5 to Watch

5 players to add to the second-tier POY list:

While Hansbrough, Griffin and Curry are clearly the three at the top, these five players might have a say in the POY race.

1. Kyle Singler - I wrote about him several days ago; the blend of skills that make him POY worthy. Factor in at least 2 shots on the big stage versus Carolina, and Singler could inch his way into the discussion.


2. James Harden - His stats are going to be gaudy, but his Sun Devil teammates may not be enough to keep him relevant.

3. AJ Abrahams - The Texas sharp-shooter is the best player and scorer on a Texas team that will hover around the Top 5 all season. If his Longhorns can get a pair of wins over Blake Griffin and Oklahoma, Abrahams could vault up the list.

4. Ty Lawson - Playing with Hansbrough and the pro-calibre 'Heels will split votes, but Lawson is the catalyst that makes the Heels go at high octane speed and efficiency. The clear favorite for the Cousy Award at the least

5. Luke Harangody - The lackluster performance against the Heels (mono withstanding) puts a huge dent in Haragody's chances, but lets see how the big man rebounds in the toughest conference in the nation.

Outside Shots (Some based more on team value - others on raw stats): Hasheem Thabeet, Jody Meeks (Kentucky), Eric Maynor (VCU), Chase Buddinger (Arizona), Darren Colison (UCLA), Sam Young (Pitt), Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga), Jeff Teague (Wake), Tyler Smith
(Tennessee), LaVance Fields (Pitt), Nick Calathes (Florida)