March Madness 2012: Which Wooden Finalists Will Impress in the Big Dance?

The finalists for the 2012 Wooden Award have been announced.

Nicole Auerbach of the USA Today has a full rundown of the finalists. My guess is that nobody will be surprised to see any of the names on the list. The award will go to the best player in the nation, and the names on the list surely represent the best of the best.

Or at least, it represents the best of the best as far as the regular season was concerned. The upcoming NCAA Tournament is a different animal, and not all of the players on the list are going to tackle it head-on.

The players listed below, on the other hand, will.

5. Tyler Zeller, F/C, North Carolina

I'll wager that Tyler Zeller isn't even the best player on his own team, but he has been recognized as the best player in the ACC. Zeller was named the ACC Player of the Year on Tuesday.

Zeller did enough to earn it. He nearly averaged a double-double this season with 16.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and the simple truth is that North Carolina is not an elite team without him doing work in the paint.

The Tar Heels are a legit threat to go to the Final Four this year, and we can all rest assured that Zeller will play a big part in getting them there. The talent he has around him will help, but Zeller will be a matchup problem for every team North Carolina comes across.

I expect Zeller to be just fine.

4. Kris Joseph, F, Syracuse

The Orange are a complete basketball team, but Kris Joseph is the straw that stirs the drink. It all revolves around him.

Syracuse is looking to return to the Final Four for the first time since Carmelo Anthony took the Orange there in 2003. To get there, Joseph will have to be a difference-maker.

We can take it for granted that Joseph doesn't need motivation. He's been to the Big Dance every year he's been at Syracuse, but he has yet to enjoy a deep run through the tournament. 

This is his chance to make sure that changes.

3. Marcus Denmon, G, Missouri

Marcus Denmon is another guy with plenty of tournament experience. He's been to the Big Dance every year he's been at Missouri, though he was a mere role player when the Tigers went to the Elite Eight in 2009.

These days, Denmon is a star. He led the Tigers in scoring with 18.0 points per game this season, and he was also more active on the boards than he gets credit for. 

Missouri is a team that will not go quietly in the Big Dance. The Tigers had a very good season this year, and their high-scoring offense will cause trouble for every team they happen to face.

Denmon will lead the charge.

2. Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas

Thomas Robinson emerged as a great story throughout the course of the season, and he definitely earned his status as a Wooden Finalist. He averaged 18.0 and 11.9 per game, which is remarkable.

Robinson is a double-double machine, and he's a guy that most teams simply cannot guard. That was true in the regular season, and it will be true once we get to the Big Dance.

Robinson and the Jayhawks definitely have unfinished business to take care of. They were a heavy favorite to go all the way last season, but were ultimately derailed by VCU, one of several Cinderella teams in last year's tourney.

This year, the Jayhawks will jump on Robinson's back and see how far he can take them.

1. Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky

Anthony Davis has to be the favorite to win the Wooden Award. There are players out there with better numbers (i.e. Robinson), but no player impacted the national landscape this season quite like Davis.

The best way I can put it is that Davis is the best player on the best team in the nation, which is high praise. Kentucky has talent to spare, but Davis is the one guy who makes the Wildcats an elite team. He's a remarkable player.

There's not a doubt in my mind that Davis will own the Big Dance. He's a terrific player, and the talent he has around him makes his job that much easier.

None of this will change come tourney time.