Getting quality performance from your fantasy team isn't so much about team members playing to their strengths so much as it's about guys finding a way to contribute in a number of areas. That's the basis of this article, one that examines who some of the better rebounding guards and passing big men are in the Big East. A common bond between a lot of the players picked is that their respective teams need them to contribute quite a bit in order to have a chance to be successful. And with fantasy sports not always mirroring success on the actual court it should come as no surprise that five of the ten players below play for teams that are currently under .500 in conference play.
Rebounding Guards
Marshon Brooks, Providence
If you can get Brooks in a fantasy league at this point the merits of your league's owners should be up for questions. The senior is not only averaging 24.3 points per game for the Friars but also grabbing 7.7 rebounds per contest, good for a tie for sixth in the Big East. Given their youth the Friars have to lean on the Peach State native for quite a bit, playing him 34.6 minutes per game (ranking behind only Kemba Walker and PC teammate Vincent Council).
Kemba Walker, Connecticut
What can't the junior from the Bronx do? Walker averages 5.4 rebounds for the Huskies, and everything on the offensive side of the court runs through him. Just like Brooks, if he's a free agent at this point in the season in your league, pick him up immediately then proceed to question the hoops acumen of you and your fellow owners (yes you too; no way should he be a free agent in late-January).
Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh
Wanamaker's averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Panthers, and in addition to this his all-around versatility makes him a good play for anyone's starting lineup. And given how well Pitt defends and rebounds (they boast one of the top rebounding margins in America) Wanamaker will have plenty of opportunities to reach that average.
Vincent Council, Providence
Proof positive that fantasy-friendly stats don't always equal on-court success is the appearance of Council on this list along with partner in crime Brooks. Council averages 4.5 rebounds for the Friars, and once again the youth of that squad requires that he do a lot in practically every facet of the game. So long as your league doesn't have a category for "wins" he's a good player to have.
Jason Clark, Georgetown
Clark is averaging 4.2 rebounds and the tie that binds the other four of these choices applies to him as well. The Hoyas go with a three-guard attack, requiring both he and Austin Freeman to be somewhat proficient on the boards (especially on the defensive end). Clark's bility to both shoot and pass the basketball makes him a good selection in any league.
Passing Big Men
Rick Jackson, Syracuse
I have been a fan of his overall game for a couple years now and even more so with the senior dropping 25 pounds in the off-season. A guaranteed double-double machine, Jackson also averages 2.7 assists. And with double teams bound to come, Jackson has some offensively gifted teammates to pass the ball to when needed.
Tyrone Nash, Notre Dame
Nash doesn't receive the attention that Jackson does from opposing defenses but he's a more than capable of hitting teammates such as Tim Abromaitis and Ben Hansbrough with solid passes. Nash averages 2.8 assists for the Fighting Irish, but gets listed below Jackson for the reason stated earlier in this paragraph.
Carleton Scott, Notre Dame
Scott may be one of the premier "glue guys" in the Big East, and their struggles with him out of the lineup with a hamstring injury was a good indicator of his importance. Scott averages 2.4 assists, but beware the fact that head coach Mike Brey will look to manage his minutes some in order to prevent re-injury (15 minutes in the win over Cincinnati on Wednesday night).
Herb Pope, Seton Hall
Pope's slowly worked himself back into playing shape following his offseason health scare. Averaging 1.6 rebounds, he'll see his fair share of double teams due to both his skill and importance to the Pirate offense. And with Jeremy Hazell returning maybe he can bump that average up a bit (averaging more than two per game since Hazell returned on January 12).
Ron Anderson Jr, (USF
In his first season playing at USF after transferring in from Kansas State, Anderson averages 1.6 assists per game for the Bulls. His problems: he doesn't get a lot of back to the basket opportunities due to the presence of both Jarrid Famous and Augustus Gilchrist, and the guards are such that few drive and kick opportunities result in successful shots from the perimeter (31.2% three-pointers).