March Madness 2012: Players Who Will Hog the Spotlight in Big Dance

The Big Dance is looming.

It's hard to believe that Selection Sunday (March 11) is nearly upon us. A couple days after that comes, the NCAA tournament will be underway.

We don't yet know which teams are going to end up making the cut, nor do we know how the seeds are going to work out in the end. However, we do know who the locks are, and we know who their star players are.

These teams and these players are going to be very much under the spotlight once the Big Dance begins. That spotlight is sure to focus on a select group of star players, just like it did with Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker and assorted others last season.

From the look of things, there are five players that are likely to get similar attention this season.

5. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Jared Sullinger was brilliant in his freshman season at Ohio State, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. He ultimately took home numerous awards.

Sullinger has been good this season, but not quite as good as he was in his freshman campaign. His numbers have dipped across the board, and the last couple of weeks or so in particular have been a struggle for Sullinger. He's struggled, and his Buckeyes have lost three of five.

Nevertheless, Sullinger and the Buckeyes are marching towards an inevitable appearance in the Big Dance. They bowed out earlier than they would have liked last season, so they have unfinished business.

There will be better players in the field than Sullinger once the tournament gets underway, but there are going to be a lot of eyes on him. College hoops fans will be looking for him to put Ohio State on his back, and NBA hoops fans will be looking for Sullinger to make a case for himself as a lottery pick in the draft.

No pressure, Jared.

4. Perry Jones III, Baylor

Perry Jones III found himself on a lot of radar screens with his performance in his freshman season, in which he averaged roughly 14 points and seven boards a game. Big things were expected of him this season.

Jones hasn't quite lived up to the hype. He hasn't had a poor season, but he hasn't shown improvement either. He's just kind of stayed the course from his freshman season.

Despite Jones' relatively disappointing season, he and the Baylor Bears look like a team that means business. Baylor's football team just had arguably the greatest season in the program's history, and people will be looking for the basketball team to follow suit.

Jones can lead the charge, but it's definitely worth noting that he's been at his worst when the chips have been down this season. When Baylor finds itself in a fight, Jones has a way of backing down.

That habit is not going to fly in the tournament. We'll all be looking for Jones to step it up.

3. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes was very good in his freshman season. He's been even better in his sophomore season.

Barnes' numbers haven't spiked across the board, but he has shown improvement in virtually every asset of the game. He's also been far more consistent than he ever was last season.

The Tar Heels don't need Barnes to put them on his back come tourney time, as they have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country. If they play good team basketball, they're going to go far.

However, there have been times when the Tar Heels have needed a star to take over and close the game out. They have a couple guys who are equal to the task, but none more so than Barnes.

Barnes will probably head to the NBA after the tournament. If so, the Big Dance will be his last chance to transform from a star into a superstar.

2. Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Thomas Robinson was pretty much an afterthought in his first two seasons at Kansas. He picked up minutes when he could, but failed to establish himself as a star player. It didn't help that he was largely overshadowed by the Morris twins.

The Morris twins both left for the NBA after last season, giving Robinson his chance. It's safe to say he has made the most of it.

Robinson is having a brilliant season, averaging nearly 18 and 12 per game. He and the Jayhawks look poised for a deep run through the tourney, something they didn't accomplish last season.

Robinson will definitely have a lot of people pulling for him. He's a great player, sure, but he's become a sympathetic favorite after ESPN's feature about what Robinson has had to go through off the court recently.

1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky

This tweet from Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News pretty much says it all:

"

there is no one who making bigger impact in cbb than ky 6-11 fr c anthony davis.not even close folks

— Dick Weiss (@NYDNDickWeiss) February 25, 2012"

No argument here. 

Davis has the luxury of being surrounded by elite talent, but talk of his impact is not being exaggerated. He's been outstanding all season long, and he's only getting better as the season winds down towards the Big Dance. He's leading Kentucky's charge towards the Final Four, a destination that is a virtual lock.

When everything is all said and done, Davis will probably be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. No matter what he does in the tourney, he's earned that right.