This article is part of our DraftKings College Basketball series.
Included Games:
Ohio State at Connecticut
Marquette at Wisconsin
Eastern Michigan at Louisville
Oral Roberts at Oklahoma
UNC-Wilmington at Georgetown
Tennessee at Butler
Arizona State at Kentucky
Saint Mary's at California
Utah at Wichita State
North Carolina at Texas
Cincinnati at Xavier
Kansas State at Texas A&M
Guards:
Traci Carter, Marquette at Wisconsin ($5,100)
The matchup traveling to Wisconsin to face Bo Ryan's slow paced, stout (though possibly less stout this year than most) defense may not be a good one but the price on Carter makes him worth it regardless. Carter was moved into the starting lineup Nov. 23rd, and he has averaged 28.5 fantasy points with a low of 24.5 in the last six games. He's been the picture of consistency by over-performing his price tag. It's hard to recommend multiple Marquette players knowing they're playing Wisconsin, but Sandy Cohen ($4,900) and Henry Ellenson ($8,000) make a lot of sense at their respective prices.
Kevin Punter, Tennessee at Butler ($7,900)
Selection No. 2 comes with yet another tough away matchup, this time in the form of Hinkle Fieldhouse and the Butler Bulldogs. However, Butler isn't as bad a matchup as Wisconsin defensively or pace-wise, with Butler actually playing faster than average. Punter is the focal point of the Tennessee offense and has surpassed 40 fantasy points in three of his last four, hitting at least 32.25 in every game this season except one when he suffered an injury.
Kelan Martin, Butler vs. Tennessee ($5,600)
He still comes off the bench, so his production will be subject to some volatility, but 20+ point performances and an average of 36.9 fantasy points over his last two outings grant him a spot on this list. Martin's per minute production ranks close to the very tops of anyone in college basketball; he just has to get the minutes.
Troy Caupain, Cincinnati at Xavier ($5,700)
Cincinnati makes its money with its frontcourt (more to come on that later), but Caupain is the glue on the perimeter that makes it all work. In his last three non-blowout performances he's averaging right around 26 fantasy points per game.
Trey Lewis, Louisville v. Eastern Michigan ($6,900)
Lewis is the right price at just over $1,000 cheaper than fellow graduate transfer Damon Lee. The matchup at home against a high-paced Eastern Michigan is very good, and as long as it doesn't get out of hand too early, Lewis should manage over 30 minutes of well-rounded productive play. He's averaging over 30 fantasy points per game when he plays at least 30 minutes.
Isaiah Cousins, Oklahoma vs. Oral Roberts ($7,700)
Cousins comes in with consecutive double-doubles, one with rebounds and one with assists. He's a triple-double waiting to happen and his stock is steadily rising to be mentioned in the same sentence as backcourt mate Buddy 'high yield' Hield. Oral Roberts has no chance in this game, so the blowout factor is the only hindrance to Cousins's value.
Forwards:
Jakob Poeltl, Utah at Wichita State ($8,500)
The Naismith Award contender doesn't face an easy matchup traveling to the Midwest to face a near full strength Shockers squad hungry to avenge some ill early season losses in hopes of returning to the at-large NCAA tourney conversation. They have a good defense and don't play a fast pace. What they don't have is an inside presence that can even remotely contain the potentially matchup-proof Poeltl. Poeltl is playing like the best big man in college basketball and a future top-10 draft pick, and he may very well be both of those things.
Dean Wade, Kansas State at Texas A&M ($6,000)
If you forgive a sub-par effort against a very good UNC frontcourt, Wade is averaging 29.5 fantasy points per game over his past six. He is a freshman with a less than optimal matchup playing away at Texas A&M, but he has proven he can handle SEC opponents in the past in the form of a 30-fantasy-point performance against Georgia.
Coreontae DeBerry, Cincinnati at Xavier ($3,500)
This pick isn't for the weak of heart, but neither is this brutal cross-town showdown in Cincinnati. What makes these two teams go, what makes them elite? Their frontcourts. What happens when big, talented frontcourts clash? Physicality resulting in lots of fouls, which leads me to DeBerry, who's fourth in the front court rotation behind Gary Clark ($7,500), Octavius Ellis ($6,700), and Shaq Thomas ($5,300) all of whom are good looks in their own right and also struggle with foul trouble. Xavier will front with Jalen Reynolds and James Farr, both very talented, both very foul prone as well. This could very well end up being a battle of attrition.
Cameron Ridley, Texas vs. North Carolina ($7,300)
This is a high-risk, high-reward play. Ridley has to avoid foul trouble against the formidable, deep North Carolina frontcourt, which is not a small task. He is having a senior year to remember and is currently right at the top of the list among the nation's best shot blockers, in the top ten in FG%, while also being a top-50 rebounder. He also averages 5.7 fouls per 40 minutes. The range of outcomes is wide for Ridley, but if Texas has any chance to take down possibly the best team in the country, Ridley needs to be on the floor.
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin vs. Marquette ($6,400)
Happ is still prone to some inexperience woes and the occasional clunker, but he combined for 28 points, 30 rebounds and six blocks against Syracuse and Milwaukee. At the very least, throw Happ in some GPP lineups and see if he explodes or implodes.
Evan Fitzner, Saint Mary's at California ($3,600)
I can't tell you why Fitzner has combined for just 21 minutes over his last two games. I can tell you he started both and scored 27.75 and 28.5 fantasy points in the two games prior, one of which against opponent California's Pac-12 rival Stanford. Maybe the downtrend in minutes continues, but maybe he's reinstated from whatever minutes hiatus he's been on. You have to remember this is college, so minutes restrictions aren't always injury or performance induced; they are often a result of academics and misbehavior.
