Well, that was anticlimactic. An NCAA tournament that gave us one dramatic finish after another through the first four rounds closed with a whimper this week, as Florida pummeled George Mason and UCLA en route to its first-ever national championship.

But while the teams may have left little for us to discuss, such was not the case with the players, several of whom radically altered their draft stock with standout performances. NBA general managers love to see how players respond to the increased pressure and competition during March Madness.

With that in mind,here are a few of the key players from this year’s tournament and what their futures hold as far as the pros are concerned. We’ll start with the champs and work our way down:

JOAKIM NOAH, FLORIDA A complete unknown before the season began, Noah dominated the NCAA Tournament so thoroughly that he now may end up being the No.1 pick in the draft.Noah made 7-of-9 shots from the floor while blocking six UCLA attempts during Monday’s one-sided final,but the visuals were even more impressive than the stats. Despite being a 6-foot-11-inch center,Noah was so fast that he was frequently the first Gator upcourt, and his ability to handle the ball against pressure and find the open man was stunning.

AL HORFORD, FLORIDA The second of four Florida starters from an awesome sophomore class, Horford was the Gators’ second-best player during the tourney and provided a perfect match for Noah.At 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, he has the size and strength to bang in the paint against pros right away. He’s not just a brute either – Horford blocked nearly two shots per game, is a good ballhandler for his size, and impressed scouts with his basketball IQ during the tournament. He could use a more refined post game and improve his free-throw shooting, but Horford figures to be a lottery pick if he comes out.

COREY BREWER, FLORIDA Brewer’s length and athleticism completely stifled UCLA’s Arron Aflallo, and defense should be his calling card in the NBA as well. Brewer is a 6-foot-8-inch wingman who can handle the ball, but scouting reports on his jumper have been critical. I think they’re being too harsh – Brewer shot 35% on 3-pointers and 76% from the line this season,and at 19 should still improve substantially.

JORDAN FARMAR, UCLA The one Bruin who showed up against Florida, Farmar is a skillful point guard,but if he’s smart, he’ll return for his junior season. First, Farmar’s jump shot needs to get “Farmore” accurate – he hit only 33% from downtown and 41% overall. Second,he has a slight build and it’s not clear that he’ll be able to stay with bigger guards at the defensive end.A year of lifting weights and shooting jumpers will improve his stock quite a bit.

ARRON AFLALLO, UCLA Aflallo’s stock sank like a stone this month,as he provided little scoring punch in the early rounds and was completely outclassed by Brewer in the final. Though an adept shooter and an underrated ballhandler, Aflallo’s athleticism is below par for the pros, and he should return for his junior season.

LUC RICHARD MBAH A MOUTE, UCLA The native of Cameroon may not turn pro this year since he’s just a freshman, but whenever he does, the NBA will welcome him with open arms. Mbah a Moute’s relentless energy and athleticism should make him a terrific defender in the pros, meaning his rudimentary offensive game won’t prevent him from establishing a role. Plus, since he’s still learning the game, there’s reason to think his skill set will expand considerably.

TYRUS THOMAS, LSU Some were talking about Thomas as the top overall pick heading into Saturday’s game against UCLA, and despite a disappointing performance in the Final Four, there’s still a chance he could be the first player off the board. It seems a foregone conclusion at this point that Thomas will turn pro after blocking more than three shots a game and shooting over 60% from the floor in his first full collegiate season, especially after impressing scouts with awesome performances against Duke’s Shelden Williams and Texas’s LaMarcus Aldridge.

GLEN DAVIS, LSU “Big Baby” may have been LSU’s big star, but in terms of pro potential, he shapes up as the second coming of Robert Traylor. Davis has short arms and plays below the rim, and his 310-pound frame doesn’t seem able to handle the rigors of a fast paced game – something UCLA exploited repeatedly on Saturday. If the sophomore stays in school and drops 20 more pounds, he might get a more favorable review.

MARCUS WILLIAMS, UCONNWilliams was the only Husky who helped his stock during UConn’s disappointing tournament. He managed the offense brilliantly and showcased an improved outside shot, helping to overcome questions about his footspeed. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, the junior also has enough size to handle the rigors of the NBA.

RUDY GAY, UCONN Mooted as a possible no. 1 overall pick before the tournament, Gay’s stock fell after a series of quiet efforts. Nobody doubts he has the ability to dominate, but scouts increasingly question his motor.As a pro, the 6-foot-9-inch forward may turn out more like Derrick McKey – a good player who can help teams win, but one who has everybody wondering why he isn’t doing more.

LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE, TEXAS The 6-foot-10-inch sophomore was horrid against LSU’s Thomas in the regional final, and that could end up costing him the no. 1 overall selection this June. Aldridge is the most offensively skilled post player in the draft, but his lack of strength allows him to be pushed off the block,and he doesn’t have the defensive skills of Noah or Thomas. Still, season stats of 15.0 points, 9.2 boards, 2.0 blocks, and 56.9% shooting are nothing to sneeze at.

J.J. REDICK, DUKE Redick’s stock took a bit of a hit in the loss to LSU, because the Tigers’ Garret Temple was able to shut him down. Redick had immense difficulty creating his own shot off the dribble and struggled to get enough separation to launch his silky jumper. But don’t overestimate the depth of the drop. Most pro scouts thought of Redick as a catch-and-shoot sniper in the mold of Jeff Hornacek or Dell Curry, so creating shots wasn’t a major criteria in his evaluation.

ADAM MORRISON, GONZAGA Morrison’s crying jag at the end of the UCLA game earned him lots of taunts, but did little damage to his draft position. He actually had played well in that contest and cemented his rep as a player who can knock down tough shots against high-quality defenders. Morrison’s inability to play defense is a concern, but his scoring knack and competitive fire should make him a top-five pick nonetheless.

Mr. Hollinger is the author of the 2005-06 Pro Basketball Forecast.