RADIO
Editor's Note: For those of you hardcore fantasy basketball gamers, DraftStreet has an exclusive offer for RotoBaller members. Register through this link and you will be given a free 100% bonus on your first deposit! Put in up to $200, and you'll get another $200 for free to play on Draftstreet. You'll also be invited to FREE contests with cash prize and can enter NBA Freerolls. Pretty sweet deal!
Recommended plays for NCAA action on 3/20:
If anyone is new to DraftStreet college games, be sure to note the difference in scoring. Just points, rebounds and assists earn points, while missed shots and turnovers don’t hurt you. With that said, here is a list of players that should be in your lineups for Thursday.
G: Tyler Haws ($16,233): In what should be one of the highest-scoring games of the first round, Haws and BYU take on Oregon. Both teams rank in the top 10 in scoring offense, and BYU is outside the top 300 in scoring defense. Along with that, the Cougars are missing their second-best player, Kyle Collinsworth, due to a knee injury, so Haws should be able to get all of the shots he can handle. Haws averages a team-high 23.4 points a game on the season, and now should get even more attempts. With missed shots not hurting you in fantasy, a game of 25+ shots would be a great thing for Haws and his owners.
G: Shabazz Napier ($15,960): With just points, rebounds and assists counting for fantasy purposes, it probably is a good idea to get a player who leads his team in all three categories. That is exactly what Napier does for Connecticut, as he fills up the stat sheet with 17.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists a game. The Huskies opponent, St. Joes, is solid defensively, allowing 67 points a game, but that should not slow down Napier. It is certainly possible that he puts up a triple-double in his first NCAA Tournament game of this year.
G: Javan Felix ($7,966): If you are looking for a cheaper option at the guard spot, Felix may be your man. The Texas wing averages just short of 12 points a night, along with 2 rebounds and 3 assists per contest. Felix has struggled with his shot of late, as he has just one game in double-figure scoring in the last five outings, but he has had some big scoring games this year. He does much of his damage from deep, shooting seven or more three pointers in 12 games this season. That is great news since his opponent, Arizona State, boasts the NCAA leader in blocked shots. If Felix can find his stroke, a 20 point game could certainly be in the cards.
F:Taylor Braun ($16,325): Coming into the tournament, Braun may not be a household name, but the North Dakota State stud is like Shabazz Napier in that he leads the Bison in points, rebounds and assists. Braun puts in 18.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on the season. That should be great news against a Sooners defense that ranks 302nd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 76 points a game. He is one of the highest-priced players in the game, but he should have no problem getting at least 30 fantasy points on Thursday.
F: Adreian Payne ($12,889): Now that he is fully healthy, the senior Payne has proven why he is one of the best all-around big men in the nation. In his last five games, Payne was able to average 15.6 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Spartans. He should be able to abuse a Delaware team that allows 75 points a game and is 70th in the country in rebounding. Expect Coach Izzo to ride his senior to big minutes in what should be a high-scoring affair.
F: Austin Arians ($7,742): Another thing I like with cheaper players is a ton of playing time. Arians fits the bill here as he averages 33 minutes a game for the Panthers. On the season, he's put up 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Villanova allows 67 points a game, which puts them 82nd in the country, and they're a solid defensive team, but Arians should be able to put up solid numbers for a low price. He has put up double-digit point totals in seven of his last 12 games, including a 28-point outburst against Youngstown State. For the price, you can’t argue against Arians's upside.
