Top 5 NCAA Players to Watch

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Sixty-five teams, 20 days, one champion. The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship kicks into high gear Thursday with the tournament's first-round games.

There are five key players to watch who could make the big difference if they play to their potential, according to the Bleacher Report .

Duke forward Kyle Singler averages 17.5 points and seven rebounds a game. The Blue Devils just won the tough Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, and Singler received the tournament's MVP award. He's expected to play a significant role as the No. 1 seed Blue Devils begin round one play Friday.

Another standout to keep your eyes on is Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, who averages 22 points and nine rebounds per game, according to the Bleacher Report. He has more than 1,800 career points for the Irish, reports the Chicago Tribune .

The Irish made it to the semi-finals in the Big East tournament and face Old Dominion Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Villanova's Scottie Reynolds already has Final Four experience, including a game-closing drive to beat Pitt in last year's tournament. Reynolds this season averages 19 points, three 3 assists and three rebounds a game for 'Nova. He also makes 40 percent from 3-point range, according to the Bleacher Report . Villanova gets going Thursday against Robert Morris.

With Donald Sloan on your side, Texas A&M should enter Friday's opening round against Utah State with plenty of confidence. Sloan is the Aggies' team leader – statistically and emotionally. He averages 18 points and three assists per game, and shoots a dangerous 45 percent from 3-point range, according to the Bleacher Report .

LaceDarius Dunn of Baylor is averaging 19 points and five rebounds per game with a 43 percent success rate from 3-point range. Dunn earned a spot on the NIT All Tournament Team last season, when he averaged 21 points and seven rebounds in two Final Four games, according to the Bleacher Report . Baylor plays Sam Houston on Thursday.

And if you are looking for NCAA Basketball Tournament 2010 Predictions , check out these Final Four picks, sleeper picks and teams to avoid.

If you're looking for help filling out your brackets, try this NCAA Tournament interactive forecasting tool . Just don't tell your friends you cheated.