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With the sweet 16 tipping off on Saturday, there are a handful of very talented freshman who have had phenomenal performances thus far in the NCAA tournament and may be the deal makers/breakers to help their team advance to the elite 8.

Baylor:  Brittney Griner

There is no denying Brittney Griner is the biggest impact player of the year, not only for freshman, but for all of women’s basketball.  While most people talk about her dunking ability, The 6’8″ frosh is swatting her way into the record books!  She leads the nation in shots blocked with 199 thru the first rounds of the NCAA tournament.  Griner blocked an NCAA tournament record 14 shots in Baylor’s 49-33 win over Georgetown.  Griner has been one of the biggest offensive and defensive threats drawing double and triple teams from opposing teams.  She averages 18 points a game, third best in the Big 12, and was also third in the conference with 8.5 rebounds a game with  two triple doubles on the season! Next up for Griner and company is Tennessee… a rematch of their season opener which the Lady Vols won.  Let’s see if Pat Summitt plays a zone again?

Kentucky: A’dia Mathies

While most media attention has gone to Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina in the SEC,  Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell has been quietly rebuilding the Wildcat program.  In year three, the dividends are paying off as the players have bought into his run and gun, tough defensive system and with the addition of A’dia Mathies, this program has skyrocketed to the top of the polls.   Mathies the SEC freshman of the year, makes basketball look like a track meet!  She has a silky jumper and will pick your pocket faster than a bum in Times square.  Mathies averaged 13 points a game this season and led the SEC in steals.  So far, The 5’9″ guard has made a lot of noise in the tournament with a 32 point performance against Liberty and several key buckets against Michigan State to help the Wildcats advance to their second sweet 16 appearance in program history.  

Georgia: Jasmine James

The Bulldogs Jasmine James has been key in boosting Georgia to the sweet 16.   In her NCAA debut,  the 5’9″ guard from Memphis put up a quiet 8 points and  5 assists in the Bulldogs defeat of Tulane.  Her real coming out party was Monday night against higher seeded Oklahoma State.  James dropped a career high 27 points including 14 in overtime to lift UGA over the Cowgirls.  During the regular season, James averaged 11.7 points and 3 assists a game.  When James takes over, its a done deal.  The problem for Andy Landers is how to flip that switch.  If he can keep James in the “on” position, the Bulldogs have a real chance of upsetting #1 seed Stanford.

Notre Dame: Skylar Diggins

Home town cookin is the word in South Bend.   Skylar Diggins grew up less than five miles from the Irish and is the biggest recruit in Muffet McGraws career.  The results have been fast and furious, the Irish are back on the national scene thanks to Diggins.  Her level of athleticism, speed and will to win are what you find in the best of the best like Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings.  Diggins has single handedly kept the Irish in the post season by scoring 31 points, dishing 7 assists and grabbing 6 steals in Notre Dame’s win over Vermont.  Diggins is fun to watch and a fan favorite.  If she can stay hot, it will be a great game against Oklahoma.