Nerlens Noel is shooting nearly 69 percent in his last four games, while blocking almost six shots per game. (US Presswire)

We finally have some changes in the Freshman of the Year race. Anthony Bennett is still on top, although Ben McLemore is closing the gap on No. 1. After that, though, there is a next tier of players that is very close. As a result, UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad gets dropped from this week’s edition -- with Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel making an appearance at No. 5. Moreover, Marcus Smart’s spot isn’t safe, either, after some inconsistent performances.

This all brings me to an interesting discussion that has been going on the past few weeks: Has Noel been a disappointment this season? Yes, he was the No. 1 player in the class of 2012 -- but I’m not sure how he’s been a bust or anything even close to that. He’s one of the best defensive players in the country, blocking shots at an extremely high rate and also stepping out and defending the perimeter at times.

Noel is also improving on the offensive end. He’s not Anthony Davis, and he won’t be that sort of game-changer. But to call him a disappointment just isn’t right.

As always, the Freshman of the Year rankings will be released on Tuesdays, along with the Player of the Year rankings. 

1. Anthony Bennett -- UNLV
  Position: Power Forward

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 240

Season Stats: 18.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG

Comment: It's tough to suggest Bennett might be hitting the freshman wall, but he has struggled the past two games. Saddled with foul trouble in both contests, he totaled just 18 points and eight rebounds in the two games. Games against Wyoming and Nevada should help him get back on track, showing that his minor slump was just a speed-bump on a dominant debut season.
2. Ben McLemore -- Kansas
  Position: Shooting Guard

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 195

Season Stats: 16.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.1 APG

Comment: An ankle injury clearly didn't slow McLemore's momentum in Big 12 play. He averaged 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last two games, shooting 13-for-23 from the field in those two games. His outside shooting has drawn comparisons to Ray Allen, and he knocked down 10 of his last 17 3-points in his last four games -- a stretch that somehow includes an 0-for-4 effort. 
3. Jahii Carson -- Arizona State
  Position: Point Guard

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 175

Season Stats: 17.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.2 APG

Comment: Carson continues to take the Pac-12 by storm, despite Arizona State falling back to Earth after a very impressive first two months. He's averaging 20.7 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds in his last three games, while shooting 24-for-48 from the field during that stretch. Some say his numbers are inflated because he doesn't have many complementary options, but he's been outstanding nonetheless.
4. Marcus Smart -- Oklahoma State
  Position: Point Guard

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 225

Season Stats: 13.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 2.7 SPG

Comment: Smart's numbers are getting increasingly strange, when compared to Oklahoma State's win-loss record. He had another really good effort against Baylor on Monday, going for 12 points, 10 boards and seven assists -- but the Cowboys lost. Prior to that, he had three points and zero assists against Texas Tech -- but Oklahoma State won. This isn't the first time this trend has emerged for Smart and the Cowboys, either. Keep an eye on it.
5. Nerlens Noel -- Kentucky
  Position: Center

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 228

Season Stats: 10.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 4.1 BPG, 2.6 SPG 

Comment: After disappearing from the rankings since the early part of the season, Noel is back in the mix. He's been one of the best defensive players in the country, ranking near the nation's leaders in blocks and steals. Moreover, he's beginning to play much better in SEC play -- averaging 12.5 points, 9.0 boards, 5.8 blocks and 2.5 steals in his last four games. He shot 20-for-29 in that span.

Others to Note:

  • With Nerlens Noel entering the rankings, someone had to drop out. We went with UCLA’s Muhammad, who is in the midst of a minor slump. Oregon really focused on him over the weekend, taking away his left hand and limiting transition opportunities. He has to bounce back against Arizona and Arizona State.
  • His teammate, Kyle Anderson , has been playing extremely well lately. Anderson is averaging 12.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in Pac-12 play, showing the versatile skillset that made him so sought-after in high school.
  • Look at Semaj Christon of Xavier working his way back into the discussion. He is averaging 18.5 points and 6.0 assists so far in the Atlantic 10.
  • Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker has proved a missing dimension for the Badgers’ offense. He has scored in double-figures in three straight games, averaging 12.0 points in that span.
  • If St. John’s big man Chris Obekpa plays 40 games like Anthony Davis did last year, he will break the freshman record for blocks. He has 87 with 12 regular-season games left, meaning he is on pace for 145 before the postseason. Davis had 186 last year.
  • Oregon’s Damyean Dotson has been a key offensive player in the Pac-12, averaging 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in conference play.
  • Arizona could really use some consistency from forward Brandon Ashley. Here are the point totals from his last five games: 1, 11, 3, 12, 2.
  • Over his last four games, Shaq Goodwin is averaging 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds for Memphi. With Tarik Black seemingly in the doghouse, Goodwin could see those numbers rise.
  • Northwestern State has a monster game coming up this weekend against Stephen F. Austin. To pull the upset, the Demons need a big performance from guard Jalan West, who has scored in double-figures in 13 of 17 games, and had seven assists in each of his last two games.
  • Freshman leaders -- Points: Bennett, UNLV (18.5); Rebounds: Shawn Long, Louisiana-Lafayette (10.2); Assists: Siyani Chambers , Harvard (6.1).