College Basketball's Top 50 X-Factors

Every team in college basketball has an X-factor, a player who has the biggest impact on a game.

There are a few who everyone knows, such as Harrison Barnes of North Carolina or Jared Sullinger of Ohio State. Then there are relative unknowns such as Frantz Massenat of Drexel.

So just what exactly makes a player an X-factor?

He could be the best player on the court, or he could have the potential to take over a game. He could be the player that holds the team together, or the player a team could least afford to do without.

An X-factor can be many things, but these 50 players meet just about all of these criteria. They are the biggest difference-makers in the game.

John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

Let's start this list off right.

John Jenkins is one of the best shooting guards in the country, and I labeled him as the best before the season. That wasn't a smart call.

Jenkins has been off-and-on all season, and when he isn't doing well, the Commodores struggle. Vanderbilt relies heavily on its star, and the team goes as he goes.

The seven losses for the preseason No. 7 team in the nation is disturbing, but not a complete surprise, since the offense for the Commodores runs through Jenkins.

The team has a tendency to give Jenkins the ball, then stand around and hope he scores, which can leads to some ugly losses. In Vanderbilt's 13-point loss at home against Cleveland State, Jenkins shot only 35.7 percent from the floor and 20 percent from three-point range.

Fab Melo, Syracuse

Fab Melo is a seven-foot sophomore for the Syracuse Orange and one of only two players on the team taller than 6'9" . His mere presence in the lane is terrifying for opponents.

Melo provides the rebounding, blocked shots and points in the paint that make Syracuse elite. The  team's only loss came at Notre Dame when Melo was not playing.

The team is 21-0 with Melo in the lineup. He is the piece that the team cannot afford to lose. The Orange have several talented guards and athletic forwards, but Melo is their only true center who  can make an impact.

Mike Moser, UNLV

Mike Moser is a 6'8" forward for UNLV, who leads the team with 14.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Moser is easily the team's best player and is responsible for their success.

Moser is a versatile forward who is having the season of his life. His proudest moment had to come when his team beat then-ranked No. 1 North Carolina by 10, with Moser dropping 16 points and six dimes while grabbing 18 rebounds.

The team truly goes as Moser does. In their three losses, he averages only 8.3 points per game and shoots only 33.3 percent (9-of-27 combined). If Moser is shut down, the the Rebels are in trouble, He is their biggest key to success.

Patric Young, Florida

While Florida relies heavily on their talented guards and explosive offense to win games, its X-factor is center Patric Young.

Young is only a sophomore, but he is also the team's most important big man. Florida doesn't have a lot of size, so they rely on Young to win the battle in the paint.

Without Young, this team would be one of the worst rebounding teams in the country. He is the glue that holds the team together, allowing the guards to play their game.

Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin

Jordan Taylor is one of the best point guards in the country, and the offensive scheme for Wisconsin flows through him.

Taylor was one of the preseason favorites to challenge Jared Sullinger as Big Ten Player of the Year  and seemed to be a consensus All-American.

Taylor is averaging 14.1 points and 4.3 assists per game this season, which is not enough to carry the Badgers to their preseason expectations, or to crack the All-American teams.

He is still a great player, and Wisconsin is having a good season, but since the team goes as Taylor goes, they have had a few bumps in the road.

Ryan Boatright, Connecticut

Before the season, if you were expecting to see a UConn freshman on this list, you would expect it to be Andre Drummond, the No. 2 recruit in the 2011 class, would you not?

Ryan Boatright is the real X-factor, however. Without him, the Huskies struggle.

Boatright has missed nine games due to eligibility questions, and the team lost to Cincinnati, Tennessee and even Central Florida. The team's only decent win during those games came against Notre Dame.

In the four losses in which Boatwright played, he never scored more than six points. The team relies on Boatright to be a big part of their offense. Against Seton Hall on Saturday, Boatright went 8-for-12 with 19 points, five assists and four steals, and UConn won by 23 points.

He is their true X-factor. Without him, the Huskies have fallen out of the Top 25 after being ranked No. 4 in the preseason.

Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia

Deniz Kilicli is a power forward from Turkey who is one of West Virginia's key players. He is second on the team in rebounding with 5.5 boards per game and third in points at 10.5 points per game.

Kilicli has proved ineffective in West Virginia's eight losses this season, shooting just better than 40 percent from the field (28-for-69).

Kilcli is the Mountaineers' most  inconsistent player. They expect 20 points and 10 boards from Kevin Jones just about every night, and he is consistent in providing those numbers.

The X-factor is truly Kilicli. If he does well, the team will win every time.

Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Terrence Jones could have gone to the NBA last year, but decided to play another year in college. He was expected to be Kentucky's best player and a finalist for National Player of the Year honors.

Jones is the type of player who can take over a game, and we have seen him do so on several occasions this season, including against LSU, St. John's and South Carolina.

Jones is not the only star on this team, however, and he is frequently pushed to the side by the incredible freshman class this team brought in this year.

We can't say that he is unimportant, however. He does a lot for the team, even if his stats don't blow you away.

In Kentucky's only loss of the season, against Indiana, Jones went 2-for-3 with four points and only one rebound. Without Jones, this team would not be elite. He is an X-factor in all their games.

Anthony Davis, Kentucky

The other X-factor for Kentucky is freshman sensation Anthony Davis. Davis is the team's center, and they rely on him for points, rebounds and blocked shots.

A long, athletic center, Davis' 6'10" frame allows him to be one of the biggest players on the court, and his presence is always felt.

Without Davis inside, the Wildcats struggle. In their only loss of the season, a 73-72 thriller to Indiana, Davis played his worst game by far, He was saddled with four early fouls and scored only six points.

Indiana took advantage, and eventually won on a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

Tu Holloway, Xavier

Tu Holloway is the best scoring-point guard in the nation, averaging 16.4 points and 5.7 assists per game. He has the ability to take over a game, which makes him the X-factor for Xavier.

While the team has many players who could be considered the X-factor, Holloway has the biggest impact . If he has a great game, the team cannot lose.

He has an uncanny ability to dominate a game or knock down big shots.

Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan

Tim Hardaway Jr. is another elite scoring guard and is the key for Michigan's offense. He leads the Wolverines in scoring with more than 15 points per game, and is second in assists with 2.5 per game.

Hardaway Jr. has not shot better than 50 percent from the floor in any of the Wolverines losses this season,  and he can be very inconsistent with his scoring.

But he is the X-factor for Michigan. If he were to get hot in the NCAA  Tournament, this team could make a deep run.

Damian Lillard, Weber State

Damian Lillard is a guard for Weber State who leads the nation in scoring with 25.1 points per game.

He is the only reason the Wildcats are even remotely competitive. He needed to put up 41 points for Weber State to win by two over San Jose State.

In three of the Wildcats' four losses, Lillard has posted no more than 15 points. Without his 25 points per game, this team is in trouble.

Robbie Hummel, Purdue

Robbie Hummel is all that remains of the recruiting class that brought Purdue to the top, a class that also included E'Twuan Moore and JaJuan Johnson.

He is an athletic forward with good range. After recovering from several serious injuries throughout his career, he is healthy and playing again.

Hummel is very inconsistent.  He is the biggest question mark for the Boilermakers. When he does well. so does the team. But when he struggles, the team typically gets blown out.

Proof of that is when he went 0-for-11 against Michigan State. The Boilermakers lost by 25.

Michael Snaer, Florida State

Michael Snaer is a guard for Florida State who is averaging more than 14 points and almost four rebounds per game.

Snaer has been the key in two big wins. He put up 17 points and grabbed five rebounds against North Carolina. He also went for 14 and five against Duke, and nailed a buzzer-beating three to win the game.

Snaer's play is the key for the Seminoles. He is their X-factor.

Terrell Stoglin, Maryland

Terrell Stoglin is the No. 4 scorer in the nation, averaging 21.8 points per game. He is the only reason Maryland is even remotely competitive.

Without Stoglin, the team suffers. When he scored a season-low six points against Alabama, the Terrapins lost by 20. Maryland;s games against Radford, Cornell and Georgia Tech were all extremely close because Stoglin scored no more than 15 points.

The key for every Maryland game is to get Stoglin going. That  makes him the X-factor.

Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

Arnett Moultrie is a power forward for Mississippi State who is averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

Moultrie has scored 12 or fewer points in only six games this season, with the Bulldogs losing five of the six. He is their key, and his inconsistency can be a problem.

The Bulldogs go as Moultrie goes. If  he gets going, the team is one of the nation's best.

Scott Machado, Iona

Scott Machado is the point guard for the Iona Gaels. He's averaging 13.4 points, 10 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game. Machado is having an amazing senior season. He truly is going out with a bang.

The Gaels rely heavily on Machado to get them going by both scoring and setting up his teammates. He sets the tempo and is always the player to watch on the floor.

Machado is the X-factor is any game. The key to beating the Gaels is shutting him down as a scorer and passer.

Cody Zeller, Indiana

Cody Zeller was ranked in the middle of the Top 100 in the 2011 recruiting class, but this freshman has become a sensation. He is a great big man who has played toe-to-toe with some of the best big men in the country.

Zeller's offense, defense and rebounding make him an elite player.He is the key to the success of the Hoosiers. He leads the team in points and rebounds, and is arguably their best player.

Zeller was key in Indiana's big wins over No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Ohio State. He shut down Anthony Davis of Kentucky and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, and was able to make a big enough impact on the offense end to help his team beat two of the best teams in the country.

Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

Ashton Gibbs is one of the best shooting guards in the country and is the centerpiece for the Panthers' offense. He was pegged as an All-American during the preseason, and he is the X-factor for Pittsburgh.

Averaging 16.4 points per game, he is Pittsburgh;s leading scorer, and without him the team would be lost. He is their only remaining star from last year's team, and he is their biggest asset.

He played well during the beginning of the season, but then struggled when the team lost eight in a row. His shooting percentage was well below 50 percent, and he was a streaky shooter.

Gibbs is the key for the Panthers, and his scoring ability makes him their best player.

Isaiah Canaan, Murray State

Isaiah Canaan is the reason Murray State is unbeaten this season. He is having the best year of his career. His 18.9 points and 3.8 assists per game lead the team, and he has willed his team to victory many times.

In their recent game against Southeast Missouri State, a game which they won by only eight points, Canaan had to score 32 points to win the game. He also had to put up a season-high 36 points to beat Southern Miss by nine.

Canaan is the reason the Racers have found so much success. They are a Top 10 team because of him.

Draymond Green, Michigan State

Draymond Green is loving life in his senior season. He's  leading Michigan State in both points (14.9) and rebounds (10.3) per game, and he is second on the team in assists with 3.5 per game.

He is the reason the Spartans have overcome back-to-back losses against Duke and North Carolina to become a great team. He struggled in those games, shooting under 30 percent from the floor, and it came as no surprise that the team lost both games.

Green has bounced back nicely, however, and has led his team to where they are now. When he has a bad game, the team loses, as demonstrated when he put up only five points against Illinois and seven against Michigan, both losses.

Green is the key for the Spartans. They need him to play well if they are going to go far in the NCAA Tournament.

Mike Scott, Virginia

Mike Scott is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Virginia Cavaliers, averaging 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

He is the reason Virginia has joined the Top 25m and why all  four of their losses have been by three or fewer points.

When Scott has an off day, the team struggles, such as when he scored only 13 points against TCU  and 10 against Virginia Tech, as the Cavaliers lost both games by two points.

Their other two losses came at Florida State and Duke, losing both games by three. Scott did his best to will his team to victory, dropping 16 and 23 points, respectively, in those games, but his teammates did not give him much support.

Scott is the player the Cavaliers have to get going to win, making him their true X-factor.

Brad Beal, Florida

Brad Beal was the No. 5 freshman in the 2011 class, and he has proven to be one of the best in the country. His shot is incredibly smooth and draws comparisons to Ray Allen, but he is much more athletic.

Beal is one of the reasons Florida is so competitive with only one good big man. He can soar to the rim and snag a ton of rebounds, or throw down a highlight-reel dunk.

Beal's 6.1 rebounds per game puts him less than half of a rebound away from being the team's leading rebounder, but he must settle for third. He is also second on the team in points per game with 14.3.

Beal is the perfect combination of center Patric Young and 5'8" point guard Erving Walker, which makes him arguably their most important player.

Will Barton, Memphis

Will Barton is a small forward for the Memphis Tigers. Freakishly athletic, Barton is Memphis' best player, and the Tigers' offense runs through him.

Barton leads the team in points (18.4) and rebounds (8.3) per game, and he must have a great game for the Tigers to knock off a Top 25 team. If he has a less-than-spectacular game, the team will suffer.

Barton is the X-factor in every game he plays because opponents are constantly looking to limit the damage from him.

Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State

Le'Bryan Nash was a Top 10 recruit in the 2011 class, and he already is playing like an upperclassman. He is a force on both ends of the floor, and is second on the team with 13.2 points per game.

Nash is a very streaky player, however, and needs to become more consistent if the team is going to become elite. He must eliminate those games in which he scores in single digits, or doesn't score at all like he did in a loss to Virginia Tech.

Oklahoma State is a completely different team when Nash is on the floor. His style of play influences the team too much to deem anyone else the X-factor.

Kyle Casey, Harvard

Ever wonder how Harvard cracked the Top 25 for the first time in school history this season? It's due in large part to the play of forward Kyle Casey.

Casey is second on the team in points (11.0) and rebounds (5.7) per game. He is a very inconsistent player, however. His point total has varied from two to 26 (ironically coming in back-to-back games).

In their two losses against UConn and Fordham, Casey was quiet, but he has the ability to take over  a game. He almost single-handedly brought his team a victory against St. Joe's, dropping 26 points and snagging 10 boards in a five-point win.

Casey is the reason for the Crimson's success. If he can become more consistent next year as a senior, the team should be a Top 25 team once again.

Ryan Pearson, George Mason

Ryan Pearson is a forward for George Mason who is leading the team in points (17.8) and rebounds (8.8) per game. He is the only player on the team averaging double-digit points, and if the Patriots make the NCAA Tournament, it will be because of him.

George Mason got off to a rough start , but Pearson is giving them a chance to win the Colonial Athletic Association tournament and secure a trip to the Big Dance.

The Patriots lose when Pearson struggles. He scored only four points in a loss to Drexel, and nine in a loss to Virginia. The team needs their senior to be a stud if they are to be competitive.

If he gets on a roll during the conference tournament,  the Patriots will be dancing in March.

Austin Rivers, Duke

The Duke Blue Devils knew they would have Austin Rivers as their X-factor coming into the season. Having a freshman as your leader can be problematic, but this team relies on Rivers to make a big impact in their wins.

He leads the Blue Devils in scoring with 14.3 points per game and is second in assists with 2.1 per game.

Shooting percentage can be a problem for Rivers. He is a streaky shooter who takes a lot of shots. The Blue Devils are undefeated when he shoots better than 50 percent from the floor, and that is the key, not the number of points he has.

In their three losses, Rivers averages 17.7 points per game, but he is only 18-for-45 from the field. He needs to be a more consistent shooter if he is going to be a star, and if this Duke team is going to make it past the Sweet Sixteen.

Toure’ Murry, Wichita State

Toure’ Murry is a senior guard for the Wichita State Shockers, and he is the key to their success. His 12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game make him the best all-around player on the team, and his senior leadership is priceless.

Murry must have a great game if the team is going to beat a ranked opponent,. His five points against Creighton in the team's biggest game of the season did not cut it, as Wichita State lost by seven.

Murry needs to be an absolute star for this team if  it has a chance of entering the Top 25 or winning a game in the NCAA  Tournament.

Doug McDermott, Creighton

Let's stay in the Missouri Valley Conference for this one.

Doug McDermott is one of the nation's leading scorers, and he is the reason that Creighton has been hovering around the Top 10 for a good portion of the season.

His 23.4 points per game lead the team by a mile, more than doubling Antoine Young, the next-highest scorer. McDermott is third in the nation in scoring per game, and since he is competing for National Player of the Year honors from a non-power conference, he is this year's Jimmer Fredette.

McDermott is the key for Creighton, and he is expected to kick in at least 20 points in a game if the team is going to win.

Casper Ware, Long Beach State

With Caspar Ware and Larry Anderson, Long Beach State has one of the best backcourts in the nation, and they have helped to produce huge wins against Pittsburgh and Xavier, and close games with North Carolina, Louisville, Kansas, San Diego State and more.

Ware is the team's biggest X-factor, however, leading the team in points and assists per game. His poor shooting against Kansas and Louisville cost his team victories. But he was the only reason they were in the game against the Tar Heels, dropping 29 points.

The biggest thing Long Beach State can do on offense is get Ware going, making him the definitive X-factor.

D’Aundray Brown, Cleveland State

When Cleveland State lost one of its best players  (Norris Cole) to the NBA, the Vikings knew they needed someone to step up if they were going to make the NCAA Tournament again.

D’Aundray Brown has filled that role, making it appear that the Vikings are ready to win the Horizon League tournament  and make it to the Big Dance.

Brown doesn't lead the team in a single major category, but he is second in points (11.3), rebounds (4.7) and assists (2.4) per game. He can do it all, and he must play well if the team is to win.

In three losses, he has scored 10 or fewer points, and in the other he did not have a single assist and only rebound.

When Brown can't get it going, the Vikings are in trouble.

Marcus Denmon, Missouri

Marcus Denmon was an early favorite for National Player of the Year honors. He has fallen off the pace, however, yet his team, the Missouri Tigers, is ranked No. 4 in the nation.

First on the team with 17.7 points and second in rebounds with 5.5 per game, Denmon is the Tigers' most important player. His play is crucial to the Tigers' success.

In their two losses, Demon is shooting only 30 percent from the floor. There has not been a game in which Denmon struggled against a D-I opponent that did not come down to the wire, proving his worth to the team.

LaRon Dendy, Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee is one of the Cinderellas to keep an eye on. The Blue Raiders have been incredibly successful despite getting very little publicity. LaRon Dendy is the reason they have found such success.

Dendy leads the team in points (13.9) and rebounds (6.7) per game. He has given the Blue Raiders more to root for than they have had in years, if not decades.

Dendy cannot single-handedly lead this team, however, but he was the reason the Blue Raiders came so close to beating Belmont and Vanderbilt . In games that they could have won against UAB and Denver, Dendy had a few off-games, and the team lost both contests.

Dendy has needed to step up and play well if this team is going to have any measurable success, and he has certainly done that.

Chase Tapley, San Diego State

The San Diego State Aztecs are having another great season due in large part to their X-factor, Chase Tapley.

The Aztecs have lost only three times, twice to ranked opponents. Tapley is second on the team in points (15.9) per game, and second in assists (2.3). He can also rebound well, averaging nearly five per contest, making him the complete player.

Tapley's play has been the key for the Aztecs. He stepped up in the relative absence of leading scorer Jamaal Franklin (16.0 points per game) against Baylor, and he was the only reason the game was so close. He had a poor outing against Colorado State, however, which was the reason  for the loss.

After losing Kawhi Leonard, Tapley is the new X-factor. He is bringing this team quite a bit of success.

Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's

Saint Mary's has climbed to No. 16 in the country out of the WCC. The Gaels are 22-2 and are receiving national attention due in large part to Matthew Dellavedova.

Leading the team with 15.5 points and 6.4 assists per night, Dellavedova is one of the elite point guards in the nation. He truly understands how to control the tempo of the game and never appears flustered. This is an asset that cannot be overrated, as playing within your means is one of the biggest keys to college basketball.

Dellavedova's ability to shoot better than 40 percent from three is key. However, when he is shooting poorly from behind the arc, the team struggles. In their 13-point loss to Baylor, Dellavedova shot only 1-for-8 from deep. He was 2-for-2 within the arc, but he was determined to chuck-up threes.

Dellavedova's play will be critical for the Gaels down the stretch, as they have the potential to make a run to the Sweet Sixteen, or even the Elite Eight if he gets hot.

Shabazz Napier, Connecticut

A lot of things have gone wrong for the UConn Huskies this year. They have fallen from No. 4 in the country to unranked, which is the complete opposite of what they did a year ago.

The media has been looking to place blame on one of these Huskies, but their faults cannot be attributed to one player. This is an unstable UConn team, and it should come as no surprise that this is their second X-factor on this list.

Shabazz Napier is only a sophomore, but he already is the leading assist-man for the Huskies, with 5.5 per game. He is also second in points with 13.1 per night.

Napier's play is vital, as having a relatively inexperienced underclassman at point guard can be difficult., and his play has been streaky at best,

Napier has scored fewer than 10 points in five of the team's eight losses, and has shot 33.3 percent or lower in six of eight.

He is one of the keys for the Huskies, and he needs to step up his game in March.

Frantz Massenat, Drexel

The Drexel Dragons don't get a lot of press, but they have quietly joined VCU atop the Colonial Athletic Association. A win over the Rams at home on January 8 has proven to be crucial in the CAA standings, and they can thank Frantz Massenat for that victory.

Massenat shot 70 percent from the floor in that game, including 4-for-4 from three. Scoring 24 points, Massenat led the team to that huge win at home, and they now find themselves in a dogfight to get in to the NCAA Tournament.

Massenat has been clutch all season. He leads the team with  13.0 points and 4.3 assists this season, but he has not been consistent.

Massenat needs to play well if the Dragons are going to enter the Big Dance. His play will be the team's X-factor in March.

Phil Pressey, Missouri

Ranked No. 4 in the country, the Missouri Tigers have shot off to a 22-2 record and have become a contender for Big 12 and NCAA titles.

Sophomore Phil Pressey is the point guard for the Tigers. He controls the tempo, and while he doesn't light up a stat sheet in terms of points (9.3 per night, fifth on the team), he still is one of the team's most important players.

Pressey is a great passer with excellent vision, which is why he averages 6.0 assists per night. Pressey was huge against No. 3 Baylor on the road, which is why the Tigers won that game by one point. However, he struggled at Kansas State and Oklahoma State, and the Tigers went on to lose both those games.

Pressey is a key part for the Tigers both offensively and defensively, averaging 2.3 steals per game as well. He must play well if the Tigers look to overthrow Kansas in the Big 12 or win it all this year.

Khris Middleton, Texas A&M

After having such high preseason expectations, the Texas A&M Aggies have fallen out of the Top 25  and are now just trying to get back into the top half of the Big 12.

The Aggies are 12-11 and are tied for eighth in the Big 12. They are having an incredibly disappointing year, and it is due in part to the play of star small forward Khris Middleton.

Middleton has had an awful year offensively, having worse stats in just about every major category offensively. We all expected him to improve from his sophomore to junior season, but Middleton has disappointed.

He is still one of the best man-to-man defenders in college basketball, but his lack of offense has the Aggies free-falling in the Big 12.

Reggie Hamilton, Oakland

Do you remember the 2011 NCAA Tournament when Oakland almost beat Texas in the first round? That was because Reggie Hamilton played one heck of a game.

Hamilton's 24.3 points per game not only leads the Golden Grizzlies, but is also good for the second-most in the country. He also has scored the most total number of points in the nation.

Hamilton has brought his Oakland team above mediocrity to become above average. He will be a huge factor in the Summit League tournament, and he could well bring his team to the NCAA Tournament again this year.

J'Covan Brown, Texas

J'Covan Brown's 19.6 points per game puts him in the Top 20 in the nation in scoring. He has the ability to take over a game, and we've seen him do that several times this season for the Texas Longhorns.

Brown is also second on the team in assists per game (4.0), and he is near the top in rebounds as well. He is a complete player that Texas relies on, and their offense runs through him.

Brown can go for 30 points or more with apparent ease. He dropped 35 on Rhode Island at home, and 34 on Missouri on the road. He is one of the biggest scoring threats in the country and is the key for the Longhorns.

Jamar Samuels, Kansas State

Kansas State's Jamar Samuels. a senior forward, is the team's leading rebounder and is second in scoring.

Samuels is the biggest key for the Wildcats. When he doesn't play well, the team suffers. They need to get him going.

Without Samuels, the team would be too small to compete in the Big 12, and they would be missing a large chunk of their offense. He is the Wildcats' biggest X-factor,.

Perry Jones III, Baylor

Perry Jones III, an athletic power forward for Baylor, is the reason the Bears were ranked as high as No. 3 in the country.

Jones is the mold that the frontcourt takes: big, long, athletic and next-to-unstoppable when he gets going. He is Baylor's leader.

Jones was pegged as an All-American and one of the National Player of the Year candidates during the preseason, and for good reason. He showed us in his first game back from suspension that he is still a force, dropping 27 points.

Jones is the key to Baylor's success. Having a 6'11" power forward with the skills of a point guard is an incredible asset.

Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette

Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette's leading scorer at 18.2 points per game, is also a very athletic player who can do anything that is asked of him.

This senior shooting guard has come out of nowhere to become one of the best players in the nation. He has the ability to take over a game because he can beat you in so many ways.His versatility may be his biggest asset.

Johnson-Odom has nine 20-points games this season, and 15 in which he scored at least 18 points. He is the biggest cog in the Marquette offense. When he is running smoothly, the team can't be stopped.

Peyton Siva, Louisville

Peyton Siva, the point guard for the Louisville Cardinals, leads the team with 5.7 assists per contest. He has great vision and passing ability, which allows the team to have such a potent offense.

Siva's assists are what make him elite, but he can also score if the defense focuses too much on his teammates. That aspect of his game is what keeps him at such a high level. This junior will be an NBA player one day.

The worst losses for Louisville came when Siva proved ineffective. Without him, the Cardinals would not be in the Top 25, nor would they have been one of the nation's last undefeated teams.

Henry Sims, Georgetown

Henry Sims is Georgetown's most complete player. He does not lead the team in any major categories, but is third in points per game (12.0), and second in both assists (3.6) and rebounds (5.5).

Sims has a lot of talent for a center, and his ability to hand out more than three-and-a-half assists per game from the post is uncanny. He can do everything that is asked of him. He is the complete player.

However, when Sims is off his game, or is outmatched in the post, the Hoyas can't find their rhythm, and they typically lose.

Sims is the key for the Hoyas. They need him to be ready come tournament time.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes was pegged as the early National Player of the Year, but a slow start has him falling behind several other players. He still leads the Tar Heels in points at 17.3 per game, but his ability to take over games has been frequently absent.

In their three losses, Barnes has shot better than 40 percent  in one, with that coming against Kentucky (and he still only scored 14 points).

Barnes still has the ability to dominate like no other player, but he has not reached his potential. As a result, a North Carolina team that had the potential for a perfect season has lost to an unranked UNLV team at a neutral site and an unranked Florida State team on the road.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

There was a reason Ohio State was ranked No. 3 in the preseason: Jared Sullinger. There is a reason they are currently No. 3 in the poll: Jared Sullinger.

Sullinger is a man among boys. After returning for his sophomore season, he is now an NBA-ready player matching up against 18-year-old kids. See the difference?

He is averaging 17.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and the Buckeyes are elite when he is healthy. Unfortunately, he has not been healthy this season. He dealt with back spasms that kept him out of the game against Kansas, and his team lost by 11.

Another loss came at Indiana, in a game in which Sullinger made only three shots. He was essentially shut down by Cody Zeller, and the team lost because of it.

Sullinger is the most important player for the Buckeyes. He is their post presence, and with William Buford, he give them a lethal inside-outside combination.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Kansas has been on a roll, and the Jayhawks are ranked No. 7 despite a loss to Missouri last week.

The Jayhawks can attribute their success to Thomas Robinson, who is running away with the National Player of the Year honors. His 18.0 points and 12.0 rebounds make him one of a select few players averaging a double-double, and his play is starting to get even better.

Robinson has been on fire and is the reason Kansas is still in the running for the Big 12 title,  despite Missouri and Baylor becoming national powerhouses.

Robinson's Jayhawks had a tough non-conference schedule, losing to No. 2 Kentucky in their second game. Robinson played well, posting a double-double, but his teammates didn't give him enough help to win.

Duke did a good job of containing Robinson, and his 16 points on 40 percent shooting did not get the job done. However, he carried his team to a win over Ohio State with 21 points on 7-for-9 shooting.

Robinson has either had an off game or did not get enough help in all five losses. He is Kansas' X-factor.

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