I think we’ve reached the point in the season where we can finally escape nightmares of the National Invitational Tournament. The Virginia men’s basketball program – having suffered through mediocrity all of last year – is returning to prominence in a big way after racing out to a 6-0 start and a no. 3 national ranking. If you can take anything else from this piece it’s this: do not underestimate the genius of Coach Tony Bennett.
What Bennett has salvaged – a.k.a all of the starting lineup from 2021-22 – and gained – consider transfer forward Ben Vander Plas and freshmen Isaac McKneely and Ryan Dunn – are pieces that have gelled faster than we could have imagined. I will not lie, I had my reservations about the no. 18 ranking with which the Cavaliers started the season. How would a team that flirted with a middle-of-the-pack ACC standing turn the tables in 2022-23?
The team from last season is Keyser Soze from the Usual Suspects: “after that, my guess is you’ll never hear from them again.” That is to say that this roster – composed of many of the same players – has exercised its demons and gotten the proverbial monkey off the back. How do I ensure your confidence in this team? Well, senior guard Armaan Franklin is no longer suffering through periods of abysmal three-point shooting, and senior Jayden Gardner has shouldered less of an offensive burden after carrying the Cavaliers through much of last season – all while Virginia continues to win.
So, what have we learned thus far, after wins against then no. 6 Baylor, no. 19 Illinois and Michigan? Let’s take a look at how the Cavaliers have reinvented themselves in 2022.
Despite our skepticism, Gardner and Vander Plas can, in fact, co-exist
When former Ohio forward Ben Vander Plas decided to take his talents to Charlottesville, Cavalier fans wondered how the addition could affect Gardner – Virginia’s leading scorer in 2021-22. It was (and still is) a fair question, as Vander Plas’ measurables, position and physicality are oddly comparable to Gardner’s. The two power-forwards – who are not quite the center-forward hybrid that junior Kadin Shedrick has always been – have nonetheless proved that they can provide some small-ball lineups for Coach Bennett when the big men face some serious foul trouble. And – if you watched the Michigan game – Shedrick and Caffaro bore the brunt of challenging the Wolverines’ Hunter Dickinson – a center who has a penchant for some “dirty play.”
Vander Plas and Gardner, however, are rather different players. Gardner can dominate the mid-range with his soft floaters and strong ability to clean up misses, while the former is more apt at stretching the floor and keeping opponents’ forwards honest. Even as Gardner struggled early in the season – having averaged 7.8 ppg over the first four games – he has turned the burners on with two strong performances against Michigan and Maryland-Eastern Shore. Vander Plas has provided consistent minutes off of the bench, not only replacing Gardner yet accompanying him in the frontcourt when Bennett chooses to roll out a more skilled lineup. Don’t worry, we won’t see the disappearance of Gardner or Vander Plas even if the former’s panic button seemed tempting.
Reece Beekman has fulfilled his prophecy as the next Virginia great
Malcolm Brogdon. London Perrantes. Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome. Who could possibly fill that void as the next great Virginia guard? Well, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the inevitable emergence of junior Reece Beekman. The past few years have witnessed the ascendance of Beekman from a defensive standpoint, as he has thrived in Bennett’s Pack-Line system as a pest for opposing guards. As for the offensive side of things? He’s taken the next step. Beekman has strung together two incredible performances – including a 19-point outing against Illinois and an 18-point finish against Michigan – all while sealing the deal defensively in both contests.
Beekman defensively is poetry in motion. In the final seconds of the Michigan and Illinois matchups, Beekman tallied game-clinching steals and put any hope of a comeback victory away with his uncanny, ball-hawk ability. To see him dunk, slash to the lane and fearlessly take three-point opportunities is a welcome surprise for fans who saw the promise in the young guard from Milwaukee. Don’t be surprised if Beekman comes home with all the hardware – ACC Defensive Player of the Year, ACC First-Team and a potential NDPOY nod – as he has done everything possible to spur this team along.
Patience, composure and three-point shooting only when necessary
Three-point shooting is a double-edged sword. If it works, you’re witnessing a Baylor-esque win and a barrage of points within the span of a couple minutes. If it fails, you’re left helpless to find any other options outside of the old, “chuck it up and pray” strategy that often befell the Cavaliers in 2021. This season, it’s largely a balanced offensive attack which has defined the Cavaliers’ six wins. The patience which embodies a Bennett-led offensive unit has paid dividends; when you consider Virginia’s comeback against Michigan, the Cavaliers only attempted eight three-pointers and converted half of them, with the bulk of the production coming from Beekman’s drives and the frontcourt’s finishes near the rim.
To score at least 70 points – with only 12 of those coming from the three-point line – provides reason for limitless optimism in Charlottesville. Rest assured that the Cavaliers will once again have matchups in which they may turn to Franklin, Vander Plas and Clark for three-point production, yet they have already proved that a wise shot selection may not always result in the most sexy of plays. I won’t exactly go there, but the improvement of the offense reminds me of the 2019 unit – which always found a way to put the ball in the back of the net.
If the Cavaliers continue to play their brand of basketball, this team will be a hard out in March.
Are you not entertained? Are…you…not…entertained? Let’s dive into some of the recent storylines from a college basketball season already living up to expectations. Suffice it to say that the blue-bloods are down, the Big East may be up and Zach Edey might just be our National Player of the Year.
ACC is, um, looking pretty shoddy outside of Virginia
What is happening to the nation’s most historic basketball conference? Why us, why now? The hopes and dreams of ACC supremacy are quickly fading after North Carolina’s fall from grace and Duke’s blowout loss to no. 5 Purdue. No. 3 Virginia – who captured a massive road win against a tricky Michigan team – is the anchor of a conference who may only receive three to four bids come March Madness.
Louisville (0-7) is – as we expected – abysmal, and a one-win Florida State could literally lose by 40 tonight against the Boilermakers. I guess there are some teams in the middle of the pack – Miami, NC State and Wake Forest – who could pick up the slack as the heavyweights struggle, yet don’t expect the ACC to share its former successes in 2022.
College basketball’s most polarizing player is helpless
Whether you hate him or not, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme might be the most valuable player to his team in all of college basketball. I don’t think I’ve seen the ‘Zags more dependent on any one guy in their history, let alone a mustached, undersized big who’s been in college for what seems like a Kihei Clark-esque amount of time. However, everything funnels through Timme (20.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg) – the sole contributor in the frontcourt and the centerpiece of an offense that’s had some better guard play in the past.
If Few wants his team to compete, he has to squeeze more out of transfer Efton Reid, veteran forward Anton Watson and the up-and-coming Ben Gregg in the frontcourt. When the backcourt looks sketchy (as it did against Purdue), the ‘Zags will need Timme’s compatriots to help him shoulder the offensive load.
Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd is an International Man of Mystery
My goodness, I don’t think anyone expected Arizona to compete once again. After a surprise 33-4 campaign in 2021, the ‘Cats lost Pac-12 POY Bennedict Mathurin, first-round draft pick Dalen Terry and center Christian Koloko and still look the part. Tommy Lloyd, how do you do the things you do? The Maui Invitational gave the world a taste of the high-octane offense many thought would suffer big-time this season, as Arizona defeated no. 17 San Diego State and no. 10 Creighton en route to the ‘ship.
Good luck stopping the International Revolution that Lloyd has carried on from his predecessor, Sean Miller – I’m more specifically referring to the 7’0, 260-pound Oumar Ballo and 6’11 Azuolas Tubelis, both of whom are averaging at least 19 points per game. You’ll need some big boys to do the dirty work against Lloyd’s frontcourt, but you’ll be faced with the tall task of slowing down their sharp-shooting guards in turn.
Baylor just lost to Shaka Smart…by 26?
Never thought I’d see the words “Marquette” and “blowout” together in this Big East-Big 12 matchup. Well, Shaka Smart had something to say in a dominant defensive performance by his Golden Eagles against the nation’s best backcourt. Baylor posted a ridiculous 16 turnovers before the half, and Marquette converted 24 (!) points in turn after swarming the likes of Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer and Keyonte George.
Thus, when the Bears’ backcourt struggles, they’re still not going to get much production from their bigs. I don’t know exactly how to read this result simply because Marquette may spontaneously combust later into the season, but Baylor has to figure some things out soon. Their three guards – while incredibly dangerous – will determine whether Scott Drew can secure another high seed in March Madness.
The Huskies came, they saw, and they conquered the entirety of the Phil Knight Invitational field this past week in Portland.
In their first game they faced off against Oregon, and the game was never close for the Ducks, with the Huskies taking a 83-59 victory. It was the Tristen Newton show, as the senior guard went for 23 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals. UConn’s stifling defense was an X-factor in the game, as they were able to record nine steals and seven blocks, while also holding the Ducks to under 50% from the field.
The second round matchup was a tough test against no. 18 Alabama, but the Huskies dominated, winning 82-67. Center Adama Sanogo was a presence down low, going for 25 points and two blocks. Once again, the Huskies were able to hold their opponent under 50% shooting from the field, showing how important defense is to Dan Hurley and this team.
In the championship for the PK Invitational, UConn faced off against a hot Iowa State team and ultimately stomped their dreams away, winning 71-53. Guard Andre Jackson was phenomenal, finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Rebounding and defense were points of emphasis for the Huskies, as they outrebounded the Cyclones 48-19 and prevented Iowa State from scoring the final four minutes of the game.
Dan Hurley has the Huskies sitting at 8-0 – their best start since the 2013-14 season. What else happened that season? Oh right, UConn won it all. We’ll keep an eye on Storrs, Connecticut to see if the Huskies can repeat history. UConn is back Thursday night when they face off against Oklahoma State.
The Bad:Butler goes 1-2 in the Battle 4 Atlantis
Butler took a trip down to the Bahamas for the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, and it looked like the Bulldogs spent a little too much time soaking up the sun and not enough in the gym.
Their first game against no. 22 Tennessee was downright ugly. The Bulldogs kept it close in the first half, and then the Volunteers offense came to life, proving to be too much for the Bulldogs in a 71-45 thrashing. Turnovers were a problem for Butler – who gave 23 away to the Vols over the course of the game. Butler also had only one player score in double digits, as guard Jayden Taylor went for 18.
Thursday saw the Bulldogs scrape out a narrow victory over BYU, 75-70. They were able to bring their turnovers down to only 16, and the scoring was much more well rounded, as four players scored at least 14 points.
Their third and final game in the Bahamas was a revenge game for center Manny Bates, as he faced his old squad, NC State. Butler tied the game 20-20 with seven minutes to go in the first half, and then the Wolfpack caught fire, never surrendering their lead for the rest of the game. What really hurt Butler in this game was the fact that their bench did not score a single point all game, something Thad Matta will definitely have to address before their next game against Kansas State on Wednesday.
The Ugly:Villanova goes 0-3 in the Phil Knight Invitational
It’s never been more evident of how impactful Jay Wright really was. Without him, the Wildcats are falling and falling fast. The ‘Cats traveled to Portland for the Phil Knight Invitational this week, and to say it was ugly would honestly be an understatement.
They opened up play against Iowa State and kept it close for much of the contest, ultimately losing 81-79. This was probably the best game for the ‘Cats all week, as they lost a close game to the eventual tournament runner-ups. Guard Caleb Daniels did all he could to keep ‘Nova in the game, scoring 25 points, dishing out seven assists and grabbing seven rebounds.
The second game for the ‘Cats was one in which Villanova fans were caught dreaming of days in January when they will hopefully have their two best players – Cam Whitmore and Justin Moore – back. The Portland Pilots pulled ahead at the end of the first half and rode that momentum for the rest of the game, ultimately defeating the Wildcats by a score of 83-71. A good thing about the game for the ‘Cats, though, was the emergence of the freshman not named Cam Whitmore. Guards Mark Armstrong and Brendan Hausen each saw a massive increase in the minutes, and they both took advantage of it.
The last place game of the PK Invitational was held between Villanova and Oregon, and the Ducks pulled ahead at the end, winning 74-67. At their media day, Coach Neptune said that Hausen is “one of the best shooters we’ve ever had at Villanova.” Hausen proved his coach right in this game, going an efficient five for eight from beyond the arc. We’ll see if they can turn it around on Saturday when Villanova hosts Oklahoma at the Wells Fargo Center.
If you’re reading this, it may be too late to get on the bandwagon for the Purdue Boilermakers. At the end of Feast Week, Matt Painter’s squad stands at 6-0 after impressive victories over no. 6 Gonzaga and no. 8 Duke en route to a Phil Knight Legacy Championship.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Zach Edey is an unstoppable force and an immovable object all wrapped into one. In their three games of the tournament, Edey averaged 22.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. While he may not be the most skilled player in the country, he is surely one of the most dominant. Standing at 7 ‘4 and weighing in at 290 pounds, there is basically no one in the country that can out muscle this man. This leads to coaches having to double Edey in the post, which, with his frame, allows him to pass out to the perimeter, allowing Matt Painter’s elite shooters to shine.
If coaches decide not to double Edey, then they might as well just chalk up two points for the Canadian. Aside from his scoring and passing ability, Edey is always able to keep offensive possessions alive, as he averaged four offensive rebounds in the PKL Tournament. Long story short: Zach Edey is one of the most dominant players in college basketball, but one player can’t do it all.
Last year, the Boilermakers found elite guard play in the fourth overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, Jaden Ivey. And this year? Well, they still have elite guard play. Friday’s game against Gonzaga was freshman Braden Smith’s first real introduction to a national audience. The freshman looked like prime Steve Nash, running all over the court and finding the open teammate with ease. Smith finished with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the win. Several of these assists went the way of the other freshman from Indiana.
A pure shooting guard, Fletcher Loyer also showed out during the tournament. Throughout the PKL, Loyer ran the lanes and went a solid eight of 18 from beyond the arc. Above all, he was patient and waited for the ball to come to him. When Edey was doubled down low, Loyer found himself open from beyond the arc, and the same thing rang true when Smith pushed the tempo in transition.
The game plan is simple for Matt Painter: get the ball down low to Zach Edey and hope for an easy basket; if he gets doubled, pass out to the perimeter so that their guards can knock down an open jumper. It’s hard to find holes in this plan, and, until anyone does, I don’t think many teams in the country can beat this Purdue team. With all the upsets around the country this week, I would be shocked if the Boilermakers didn’t find themselves inside the top-10 – if not the top five – as they will likely stay there for some time.
As “famed” college basketball insider Jon Rothstein loves to say on Twitter anytime the Creighton Bluejays take the court: Omaha, somewhere in Middle America. After three weeks of play, Creighton sits high atop the Big East and is lauded as one of the best teams in the nation. How did we get here, though?
Greg McDermott took over the head coaching job for the Bluejays in the 2010-11 season, and he oversaw their transition into the Big East three years later. Since then, Creighton has only dropped below .500 once. They have consistently been contenders for the Big East crown, but now they have bigger goals on their mind.
After going 23-12 last year and losing to eventual national champion Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Coach McDermott was able to return all but one of his starters. The one starter they lost – Duke sharpshooting transfer Alex O’Connell – provided 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. So who did the Bluejays replace O’Connell with? Oh, the Summit League player of the year – guard Baylor Scheierman. Averaging 12.0 points and 9.3 rebounds on 44% shooting from three, Scheierman has been an integral part of Creighton’s early season success. Creighton’s starting five is LOADED; but through all the talent, I believe that Scheierman will be the most important piece. He’s a 6’6 guard who can not only shoot the lights out, but can also rebound like a 7 footer. Who wouldn’t want a player like that on their squad?
Thrust into the starting lineup last season, seven-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner ended the season as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Much like the team as a whole, Kalkbrenner also has his eyes set on greater accolades. The junior center currently sits on the Naismith Award watch list, and his early season play has proved why he should be a top candidate. This season, Kalkbrenner is averaging 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds – helping Creighton to their hot 6-1 start.
Playing on the other side of the wing as Scheierman is sophomore forward Arthur Kaluma – arguably the Bluejays most deadly scoring threat. Averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds on 44% shooting from the field, Kaluma can be overshadowed by the production from the rest of the starting lineup, but he remains an integral part of an experienced team. Monday’s win against no. 21 Texas Tech proved how important Kaluma is, as he went for 18 points on an efficient six of 11 night from the field.
Rounding out the wing play is another true sophomore in Trey Alexander. So far this season, Alexander has only dipped into single digits in the scoring column once, as he’s currently averaging 12.7 points on 56.9% shooting from the field. Like Kaluma, people seem to forget about Alexander, but his slashing ability is key to opening up the floor for the Bluejays.
Anchoring the offense is last year’s Big East Rookie of the Year, Ryan Nembhard. Nembhard began the season on the Bob Cousy Award watch list – which honors the nation’s best point guard – and through the first seven games, he has certainly looked worthy of that honor. So far this season, he is averaging 12.7 points and 5.7 assists per game, while only turning the ball over a total of 9 times. When Nembhard is operating and able to dish the ball to their elite scoring threats, the Bluejays are nearly impossible to beat.
Sure, Creighton has one of the best starting fives in the entire country, but, when that starting five isn’t hitting their shots, the Bluejays can seriously struggle. In the first half against Texas Tech on Monday, the offense was choppy, leading to a close game. The flaws of the Bluejays’ script were very obvious against no. 14 Arizona in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Championship game.
Kaluma wasn’t able to put the ball in the bucket – ending with 6 points – and that led to the offense stalling out on some possessions. To add insult to injury, Creighton was only able to find 11 points total from their bench. Later in the season – if the starters get in foul trouble – Creighton may not have anyone to turn to. The depth of the Bluejays is going to become a serious problem, but it will be something Coach McDermott will hopefully be able to improve throughout the season.
The sky’s the limit for this Creighton squad, as they have started the season 6-1 with wins against no. 21 Texas Tech and no. 9 Arkansas, and only losing to no. 14 Arizona – potentially a top five team come Monday – by two in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Championship game. Creighton has an extremely impressive resume so far, and it will be tested further on Thursday, December 1, when they return to play against no. 4 Texas. If they keep playing up to their potential, their floor is a loss in the Elite Eight and their ceiling is a National Championship.
The ACC basketball picture is starting to take shape, and it looks exactly as most pundits thought it would. North Carolina, Duke, and Virginia are among the best teams in college basketball, and Boston College and Pitt are among the worst. But in the middle are several surprises that merit further analysis. Here are my inaugural ACC power rankings, along with the tiers in which they fall.
Tier 1 – Contenders
1. Virginia Cavaliers (4-0)
Bennett Ball is back! While North Carolina still holds the top spot in the AP poll, Virginia has looked the better team in its first four games. After expected wins against NC Central and Monmouth to open their campaign, Virginia rolled into the Continental Tire Main Event and defeated no. 7 Baylor 86-79 and outlasted no. 16 Illinois 70-61. The Cavaliers boast the nation’s fourth-highest three point shooting percentage (46.9%) and the tenth-best assist to turnover ratio (1.8) in the land.
Senior Armaan Franklin leads Virginia in scoring, but junior Reece Beekman is the team’s heart and soul. Beekman held his own against Baylor freshman phenom Keyonte George and shut down Illinois standout Terrence Shannon Jr. The Cavaliers were so impressive in Vegas that they vaulted from 16th in the AP poll to 5th. Next Tuesday’s road test against Hunter Dickinson and Michigan in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge will indicate whether this electrifying start is an aberration or a sign that Virginia is back among college basketball’s elite.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0)
The defending national runners-up (if any fanbase can make that a thing, it would be North Carolina) are off to a much less convincing 4-0 start. They were tied with UNC-Wilmington at the under-eight timeout in their season opener, trailed Charleston 50-45 at halftime, beat Gardner-Webb by a mere six points, and had a 19 point halftime over JMU trimmed to nine in the second.
Most alarming for the Tar Heels? Their 28.3% mark from beyond the arc. That number has to improve if Carolina wants to remain the team to beat in the ACC. Most reassuring for the Tar Heels? Senior forward Armando Bacot followed up a 10-point, two of nine FG performance against Gardner-Webb with a vintage 19-point, 23 rebound domination against JMU.
3. Duke Blue Devils (4-1)
Duke seems to be as good as it’s always been under first-year head coach Jon Scheyer. They’ve won anticlimactic home snoozefests against Jacksonville, USC Upstate, Delaware, and Bellarmine and lost 69-64 against no. 3 Kansas in the Champions Classic. The formula seems to be the same as it’s always been, too.
They lost five stars Paolo Banchero, Mark Williams, AJ Griffin, Wendell Moore Jr., and Trevor Keels and replaced them with five stars Dereck Lively II, Dariq Whitehead, Kyle Filipowski, Tyrese Proctor, and Mark Mitchell. Like with most Duke teams, it’s too early to tell whether this is a collection of five stars built to lose in the first round or lose in the Final Four. So far, they’ve done what they’re supposed to do and are just about co-equal with Virginia and North Carolina.
Tier 2 – Scrappy Spoilers
4. Miami Hurricanes (5-1)
The biggest surprise of last year’s Elite Eight is off to a respectable start. Led by somehow-still-a-junior guard Isaiah Wong (15.2 PPG, 4 RPG, 4 APG), the Hurricanes cruised in their first three cupcakes of the season before turning in an impressive ten-point win against Providence in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Mohegan Sun.
While they fell in the final to an overachieving no. 24 Maryland, they’ve got a couple more cupcakes to catch their breath before facing off with Rutgers in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Kansas State transfer Nijel Pack’s impact has been limited so far (12.5 PPG), but there’s plenty of time for the Big 12’s Most Improved Player from a season ago to come into his own under Jim Larrañaga.
5. Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1)
To any Virginia, Duke, or North Carolina fans who hoped that the Hokies might recede into ACC obscurity, Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young would not like to apologize. Last year’s leading scorers Keve Aluma and Justyn Mutts are gone, but sophomore Sean Pedulla (17.5 PPG) and super senior and Wright State transfer Grant Basile (16.3 PPG) have more than filled the void. Is this year’s Virginia Tech squad as good as last year’s? Perhaps. We’ll find out next Saturday when ACC play (kind of) opens, as the Hokies will welcome top-ranked North Carolina to Blacksburg.
Tier 3 – Mike Brey Bubble Watch Extravaganza
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0)
Is Notre Dame good? No. Are they bad? Absolutely not. Notre Dame being on the bubble for Selection Sunday is starting to become one of my favorite March fixtures. They are the Iowa Hawkeyes of college basketball. Sometimes they’ll be notably good, most of the time they’ll be frisky. But they have an institution of a man at head coach who will never ever let them fall too far out of the mix, provided that the “mix” is the Outback Bowl/a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 23 year-old Nate Laszewski is back, America. And he’s ready to bow out in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Tier 4 – Wait and See
7. NC State Wolfpack (4-1)
The Wolfpack play an incredibly chaotic brand of basketball. Head coach Kevin Keatts’s offense is as simple as getting the ball in the hands of sophomore Terquavion Smith (19.0 PPG) and senior Jarkel Joiner (17.0 PPG) and letting the dynamic scorers go to work. Sometimes the Wolfpack’s frenzied pace results in frustratingly contested jump shots early in the shot clock, but other times it yields easy looks inside.
NC State held their own with defending national champion Kansas in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis, but their unwillingness to defend and feast-or-famine offense make me hesitant to bump them up a tier. After all, it’s called the Mike Brey Bubble Watch Extravaganza, not the Kevin Keatts one.
8. Florida State Seminoles (1-5)
Ok. I know they’re 1-5. I know they lost to Stetson, UCF and Troy. I know they shoot 68.2% from the line as a team. But I also know that it’s a Leonard Hamilton team. UCF transfer Darin Green Jr. has made an immediate impact as a scorer and a shooter with 13.6 PPG. Returning “guards” (they’re all 6’5” or taller) Caleb Mills, Cam’ron Fletcher, and Matthew Cleveland are all averaging double figures. As you’ll see, this is a bad tier of teams, so I have no qualms about buying Florida State stock higher than most would right now.
Post 17-point loss to Siena update: I give up. Send them down to tier 6.
9. Syracuse Orange (3-2)
I don’t know. They have Joe Girard? At the no. 9 spot, the question you’re making me answer is “are they better than Wake, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Boston College, and Pitt?” The answer is yes – I think. No idea. Jim Boeheim! Yay!
10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1)
The Deacs lost to Loyola Marymount, but they’ve got a good coach in Steve Forbes. To be honest, they’re probably just benefitting from recency bias, given how good Alondes Williams and Jake LaRavia were for them last year. A road trip to Wisconsin will be more telling than any game they will have played before then.
Tier 5 – Likely Bad
11. Clemson Tigers (4-1)
11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-2)
I’ve paired these teams together because they’re the same program in different jerseys. They’re both football schools historically (although one has far outkicked the other over the past 15 years) and are both content with having fledgling basketball programs. But props to the athletic departments at both schools. Neither of them wants to pay a buyout for a basketball coach, so they’re perfectly fine with making the tournament twice a decade. Maybe this could be one of those years for one of these schools. It probably won’t be, but it’s too early to rule it out.
Tier 6 – Definitely Bad
13. Pittsburgh Panthers (3-3)
The Panthers lost to West Virginia and Michigan by a combined 56 points. Somehow, they’re still better than the other two in this tier.
14. Boston College Eagles (4-2)
Even by Boston College standards this is a bad start to the season. A two-point win against Cornell, a four-point win against Detroit Mercy, a five-point loss to Maine, and a sixteen point drubbing at the hands of Tarleton aren’t exactly inspiring confidence among the Eagles’ five basketball fans. There could be trouble in Chestnut Hill if head coach Earl Grant can’t – just kidding, who cares?!
15. Louisville Cardinals (0-6)
Louisville is bad. And not like Auburn football is “bad.” The Cardinals are the worst Power 5 college basketball team to take the floor this season (other than Cal and Oregon St., according to Ken Pomeroy). Their 2022-23 campaign under head coach Kenny Payne began with one-point losses to Bellarmine, Wright State, and Appalachian State. Facing an unprecedented rut, Louisville packed up shop for a restorative five day trip to Maui for some sunshine, salt air and piña coladas with the little umbrellas in them.
Unfortunately, the vacation also required them to play no. 9 Arkansas, no. 21 Texas Tech and a rather uninspiring Cincinnati, all of whom annihilated the reeling Cardinals by 26, 32 and 19 points, respectively. The only coping mechanism for Louisville fans? More piña coladas with the little umbrellas – and a lot of them. And perhaps after that, a boozed up phone call to Rick Pitino.
Since struggling in their opening game against St. Thomas (MN), the Bluejays have outscored opponents 190-126. In their most recent outing, they dominated Holy Cross 94-65. The points came in bunches for center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who dropped a cool 22 points in 20 minutes. Guard Ryan Nembhard was poetic in the backcourt, dishing out 12 assists with zero turnovers, while Baylor Scheierman once again led the team in rebounding with 9 boards. The size of the Bluejays shined once again, as they outrebounded Holy Cross 42-27.
The starting lineup for the Bluejays was sensational Thursday night, carrying a heavy load in Creighton’s 80-51 victory over UC Riverside. The starters contributed 58 of Creighton’s 80 points with transfer guard Baylor Scheierman leading the way, scoring 17 points off of a 70% field goal percentage. Length and threes were to story for the Bluejays, who secured 42 rebounds compared to 31 for Riverside, and hit eight threes compared to the Highlanders’ three. Creighton slept walked through this week, but recent wins over no. 21 Texas Tech and no. 9 Arkansas will catapult them into (maybe) the top five depending on their championship result. The Bluejays are soaring – largely on the shoulders of an incredible starting five – and are currently the team to beat in the Big East.
Villanova
Is it time to press the panic button? I don’t think so, but the ‘Cats haven’t shown us any signs that they’re poised to be competitive this year. Monday night saw the Wildcats playing the 3rd worst team in Division 1 – according to KenPom – who narrowly scraped out a 60-50 victory over Delaware State. The silver lining here is that both Brendan Hausen and Mark Armstrong helped put the ‘Cats over the top, each providing seven points off the bench in the second half. In years past, Villanova has relied upon their stellar three- point shooting, but for a second consecutive game that has been the worst aspect of the game, with a five of 27 clip from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats dropped another tough game, losing to a red-hot Michigan State team by a score of 73-71 Friday night. Eric Dixon continues to be the best player for Villanova, as he dropped 24 points and nine rebounds. Guard Caleb Daniels was able to bring home 13 points but on an inefficient four of 14 from the field, including one of eight from beyond the arc. The ‘Cats continue to struggle to hit their threes, and, until they start to turn it around, this rough start could be prolonged. Next week they travel to Oregon to compete in the Phil Knight invitational with their first game coming against the Iowa State Cyclones.
St John’s
The Johnnies are rolling to their first 3-0 start since the COVID year after defeating Central Connecticut State 91-74 Tuesday night. David Jones once again led the charge, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds – five of which were on the offensive end. Posh Alexander looked liked more like himself, as he scored 12 points, dished out six assists and snatched two steals. While he is starting to command the offense more, I would like to see Alexander get a little more involved. Freshman guard AJ Storr provided a spark off the bench, hitting four of five from beyond the arc and going for 16 points.
St. John’s continued the Gavitt Games with their matchup against Nebraska on Thursday. The Red Storm exploded in the second half, leading to a 70-50 victory over the Cornhuskers. Much of this can be attributed to the phenomenal play from senior center Joel Soriano, who had 17 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks. I still don’t think we are seeing the Posh Alexander we were promised, as he had 13 points and five turnovers in the contest. If Alexander can limit the turnovers and begin to control the offense more, then St. John’s could be a tough team to beat. The Johnnies are back Monday night for a battle against Temple.
DePaul
The Gavitt Games are here, and DePaul opened them up with a 69-53 win at Minnesota. Continuing his dominance, Javan Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Umoja Gibson once again proved why he was a great addition from Oklahoma this summer, as he led the offense with 14 points and eight assists. Eral Penn secured his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
The Blue Demons traveled to the Bahamas for the Bahamas Championship this past week. In their first game, they battled against Santa Clara and dropped a close one, 69-61. DePaul was unable to capitalize on the 19 turnovers and 19 fouls from Santa Clara, yet Umoja Gibson continued to look great with 18 points, four assists and five rebounds.
In their second game of the Bahamas Championship, DePaul squared off against Oklahoma State. Coming within one with 24 seconds to go, DePaul was unable to finish it off, losing 82-78. Eral Penn kept the Blue Demons in the game with his 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Umoja Gibson facilitated the offense with 17 points and six assists. DePaul is back in action Friday night when no. 24 Texas A&M comes to town.
Butler
Butler opened up their play against the Big 10 by traveling to Happy Valley to battle the Nittany Lions. N.C. State transfer Manny Bates continued his sensational play, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs were down by 16 with five minutes to go in the game and started charging – looking to knock off Penn State – but Jalen Pickett’s triple double (15, 11, and 10) proved to be too much, as Butler lost 68-62. Even with all the time off, the abysmal shooting from the Bulldogs has continued (five of 23 from beyond the arc).
After the tough loss to Penn State, the Bulldogs bounced back Thursday night with a 95-67 victory over St. Francis (PA). Hampered by foul trouble, Manny Bates wasn’t able to be as aggressive as he’s used to, yet the other four starters each scored at least 15 points. Junior guard Chuck Harris was unstoppable with 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds on 70% shooting from the field.
Saturday was another easy game for the Bulldogs, as they obliterated The Citadel 89-42. Much like last game, Manny Bates did not do much, but the rest of the starters for Butler filled in for him, all scoring at least 13 points. Butler has not had much competition other than Penn State this week, but next week should feature some real tests. The no. 23 Tennessee Volunteers will be in town Wednesday night to see what the Bulldogs are truly made of.
Marquette
The Golden Eagles traveled down to West Lafayette on Tuesday and battled for 40 minutes, ultimately falling short to the Purdue Boilermakers, 75-70. Off the bench, David Joplin was phenomenal, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds while shooting a stellar five of seven from three. Zach Edey proved to be too much for Marquette to handle, dominating with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
From the second that the game tipped off, Long Island was out of it. Marquette ran away with the game early on and never looked back, winning 95-58. Junior forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper only missed one shot all night, going for 31 points. Oso Ighodaro did it all with 11 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Marquette comes back on Monday when they face Mississippi State.
Xavier
Sean Miller has his Musketeers rolling, having won their most recent contest against Fairfield 78-65. The unselfish play has also continued, as Xavier dished out 23 assists throughout the game. At the heart of this offense is senior forward Zach Freemantle, who was sensational Tuesday night after recording his first triple-double of the season: 15 points, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds. Adam Kunkel and Jack Nunge both contributed to the scoring in a big way, each scoring at least 21 in the game.
Xavier battled hard in their match against Big 10 front runner – no. 12 ranked Indiana – but ultimately fell 81-79. The starting five for the Musketeers looked great with four out of the five scoring at least 13 points. Xavier squared up really well with the Hoosiers, and, if one or two more little things went their way, they could have easily won the contest. That should be very promising for Sean Miller as the Musketeers head into a week with a lot of rest, with only one game (Florida) on the schedule.
Georgetown
OK, let’s take a deep breath. I was getting ahead of myself. Georgetown basketball is most definitely NOT back. Tuesday night saw the Hoyas lose to Northwestern 75-63, and it featured one of the worst stretches of basketball (if we can even call it that) I’ve seen in recent memory. A silver lining, however, is that Primo Spears continued to impress with 22 points, six assists and three steals. But as Jerry Garcia liked to say, “every silver lining’s got a touch of grey,” and that grey comes in the fact that outside of Spears, Coach Ewing can’t find anyone that can put the ball in the basket at a consistent rate.
The Hoyas traveled to Jamaica for the Jamaica Classic, and, in their first game, they battled against Loyola Marymount, ultimately losing 84-66 on Friday. Sophomore guard Brandon Murray looked solid with 19 points. What killed Georgetown in this game was their abysmal 18% three-point shooting. The bench for the Hoyas also only contributed eight points, something Coach Ewing should be looking to address.
In their final game of the Jamaica Classic, Georgetown faced off against La Salle and triumphed by a score of 69-62. Senior center Qudus Wahab led the Hoyas to victory with 23 points and seven rebounds. Three-point shooting was once again a weak point for the Hoyas, who only hit 25% of their shots from downtown. Georgetown will have some time off before facing cross-town rival American on Wednesday.
Providence
The Friars came flying into the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for their matchup against Stonehill on Tuesdayand left victorious, winning 100-76. The story of the game – and the season for that matter – was rebounding. The Friars had 40 rebounds (16 on the offensive end) while holding Stonehill to only 19 total. Six Friars scored in double digits, with Bryce Hopkins leading the way with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Providence looked flat Saturday in their game against Miami, losing 74-64. Going down by 10 at half, the Friars were never able to gain enough momentum to fight off the Hurricanes. Bryce Hopkins once again dominated with 16 points and eight rebounds, but his aggression got the best of him, as he also let up six turnovers. Only two players on their bench scored, something Ed Cooley will definitely look to improve on in their next games.
Oh boy. Sunday night saw the Friars lose their last game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip Off Classic to the Saint Louis Billikens, 76-73. A timely layup by Saint Louis’ Yuri Collins with 24 seconds to go allowed the Bellikens to prevail against Providence. Bryce Hopkins brought home another dominant performance with 20 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the Friars, as they fell to 3-2. Providence will look to pack their home court Wednesday night when they face off against Merrimack.
UConn
The newest member of the AP Top 25 looked great once again, as the Huskies defeated Buffalo 84-64 on Tuesday. ECU transfer Tristen Newton was dominant, notching his first triple double of the season with 22 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and four steals. UConn dominated the glass, winning the rebound battle 42-29. Much of this can be attributed to Donovan Clingan’s dominance down low, as he poured in 11 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
In his first full game back, Jordan Hawkins looked like the player that everyone thought he could become. In 24 minutes of action, Hawkins scored 20 points on seven of thirteen from the field, helping to bring the Huskies to a 86-50 victory over UNC Wilmington on Friday. Sanogo looked unstoppable once again, scoring 24 points and grabbing five rebounds.
Delaware State came to town Sunday night and the Huskies proved why they are one of the best teams in the nation, winning 95-60. Once again, Sanogo dominated with 26 points and eight rebounds. Clingan was great off the bench, scoring 16 points and sending back three shots. UConn will be back Thursday night when they look to defend their home court against the visiting Oregon Ducks.
Seton Hall
Wednesday saw the Pirates taking a tough loss to Iowa, losing 83-67 on their home floor. Coach Holloway has a lot to work on before their next game, as Seton Hall played sloppily, fouling Iowa 25 times throughout the game. These fouls led to Iowa going 28 of 33 from the charity stripe. The Pirates also turned the ball over 16 times compared to only eight for Iowa.
After losing to Iowa, Coach Holloway and the Pirates had a much easier contest against Wagner Sunday night. Seton Hall dominated all game, ultimately winning 82-44. Senior guard Al-Amir Dawes not only led the offense with 19 points, but also anchored the defense with three steals. Three-point shooting was a key for the Pirates, as they were able to knock down 11 of them throughout the course of the game. Thursday will be a good match for Seton Hall when they face off against Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers.
When Jay Wright abandoned his beloved Villanova program, a part of Delaware County died. The heart and soul of a hugely successful, “Fortune 500” program, Wright made the questionable move to take his talents to the broadcasting booth after retiring from the coaching grind – how do we feel about that, ‘Nova faithful?
Whether you hate him or love him after a Benedict Arnold-esque move, the ‘Cats have turned the page by hiring one of Wright’s former assistants: Kyle Neptune. Last a coach at the Atlantic 10’s Fordham, Neptune has been tasked with upholding the legacy of the winningest coach in Wildcat history – a two-time national champion who did the impossible by overshadowing the famed Rollie Massimino. Unfortunately, the silver fox is gone. Nonetheless, don’t expect the ‘Cats to skip a beat as they begin the Neptune era in Philly.
Yeah, but Villanova lost to Temple! Don’t read into it that much. This Villanova roster is incredibly depleted after the losses of senior guard Justin Moore and freshman phenom Cam Whitmore to injuries early in the season. Moreover, the eighth-year senior (how it looked from afar) Collin Gillespie is finally gone, forcing ‘Nova to search for a new facilitator after boasting the likes of Gillespie, Jalen Brunson and Kyle Lowry during Wright’s tenure.
Whitmore – the MVP of for the United States’ U18 squad in the FIBA Americas Championship last summer – is eyeing a return to the court either this week or later into December. I cannot emphasize this enough: the Wildcats need him to be competitive before Big East play. A seven-deep roster (that’s probably a stretch) hasn’t helped Neptune establish his dynasty thus far.
Current MVP: Senior forward Eric Dixon
An unlikely candidate for Villanova team MVP, Dixon has shouldered the offensive load while Moore and Whitmore recover. Averaging 19.8 points per game, the fifth-leading scorer on last year’s Final Four team has been thrust into the limelight as the anchor of the frontcourt alongside fellow senior Brandon Slater (13.0 ppg).
No slight to Dixon, but if he’s setting the pace for ‘Nova it’s pretty obvious that injuries are plaguing this team. When Moore and Whitmore return – the former will likely be back come Big East play – Dixon may thrive even more with opposing defenses’ focus targeted towards what will be a dynamic backcourt. So, the verdict: Moore will end the season as team MVP, but Dixon and company will thrive as a result of his return.
What will happen to ‘Nova this season?
It’s truly contingent on injuries, but I’m banking on a comeback season for the ages. I’m talking Big East regular season champions and a no. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament as a crowning achievement for Neptune’s first year. As I’ve learned from watching ‘Nova over the past few years, it’s unwise to bet against them – even if they receive far less acclaim than the media’s favorite blue-bloods.
I don’t worry about the coaching change at all, especially since the ‘Cats showed some serious fight on the road against Michigan State and may impress in the Phil Knight Invitational this week. KEEP IN MIND, THEY ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUT THEIR BEST TWO PLAYERS. An unranked Villanova is not an indicator of where this team will be later this season. Just watch.
Shame on North Carolina for their cupcake schedule. In light of their four wins against mid-majors – nearly all of which entailed some serious stress – the Tar Heels have done nothing to convince America that they are worthy of the top spot. I can’t emphasize this enough: do NOT hold high expectations for teams that pulled off a Cinderella run in a prior tournament as a middling seed! That’s not to say that the Tar Heels won’t hang around the top 10 for the rest of the season – I’m sure they will – but there’s a host of teams behind them who have actually challenged themselves early into non-conference play. I’d take Kelvin Sampson’s Houston over any team in the country at the moment, and especially over a Carolina team who struggled against Gardner-Webb and UNC-Wilmington.
If the ‘Heels can escape the Phil Knight Invitational and either Iowa State or Villanova unscathed, they’ll earn more respect on the national stage. Keep in mind they’re a contender in nearly every game with senior forward Armando Bacot (18.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg) at the helm. It’s entirely possible that North Carolina only plays one or two ranked teams in all of November and December, especially considering that former no. 20 Michigan has already dropped out of the AP Poll. Hubert Davis’ crew needs a statement win against no. 11 Indiana to go along with a triumph in the Phil Knight Invitational; if not, we’ll say we were right all along.
2. Houston
Who should be here: North Carolina
It only took a half of the Oregon/Houston matchup to convince me that the Cougars are far and away the cream of the crop. They waltzed into Eugene – facing three seven-footers and a basketball court that is quite literally the ugliest in CBB history – and shut down the Ducks en route to a 66-56 victory on the road. Preseason all-American guard Marcus Sasser (16.6 ppg) didn’t even play much in the first half due to foul trouble, yet freshman Terrance Arcenaux (9.0 ppg) wreaked havoc as a defensive pest and shined as a lightning-quick player in transition. You can argue that none of the Cougars’ first five games has been remotely close. Unlike the ‘Heels, they’re executing as they should against inferior competition.
In Sampson’s system, the defense never rests. Guards Arcenaux, Sasser and Jamal Shead are as close to locksmiths as you can get on the perimeter, while freshman forward Jarace Walker has shown defensive prowess in a scheme predicated on chaos. The Cougars prey on turnovers and will make you pay in transition. It’s no wonder that year-in and year-out Houston finds themselves highly ranked in terms of scoring defense, while their offense will be able to hang with the best of them – largely thanks to Sasser and Walker. Upcoming games against no. 18 Alabama and no. 5 Virginia will finally test the Cougars before AAC play begins.
3. Kansas
Who should be here: Kansas
The Jayhawks haven’t blown me away, but let’s consider that Bill Self is coming off a four-game, self-imposed sanction from 2017’s FBI investigation. A 69-64 triumph over no. 7 Duke has catapulted Kansas into the third spot in the AP Poll – but hey, they really should be thanking Gonzaga, Kentucky and Baylor for their shortcomings. This is a new roster, full of pieces continuing to gel as the Jayhawks turn to – gasp – small ball. Freshman guard Gradey Dick (16.8 ppg) and junior forward Jalen Wilson (24.5 ppg) carry the Kansas offense on their backs and will undoubtedly be focal points of Self’s agenda once he returns.
Hey, Kansas, I do have to ask about what happened against Southern Utah three days ago. A 82-76 win against a sub-mid-major in the ‘Phog? I’ll give you guys one letdown pass, and that’s it. I don’t actually believe that the Jayhawks will struggle against the likes of Texas Southern and Harvard in the coming days; what embodies college basketball more than Kansas beating Duke by five and then Southern Utah by six? Kansas isn’t the sexiest team out there, yet you can always bet on Self to fly under the radar and lead his team to a Big 12 Championship. Excellence, not greatness, is expected in Lawrence once again.
4. Texas
Who should be here: Texas
I am so unbelievably tempted to fade Texas because I predict their eventual demise. Texas? A basketball school in the post-KD era? Not so fast. However, a coaching change, dynamic transfer and new arena have brought the excitement back to Austin amidst the football program’s mediocrity. The reason for Texas’s ascendance? A 92-73 thrashing of Gonzaga at home. The ‘Horns – whose win looks even better after Gonzaga’s subsequent blowout of former no. 4 Kentucky – deserve a spot in the top-five after securing a major resume booster for March. Now, Beard and company will have a brutal stretch in early December against no. 10 Creighton and no. 16 Illinois – two teams who have recently defeated top-20 teams (no. 21 Texas Tech and no. 8 UCLA, respectively).
I foresee Texas splitting the two contests, a result which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. If sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter (18.0 ppg, 40% from three) catches on fire like he did against Gonzaga, the Longhorns may have an easier road than they expected in some serious non-conference matchups. Moreover, the depth at Beard’s disposal will allow him to wear opponents down, especially against a team like Creighton who is dangerously reliant on their starting five for production. I’m betting on the Longhorns’ gradual decline, but there’s a chance they prove me wrong as they head into the belly of the beast.
5. Virginia
Who should be here: Virginia
I’m so happy for my Virginia Cavaliers and the way in which they have played these past few days. It’s been a traumatic, emotional week for the program and all of Charlottesville, yet these young men made us all proud to be Wahoos after claiming two top-20 victories in the Continental Tire Main Event. If there were any doubts about Coach Tony Bennett’s effectiveness as a coach, we can safely put them to rest. A near-blowout over no. 7 Baylor and a late surge against no. 16 Illinois have launched the Cavaliers into the top five – a whopping 11 spots above their previous ranking. Do they deserve it? 100%. Does anyone have a better resume than the ‘Hoos at the moment, and more importantly, have any teams played two teams in the Top 25 and won both?
The answer is no. A pitch-perfect start for Bennett’s squad – anchored by junior guard Reece Beekman and a balanced offensive attack – looks to re-write the narrative after bowing out in the NIT last season. Beekman is, in my opinion, the nation’s finest defender, and erased Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr. (21.2 ppg) after his 29-point performance against UCLA. Virginia will lean on Beekman more as they take on Michigan, Houston and North Carolina, while senior guard Armaan Franklin (16.0 ppg) and forward Kadin Shedrick (10.8 ppg, 5.8 ppg) will play their roles as drastically-improved scorers. Virginia’s matchup with no. 2 Houston will be particularly note-worthy after last season’s embarrassment against the Cougars. A matchup of mind-numbing defenses, masterminds of the game and underrated programs will take place on December 17, a game which may have many AP Poll implications.
The AP Poll Committee has some serious decisions to make come Monday. Are we witnessing one of the most chaotic starts to a college basketball season in recent memory? Did three top-10 teams really just fall (in a big way) over the span of three days? Yes, and don’t scratch your eyes, this is really happening. The no. 11 ranked Longhorns, no. 16 Virginia, and no. 19 Illinois captured potentially season-defining victories over the likes of Gonzaga, Baylor and UCLA as David felled the mighty Goliath. Instability is the name of the game, just how we like it. So, should ‘Zags fans doubt their team’s ability to withstand adversity early in the season? Should we consider that Texas – I can’t believe I’m saying this – may be back? We’ll analyze the wild past few days of college basketball and look at the inevitable changes which will take place in the next AP Poll.
No. 2 Gonzaga vs. no. 11 Texas:
If you mess with the Beard, you’ll get the Horns. I don’t imagine anyone foresaw the 93-74 drubbing of the ‘Zags by Texas, even in Austin’s brand new arena which has notably “trapped” sound to enhance home court advantage. I’ll admit, I think that Mark Few’s team may be in serious trouble. Senior forward Drew Timme (20.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg) bears too heavy of a burden on this roster, as it’s clear that the loss of Chet Holmgren has made this frontcourt ever so one-dimensional. What’s odd is that the Bulldogs shot 47.4% from three and were still run out of the gym. That speaks volumes to the pace at which Chris Beard’s Longhorns play, best exemplified by sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter’s 26 points and five three-pointers.
I hate to jump on the Texas bandwagon because it has wronged me so many times before. The addition of the Iowa State transfer in Hunter, however, combined with the depth that Beard deploys – something Gonzaga could not match – makes this team uniquely dangerous. Thirty-three shots from behind the arc is ABSURD, but hey, you’re not complaining when you’re completing 39.4% of those attempts. Texas will be able to run with anyone considering their high-octane pace of play, and they should challenge both Baylor and Kansas for the Big 12 Crown. What a year it should be for this conference.
Now, if you’re Gonzaga, you have to play no. 4 Kentucky next, so congratulations! Oddly enough, this is a perfect opportunity for Timme and company to re-establish themselves and get back in the winning column. If Timme can neutralize Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, the Bulldogs may remain in the top-10. That’s a big if, and it’s highly probable that Few leans on his guards – senior Rasir Bolton and junior Julian Strawther – to pick up Timme’s slack in such a tough matchup.
No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 16 Virginia:
What a win for my Virginia Cavaliers. In the wake of an unimaginable tragedy, Coach Tony Bennett orchestrated a near-perfect performance and secured a victory that this University desperately needed. I’m not going to reference 2019 – it’s just a little too early – but the buzz hasn’t been this palpable in Charlottesville for a long time. Senior guard Armaan Franklin took the negative press personally after a horrendous showing from the three-point line last year, finishing the Baylor game with a career-high 26 points. The difference between last year’s roster and this one is night and day. Sixth-man and Ohio transfer Ben Vander Plas continues to excel as a reliable three-point shooter and a stretch big. Junior guard Reece Beekman is, in my opinion, the indisputable glue-guy for the ‘Hoos and the top perimeter defender in the country. Everytime I watch Beekman on his assignment, I can’t help but beam and think of Malcolm Brogdon’s defensive chops less than ten years ago.
In terms of senior forward Kadin Shedrick, Buy. Stock. Now. Thanks to Jon Rothstein for that off-season tip. Shedrick just showed a side to his game that we’ve never seen before: midrange jumpers. In addition to protecting the rim and thunderously cashing in alley-oops from fifth-year Kihei Clark, Shedrick’s development in the midrange would be massive in terms of preparing for the Cavaliers; is it possible that Coach Bennett will have at least six guys who can reliably shoot the ball in 2022? The two freshmen – guards Isaac McKneely and Ryan Dunn – have also looked impressively comfortable adjusting to the Pack-Line and will likely continue to see more minutes. The comparisons of Dunn to Cavalier legend De’Andre Hunter are well-founded, but we have to wait and see if Dunn contributes in a big way offensively. As Cavalier fans, this win means everything for Charlottesville and for the memory of Devin, D’Sean and Lavel. Virginia played with a heavy heart and delivered an emotional victory for their fellow ‘Hoos.
I don’t want to slight Baylor whatsoever. They’re an incredibly talented group with a freshman – guard Keyonte George – who will strike fear into the hearts of Big 12 defenses throughout the season. Also, Coach Drew’s remarks about the events in Charlottesville and the group prayer after the game give me reason to support the Bears the rest of the way. As for his team’s play, the Bears struggled to contain the ‘Hoos’ three-point barrage which widened the gap to as much as 22 in the second half. They showed some fight, however, clawing back in the final ten minutes and putting the press on the ‘Hoos. George, senior guard Adam Flagler and junior guard LJ Cryer will be the building blocks for an offense that is heavily guard reliant. The problem is the frontcourt, as Drew only received 21 total points from his forwards. This group will continue to gel and improve after the losses of several key contributors from last season.
No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 19 Illinois:
The rebirth of Terrence Shannon Jr. is upon us. At Texas Tech, Shannon filled more of a “slasher” role but nonetheless had an incredible ceiling; at Illinois, Shannon may be scratching the surface of All-American potential. A 29-point and ten-rebound performance – including eight three-pointers – has put the world on notice. Coach Brad Underwood has pulled out all the stops in the transfer portal by landing Shannon and Baylor transfers Matthew Mayer (6.5 ppg) and Dain Dainja (16.3 ppg). This team is nearly unrecognizable from last year’s considering the roster overhaul, but who’s complaining in Champaign? The Illini showed some serious heart after overcoming a 15-point deficit in the second half. Dainja – who tallied 13 points off the bench – and Shannon catalyzed an offense which absolutely blitzed the Bruins in Vegas.
If you’re a UCLA fan, where were you all? In what world does orange and blue completely fill an arena on the West Coast, not far from Westwood? Mick Cronin was unfortunately not as consistent as A Few Good Men on a rainy Sunday. The Bruins looked the part in the first half, but succumbed to the three-point shooting of Shannon and a pitiful 37.5% clip from the field. Cronin – rightfully so – was unapologetically honest about his team’s performance postgame. Where was five-star freshman Amari Bailey, who tallied only one point in 29 minutes? Senior guard Tyger Campbell and forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. – an All-American candidate – combined for 42 of their team’s 70 points and received little to no help from their fellow starters. Cronin will need more from Bailey and junior guard Jaylen Clark (14.8 ppg) to maximize this team’s potential.
Perhaps Illinois is far better than we thought initially, or perhaps UCLA is bound to disappoint. I’m in the former’s camp. The Illini have successfully groomed a transfer-laden roster which may benefit from improved three-point shooting and depth – especially if Dainja continues to come off the bench. The ‘Hoos will attempt to grind the game’s pace to a halt when facing the Illini, with junior guard Reece Beekman potentially taking the Shannon (or Skyy Clark) assignment. Virginia’s defense – whose Achilles’ heel is three-pointers – will hope that Shannon reverts to his old ways of slashing against another efficient, Bennett-led unit. With both teams eyeing a spot in the top-10, expect a hard-fought battle on the Strip.
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