College Basketball: B/R National Player of the Year Award Watch for Jan. 8

2012 is here and College Basketball conference play is in full swing!

Surprising upsets, big wins and disappointing losses are all a part of what's happened in the last week.

Some of the top players in the game stepped up and others were shut down.

Here is a quick look at this week's B/R National Player of the Year Award Watch!

10. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Kentucky

Position: Small Forward

Class: Freshman

Ht: 6'7"  Wt: 232 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 13.6

Rebounds: 7.8

Assists: 2.0

Steals: 1.1  Blocks: 1.1

Last week's ranking: No. 9

This past week:

Kidd-Gilchrist had two solid games, scoring nine in both of Kentucky's victories against Arkansas-Little Rock and South Carolina.

In the two games, he also grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked 4 shots. 

9. Anthony Davis: Kentucky

Position: Power Forward

Class: Freshman

Ht: 6'10"  Wt: 220 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 12.7

Rebounds: 10.6

Assists: 0.9

Steals: 1.4  Blocks: 4.6

Last week's ranking: No. 10

Anthony Davis continues to lead the nation in blocked shots (74 total on the year).

This past week:

Davis consistently impresses as he rings up two more double-doubles (six in the last seven games) in UK's two wins.

Davis scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds against Arkansas-Little Rock. He put up 12 points, grabbed 10 boards and blocked 7 shots against South Carolina as the Wildcats opened SEC play

8. Tyler Zeller: North Carolina

Position: Center

Class: Senior

Ht: 7'0"  Wt: 250 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 14.3

Rebounds: 8.8

Assists: 1.2

Steals: 1.1  Blocks: 1.0

Last week's ranking: No. 8

This past week:

Zeller continued his steady contribution, scoring 8 points and grabbing 11 boards against Monmouth and dropping in 20 points and pulling down 8 rebounds against Boston College.

In these two games, the senior center shot 12 for 17 from the field (70.6 percent).  

7. Marcus Denmon: Missouri

Position: Shooting Guard

Class: Senior

Ht: 6'3"  Wt: 185 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 18.7

Rebounds: 5.0

Assists: 2.3

Steals: 1.6  Blocks:  0.0

Last Week's Ranking: No. 7

This past week:  

Denmon had solid outings in the Tigers' Big 12 opening games against Oklahoma (20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists) and Kansas State (17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists).

Unfortunately for Mizzou, K-State ended their perfect season, defeating the Tigers for the first time this season.

6. John Henson: North Carolina

Position: Power Forward

Class: Junior

Ht: 6'11"  Wt: 220 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 14.9

Rebounds: 9.9

Assists: 1.6

Steals: 0.4  Blocks: 3.2

Last week's ranking: No. 7

This past week:

Henson is one of the most efficient front-court players in the country.

This week, he scored 35 points and grabbed 16 boards in the Tar Heels' two games against Monmouth and Boston College.

The junior PF shot 14 for 21 (66.7 percent) from the field.

5. Jeremy Lamb: UConn

Position: Shooting Guard

Class: Sophomore

Ht: 6'5"  Wt: 185 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 18.2

Rebounds: 4.0

Assists: 1.5

Steals: 1.8  Blocks: 0.9

Last Week's Rating: No. 5

This past week:

UConn had a tough week, losing twice, dropping the Huskies' Big East record to 2-2.

In both games combined, Lamb shot decently (scoring 27 points on 11 for 23 shooting) but couldn't elevate his team to a victory over either Seton Hall or Rutgers.

4. Doug McDermott: Creighton

Position: Shooting Forward

Class: Sophomore

Ht: 6'7"  Wt: 210 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 25.2

Rebounds: 8.3

Assists: 1.3

Steals: 0.1  Blocks: 0.1

Last Week's Ranking: No. 3

Doug McDermott is the No. 2 scorer in the nation.

This past week:

McDermott had two outstanding games this week, scoring 24 points and grabbing 7 rebounds against Drake and scoring a career-high 44 points and pulling down 8 boards against Bradley.

The sophomore forward shot 27 for 35 (77.1 percent) from the floor, 3 for 5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 11 for 11 from the line.

3. Harrison Barnes: North Carolina

Position: Small Forward

Class: Sophomore

Ht: 6'8"  Wt: 215 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 17.1

Rebounds: 4.8

Assists: 1.2

Steals: 1.0  Blocks: 0.4

Last Week's Ranking: No. 3

This past week:

Barnes only played 22 minutes on New Year's Day but scored 20 points and grabbed 4 boards in a blow-out win over Monmouth.

The sophomore shooting forward put up 25 points (including going 3 for 4 from beyond the arc), grabbed 5 rebounds and pinched 4 steals as the Tar Heels dominated Boston College (83-60) in UNC's first ACC game of the season.

2. Thomas Robinson: Kansas

Position: Power Forward

Class: Junior

Ht: 6'9"  Wt: 237 lbs

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 17.5

Rebounds: 12.3

Assists: 1.6

Steals: 1.4  Blocks: 1.1

Last Week's Ranking: No. 1

Thomas Robinson is currently tied for being the No. 2 rebounder in the country

This past week:

Robinson kept the pedal down this week helping the Jayhawks win both of their Big 12 games.

He helped KU throttle cross-state rival K-State (67-49) by scoring 15 points and grabbing 14 rebounds for his tenth double-double of the season.

Robinson's solid defense against Oklahoma erased a one-point halftime defcit. T-Rob scored 18 and pulled down 9 boards.

1. Jared Sullinger: Ohio State

Position: Power Forward

Class: Sophomore

Ht: 6'9"  Wt: 280

Year-to-Date Stats:

Points: 16.4

Rebounds: 9.7

Assists: 1.1

Steals: 1.1  Blocks: 0.9

Last Week's Ranking: No. 2

This past week:

Sullinger had two exceptional games this week.

He scored 19 points and grabbed 12 boards in the Buckeyes' 31-point blowout of Nebraska.

The big man followed that up with 28 points—his season highand eight rebounds in a lopsided 29-point road victory against Iowa.

Ohio State is super-tough to beat when Sullinger is dealing like this.