NCAA Tournament 2012 Predictons: Mid-Major Stars Who Will Shine in Round of 64

Making a Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament is as much about fitting into the glass slipper as it is having someone to guide the carriage to the ball.

For these three mid-major stars, the success or failure of their teams will depend on their own output during the opening weekend of the Big Dance.

Doug McDermott, Creighton

There's a reason Creighton is widely considered to have been slighted as a No. 8 seed, and his name is Doug McDermott. The son of Bluejays coach Greg McDermott was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, and he is among the finalists for the John Wooden Award after averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds as a sophomore.

McDermott is about as versatile a forward as you'll find in the mid-major ranks, with the size (6'7", 220 pounds) to bang in the post and the deft shooting touch (49.5 percent on three-pointers) to beat you from the perimeter.

Assuming the 'Jays roll past Alabama in the Round of 64, McDermott will have the opportunity to go head-to-head with North Carolina star Harrison Barnes, with whom he played during his high school days.

Isaiah Canaan, Murray State

Isaiah Canaan should be something of a household name by now. The junior guard from Biloxi, Miss., led Murray State to a startling 30-1 record this season and within four points of a perfect mark.

Canaan is a dead-eye shooter from beyond the arc, with a 47.3 percent conversion rate on his threes and 84 percent on free throws to back up a solid scoring average of 19.2 points per game.

Expect Canaan to be at his best this weekend as he helps the Racers run against the "small ball" stylings of Colorado State and Marquette. 

Casper Ware, Long Beach State

Casper Ware isn't quite the overall talent Canaan is, but he's no less important to Long Beach State's hopes in the tournament.

The diminutive senior from Cerritos, Calif., is a deadly scorer (17.4 points per game) and has done some of his best work under the brightest lights, with 16 against Kansas, 26 against San Diego State, 28 against Pittsburgh, 29 against North Carolina and 33 in the Big West tournament title game against UC Santa Barbara.

Taking out a strong New Mexico squad on Thursday will be no easy task for the 49ers, though if there's anyone who can lift them to victory, it's the little dude named after the friendly ghost.

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