DFS College Basketball: Saturday Preview

Conference play has started and the increased number of games between more or less like competition gives us a huge variety of players to choose from. Make the right choice on a cheap player and you could spring up leaderboards. Per our usual look around the country for the Saturday slate, we'll give you some top players to consider, value players to fill out your lineup, and a handful of games to spotlight and stay away from. Let's not waste any more time and get to it.

TOP PLAYERS

Bruno Fernando ($10,300 DK, $8,700 FD): It is difficult to call a player's third straight double-double a breakout game, but what Fernando did to Nebraska on Wednesday was somewhat revelatory. The Terps got their best win behind the big man's 18 points and 17 rebounds. Rutgers will try to slow the pace and force Maryland to play halfcourt basketball, but that should suit Fernando. He had 18 points and 16 rebounds against the Scarlet Knights last year in a 10-point win. Only fouls can slow him down and the 6-10 sophomore has been better about getting whistled.

Cassius Winston ($10,300 DK, $8,200 FD): Winston provides efficient shooting and pinpoint passing. In his last three games, the 6-0 junior has provided 21.0 points on 75.9 percent from the field with 7.3 assists. Ohio State is an excellent defensive team and Winston was just ok against them last year (12 points, six assists) in the Sparty loss at Columbus. Saturday's contest in the friendly confines of the Breslin Center where the Michigan State team is undefeated. Winston has had three of his four double-digit assist games at home.

Grant Williams ($10,300 DK, $9,200 FD): Unlike his teammate Admiral Schofield, Williams has not had his breakout game yet. Schofield powered the Volunteers against Gonzaga with a huge game. Williams is much steadier. He is coming off back-to-back 20-point games to close out the non-conference slate and will open SEC play against Georgia. The Bulldogs are strong on the defensive interior, but the Georgia frontcourt is not used to chasing opposing bigs on the perimeter. Williams fouled out of both games against the Bulldogs last year and averaged 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He has fouled out twice this season, but has only accrued two fouls in his last three games.

Zion Williamson ($10,800 DK, $9,200 FD): Yes, Williams is very hyped, but he is clearly worthy of all the hype. The 6-8 freshman is extremely hard to stop: he plays hard and with a great deal of skill. Williamson's 3-point stroke is not good (3-of-18), but he does everything else, including being a beast on the offensive boards. Duke has been off since Dec. 20 when they beat Texas Tech and Zion had 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out. It was the first time he fouled out. Clemson is a good team, but they do not have the personnel to slow down Williamson. The price, like the hype, is high, but thr burly freshman might be worth it.

VALUE PLAYERS

Louis King ($4,400 DK, $4,900 FD): The Ducks are down Bol Bol (ankle) and Kenny Wooten (jaw). Paul White ($4,400 DK, $5,600 FD) remains an option to get more offensive opportunities. King's place in the Oregon offense is growing and has attempted 31 shots in the last three games. Eventually, the 6-9 freshman will put it together and put up a double-double with a handful of assists. Oregon State plays decent defense, but their non-conference slate was not terribly difficult (and when they were challenged, they lost). King can be a nice surprise.

Delano Banton ($4,100 DK:) Lamonte Bearden's status for the Hilltoppers is questionable. He had been dealing with an ankle injury, but did not play in the win over Charlotte due to a coach's decision. It may be that the 6-8 Banton may be a better fit for the starting unit. The freshman has the team's best court vision and has dealt 20 assists in his three games as a starter. Banton had 10 assists and 13 rebounds in the win over Wisconsin. He is not a primary option on offense, but has scored a modest 29 points in his starts. Like the Badgers, Old Dominion is a strong defensive squad, but Banton has showed that he can provide value against good defenses.

Yves Pons ($3,900 DK, $4,500 FD): Pons is an energetic freshman who supplies even more strength for the already powerful Volunteers. He does not shoot much. When he does, he makes it. Pons is converting 59.0 percent of his field goals. He is also a strong rebounder with 3.6 rebounds in 18.8 minutes. Georgia is going to try to slow down the Volunteers on Saturday, but Tennessee may try to run. When they do, Pons can convert. The ceiling is not breathtakingly high, but the sophomore from France could provide nice value.

Greg Malinowski ($4,600 DK, $4,300 FD): Mac McClung has been out with an ankle injury and there were rumors swirling around his place with the Hoyas because he was not on the bench. While the exciting freshman will likely be back eventually, Malinowski has been going to work. He scored 26 points with six rebounds and four rebounds in the win over Butler. The William & Mary transfer probably won't shoot 10-of-12 again, but he should get plenty of minutes against St. John's. The Red Storm can be defensive permissive and may be full of themselves after beating Marquette on Tuesday.

GAMES/TEAMS TO TARGET

St. John's (-1) at Georgetown (o/u 162), 1 p.m. EST - Speaking of Malinowski, his game should be one of the highest scoring on the full Saturday slate. The Hoyas play at the ninth fastest pace and the Red Storm aren't too far behind at 34 (per KenPom). It is as if old school coaches Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin have unleased their teams. Sedee Keita ($3,000 DK, $3,000 FD) may get extra minutes for the Red Storm to try to defend Jessie Govan ($8,600 DK, $8,500 FD). The Red Storm had been playing small with Marvin Clark ($6,900 DK, $7,500 FD) and LJ Figueroa ($7,700 DK, $7,800 FD) manning the frontcourt spots. Clark, in particular, has been on a sweet scoring run and has been nearly automatic from long range. Shamorie Ponds ($10,500 DK, $8,900 FD) has been a powerful offensive force. He has improved from the perimeter and is still excellent at getting to the basket. In addition to Govan as the primary option, Georgetown has been relying on freshman point guard James Akinjo ($6,300 DK, $5,900 FD) for big minutes. In his last five games, he has provided 15.8 points and 3.8 assists.

California (+14.5) at UCLA (o/u 151), 4 p.m. EST - After one game, it is not quite clear how coach Murry Bartow will allot minutes for the Bruins. As an interim coach after Steve Alford was fired, he will probably follow along with established patterns. One point of caution: leading scorer Kris Wilkes ($7,100 FD) only played only played 18 minutes in the win over Stanford on Thursday. He scored 14 points as UCLA ran away with the win, but it was a curiously low minute total. Jaylen Hands ($$7,300 FD) and Chris Smith ($5,100 FD) payed big minutes with David Singleton ($4,000 FD) providing 13 points off the bench. Under Bartow, Moses Brown ($7,400 FD) had his first double-double since Dec. 2. Things have not gone well for the Golden Bears. The sophomores have not improved in their second seasons. Boise State transfer Paris Austin ($7,300 FD) has been the most productive player with 14.1 points and 5.2 assists. One value option might be freshman forward Andre Kelly ($6,000 FD), who converts 64.9 percent of his field goals and provides 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.

North Carolina (-8.5) at Pittsburgh (o/u 154.5), 12 p.m. EST - It may take coach Jeff Capel some time to get high level recruits to Pittsburgh, but the team should no longer an easy ACC win for opponents. The Oakland Zoo will be pulsing against the Tar Heels. Pittsburgh did not allow more than 57 points in its last three non-conference games at home. Things for the Panthers start with their freshman backcourt of Xavier Johnson ($7,600 DK, $7,7900 FD) and Trey McGowens ($6,000 DK, $5,500 FD). Johnson leads the team is scoring and playmaking. He has not been held to fewer than 10 points and has dropped six dimes in his last two games. McGowens has also been hot in his last two games with a combined 40 points on 75.0 percent from the field. The Panthers will have a hard time controlling the UNC big three of Cameron Johnson ($7,300 DK, $7,200 FD), Luke Maye ($8,200 DK, $7,800 FD) and Colby White ($7,100 DK, $6,600 FD). White is a volume shooter, but has been off of late. Since missing a game on Dec. 5, White has converted just 31.7 percent from the field and averaged 11.0 points. He may be a player to fade, while Maye and Johnson have been doing well. Maye has had a double-double in every other game over his last six and should have another if the pattern holds. Johnson should have something a little extra for the Panthers since he transferred away from Pitt two years ago. He has averaged 18.6 points over his last five games.

GAMES/TEAMS TO FADE

Kansas State (+10.5) at Texas Tech (o/u 117.5), 2 p.m. EST - Defense will reign in Lubbock. Per KenPom, the Red Raiders have best defense in the country. They were able to escape West Virginia with a win on Wednesday to open Big 12 play. Despite the low scoring games that Texas Tech usually plays, Jarrett Culver ($9,100 DK, $8,400 FD) may be a worthy selection. He leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. He has not scored fewer than 12 points this season and scored 18 in 22 minutes against the Mountaineers. Tariq Owens ($5,600 DK, $6,200 FD), a transfer from St. John's, has brought his shot blocking prowess to the Big 12. He only played 12 minutes against West Virginia before fouling out. Makol Mawien ($4,400 DK, $4,400 FD) was expected to have a bigger role in the Kansas State offense when Dean Wade went out with a foot injury, but he has only seen a slight uptick in production. Barry Brown ($6,700 DK, $7,300 FD) had 24 points when the Wildcats went to Lubbock last season, but was held to seven points in the home loss to Texas Tech.

Florida State (+8.5) at Virginia (o/u 129), 3 p.m. EST - Despite coming off a 100-point game, Virginia will almost always be a team to fade. Coach Tony Bennett likes to play contemplative basketball in which each possession is played to its fullest and slowest utmost. Florida State is no slouch on defense and the Seminoles have the type of length that should bother Virginia's shooters like Kyle Guy ($6,600 DK, $6,500 FD), who had 30 points in the win over Marshall on Monday. Guy's backcourt mate, Ty Jerome ( $7,700 DK, $7,700 FD), leads the Cavaliers with 4.3 assist to go along with 14.2 points and 4.3 assists. The 6-5 guard is hitting 41.5 percent of his 3-pointers. De'Andre Hunter ($6,800 DK, $7,100 FD) has taken a bigger slice of the offensive pie and his efficiency has improved. Foul trouble limited him to four points in the win over Florida State last season. In that game, only M.J. Walker scored in double digits for the Seminoles. Phil Cofer ($6,000 DK, $5,000 FD) is coming back from injury and played 28 minutes in the win over Winthrop. He might be a nice value. Terance Mann ($6,900 DK, $7,000 FD) has averaged 18.7 points in his last three games.

Oregon State (+5.5) at Oregon (o/u 128.5), 8 p.m. EST - As much as we might want to forget the entire Pac 12, which does not include the two best teams west of the Rockies (Nevada and Gonzaga), there are still games to be played. Bol Bol was certainly the marquee player for the Ducks, but the team should rely on Payton Pritchard ($6,800 DK, $7,300 FD) almost as much as they did last year. He will shoot better than he did against Boise State last Saturday. He was just 1-of-10 from the field on his way to a season-low three points. He averaged just 8.0 points against the Beavers last season. Tres Tinkle ($10,400 DK, $8,600 FD) has scored at least 20 points in his last three games. He is having a rough time from 3-point range (just 28.8 percent), but continues to be the be-all for the Beavers. In addition to his scoring, Tinkle leads the team in rebounding and playmaking. He averaged 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists against the Ducks last season. Stephen Thompson Jr. ($6,900 DK, $7,100 FD) has been inconsistent as a senior. He has been held to five points or less twice in his last four games. While Stephen has fallen off a bit, Ethan Thompson ($6,600 DK, $6,400 FD) has improved. He scored 13 points at Eugene last year as a freshman. Junior forward Kylor Kelly ($6,600 DK, $6,900 FD) has blocked 22 shots in his last four games and averaged 11.5 points over that span.