Freshman Haze: Cartier Diamonds

When opportunity knocks, players need to be ready. The seven players in this week's Freshman Haze have been ready to play big minutes, whether they were named a starter in November or joined the starting lineup more recently. Injuries and player departures have opened the door for a few of the freshman (Diarra, Horn, Maluach), while others have been starting all season. Diarra and Davis could play a big role in whether their teams play in the NCAA Tournament, which would have been hard to believe for either Kansas State or Stanford just a few weeks ago.

Cartier Diarra (G)
The Wildcats figured to be in trouble after guard Kamau Stokes broke a bone in his foot two weeks ago. While Kansas State misses Stokes (13.4 points and 41.3 percent from the 3-point line), Diarra has moved into the starting lineup and helped the team win three of its last four games, including back-to-back games against Oklahoma and TCU. The 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman provided 17.0 points in his first three games a starter before being held to six points in the win over TCU on Saturday. He almost fell out of the rotation in December, but has made the most of his starting opportunity.

Daejon Davis (G)
Handing the ball to a freshman point guard is an act of faith by a coach. Coach Jerrod Haase decided early on that the 6-3 Davis was going to control the ball for the Cardinal. There were some bumps in nonconference play, but Davis helped Stanford rise up the Pac-12 standings with five straight wins. They might have knocked off Arizona on Saturday, but Davis missed the second half after spraining his ankle. In the win streak, the guard averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.4 rebounds. He is questionable for the Wednesday game at USC, but the long-term future is bright.

Abdul Ado (F)
If the Bulldogs stay together, they are going to be a problem for the SEC in future seasons. This year looks like a growing period for the young Mississippi State squad. Only forward Aric Holman is an upperclassman from coach Ben Howland's rotation. Ado is a 6-11 forward who should grow into a defensive menace. He is leading the team with 2.1 blocks despite being limited to 24.2 minutes. Ado has also added 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in his last four games. The Bulldogs just need a bit of seasoning, but the pieces are in place for more wins.

Brad Davison (G)
Freshmen at Madison are expected to watch and learn, but not contribute that much. Davison has been pressed into service in his first year and looks like he will be Ethan Happ's wingman for the next couple of seasons. Davison toughed his way through a shoulder injury and has scored at least 13 points in four of five conference games. He plays a bit recklessly and has accrued at least four fouls eight times. He is averaging 12.1 points on 43.0 percent from the field and 37.9 percent on 3-pointers. Wisconsin will have to go on a major hot streak to avoid missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999, but Davison could be a key to that turnaround.

Jordan Horn (G)
When Nico Clareth left the Saints at the beginning of conference play, coach Jimmy Pastos did not need much time to find a replacement. The 6-3 Horn did not play much in the first 10 games of the season, but had a breakout game with eight 3-pointers for 24 points in the Dec. 20 loss to Memphis. Horn was installed as the starter and has racked up 16.2 points and 3.0 3-pointers over six games. He teams with fellow freshman Roman Penn for a young but productive backcourt. The Saints are in learning mode and have only won twice in the last eight games, but Horn and Penn should lead the team to good places.

Makuach Maluach (G)
Like Horn, Malauch opened the season as a reserve. A shoulder injury to Sam Logwood pushed the 6-5 Australian into the starting lineup and he has lit a fire under the Lobos. The team has won four of its last five games with Maluach as a starter and he has averaged 17.4 points on 51.7 percent from the field. The freshman guard plays with aggression and has accumulated four fouls or more in four of his five games as starter. He fouled out twice. Logwood should be back eventually, which will cause a decision for coach Paul Weir. Even if he comes off the bench, Maluach should continue to get big minutes.

JD Notae (G)
The 6-2 Notae started from the opening tip and made his presence known with a pair of 18-point games against UAB and Georgetown. The Dolphins lost both games, but Notae was just getting warmed up. He has popped for 20 points or more five times, including a season-high 30 points in the win over Mid Georgia State on Dec. 28. In Atlantic Sun play, the guard has averaged 15.8 points and helped the team win four of its first five games. He is hitting 41.8 percent of his 3-pointers. The Dolphins are looking up at Florida Gulf Coast in the standings, and the two teams meet up on Saturday. Notae will be tasked with slowing down Brandon Goodwin in what should be a great battle.