NCAA Bracket 2011: 10 Players Who Will Impact Your Tournament Brackets
The Madness has finally begun! The 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is right around the corner, and it’s time to start filling out your brackets.
Before you make your final picks, though, I think it’s important to take a look at some of the key players in this year’s tournament.
These players have the ability to make or break your brackets because they are the guys who will be making the big plays once the pressure is on.
Every year there are a handful of players that really stick out, and this is the time of year when legends are made.
Let’s take a look at 10 players that will undoubtedly impact your brackets in the 2011 NCAA tournament.
10. Ben Hansbrough: Notre Dame
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Hansbrough was named the Big East Player of the Year.
He is the undisputed leader of the Fighting Irish and can be considered one of the better half-court scorers in the tournament.
He averaged 18.5 points and four assists per game before the tournament.
I expect him to come up big for the Irish.
And yes, he is the brother of former NCAA great, Tyler Hansbrough.
I’m sure that gives him a small advantage.
9. Erving Walker: Florida
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Erving Walker is a little man with some big potential.
At only 5’8’’, 140 pounds there is a substantial size difference between him and other point guards in the tournament.
He makes up for his lack of size with his quickness and his ability to score while running the point.
The little man averaged 14.6 points, 3.3 assists and a surprisingly good three rebounds a game.
8. Ashton Gibbs: Pittsburgh
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Games in the NCAA tournament come down to big plays. They come down to who can make the big shots when needed, but also who can make the big shots consistently outside of the clutch moments.
Ashton Gibbs could be one of the purest shooters in the tournament, and his touch outside the three-point line is unbelievable.
He can knock down shot after shot from behind the arc almost effortlessly, and that’s why I think he deserves to be on this list.
He can change the tide of a game with that shot of his.
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7. Nolan Smith: Duke
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There might not be a player in this year’s tournament that has stepped up more for their team than Nolan Smith has for the Blue Devils
Without standout Kyrie Irving on the floor, Duke needed somebody to take a big role and make things happen.
Smith can score off the pick-and-roll or in isolation and moves well without the ball.
He averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game.
He is an incredibly well-rounded and gifted basketball player.
6. Harrison Barnes: North Carolina
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Barnes has improved his play over the last part of the season. He has natural basketball instincts and has led an underachieving Tar Heels team to a No. 2 seed.
He averaged 15 points and 5.5 rebounds a game during the season.
He’s going to have to step up during the tournament and prove that he belongs on this list.
5. Marcus Morris: Kansas
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The weight of being the go-to guy for Kansas was thrust upon Marcus Morris this season, and he showed us that his shoulders are broad enough to carry a team.
He is a prototypical college power forward. He is versatile and quick, yet strong enough to take the ball down low. He shows good range on the perimeter and can finish close to the basket.
His versatility is his greatest strength, and it makes him nearly impossible to consistently guard.
4. Brandon Knight: Kentucky
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The point guard position is incredibly vital in the game of basketball, especially when it comes to the NCAA tourney.
Knight is your prototypical speedy point guard. He is incredibly fast off the dribble, has great quickness and can take it to the basket. He also displays an ever-improving shot.
He knows how to score, and that is a must for a Kentucky point guard.
3. Jared Sullinger: Ohio State
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Sullinger is an absolute beast when you put his back the basket, and the low-post threat that he creates for the Buckeyes is what makes them arguably the tournament’s most complete team.
He has soft hands for a big man, which allows him to cleanly field passes when it gets crowded down low, and he also has an acute court awareness for being just a freshman.
Sullinger averaged a double-double—17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds—per game, and there is no reason to think that he won’t do the same in the tournament.
2. Jimmer Fredette: Brigham Young
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Fredette is hands down the best scorer in the 2011 NCAA tournament.
He can create his own shot via an isolation play and can also score with ease in the transition game.
He has great speed to go along with stellar ball handling skills, but his greatest strength is his shot.
Fredette can fill the hoop from way beyond the three-point arc, even when considering NBA standards.
He averaged 28.5 points per game. I feel that number is only going to increase now that the pressure is on.
1. Kemba Walker: Connecticut
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In my opinion, Walker is one of the most exciting players to watch in the tournament.
He can score, rebound and facilitates an offense exactly the way you would want from a scoring point guard.
He knows how to get his own shot, but he can also create opportunities for his teammates, which is incredibly understated.
He also showed us that he can step up big in clutch moments and break an ankle or two.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
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