NCAA Tournament Players to Watch

EAST

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David Crenshaw/AP Photo

Tulsa's Jerome Jordan, left, loses control of the ball while guarded by UTEP's Derrick Caracter during their NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Conference USA Championship Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., on Friday, March 12, 2010. UTEP advanced to the championship game with a 75-61 victory.

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Clemson's Demontez Stitt tries to get a shot off as Florida State's Derwin Kitchen (22) and Michael Snaer defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Tallahassee Democrat, Mike Ewen)

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In this photo taken on Feb. 6, 2010, Richmond's Kevin Anderson (14) dribbles the ball past Temple's Luis Guzman (10) during first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Richmond, Va. Anderson has two looks, and he wears both in crunch time. The frequency with which his determined scowl transforms into a wide smile is a big reason why No. 23 Richmond is at the top of the Atlantic 10. (AP Photo/The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Mark Gormus)

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Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

Oklahoma State guard James Anderson (23) collides with Kansas State forward Dominique Sutton (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big 12 tournament Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo.

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- Demontez Stitt, Clemson, Jr., 6-2, 175 -- The driving force behind the Tigers who's usually lost in Trevor Booker's shadow. When Stitt penetrates and hits jumpers, it forces teams to back off Booker and they pay for it along the baseline.

- Ryan Wittman, Cornell, Sr., 6-7, 215 -- The Ivy League Player of the Year, Wittman is the key to the Big Red's attack, averaging 17.5 points.

- Kevin Thompson, Morgan State, So., 6-9, 240 -- The sophomore was the MEAC's Defensive Player of the Year, ranks fourth in the nation with 11.9 rebounds per game and leads the team with 50 blocks this season.

- Noah Dahlman, Wofford, Jr., 6-6, 215 -- The Terriers are making their first NCAA appearance in big part due to this Southern Conference player of the year, who leads the team in scoring (16.8 ppg).

- Brian Qvale, Montana, Jr., 6-11, 265 -- Averages 9.7 points on 60 percent shooting and posts 6.9 rebounds and nearly two blocks per game. When the Grizzlies rallied from a 22-point deficit against Weber State to win the Big Sky Tournament, Qvale pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked six shots.

SOUTH

- Kevin Anderson, Richmond, Jr., 6-0, 175 -- The Atlantic-10 Player of the Year has given opponents a case of arachnophobia, averaging 17.8 points a game to help the seventh-seeded Spiders win 12 of their past 13.

- LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor, Jr., 6-4, 205 -- Dunn honed his skills by tying his left hand behind his back at the urging of a middle-school PE teacher. It worked. He's the leading 3-point shooter in the tournament at 42.5 percent.

- Ronald Moore, Siena, Sr., 6-0, 156 -- This kid knows how to dish. The scrappy guard leads the nation with 7.8 assists per game, close to what some teams averaged this season.

- Jerome Randle, California, Sr., 5-10, 172 -- If you don't know the Pac-10 Player of the Year, you will. The gritty point guard can put up points in bunches, hands out assists with the best of them and is one of the nation's best free-throw shooters.

- Donald Sloan, Texas A&M, Sr., 6-3, 205 -- Sloan has become the go-to player for the Aggies since Derrick Roland suffered a leg injury in December. He scores and usually guards the opponent's best perimeter player.

WEST

- Derrick Caracter, UTEP, Jr., 6-9, 280 -- Randy Culpepper was the Conference USA Player of the Year, but Caracter made the Miners an inside-out team after transferring from Louisville. He's a lane-clogger who can be a game-changer.

- Jordan Crawford, Xavier, So., 6-4, 195 -- Remember the secret video of someone dunking on LeBron James? That was Crawford. Turns out, he's far more than just a dunker. The leading scorer in the Atlantic-10 has a great all-around game.

- Jimmer Fredette, BYU, Jr., 6-2, 195 -- The only D-I player to score 40 points twice this season, Fredette patterns his game after John Stockton, but is a better scorer. He can change a game shooting or passing.

- Derick Nelson, Oakland, Sr., 6-5, 236 -- You might want to keep an eye on a guy scores 36 points in the Summit League title game -- with a broken nose.

- Dominique Sutton, Kansas State, Jr., 6-5, 210 -- It's not always the scorers who make a difference. Sutton doesn't have much range outside 12 feet, but can change a game with defense and rebounding.

MIDWEST

l James Anderson, Oklahoma State, Jr., 6-6, 210 -- It's hard to be unheralded as the Big 12's Player of the Year, but Anderson doesn't get the same attention as other scorers in the country. Don't be surprised if he drops 40 on someone.

- Armon Bassett, Ohio, Jr., 6-2, 180 -- Explosive scorer who led the Bobcats to a surprise win in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, scoring a record 119 points in four games.

- Jordan Eglseder, Northern Iowa, Jr., 7-0, 280 -- The big fella has a good touch around the basket and is a force in the lane at both ends.

- Aubrey Coleman, Houston, Sr., 6-4, 200 -- Might be the most likely player to go on a Stephen Curry-like run. The nation's leading scorer (25.6 points) will be ready to fire after going 4 for 20 in the Conference USA title game.

- Brady Morningstar, Kansas, Jr., 6-3, 185 -- OK, OK, he plays on the nation's No. 1 team, but Morningstar's contributions often go unnoticed. He makes the Jayhawks go with his entry passes, spot-up shooting and denying defense.

-- Associated Press

FILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas-El Paso junior Derrick Caracter (right) averaged eight rebounds a game this season. \nFILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guard Demontez Stitt (center) averaged 29 minutes a game for the 21-10 Clemson Tigers. \nFILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kevin Anderson has scored in double digits in all but three games for Richmond this year. \nFILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guard James Anderson (right) averaged nearly 23 points per game for Oklahoma State.