THE NUMBER

53.7%

The assist rate for Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams (right), the highest in the nation, according to kenpom.com. It illustrates just how much the Orange's offense depends on the sophomore, who came close to transferring last spring. The last Division I player to finish a season with an assist rate higher than 50% was 6-foot Northeastern senior J.J. Barea (54.2), in 2005--06, and the last major conference player to reach that mark was 6'1" Marquette senior Travis Diener (53.3), in '04--05. Both of those undersized upperclassmen eventually earned NBA contracts; Carter-Williams, who's 6'5", is a possible lottery pick in 2013.

PHOTO

MARK KONEZNY/US PRESSWIRE (CARTER-WILLIAMS)