California Golden Bears
The 6-foot-5 senior could be a great complimentary piece to your fantasy team. He does a bit of everything averaging 16.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 threes and 1.6 steals. Odds are that Cal's depth will keep him from having a coming out party during the tournament. Although he can knock down the trey, he prefers to use his athletic ability to slash to the hole. He will need his teammates to bust up the Louisville zone defense to make his game hit on all cylinders. A likely second round matchup with Duke might be the end for him though. Don't draft him thinking you will get a huge return on your investment, draft him late for his all-around game.
Jon Leuer, Wisconsin Badgers
Leuer patiently waited for his opportunity during his first two years in Madison. The waiting paid off this season, as Leuer broke out to average 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. Had he not been sidelined for nine games in the middle of the season after undergoing wrist surgery, his numbers would have been even better. Leuer had 18 double-digit scoring efforts, five 20-point games, and a pair of double-doubles. His presence makes the Badgers a different team, thanks to his ability to score in the post as well as step out and knock down the occasional three-pointer.
Damion James, Texas Longhorns
James could be referred to as the double-double machine of the Big 12. He is averaging 18 points, 10.4 rebounds on the season. James' biggest problem is that he may not be around too long in the tournament as the Longhorns are seeded as a 8 seed, looking to face off against Kentucky should they win their first game against Wake Forest. James matches up well against Wake Forest and if He defends Al-Farouq Aminu, it could be an interesting matchup.
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State Aztecs
I am glad that the Aztecs made it to the Big Dance if for no other reason that Leonard gets a national stage to show off his rebounding prowess. There's nothing wrong with the Versus channel, but the 6-foot-6 freshman needs to be known. He averaged 9. 9 rebounds and had a season-high 21 boards in the Mountain West final victory over UNLV that propelled San Diego State into the NCAA tournament. He added 12.8 points to lead the team and should cause problems for Tennessee.
Chandler Parsons, Florida Gators
On a team that has five starters who all average in double-figures, Parsons may be the most consistent of the bunch. For the season, Parsons is third on the team in scoring at 12.1 points and ties Alex Tyus for the team lead in rebounds (6.8.) Parsons shoots a solid 50% from the floor and 36.7% from downtown; convinced he is consistent? He is still capable of the occasional stinker, like a three point, two board outing against Vanderbilt March 2 nd. The Gators are going to have use their size, length and athleticism to force BYU out of their half court sets. Parsons figures to be at the forefront of this charge as he is capable of leading the break at 6-foot-9. It looks like an uphill battle here, but in a test of will, maybe UF can surprise a few folks.
Gerald Lee, Old Dominion Monarchs
On a team in which six players averaged 7.1 points or more, Lee was the exception. He was the only Monarch to provide double digit scoring with his gaudy 14.6-point average. The 6-foot-10 native of Finland also added 4.9 rebounds and a 54.1% field goal percentage. Lee had a season-high 26 points in the exciting overtime win against VCU in the Colonial tournament semifinals and could be a decent producer against Notre Dame.
Jamal Boykin, California Golden Bears
If you are in a deep league and you need a rebounder late, take a look at Boykin. While his season averages of 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds won't get him noticed, his play at times has been outstanding. He has seven double-doubles this year and in those games he has raised his game to 19.9 points and 12.0 rebounds. You might be skeptical thinking those games came against stiffs but those seven double-doubles came against New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona State, Arizona, Washington State, and Washington (twice). He is a competitor that shows up for big games and none are bigger than the NCAA tournament.
Derrick Caracter, UTEP Miners
The arrival of the former Louisville Cardinal changed the Miners' season from one of the Conference USA contenders to league dominator. The 6-foot-9, 275 pound Caracter missed the first five games because of the transfer rules, but made his impact known early with four double-doubles in his first five games. He finished with 13.8 points on 55.6% shooting and eight rebounds. Against Houston in the Conference USA final, he had 18 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort. He might be too big for the Butler frontcourt to handle.
Wendell McKines, New Mexico State
The 6-foot-6 junior plays bigger than he is listed. He led the WAC in rebounding by pulling down 9.9 boards. He recorded nine double-doubles in 23 games. The Aggies open with Michigan State which should be a physical contest that will require McKines to play huge if they are to get the win. If you are in a league that gives bonus points for double-double, he could be a sneaky pick.
Malcolm Thomas, San Diego State Aztecs
Thomas did not expect to come to coach Steve Fisher's team and be the second banana, but the emergence of Kawhi Leonard necessitated that. Nevertheless, Thomas made his presence known on the boards and averaged 7.8 rebounds to go along with 11 points. Thomas had four double-doubles and played nice post defense in the Mountain West tournament. Tennessee has a wealth of big, active players, so Thomas will need to stay out of foul trouble for the Aztecs to have a chance.
Roman Martinez, New Mexico Lobos
As a third option, Martinez makes a pretty fair player. The 6-foot-6 senior knows his role and he sits on the perimeter and waits for his shot to come. He took 223 of his 338 shots from three-point range and made a pleasant 42.2% of his trifectas. In his last nine games, Martinez failed to make three threes in just one game (and he did make two in that game). While he doesn't provide much else, he did grab six rebounds during the season.
Ryan Rossiter, Siena Saints
"Mr. Double-Double", Ryan Rossiter, closed out the season with an impressive streak of 20 double-doubles in his last 24 games. The junior power forward led the MAAC in rebounding this season at an average of 11.1 per contest. Simply put, Rossiter is a beast. If you want a player that will scrape and claw and play his heart out down low, Rossiter is the guy you want. But, Rossiter is far more than just a rebounding machine. He also averaged a respectable 13.9 points, 1.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Look for Siena to win at least one, if not two or more games in the tournament, starting with an upset of undermanned and 4th seeded Purdue.
Alex Franklin, Siena Saints
Franklin led the Saints in scoring with an average of 16.3 points per game. He finished second on the team in rebounding, behind Rossiter, averaging 8 boards a game. The senior forward is the most consistent scorer on the team, totaling 20 or more points a dozen times this season. With Robbie Hummel of Purdue out for the season with a torn ACL, Franklin might be poised for a breakout scoring game versus the Boilermakers. There is a fair chance that Siena will actually be favored, as a 13 seed in round one.
Matt Howard, Butler Bulldogs
I am still waiting for an explanation on how a two-time Horizon player of the year can shrink to foul prone nobody. The 6-foot-8 junior was the Bulldog anchor in his sophomore season, but he must have heard referee whistles in his dreams. He did manage to averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds, which were very similar numbers to his freshman year when he was such a surprise. Howard did score at least 14 points in five of his last six games, so maybe he has worked out his problems.
Marqus Blakely, Vermont Catamounts
The Catamount senior is one of the nation's best kept secrets. The two-time America East Player of the Year (and he got robbed by not winning the award this season also) is one of just two players (the other being Paul George of Fresno State) to average at least 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game. Blakely saved arguably his best game for the America East title game on 3/13. He scored 24 points, hammered the boards for 18 rebounds and dished out five assists. For the season, Blakely averaged 17.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.9 blocks. While Marqus' may actually be able to win the one-on-one matchup with the 'Cuse's Wesley Johnson, the Orange will just be too strong for even Blakely to overcome. Expect Vermont to hang with Syracuse for a half or so, but eventually lose by around 15-20 when all is said and done.
Kevin Thompson, Morgan State Golden Bears
Kevin "Dub-Dub" Thompson finished fourth in the nation in rebounding, averaging 11.9 a game to go along with 12.8 points. The highlight of Thompson's sophomore campaign was his January 13th outing against Towson, in which he corralled a ridiculous 25 rebounds, while also chipping in 23 points. For Morgan State to have a chance in their opening round game against West Virginia, Thompson will likely have to produce another game of that magnitude.
George Odufuwa, North Texas Mean Green
The Mean Green have a trio of players who averaged at least 13.7 points this season, but it is the 6-foot-8 Odufuwa who should get most of the fantasy attention. He averaged 11.5 points and a Sun Belt leading 10.7 rebounds in his junior season. He spent a year at Arizona State before transferring to a school closer to his Dallas home. North Texas has won 11 straight games and could possibly put a scare into Kansas State.
Orlando Johnson, G/F, UCSB Gauchos
The 6-foot-5 sophomore transfer from Loyola Marymount led the Big West in scoring at 17.9 points. He is consistent as he scored in double-figures in every game this year and finished over 20 points 10 times. He also contributes in other categories as he averaged 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Unfortunately, postseason leagues are a different animal. UCSB will most need to play out of their minds to get by Ohio State in the first round which makes Johnson a probable one and done talent.
Danero Thomas, Murray State Racers
At 6-foot-4, senior wing Danero Thomas comes in averaging 10.4 points per game. Thomas scored in double digits 19 times this season, leading the Racers in that category. His main contribution, as of late, has been cleaning the glass. Over the last five contests, he has upped his rebounds per game from 4.2 to around 7.2 a game. Murray State plays a team oriented brand of basketball, which led to having five players average over 10 points, but no one averaging more than 10.7. Thomas doesn't have the flare or scoring prowess of his counterpart, Jeffrey Taylor of Vanderbilt, but if Thomas and Murray State can control the tempo of the game throughout, and limit Vandy's second chance opportunities, they have an excellent chance to pull a first round upset as a 13 seed.
Jordan Williams, Maryland Terrapins
Williams is a truck in the lane for Maryland. The 6-foot-10, 260 pound freshman has really played well late in the season, especially on the boards. He has 11 double-digit rebounding efforts this year, with five coming in the last eight games. Offensively, he is still working to become a threat, but he runs the floor well, can finish in transition and it should go without saying, but he gets his share of put backs as well. Landon Milbourne's demise has been Williams' gain. He brings 9.2 point, 8.3 board averages into his first Dance; it's just too bad he isn't a center. Similar numbers should be anticipated.
Landon Milbourne, Maryland Terrapins
The record snow the Mid-Atlantic saw this season appears to have derailed Milbourne's solid season. For the year, the senior's averages sit at 12.5 points and 4.9 boards. But since February 10th's game against UVA was postponed, Milbourne has only reached double-figures in scoring twice and his numbers have fallen to 7.8 points and 3.7 boards. My quick math tells me that pre snow, Milbourne was dropping 15 points and 5.4 boards. Maryland is going to need every bit of a return to form from the Roswell, GA native if they want a chance to go out winners in 2010.
Noah Dahlman, Wofford Terriers
Dahlman leads the Terriers in both scoring and rebounding going for 16.8 and 6.3 respectively. In a game against Wisconsin that doesn't figure to see a tremendous amount of offense, it might be a good thing he is the only Terrier to average in double-figures. Wofford comes in having won 13 straight and clearly have a go to player in Dahlman. He was great in an early season loss to Pittsburgh (20 and 7), and not so great against Illinois (13 and 2.) Obviously the Terriers need Dahlman to be more the former rather than the later to spring an upset.
Curtis Kelly, Kansas State Wildcats
UCONN transfer Curtis Kelly is another guy that really helps Kansas State when he stays focused and out of foul trouble. He can rebound and knock down 15 foot jumpers from around the basket. On the season, he is averaging 11.1 points, and 6.3 rebounds on the season. As long as he stays out of foul trouble, he will give defenses fits on the glass and around the hoop.
Bryan Davis, Texas A&M Aggies
Davis is a big man that has been quiet for a portion f the year, but can make his presence known when needed. For the season, he is averaging 9.5 points and 7.9 boards. For Texas A&M to make a run, he will need to make some noise.
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Abromaitis is yet another Notre Dame player that is unpredictable heading into the NCAA Tournament. He stepped up in a big way with Luke Harangody out, scoring at least 17 points in six of seven games at one point. However, in the Big East Tournament, he took just 19 shots in three games, averaging just 7.7 points per game. Which version will show up?
Jimmy Butler, Marquette Golden Eagles
One of the most underrated players in the conference, Butler has made several clutch shots for the Golden Eagles this season and poses a match-up challenge for many opponents. He is vastly improved since last season, and has the ability to put up 20 and 10 on a given night. However, he did score in single-digits twice in his final five games, although he averaged nearly 16 in the other three.
Gilberto Clavell, Sam Houston State Bearkats
Clavell scored in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games this season. His season high came against TexasState, where he scored 35 points and added 10 rebounds. Clavell is averaging 16.9 points and 6.3 rebounds pre game. Clavell will have his hands full when matched up against the big men of Baylor. He'll need to have one of his higher output games of the season for the Bearkats to have any chance in that game.
Contributions from Andy Bottoms, Asa Tysseling, Chris Bennett, Jeff Borzello, Mike Abbott, Perry Missner, and Tyler Holmes