Kemba Walker has garnered most of the publicity for UConn's postseason run, averaging almost 27 points a game, but freshman Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Roscoe Smith have stepped up throughout the tournament.

Lamb and Roscoe Smith are both starters, and Shabazz Napier plays 23.6 minutes per game off the bench. Lamb is averaging 18.3 points during NCAA tournament play and Smith scored a career-high 17 points in the Huskies’ opening-round victory over Bucknell. Napier is averaging eight points and 10 points over his last four games.

“He brings that little extra playmaking to a team,” Walker said of Napier. “There’s times when I’m not able to be on the ball the whole game because maybe I’m a little fatigued. Guys will want to pressure me and he gives me that extra edge.”

UConn’s freshmen have been the biggest key, especially lately.

“I don’t think anybody could tell them anything right now,” Walker said. “They’re on top of the world. They’re playing great basketball, each and every one of them. We’re going to need these guys big time for us. They got us where we are now, so hopefully they can keep it up.”