It is an old adage that the NCAA tournament is dominated by guards. All games are dominated by guards because they hold the ball for the majority of the game (usually). The CFHI writers have put together profiles of every guard that you need to know. We start with a Wall and don't stop until we break through other walls.
John Wall, Kentucky Wildcats
It's now officially John Wall's time to shine. We've heard all about him, we've read about him but now is when Wall solidifies his name as a great collegiate guard. And if the SEC tournament was any indication, Wall is ready to take the 'Cats on a fun ride. In three games in Nashville, Wall averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 boards, 7.7 assists and 2.0 steals. The only question Thursday in the Big Easy is how long Wall will see the court. Expect a dominate performance regardless of minutes, and realize Wall learned from his premature celebration in Nashville. He has a few tricks still up his sleeve.
Jon Scheyer, Duke Blue Devils
After watching, or listening, to the ACC Tournament Championship, there should be little doubt as to Scheyer's value to the Blue Devils. Despite having two other outstanding scoring options, Scheyer will be the one with the ball in his hands come crunch time, in part because of his 87.5% free throw shooting. On the year, he is averaging 18.5 points, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals, but oddly, has had his share of struggles from the floor. That number drops even further in his last four outings, where Scheyer is just 20 of 62 (32.2%) You can argue Duke was given an easier path to the Final Four than some expected, so Scheyer has an opportunity to work his way out of this slump against the play-in game winner and then either Louisville or California. He's failed to score in double-figures just once all season, and that trend shouldn't change as long as Duke's season continues.
Sherron Collins, Kansas Jayhawks
The floor leader of the Jayhawks may not have had the best statistical year of his career, but that doesn't mean he isn't one of the top three point guards in the tournament. He led the team in points (15.6) and assists (4.4) and only failed to score in double digits in six of his 34 games. Collins has the ability to put a team on his back and make them win. Look for him to be the key to a long run in the tournament.
Nolan Smith, Duke Blue Devils
There are so many player profiles here, we need to spice things up every now and then. And since CFHInsider's resident Duke fan had some scheduling difficulties that prevented him from sharing his biased opinion, CFHInsider's resident Tar Heel fan gets to make fun of Duke as he sees fit. On the court, Smith has put together one heck of an improved scoring season as he averages 17.3 points compared to just 8.4 from last season. Off the court, he is a confused, confused young man. Seriously, I am still waiting to hear who thought that was a good idea. In any event, like fellow backcourt mate Jon Scheyer, Smith scores with great consistency. Duke will need that to continue if they hope to erase their recent tournament struggles.
Xavier Henry, Kansas Jayhawks
With a silky smooth jumpshot, Xavier Henry started the season on a tear, scoring in double digits in his first 11 games. Like most freshmen, he hit the proverbial "wall" and struggled for a portion in the middle of the season. Henry was able to fight through and has emerged as the scorer that Kansas fans knew early in the season. He finished the season averaging 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Henry will need to have his jumper going as the Jayhawks embark on their national title journey.
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State boasts two guards that can tear teams apart from the outside as well as with their passing. Jacob Pullen is the leading scorer on the Wildcats team, averaging 18.9 points and 3.5 assists. Where Pullen can get teams is with transition threes. Kansas State likes to run and they like to make the game muddy. Pullen is often open behind the arc when one of his big men grabs an offensive rebound. Look for Pullen and the Wildcats to cruise against North Texas, and at the same time, rack up some big numbers.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova Wildcats
One of the most clutch players in college basketball, Reynolds carried the Wildcats at times during the season. However, he struggled a bit down the stretch, scoring 17 or fewer point sin the last four games of the season. In that quartet of contests, Reynolds averaged just 15.0 points and 3.3 assists. While that is fine for most, he will need to step up in the Big Dance.
Greivis Vasquez, Maryland Terrapins
Arguably the most hated player in the ACC this season (amazing considering he doesn't wear royal blue) the reigning conference Player of the Year came back to earth in the Terps' lone contest in Greensboro last week. Maybe having the weekend off is a blessing, as Vasquez averages nearly 34 minutes a night; a number that will almost surely be larger this weekend. A threat to post a triple-double on any given night, the 6-foot-6 point from Venezuela averaged 19.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals this season. In a first round matchup with NCAA leading scorer Aubrey Coleman, expect lots of fireworks early. Vasquez is a player that opposing fans will dread playing against, and should the Terps escape the Cougars, he'll have a chance to stare down Michigan State with Kansas on the horizon.
Andy Rautins, Syracuse Orange
His stats don't jump off the page at you, but Rautins was one of the candidates for Big East Player of the Year and he might be the most important player for the Orange. He averages five assists per game and has picked up his offense lately, averaging 16.2 points in his final six games. If he can continue to put up points like that and still pass the ball well, move him up.
Denis Clemente, Kansas State Wildcats
The other half of the guard duo for the Wildcats is one of the speediest guys on any court. He can get up the floor before many teams know the ball was inbounded. Clemente can pass the ball with the best of them and it shows, averaging 4.2 assists in addition to his 16.2 points. When Clemente and Pullen get it going, there isn't much that a lot of teams can do to stop them. North Texas will be overmatched with Clemente and Pullen going against them.
Austin Freeman, Georgetown Hoyas
An absolute assassin from the perimeter, Freeman could be the feel-good story of the NCAA Tournament if the Hoyas make a deep run. He was recently diagnosed with Diabetes, but returned after missing just one game to score 24 points in the season finale over Cincinnati. Freeman averaged 16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists on the season.
Chris Wright, Georgetown Hoyas
This is the key to the Hoyas' postseason hopes. When Wright plays well, Georgetown wins; when he struggles, the Hoyas lose. Fortunately for Georgetown, Wright is playing well lately. In his last six games, he is averaging 19.0 points and 5.0 assists, an increase from his season averages of 14.8 points and 4.1 assists. Wright scored in single-digits nine times, and the Hoyas went 3-6 in those games.
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State Spartans
Last season's Big Ten Player of the Year saw a slight uptick in his scoring to 14.9 points per game this year, but his assists were down from 4.6 to 3.9, and his three-point shooting fell to 34.4 percent. He scored in double-digits in the first 22 games of the year before injuring his ankle in the second half of a loss to Wisconsin. Lucas proceeded to score fewer than 10 points in four of the final nine games. Still, the Spartans always seem to turn it up a notch in the post-season, so look for solid production from Lucas in the Big Dance.
Jimmer Fredette, BYU Cougars
Fredette's season had plenty of roller coast action. When he was up, he was one of the best in the nation. Unfortunately, his season was somewhat hindered by injuries and other ailments. He still scored 75 points in the Cougars' two Mountain West conference games and averaged 21.7 points in his junior season. BYU will need Fredette at his sharpest even in the first round because the Gators pack a bite. If BYU can take advantage of their outside shooting, they could negate the Gators' superior length.
Corey Fisher, Villanova Wildcats
Fisher is going to have to really step up in the NCAA Tournament for Villanova. The Wildcats struggled down the stretch, and Fisher will be a primary reason for a turnaround. He is nearly impossible to stop going to the basket, but is sometimes not aggressive enough - witness his 17 games with single-digit attempts from the field. When he is penetrating and creating shots for him and his teammates, the Wildcats are tough.
William Buford, Ohio State Buckeyes
Buford's tremendous sophomore campaign was largely overshadowed by Evan Turner's phenomenal season, but that doesn't make his averages of 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists any less impressive. His season really took flight when he was asked to take on a larger offensive role during Turner's absence. Buford scored at least 11 points in 27 of 34 contests and notched four double-doubles along the way. He is able to get to the rim but can knock down open jumpers as evidenced by his 37.9 shooting from deep. Buford finished the season with eight straight double-digit scoring performances and should keep that streak going through the tournament's first weekend.
Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky Wildcats
Talk about finishing strong. Bledsoe appeared to hit a freshman wall in February. Between Feb. 16th and March 3rd, Bledsoe failed to score in double-figures while averaging just 7.4 points. He found his second wind here in March however, and comes into the Dance red hot. Over his last four contests, Bledsoe is averaging 14.8 points while shooting 55.2% from the floor and 42.1% from behind the arch. On a team with a glaring need for outside shooting, Bledsoe is the one player capable of catching fire from deep. He played a team best 43 minutes in the SEC Championship game too. Clearly his coach believes in him, and you should too.
Jordan Crawford, Xavier Musketeers
Crawford is about as consistent as they come for a guard. On the season, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 boards, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals. He has only failed to score in double-figures once, and that was in a November 26th matchup against Marquette. Since that game, he has scored at least 16 points in all but one of Xavier's final 27 contests. That's a remarkable scoring run for anyone, let alone a sophomore in the Atlantic Ten. The conference is out to earn respect after what some feel was a slight from the selection committee with regards to seeding. Despite an early season loss to Kansas State, there isn't a team in the West that Xavier will be intimidated by, and when you know you are going to get 20 each night from your leader, it goes a long way in calming the nerves of your teammates. All of the Musketeers' losses came to tournament teams, and this battle tested bunch won't be an easy out for anyone.
Jon Diebler, Ohio State Buckeyes
Somewhat of a feast or famine fantasy player, Diebler's value is based almost solely on his ability to make three-pointers. He shot 42.1 percent from deep this year after making 41.6 percent a year ago. Unlike the aforementioned Buford, Diebler's production suffered with Turner out, since he relied on "The Villain" to drive and kick to him for open shots. Diebler closed out the regular season by scoring in double figures in eight of the final nine games, and he's canned 18 triples in the last four contests. That's good news for someone who's a streaky shooter heading into the Big Dance.
Kevin Anderson, Richmond Spiders
I contend that Kevin Anderson is the best guard no one knows about, and I think this March, that will change. The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Anderson averages 17.8 points, 3.5 boards, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals every time he takes the floor. Very liberally listed at 6 feet, the junior from Atlanta is a slashing, driving point guard with ridiculous speed. It is virtually impossible to keep him out of the lane, and Anderson is adept at hitting pull up jumpers and floaters from all over the court. The Spiders believe in themselves, and that cannot be understated entering this Tournament. They've won 14 of their last 17 games and this little sparkplug is the major reason why. One thing to monitor here; Anderson's minutes. He averages 37.1 minutes, and at some point, you have to think all that run will slow him down.
Randy Culpepper, UTEP Miners
Perhaps like no other player in the tournament (this side of Jimmer Fredette), Culepper can score in bunches. He provided an exclamation point on his junior season with 45 points in a Feb. 13 win over East Carolina. He also had a 39-point explosion against UCF on Jan. 23. During the Conference USA tournament, Culpepper 17 points, which was just below his average of 18 points for the season. Look for him to try to get warm early against Butler and put the Bulldogs in a hole.
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor Bears
Baylor arrives in the dance with a guard duo that can really dominate opposing teams. LaceDarius Dunn is the scorer of the two. Dunn has unlimited range and can score on the drive as well. Dunn can also be a streaky shooter. He might shoot you out of a game just as fast as he shoots you into one. Recently, Dunn has played more consistently. On the season, Dunn is averaging 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Look for him to score big against Sam Houston State.
Tweety Carter, Baylor Bears
The other half of the duo for Baylor is Tweety Carter. Carter is speedy quick with the ball and can pass with the best of guards in the country. Carter is averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 assists per game. Sam Houston State will have its hands full when it comes to guarding Dunn.
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh Panthers
Gibbs is going to have to come up huge in order for the Panthers to make a deep run this month. He is the go-to-guy offensively, scoring at least 20 points on 11 different occasions. Gibbs attempted 184 three-pointers, knocking down 40.2 percent of his outside attempts. Unfortunately, he does go through shooting slumps, as evidenced by separate two-point and four-point performances in the final seven games.
Juan Fernandez, Temple Owls
The immediate numbers here aren't overly exciting. Fernandez brings a 12.6 point, 2.4 rebound, and 3.6 assist average into the Big Dance, but the 6-foot-4 sophomore out of Argentina is coming into his own. First, know he scored a career-high 33 in an upset over Villanova. Then look at his body of work in the Atlantic Ten Conference tournament. How about 17.0 points and 5.7 boards? Not bad at all for a team that only averaged 60.6 points in those three contests. Fernandez suffered a head injury in late January, and the Owls struggled over a four game stretch, dropping two conference games, the last of which Fernandez sat out. Since he returned to the lineup, Temple hasn't lost. They didn't even trail in the A10 Tournament. It doesn't figure to be that easy against Cornell or Wisconsin, but Fernandez will enable the Owls to exert their style on any opponent. And I didn't mention that he shoots 84.7% from the charity stripe. Given the looks of the draw, that may be the Owls best offensive option!
Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh Panthers
We might have Wanamaker too low here, given his tremendous all-around ability. He averaged just over 12 points this season, despite scoring at least 15 points on 10 separate occasions. However, Wanamaker also grabs nearly six rebounds per game and dishes out almost five assists every night. He can't have three-game stretches like he did a few weeks ago, totaling 21 points in three games.
Edgar Sosa, Louisville Cardinals
This is Sosa's last hurrah in college; he will do his best not to make an early exit. He was up-and-down towards the end of the season, sandwiching three single-digit scoring nights in between a 24-point game against Georgetown and a 28-point performance against Cincinnati. Oh, the Cardinals lost both games. They are only 7-6 when Sosa scores at least 15 points - keep an eye on that.
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette Golden Eagles
I think that Johnson-Odom is going to be one of the most interesting players to watch this month. He came on strong down the stretch, scoring at least 20 points three times in his final eight games, but he also posted three single-digit scoring outputs in that stretch as well. Johnson-Odom rebounds and distributes well, but is most effective when he is knocking down three-pointers.
Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The former Mississippi State transfer and younger brother of North Carolina great Tyler, Hansbrough has been as streaky as they come this season. He has had a three-game stretch, a nine-game stretch and an eight-game stretch when he scored in double-figures every game. On the other side, he has had three separate stretches of at least three consecutive single-digit scoring games.
Jerome Randle, California Golden Bears
The Pac 10 Player of the Year is one to own. He averages 18.7 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 46% from the floor, 41% from deep, and 94% from the line. He is an ultra-quick exciting player that has unlimited range and can ignite at any given moment. In the Pac 10 conference tournament semifinals he shot 8 for 8 from the floor with 22 points in the first half. Although Cal's depth will keep his numbers down a little, he is the first option and always has the ball in his hands. Don't look for gaudy assist totals out of him. He could be the key to busting the Louisville zone with his ability to knock down the three and get in the paint. If could light up Duke in the second round if the Bears get by Louisville.
Dairese Gary, New Mexico Lobos
Gary is an interesting player. While his main function is to facilitate the offense, he is at his best when he is attacking the basket and drawing contact. He finished the season with five straight games of 16 points or more. He averaged 12.7 points and 3.9 assists for the season, but his main exciting stat was that he went to the free throw 10 or more times in 10 games. When that happened, the Lobos won. He should have a good matchup against Anthony Johnson of Montana and Washington could provide problems.
E'Twaun Moore, Purdue Boilermakers
Moore enters the tournament on the heels of his worst performance of the year, a 1 of 14 disaster against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament. In the previous game, he scored a season-high 28, which is more along the lines of what Purdue fans have come to expect. Moore scored in double-digits in 28 straight games at one point this season and is now being counted on to shoulder more of the scoring load with Robbie Hummel out. Moore may well be up to that challenge, but that may not be enough to get the Boilers into the Sweet Sixteen.
Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin Badgers
Hughes has improved in each of his four season in Madison, culminating in this season's career bests of 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 39.7 percent three-point shooting. He closed out the season with at least 12 points in nine straight, including his first double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 boards against Illinois. Hughes has a knack for taking and making big shots and scored 26 points in an upset win over Duke earlier this season.
Devoe Joseph, Minnesota Golden Gophers
I know Lawrence Westbrook led the Gophers in scoring, but Joseph is the better fantasy option. Since assuming the starting point guard role from the academically ineligible Al Nolen, Joseph has acquitted himself very well. Over the final 11 games, Joseph averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 52.1 percent from three-point land. Given the fact that he made just 32.8 percent of his two-pointers during that stretch, he may just want to camp out beyond the arc.
Aubrey Coleman, Houston Cougars
Houston caught lightening in a bottle during the Conference USA tournament and, as always, were spurred on by their lead guard. Coleman, who led the nation in scoring at 25.6 points, had eight 30-point games this season. He was also a demon thief and had 2.7 steals per game with a particularly ferocious stretch early in the season. Coleman and Greivis Vasquez should be the best single matchup of the first round. Hopefully, the two can push each other to a mano y mano battle with huge statistical ramifications.
Tre'Von Willis, UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Anyone recruited to Memphis while John Calipari was there is going to have excellent skills. Willis wasn't able to show his wares while in Tennessee, but he moved to UNLV and has promptly turned into a stud. Willis is one of a few guards who can dominate by scoring or by passing. He averaged 17.7 points and 3.4 assists in his junior season. The 6-foot-4 guard had two 30-point games in a four-game stretch. UNLV faces a tough matchup in Northern Iowa, but Willis might have the athleticism to take over the game.
Jahmar Young, New Mexico State
Young finished third in the WAC in scoring at 20.5 points. The 6-foot-5 junior scored 16 points or more 27 times this season with a season-high of 34 against San Jose State. He can connect from long range as he hit six three-pointers in a game twice this season. You won't be getting cheated in other categories because he produces enough (3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists) that he won't be a liability. If the Aggies didn't have such a tough draw in the first round with Michigan State, he could be a valuable player to own because he can light it up.
Jason Bohannon, Wisconsin Badgers
For most of his Badger career, Bohannon has been labeled as strictly a shooter, and given his 40.2 percent shooting from distance this year, that's hard to argue. Still, he's improved his overall game by adding 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Over one eight-game stretch this year, Bohannon averaged 17.4 points, so the potential is there. The downside, though, was on display in the two matchups to close the season against Illinois, where he scored a total of nine points.
Jermaine Beal, Vanderbilt Commodores
Beal could be the most underappreciated guard in the SEC. The Commodores feature a pretty balanced scoring attack, but to the surprise of many, Beal leads them in scoring at 14.7 points. He can come at you in a variety of ways, as he's hit 70 three-pointers this season while also showing a knack for getting to the rim and converting free throws (79.5%.) Beal is also a capable distributor who doesn't turn the ball over often. The 6-foot-3 senior brings leadership and experience to the table as well; and we all know what an experienced guard is worth come March.
David Gonzalvez, Richmond Spiders
As good as Kevin Anderson has been, Gonzalvez deserves his share of credit for the Spiders' success. Gonzalvez is the shooter to Anderson's slashing, and the two form one heck of a backcourt tandem. For the year, he averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals. He is prone to taking a few questionable three point shots, but shooting 36.6% from behind the arch gives him some leeway. Gonzalvez is a confident player who isn't bashful and plays with his heart on his sleeve. And when the game is on the line, the Spiders' have two players capable of playing hero, which makes it awfully tough for a defense to key on either. Another player who plays a ton (34.4 minutes) the senior will do everything he can to prolong his career.
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin Badgers
Taylor played sparingly as a freshman but broke out this year, particularly during Jon Leuer's nine-game absence. He also scored at least 11 points in eight of the final 12 games and has shown the propensity to put up big numbers, as evidenced by his 23-point outburst against Purdue and a 20-point effort versus Illinois. Taylor also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists to enhance his fantasy resume.
Jared Quayle, Utah State
Quayle may not light up the scoreboard, but he fills out the stat sheet. He averaged 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 three-pointers and 1.1 steals. The Aggies are going to most likely have trouble scoring in the paint against Texas A&M which means more opportunities for the 6-foot-1 senior. He actually shoots better from beyond the arc (44%) than the field (42%). While owning players from lower seeds may not be sexy, you will appreciate all the categories he will help you out in. Keep in mind that a lot of experts like Utah State as a sleeper to make a Sweet 16 run.
Jackson Emery, BYU Cougars
With Tyler Haws' availability in question after being poked in the eye in the Mountain West quarterfinals, the Cougars may rely upon the 6-foot-3 Emery for more production. He had a 10-game double digit scoring streak snapped in the Mountain West semifinal loss to UNLV. Emery averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. Like the rest of the Cougars, he was money from outside. He made 43% of his three-pointers. He could be a sneaky late round pick for a game or two of production.
Terrell Holloway, Xavier Musketeers
Holloway is another guard finding his way late this season. While the early part of the year brought about peaks and valleys, Holloway is averaging a solid 17.0 points over his last five contests. And when he isn't scoring, he is setting up baskets. For the year, Holloway averaged just a shade fewer than four assists, but has had two double-figure assist outings. His ability to get into the lane, make free throws (85.1%) and knock down jumpers has kept opposing defenses from keying on Jordan Crawford. With guard play being so vital to a tournament run, Xavier is blessed with two great options.
Ryan Brooks, Temple Owls
Juan Fernandez might get a little more national attention, but it is Brooks who is the Owls' leading scorer at 14.3 points. His senior leadership willed Temple to their third straight Atlantic Ten Conference championship by knocking down four free throws late. There is nothing flashy about Temple's game, and Brooks fits right in. He shoots just 41.5% from the floor, 32.0% from downtown, and grabs a modest 4.4 boards each night. But Temple has won ten straight and I wouldn't want to play them. Don't expect a lot of sexy numbers out of Brooks, but continue to enjoy consistent, hard earned, solid production for as long as the Owls win.
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt Commodores
The rookie Jenkins is a one trick pony at this point. That one trick is shooting the rock, and there aren't many better. For the year, the 6-foot-4, 215 pounder is averaging 10.9 points but has raised that to 14.3 over his last six outings. Unfortunately for Jenkins the secret may be out. Following a career-high 25 against Georgia in the SEC quarter finals, Jenkins only found room for six shot attempts in 32 minutes against Mississippi State. As previously stated, the 'Dores don't particularly care who gets the points, so don't look for many designed plays for Jenkins. But he is a scorer who will need to find some space if Vandy hopes to avoid an upset to Murray State.
Armon Bassett, Ohio Bobcats
Bassett scored a staggering 116 points in four MAC Tournament games, so he enters the Big Dance red hot. He averaged 16.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in his first season with the Bobcats after transferring from UAB, where he never suited up after leaving Indiana. Bassett finished out the season with double-digit points in 13 straight and 23 of the last 25 contests. He also had 12 20-point games.
Reggie Holmes, Morgan State Bears
Holmes comes into the tournament as the tenth ranked scorer in the nation, with an average of 21.8 points per game. He had a rough go of it in the MEAC tournament, as he was unable to score more than 17 points in any of the three contests. Holmes scored 20 points or more an astounding 25 times this season, and topped the 30 point plateau six times. If the Bears are to have even a prayer to get by West Virginia, Holmes will have to put up 30, maybe 40 versus West Virginia. The Mountaineers tough 1-3-1 zone defense will make that next to impossible to accomplish.
Shelvin Mack, Butler Bulldogs
Mack improved his shooting greatly in his sophomore season and continued to be a needed element in the Bulldog offense. He made 46% of his shots from the field and improved his scoring average to 13.9 points. Because of new players on the team, he was asked to play more of a wing role than in his successful freshman season. He still averaged 3.1 assists but only had five dimes in the last four games of the season. If Butler can hold to their seed and/or make the Sweet 16, Mack could be a nice pick.
Kenny Boynton, Jr., Florida Gators
A freshman SEC guard who leads his team in scoring. Interesting. Unfortunately for Florida, John Wall isn't doing a lot of gator chomping. At just 6-foot-2, Boynton gets to play off of the ball thanks to Erving Walker, and he has delivered as a dynamic scorer in his rookie season. He has hit the 20 point mark eight times on the year, and averages 13.6 points on the year. But Boynton has failed miserably to find any rhythm. Take a look at his scoring over the past five games. 22, 7, 11, 9, 23; in that order. That's a 14.4 average but which Boynton are you getting? If the pattern holds, Boynton may not crack double-figures against BYU. And the Gators might not see the weekend as a result.
Scotty Hopson, Tennessee Volunteers
Talk about an enigma. Hopson was pinned for NBA stardom before setting foot in Knoxville, and short of a few outbursts, I don't think we can label Hopson as a star in any respect right now. For the year, Hopson is contributing 12.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He's been downright abysmal in his last three outings however, putting down just 6 of 29 shots (20.6%) from the floor in route to 6.3 points and 3.0 boards. Tennessee can certainly beat San Diego State, and put more than a scare in Georgetown this weekend. Or they can certainly pack up shop for the season. Hopson's success or lack thereof will certainly be paramount in which path the Vols take.
Anthony Johnson, Montana Grizzlies
Nobody enters the tournament hotter than Johnson. Over his last eight games he has averaged 26.3 points while shooting a ridiculous 60.2% (65 for 108) from floor and 56.8% from deep (21 for 37). The 6-foot-3 senior from also Tacoma excels at getting to the line (7.3 attempts) and making his freebies (88%). Johnson finished second in the Big Sky in scoring at 19.6 points thanks to his 42 point outburst in the championship game. If he played on a team that was seeded a little higher, he would be a no-brainer pick but his peripheral numbers are decent enough (3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists) to give him a shot late in your draft if you are in need of some points.
Karon Abraham, Robert Morris Colonials
Averaging 13.4 points per game for the season, Abraham really stepped it up in the NEC Tournament to lead Robert Morris to the Big Dance. Abraham averaged just under 18ppg in the NEC Tournament. The freshman point guard has been the unprecedented leader for Robert Morris all season long. The Colonials draw a Villanova team who has been sliding as of last, losing five of their last seven overall. Abraham will likely have to spend too much energy trying to stop the guard oriented attack of the Wildcats to be able to hang a large enough point total to make this game interesting throughout.
Mickey McConnell, St. Mary's Gaels
Call out McConnell's name late in your draft if you want to raise some eyebrows. He is a solid player that won't take anything off the table for your team. The reason you will want him is because of his 5.3 assists, but he is no slouch shooting the ball. He averaged 13.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 threes, and 1.5 steals while shooting a stellar 51% from the field, 52% from deep, and 83% from the free throw line. A solid late pick if you are in a deep league and need assists.
C.J. McCollum, Lehigh Mountain Hawks
With averages of 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals, the 6-foot-3 McCollum is one of the best freshmen you've never heard of. He canned an impressive 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and knocked down 81.3 percent from the free throw line. While many first year players hit the "freshman wall," McCollum was on fire over the season's last 21 games. He averaged 22.7 points and 6.1 boards while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 49.1 percent from deep. McCollum also scored at least 19 points in each of the final 10 games.
Isaiah Thomas, Washington Huskies
The 5-foot-9 sophomore doesn't quite resemble his namesake. He has the ability to score (17.1 points) but doesn't distribute the rock like Zeke (2.9 assists). He is tough and not afraid to mix it up with the big boys averaging 4.1 rebounds per game. My main issue with him is that he only shoots 41.2% from the floor and that can be an albatross in leagues that count field goal percentage. Also, he is dealing with a sore left shooting hand that may be broken. I say let someone else take him.
Jonathan Gibson, New Mexico State Aggies
If your league has a category for three-pointers made, you might want to roll the dice on Gibson is fifth in country with 102 threes. He made at least four treys in 15 games this season. He isn't strictly a spot up shooter as he averaged 17.5 points this season. If you need a quick infusion of three-pointers you could do worse than taking a chance he will hit four or five in the opening round. He is someone to take a chance on if you are in a real deep league because he could exit the tournament after round one.
Terrance Calvin, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
Not many teams lose their first 11 games and make the NCAA tournament. Of course, it how you finish not how you start and the Golden Lions won 11 of their last 12 games to win the SWAC championship. Calvin, a 6-foot-2 junior guard, provided a team-high 10.4 points to go along with five boards and 4.2 rebounds. If your team counts the play-in game, Arkansas-Pine Bluff could be worth two games and Calvin could provide some early production.
Demontez Stitt, Clemson Tigers
The 6-foot-2 Stitt just might be the most important player for the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament. Facing the Mizzou Tigers, Stitt can expect to see a dose of his teams' own medicine in the form of lots of full court pressing. Stitt averages 2.6 turnovers in 29 minutes - a number than simply cannot increase in Clemson's opening round matchup. Stitt is a streaky scorer and not an outstanding distributor of the ball, but he is the yin to Trevor Booker's yang. Averaging just 11.1 points this season, Stitt has hit for 18 or more four times. He'll need to get hot for Clemson to survive their first contest, let alone the first weekend.
Ishmael Smith, Wake Forest Deamon Deacons
Possibly the quickest guard in the ACC, Smith has put together an impressive final season in Winston Salem. He has more than doubled his scoring average from last season, and his overall numbers on the year are impressive: 13.3 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Being the blur that Smith is on the court is a great thing; he can get to the rim at will. And he needs to because he simply can't shoot. 42.3% from the floor, 20.8% from downtown and just 50.0% from the line spells OUCH. Maybe I should challenge Smith to a game of H.O.R.S.E! Add in his nearly three turnovers each time out, and Smith can do the Deacs as much harm as good. When he is on, he can be great. And Wake will need him to be on right out of the gates against the Longhorns.
James Anderson, Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Big 12 scoring title resides in this Cowboy's hands. Anderson led the Big 12 with 22.6 points per game. Anderson requires teams to double team him or live with his scoring. On a team without a lot of size, Anderson is often matched up with a bigger defender that he can take off the dribble. If a team does try to match his size, Anderson will shoot over him. Georgia Tech Will need to find a way to contain him or he could have a huge night.
Obi Muonelo, Oklahoma State Cowboys
No one benefits more from James Anderson's scoring than Obi Muonelo. Muonelo does not average the same numbers as Anderson, but can score just as quickly. In addition to scoring, Muonelo is a great rebounding and passing guard. (13.4 Points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists on the season) Look for Muonelo to get going early if the Cowboys are going to have any chance of taking out the Yellow Jackets in the first round.
Kim English, Missouri Tigers
English is the Tigers' leading scorer at 13.9 points per game. He's got a smooth shot and is one of the players that is on the floor most for the Tigers. In general, it's hard to get good production out of a player from Missouri because of the style that the Tigers play. If you are going to grab a Missouri guy, he may be your guy.
Donald Sloan, Texas A&M Aggies
Sloan is Texas A&M's leading scorer, averaging almost 8 more points per game than the rest of the Aggies. Sloan can shoot from anywhere on the floor and can give even the best defenders fits. Look for Donald Sloan to be the one to take down Utah State.