2012 March Madness Begins: 20 Potential Impact Players You May Not Know

The picture you see here of Kemba Walker was the last sight of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The 2012 tournament began some sort of forming this week with some mid-majors getting their conference tournaments underway.

"The Little Guys," if you will, have played a big part in recent NCAA tournaments. Just look at Butler making a run to the final game in each of the last two years. VCU also made the Final Four last season, with Morehead State pulling off a great upset against Louisville.

So, during this slideshow I am going to give you 20 names that you may or may not have heard of. These players have the potential to mess up some brackets this March, so you might want to keep them in mind when filling yours out next week. 

20-17

First, let me start by saying you may know some of these players, but none of them are from any big six conference. I ranked them by chance they have of getting some attention from America. 

20. Kerron Johnson (Belmont)

A junior guard who is in a system at Belmont that almost took out Duke in the first round a few years back. A three-point shooting team led by Johnson has potential to pull off an upset this season, but for that to happen Johnson needs to get hot.

19. Damian Lillard (Weber State)

You will definitely hear this guy's name throughout Championship Week. He is second in the nation in scoring and has carried his team to second place in the Big Sky. In order to get to the NCAA tournament, Lillard has to continue to do what he's done all year, score points. 

18. LaRon Dendy (Middle Tennessee St)

Dendy and MTSU have dominated the Sun Belt all season long and are almost a lock to win the conference tournament. If by some off chance they don't, some analysts are even including them in the national bubble talk. Dendy, a senior transfer from Iowa State, has only had two years of eligibility in the NCAA. He is looking to make the most of the last chance he has to make a name for himself.

17. Charles Hinkle (American)

It's safe to say American isn't the favorite in the Patriot League, but anytime you have a big time scorer like Hinkle, your school's name has to be mentioned. He has led his team to a third-place finish. Just to put some insight on how American would be doing if Hinkle never transferred from Vanderbilt, he is first in points on the team, second in rebounding and second in assists. He is also first in steals on the team and first in minutes at 35 a game. 

16-13

16. Keith Gabriel (VMI)

When your team has led the nation in scoring five straight years, anything is possible. Granted, VMI hasn't been to the tournament throughout that stretch, but with a leader like Gabriel they may be destined for a run. He is second in the Big South in scoring, but that doesn't do his career justice. He has averaged in the double digits since the day he walked on to the VMI campus, which isn't a very easy thing to do. Keep an eye out for Gabriel, because in order to hear VMI on Selection Sunday, he will have to perform something short of a miracle. 

15. Matt Dickey (UNC-Asheville)

The preseason and most likely player of the year in the Big South has done so much for the program in the last four years. Dickey led Asheville to the first-ever First Four NCAA Tournament win in history. He's looking for one final run in which his team will probably get another 16 seed. Don't count them out just because of that number. Dickey leads one of the most dynamic backcourts in college hoops and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to go home. 

14. Ray McCallum (Detroit)

The do-it-all leader at Detroit averages 15 points, four rebounds and four assists this season, a season in which the sophomore guard is looking to continue to the postseason. He will have to have a big performance in the Horizon Tournament to get the third-seeded Titans any further than a potential NIT berth. In a season where the Horizon is down with Butler not the same team as previous years, anything is possible. 

13. Bradford Burgess (VCU)

You may have heard this name last season when VCU bolted into the Final Four. The senior has paced his team to another successful season, that can be culminated by another deep NCAA run if Burgess continues his hot play. Known for his pure looking jump shot, Burgess also has the ability to put the ball on the floor. He is a great all around player and clearly knows what it takes to make a deep run.

12-9

12. CJ McCollum (Lehigh)

Another candidate for Patriot League Player of the Year, McCollum has done something most players have never done. In his three years in college he has averaged 19, 22 and 22, respectively. He is a model of consistency and leadership. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Lehigh called on Selection Sunday along with a mention of CJ.

11. Orlando Johnson (UCSB)

You may remember Johnson from an amazing Big West conference championship run last season. They pulled off the upset of the favorite Long Beach State. Orlando may have to lead the Gauchos to one more upset if he wants to culminate his career with another NCAA tournament on his resume. A very capable scorer and defender, Johnson relies on his size and knowledge to outperform opponents.

10. Scott Machado (Iona)

The leading assist man in the nation averages a double-double this season. He's led Iona to a regular season MAAC title and is looking for more before his excellent career ends. He's a scrappy point guard who even gets to the boards at an average of five a game. I would expect to hear Iona called as a 14 seed next week, thanks to Machado leading them to a conference tournament championship. 

9. Zack Rosen (Penn)

I can't say enough about this competitor. One of the toughest and most determined players in all of America. The kid plays an average of 38 minutes a game. Penn hasn't been the program Rosen expected when he signed on there, but this season has the potential to be different. Rosen led Penn to an upset of top Ivy team Harvard and is now just a half-game out of first place. They control their own destiny now, and if they can miraculously win the Ivy League, I would never bet against Zack Rosen. 

8-5

8. Garrett Stutz (Wichita State)

This is not your ordinary Mid Major player. The seven-foot do-it-all center has averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game. He has put Wichita State on the map with a 15 national ranking. In order for Wichita to turn this success into the postseason, Stutz will have to get physical and do most of the dirty work. What Wichita doesn't lack in scoring is what they lack inside the paint. They need Stutz to perform or they could be an early casualty. 

7. Khalif Wyatt (Temple)

A terrific junior scorer. He has out of the gym range. You give this guy a little space, and he will make you pay for it. Then again, if you get in his face, he can go right by you and take it all the way to the bucket. An unselfish player, though, Wyatt can drive and kick to one of numerous teammates that can knock down a three. He is part of what could be the best three-headed backcourt in college basketball today. You will hear more about that shortly. 

6. Ramone Moore (Temple)

This senior leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring and is almost a lock for Player of the Year in the conference. He is part of the tremendous backcourt of Temple. He and Wyatt average a combined 35 points a game. Ramone is one of the most polished players in college basketball. He can do it all on the offensive end and doesn't lack much on the defensive side. He is long and athletic and can pretty much play any position 1 through 4 on the floor. Look for Temple to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament this season led by Moore.

5. Tu Holloway (Xavier)

Another Atlantic 10 Player, Holloway could be the best scorer in the conference. In what has definitely been somewhat of a disappointing season, Holloway has still done his part. Xavier will most likely still acquire an at-large bid to the Tournament. With Tu at the helm, Xavier has a chance to make a run, and if that happens, a lot of people will know the name Tu Holloway.

The Final Four

4. Andrew Smith (Butler)

I think it's safe to say you can never count out the Butler Bulldogs. A national runner-up the last two years, Butler is paced by its inside presence of Andrew Smith. If you look back at what Matt Howard did for Butler, you can see that Smith is the vital key if Butler can even make the tournament this season. He struggles to stay out of foul trouble, but when he does he is dominant force on the rebounds. He doesn't lack much skill scoring wise, and on an always unselfish Butler team, his ability to dish the ball to teammates is good. It will be hard for Smith to lead the defensive-minded Bulldogs to another deep run, but one thing is for sure, do not count them out!

3. Casper Ware (Long Beach State)

The heart and soul of the 49ers is the senior guard Casper Ware. With a team that possibly played the toughest out-of-conference schedule in America, Ware knows what it's like to match up against the big boys. Inside the conference, he led his team to an undefeated 14-0 record and first place finish. After being upset in the conference tournament championship last season, you know Ware is determined to get his team to the promise land this time around. He leads his team in scoring and assists. If you haven't already heard the name Casper, you will come March. 

2. Isaiah Canaan (Murray State)

Fans around America know Murray State was the last remaining unbeaten school in Division I. It wouldn't have been that way without the leadership of junior guard Canaan. He has set career highs in points, rebounding, and assists this season. But all that will mean nothing for Isaiah without a Final Four run. Yes, I said Final Four. Canaan is out to prove America wrong, and if Murray state goes out in the Sweet 16, do you think he will be satisfied? This isn't a mid-major that is lucky to get to March, this is an automatic bid waiting to happen if they do get upset in their conference tournament. This is a team who has been ranked nationally most of the season. This is a competitor named Isaiah Canaan who is out to make a name for himself if he hasn't already.

1. Doug McDermott (Creighton)

Maybe the most important player to his team in all of the nation. McDermott has been in National Player of the Year talks all season long, and has a real good shot to win it depending on how he performs in the tournament. McDermott can do everything and has so much heart. If you watch Creighton games you know the first guy on the floor for a loose ball is McDermott.

He can post you up, he can take you outside for a jump shot, or he can even drive to the bucket. This is one guy in America nobody wants to get into a scoring match with. He has the will to outperform anyone in America, and I do think that will help lead the Blue Jays to a nice NCAA run. McDermott may be the most complete player in college basketball and he is out to prove that to America. 

Thanks for reading, I hope you all enjoyed! Now you will know each of these faces just in case you just so happen to see them in the "One Shining Moment" video after the NCAA Championship. Well, I don't know about you guys, but I cannot wait for March Madness! Please feel free to leave a comment. I would like to hear some names that you the readers think I forgot.