They are the pests, the stoppers, the gamblers, the glass eaters and the rim protectors. Here are my top defensive players for the 2011-12 season in college basketball.
The Pests
Jorge Gutierrez, California
My defensive pests aren't usually 6-foot-4, but Gutierrez is an unusual player. Even if he didn't score a point for coach Mike Montgomery, he would still impact games because he is all over place in the Golden Bears' half-court defense. His hustle, high-voltage energy and defensive IQ stand out -- especially versus Pac-12 opponents.
Aaron Craft, Ohio StateCraft has an amazing ability to stay in front of seemingly quicker point guards and harass them to a point where they are far more worried about losing the ball than running their team's offense. While he's got quick feet, a key part of Craft's ability to disrupt opponents are those ultra-quick hands. Add in his high school football player's strength and toughness, and you have a player that other Big Ten teams already love to hate.
Casper Ware, Long Beach StateWare is one of the best points guards in the country. Period. At 5-foot-10, he has excellent quickness and great court vision, and he is an improved shooter who is an extension of coach Dan Monson on the court. But it's at the defensive end of the floor where I have fallen in love with his game. He rarely takes a play off on that end of the court, and that type of energy from your on-court leader is rare. It makes Monson a very lucky man.
To read Fran Fraschilla's full take on the top defensive players in college basketball in 2011-12, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Fran Fraschilla
College BasketballABOUT THIS BLOG
College Basketball Experts
Fran Fraschilla is an analyst for ESPN and was previously the head coach at New Mexico, St. John's and Manhattan.
Joe Lunardi is the resident bracketologist for ESPN.
Seth Greenberg is an analyst for ESPN and was previously the head coach at Virginia Tech, South Florida and Long Beach State.
