5 Players and Teams to Watch in March Madness

1. Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville: Williams is arguably the most versatile player in the country and leads his team that will likely be awarded a #1 seed later tonight. His scoring numbers don't look impressive as he only averages 12 PPG, but that's a testament to Louisville's depth. His 8 rebounds a game show his willingness to go inside and play tough, it truly is a mainstay of his game. He also nets 5 assists and 2.5 steals per game, which shows he's unselfish and a defensive presence that other teams truly must plan for. His performance last night against Syracuse: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 steals showed how Williams can take over a game, even without putting up 20 points.

2. Sam Young, F, Pittsburgh: Sam Young is having a repeat of his solid season from 2007-08, yet has received little praise due to the breakout of Dejuan Blair. Young averages 18 points per game and grabs 6 rebounds even though he is more of a perimeter player at the SF position. He still has the ability to go inside however and play in the post. He completely took over their second game against UConn with 31 points and 10 rebounds, even with Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien manning the paint, two tough and solid post presences on defense. If Pittsburgh goes far, his solid play will be the reason why.

3. Chester Frazier, G, Illinois: This one is interesting, as he may not even be able to play in the NCAA Tournament at all. Frazier injured his hand in practice and missed the Big Ten tournament as he got minor surgery two days ago. If Frazier is not with Illinois, they are a completely different team. Frazier, who posted the best Assist to Turnover ratio in the Big Ten this season also made the Big Ten's First All-Defensive team. He is a pest on the floor and can completely lock down the opposition's best guard if given the chance. Frazier doesn't score much (5.7 PPG), but his defensive impact on the game and senior leadership truly are felt and makes Illinois a far better team. With him, they're easily a top 25 team and could make a Sweet 16 or even Elite 8 run. Without him, they might be looking at a first round exit.

4. Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma: Blake Griffin gets all the fanfare when people talk about Oklahoma, as he should, being the best player in college basketball. But Willie Warren, the freshman star slips under the radar consistently. In his rookie season, Warren is putting up 14.8 PPG and is the second most reliable player on this team. The other 3 members of the starting lineup in Oklahoma are 2 seniors and a junior, so the fact that Warren has been able to take on such a large role in his first season speaks to his talent and ability. Willie put on a sensational performance against Texas only a few weeks back, with 27 points including six 3-pointers. Warren will need to be a solid scoring option if Oklahoma hopes to make a deep run in the tournament.

5. Jerel McNeal, G, Marquette: Ever since the loss of senior PG Dominic James late in February, McNeal's play has truly suffered, a large reason for Marquette's recent slide. While they have lost 5 of 6, McNeal is a combined 37/114 overall (32.5%). If McNeal can't score more efficiently, Marquette will be out of the tournament quickly. The combination of Jerel McNeal, Lazar Hayward, and Wesley Matthews is deadly, but only if they're efficient.

After the brackets are announced, I'll analyze a few team's paths and make my predictions on a few teams about early exits and deep runs into the tournament.