NCAA Tournament 2012 Bracket: 10 Studs Who Will Fold Under Pressure

In the college basketball world, the NCAA Tournament is the ultimate test of what teams and players are truly made of.

The 2012 tourney is stacked with an assortment of clutch stars like Michael Snaer of Florida State, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Austin Rivers of Duke.

But some players aren't as strong in the big games. Which tournament heavyweights will fail to deliver for their squads?

Here is a list of 10 college hoops studs that will fold under pressure this month.

Will Barton, Memphis Tigers

Memphis enjoyed a successful year in Conference USA with the help of sophomore guard Will Barton, whose playmaking abilities buoyed the Tigers to the top of the league.

I don't doubt his potential, and I think he'll be a great NBA draft prospect if he gains some weight and polishes his jump shot.

I do have doubts that he can lead the Tigers in the pressure-cooker of March madness. His lack of strength and inconsistent jump shot could be a big problem against Michigan State, New Mexico and Louisville.

Hollis Thompson, Georgetown Hoyas

A prolific shooter for Georgetown, Hollis Thompson is one of the top long-range threats in the midwest bracket.

Unfortunately, Thompson doesn't step up against challenging opponents. He scored 13 points per game this season, but he was held to just nine points per game against the top six defenses in the Big East.

When the going gets tough, Thompson isn't strong enough or quick enough to deliver for the Hoyas. It's up to him to raise his game and prove me wrong if he wants to improve his NBA Draft stock.

Rob Jones, St. Mary's Gaels

Senior forward Rob Jones is averaging a double-double for the St. Mary's Gaels, but his numbers are less than stellar in key contests.

His solid recent outing against Gonzaga was more of the exception rather than the norm for Jones against ranked teams.

In all other prime-time matchups this season against ranked squads, Jones averaged seven points and seven rebounds per game—well below his season averages of 15 and 11.

Kyle Kuric, Louisville Cardinals

The leading scorer of the Big East champion Louisville Cardinals is Kyle Kuric, and Rick Pitino will be counting on him to knock down some clutch triples this weekend and beyond.

What's problematic is that Kuric disappears against most of the elite teams he faces.

Six of his seven single-digit scoring outings were against NCAA Tournament teams, including lackluster performances against Syracuse and Kentucky.

How will he fare under pressure against top seeds in this tourney?

J'Covan Brown, Texas Longhorns

J'Covan Brown is the Texas Longhorn offense.

The diminutive guard is a phenomenal playmaker for Rick Barne's squad, as he's one of the best scoring point-guards in the nation.

He won't fold under pressure when it comes to filling up the hoop, but he'll fail when it comes to leading his team to success by keeping his teammates involved.

In most of Texas' showdowns against major schools, Brown has needed a high volume of shots to get his 18-22 points, and the Longhorns have ended up losing.

Kris Joseph, Syracuse Orange

Syracuse doesn't know how much production it will get from Kris Joseph on any given night.

The 6'7" senior leads the Orange in minutes and points per game, but he's a streaky shooter who has difficulty creating his shot against physical defenses.

When defenses like Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and Kansas State clamp down on Joseph, he's going to have trouble finding the kind of success he had against Big East bottom-feeders.

Tim Hardaway, Jr., Michigan Wolverines

Michigan's explosive wing guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is most dangerous when he is attacking the basket with his slashing drives.

Teams will try to keep him honest by guarding the lane and daring him to launch outside shots. Hardaway has been subpar from three-point range, making only 28 percent of his attempts this season.

Good teams will force him to be one-dimensional, which will hinder his impact on the game in pressure situations.

Doug McDermott, Creighton Bluejays

Creighton Bluejays forward Doug McDermott is a versatile player who can score in the paint just as easily as he can score from outside the arc.

I don't think he's not a clutch player. It's just that the jury is out on him when it comes to facing upper-echelon teams. He finds himself in the midwest bracket with some extremely efficient defensive squads, including his first-round opponent Alabama.

Not to mention that the North Carolina Tar Heels are waiting for him in the second round.

Mason Plumlee, Duke Blue Devils

Mason Plumlee might be fine against Duke's early-round opponents, but once the Blue Devils run into Baylor, Wichita State, UConn or Kentucky, his party will be over.

He's gifted both physically and athletically, but he comes up short against tough competition due to his lack of assertiveness and inability to make short bank shots.

Plumlee's rebounding and scoring output dipped significantly against teams like Florida State and North Carolina, and he often got himself into foul trouble.

Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure Bonnies

St. Bonaventure's 6'9" scoring machine has made a mockery of Atlantic 10 defenses this season en route to a monster season.

He's been brilliant from the field this season (converting at a 58 percent clip) and he also grabs 8.5 rebounds per contest. But the major-conference defenses he'll see in the opening rounds are used to playing against dynamic scorers like him.

It would be a miracle if Nicholson survives the first two rounds. He first squares off against ACC lockdown artists Florida State. If the Bonnies somehow upset the Seminoles, then Cincinnati is waiting, followed by Ohio State.