The Champions Classic delivered, and then some. Aside from the Armed Forces Classic last week, we were finally able to witness the blue-bloods compete with each other on a national stage – sorry, North Carolina, I guess you guys don’t make the cut. The Michigan State-Kentucky affair made an early case for the best game of the year, featuring a 2-OT battle that pitted the ‘Cats’ Oscar Tshiebwe and the Spartans’ three-headed monster of a frontcourt against each other in a classic showdown. Kansas then took care of business late against a talented yet injured Duke team – who fell to 2-1 in the first edition of the Jon Scheyer era in Durham. Tonight, the action only ramps up. The no. 2 ‘Zags – coming off of a gritty victory over the Spartans – will travel to Austin to take on no. 11 Texas on their home floor in yet another non-conference, blockbuster matchup.
Michigan State’s win over Coach Cal’s crew will surely launch them into the top-15 when the next AP Poll releases. What’s remarkable is the lack of depth which the Spartans possess, as only one bench player – guard Jaden Akins – played more than 10 minutes throughout. The guard play was underwhelming – as it may be for the rest of the year – but the trio of Izzo’s big men shouldered the load down the stretch. Center Mady Sissoko and forwards Malik Hall and Joey Hauser combined for 59 of Michigan State’s 86 points, with Hall helping to send the Spartans to both overtime periods. Izzo and company struggled to contain Kentucky’s vacuum of a rebounder, Oscar Tshiebwe, who returned from injury and didn’t look phased physically with a 22-point, 18 rebound effort.
When Tshiebwe fouled out at the end of the first overtime period, Kentucky lost all hope of victory. There simply aren’t enough contributors around Tshiebwe for this Wildcat roster to give them a fighting chance when he fouls out – a problem when he’s tasked with styming potent frontcourts. A positive for Coach Cal, however, is the emergence of freshman guard Cason Wallace on the defensive side of the ball. Wallace notched eight steals – yes, eight – and tallied 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in the loss. I don’t think a Wildcat guard has been this dominant defensively since Ashton Hagans’s 58-steal campaign in 2019-20. Wallace might also end up playing second fiddle to Tshiebwe on offense, a surprise considering senior guard Sahvir Wheeler’s return.
Kentucky doesn’t need to worry that much about this result. Yes, they’ll take on the ‘Zags in Spokane, yet they should contend for SEC supremacy if they can keep no. 10 Arkansas at bay. Michigan State, on the other hand, should be absolutely ecstatic about this result and the trajectory of their season to this point. Izzo has to be kicking himself for letting the Bulldogs fly out of San Diego with a one-point victory, which would have helped propel the Spartans to a no. 1 national ranking after the Kentucky victory. Nonetheless, they’re perfectly situated to make a run for the Big Ten crown after a surprise start to the year.
No. 7 Duke and no. 6 Kansas tipped off at 10:24 PM EST, deep into the night and fifty-four minutes after the scheduled start time. The Jayhawks looked every bit like the defending national champions from the jump, establishing an early 19-8 lead over the Blue Devils to start the first half. Scheyer’s squad eventually crawled their way back into contention – heading into the half down four – and started to turn the tides as the game progressed. A back-and-forth affair ultimately gave us the battle we all wanted to see: Kansas freshman Gradey Dick versus fellow rookie Kyle Filipowski.
Now, we’ll probably publish an article about which one will be the next Christian Laettner, but these guys can ball. Dick emerged after a quiet first half by scoring seven-late points to ice it for the Jayhawks, while Filipowski dominated the low post with a 17-point, 14 rebound effort. Surprisingly, no. 1 rated freshman center Dereck Lively was completely overshadowed by Filipowski and looked like a chicken with his head cut off throughout. Filipowski was poised, polished, and seems to be the top scorer for a Duke team with a tremendous ceiling.
Kansas defied my expectations. I thought the losses of Agbaji and Braun would nip the Jayhawks’ in the bud in their defense of a national championship, yet Dick and forward Jalen Wilson could be even better than the aforementioned duo. Wilson did jack up some questionable shots at times, but he can be depended on as a veteran presence after a 25-point, 11 rebound effort. The person who impressed me the most, though? Senior guard Dajuan Harris. He’s the ultimate glue guy after being overlooked all of last season. Harris – who posted six points and 10 assists – was so unbelievably steady for Kansas all throughout the game. He’s a pass-first, traditional point guard and seemed to make everyone on the court better. All of the acclaim and press will fall on Dick and Wilson, but Self and assistant coach Norm Roberts will need Harris for more than 30 minutes in every game this season.
Duke will be fine. Kansas will leap into the top-five. Both teams didn’t lose too much in the Champions Classic and showed that they haven’t skipped a beat after appearing in the Final Four last season. When freshman Dariq Whitehead finally appears for the Blue Devils, I fear that they will reach the potential which they displayed last night. The freshman formula may finally break through for Duke’s first national championship since 2015 – but hold on, Kansas has the edge at the moment.
The annual blockbuster of the Champions Classic will reappear tonight in Indianapolis. Featuring the likes of Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas and Duke, the stars will be out in what should be our first introduction to the “contenders” in some heavyweight non-conference matchups.
Frankly speaking, this past week of college basketball has been a snooze-fest.
Despite Temple’s stunner against ‘Nova, Northwestern State’s one-point victory over no. 15 TCU – like I said, beware of average seeds from previous seasons who return a lot of production – and Gonzaga and Michigan State’s battle on an aircraft carrier, star-studded matchups have been few and far between. Beginning with the Champions Classic, top-25 programs will now up the ante as they attempt to beef up their resumes for March.
On that note, I just wanted to highlight my hometown team – the Norfolk State Spartans – and their unbelievable non-conference slate that would bring the Goliaths of the world to their knees: a schedule featuring no. 3 Houston, no. 8 UCLA and no. 5 Baylor. Albeit suffering two losses to UCLA and Baylor, kudos to Coach Robert Jones for bettering his team through top-25 exposure.
More teams should adopt this attitude in the era of cupcake schedules. Now, what can we expect from the blue-bloods tonight?
No. 4 Kentucky vs. Michigan State, 7 PM
What a battle this should be between two of the most dominant coaches of the 21st century. With the departure of Duke’s Coach K from college basketball, Tom Izzo and John Calipari make up the “best of the rest” thanks to two combined national championships in their tenures at Michigan State and Kentucky.
Izzo’s team is certainly facing less pressure than the ‘Cats – currently ranked no. 4 in the country – but they’ve already proven their worth on the national stage. A 64-63 loss to Gonzaga marred what could have been a season-defining victory, but the world took note of the Spartans’ fight; center Mady Sissoko might be the unexpected X-factor for a team that shot 3 for 16 from three on an aircraft carrier – suffice it to say the outside conditions may have factored in to that clip.
Sissoko – who muscled his way to 14 points in only 25 minutes – complements a frontcourt of talented forwards Malik Hall and Joey Hauser – two guys who may have a field day against a depleted Kentucky.
The Spartans 1-1 record has kept them from the top-25 thus far, yet they’ll get their second biggest chance to leapfrog into the ranked conversation with a win over Kentucky. Tom Izzo’s team will obviously hope to convert a higher percentage from three, but they have already learned that the frontcourt may be the key to unlocking the Spartans’ potential.
And now, for the Wildcats. The question here is the availability of returning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe. According to insider Jeff Goodman, the nation’s best rebounder will make his season debut against the Spartans tonight.
Tshiebwe’s return would be MASSIVE for Calipari and company considering the frontcourt disadvantage. In his stead, the guard depth has been instrumental for the ‘Cats, as the ascendance of guard Antonio Reeves (20.0 ppg) and Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick (17.5 ppg) gives them two options beyond a proven facilitator in Sahvir Wheeler (11.0 apg).
If I’m Calipari, I’m not starting Tshiebwe following a knee procedure. He’ll likely be on a “pitch count” – as the MLB saying goes – and will not see the same workload required of him last year. This slight hiccup for the ‘Cats leads me to pick the Spartans – largely thanks to their frontcourt depth.
The first leg of the Champions Classic will be an excellent tune-up for the mammoth Duke-Kansas contest, with Izzo besting Calipari and proving that the Spartans belong with the big boys.
Prediction: MSU 73, Kentucky 68
No. 7 Duke vs. No. 6 Kansas, 9:30 PM
The defending national champions taking on Mike Kryzewski’s heir? Come on! The main event of the Champions Classic, Kansas v. Duke will feature two revamped rosters and a different face on the Blue Devils side line for the first time in 43 years.
Coach Jon Scheyer’s shoes to fill aren’t big, they’re immense. The heir to college basketball’s kingpin will continue the trend of freshmen-laden rosters in 2022, with three newcomers and two veterans comprising the Blue Devils’ starting lineup.
Senior transfer Ryan Young (11.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) – a Northwestern product – has been a revelation for Scheyer in the wake of a nagging injury to freshman center Dereck Lively – the ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year.
Duke is what we thought they were: talented and young. They’ll suffer once again from the absence of five-star Dariq Whitehead, but it’s really a first-world problem when you consider the options Scheyer has to toy with. Freshman center Kyle Filipowski (12.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg) complements Young in the frontcourt, while junior and seasoned veteran Jeremy Roach (13.0 ppg, 6.0 apg) anchors the backcourt for the second year in a row.
This is an extremely balanced roster with a plethora of scoring options. Even without a full-strength roster, they’ll be just fine taking on the Jayhawks.
Coach Bill Self may arguably be the most accomplished coach still standing in college basketball. With a second national championship under his belt, he’ll deploy a roster which lost first-round picks Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun, as well as center David McCormack.
However, Self dipped into the transfer pool to snag former Texas Tech guard Kevin McCullar (8.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and made a recruiting splash by landing five-star guard Gradey Dick (17.5 ppg). Dick and returning forward Jalen Wilson (20.0 ppg) are the straws which stir the drink for this Kansas offense, who will look to establish their own identity after the loss of their top two scorers from last season.
With a starting lineup featuring zero players over 6’8, I worry about the matchup between the likes of Young, Lively and Filipowski and Wilson and co. It seems like a lifetime ago that the Jayhawks didn’t roll out a dominant center in their ranks – look to McCormack and former star Udoka Azubuike as evidence.
This is a new era of Self hoops in Lawrence, but I believe that Scheyer may have the depth and the height advantage in the Champions Classic.
As much as I find the Blue Devils’ faithful abhorrent, I can’t overlook their roster’s promise even in a matchup against the defending champs.
What is happening in Storrs, Connecticut? Since Dan Hurley took over as the head coach of UConn five years ago, the Huskies have been steadily improving. Hurley took over a middling basketball program that was still reveling in its two championships in four years – one coming in 2011 and the second in 2014. A win improvement has come in every year for the Hurley-led Huskies. Even amongst the uncertainty of the COVID year, UConn was able to reach their first AP Top 25 ranking since the 2015-16 season. Looking to the future, UConn has the 4th highest rated recruiting class, including a top-20 five-star in Stephon Castle. But that’s next year. What’s going on this year?
The Huskies currently stand 2-0, and they have looked strong in the two contests. At the heart of this team is preseason Big East Player of the Year Adama Sanogo. The junior forward was dominant last year, averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in a season in which the Huskies lost in the Big East Tournament semifinal to Villanova. In two games this year, Sanogo is averaging 23.0 points and 10.5 rebounds.
While Sanogo is a certified stud, there are some question marks surrounding the guard play for the Huskies. To begin the season, there was no answer for who was going to be the true facilitator for this offense. In game one, junior Texas A&M transfer Hassan Diarra came off the bench with a willingness to pass the ball. Coach Hurley was impressed enough to thrust Diarra into the starting role for game two. Over the Huskies’ first two games, he has averaged 8.5 points and 6.5 assists.
Some more concerts for the squad are the absence of several key players. First, Sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins begins the season in concussion protocol after taking a scary fall in their opener against Stonehill. “I think he’s a fringe first-rounder. I think his ceiling is the second-best NBA prospect in the league behind Cam Whitmore,” says one NBA scout about Hawkins. Coming into last season with a tremendous amount of preseason hype, Hawkins wasn’t able to live up to his potential, suffering from several concussions throughout his freshman campaign. Scouts are looking for Hawkins to take a monumental leap this season in his production, barring any injuries. Upon his return to play, Hawkins will be able to take much of the scoring pressure of Sanogo.
Another key injury to a promising player is the broken finger to junior guard Andre Jackson. Much like Hawkins, Jackson is slated to make a major jump to star-level status this season. When he returns, Jackson should provide the answer to the Huskies point guard question. Jackson has pure passing instincts and will be able to distribute the ball to Sanogo and Hawkins. Jackson is also being looked at as potentially NBA-ready at the end of the year, even going as high as the mid to late first round.
With two first round talents sidelined for the Huskies, there are other players that need to step up. One of those such players is freshman and hometown hero Donovan Clingan. The 7’2 center from Bristol, Connecticut has been a crowd favorite, averaging 9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. Clingan comes to UConn fresh off of winning back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Years in Connecticut, so the fans naturally gave him a standing ovation every time he checked into their first game. Clingan is able to not only block shots, but also alter them with ease, causing some of the defensive pressure to be taken off Sanogo. Like Diarra, Clingan has stepped up in the absence of the Huskies’ star players, and Coach Hurley has rewarded them both by plugging them into the starting lineup.
So let’s say Clingan and Diarra can continue to be impactful while Coach Hurley waits for his players to be healthy. When Jackson and Hawkins come back, and if they live up to their hype – and that is a big if – UConn could be a serious problem not only in the Big East, but also in the tournament. This seems like the type of team that could catch fire come March. If all the pieces come together, I believe this UConn team could compete with the best of ‘em. With all that said, I would put their floor at a loss in the Big East Championship, and their ceiling at an Elite Eight run.
High expectations have surrounded the Bluejays all summer, and Monday was their first opportunity to showcase why they deserve to be ranked inside the top 10. St. Thomas (MN) kept the game close for all of the first half and some of the second. It took a wakeup call of a one-point deficit with 10 minutes left in the home opener for Coach Greg McDermott to turn on the heat and hold the Tommies scoreless for 11 consecutive possessions. Sophomore forward Arthur Kaluma led the way in scoring with 17 points, while South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman notched his first double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Thursday night’s game against North Dakota showed us the Creighton team that we were promised. The Bluejays grabbed 49 rebounds on their way to a 96-61 rout of the Fighting Hawks. 21 of those 49 rebounds were on the offensive end, which prevented North Dakota from never really threatening Creighton throughout. Junior center Ryan Kalkbrenner proved why he is on the early short list for the Naismith award, as he dominated with 24 points and 7 rebounds while going 10 from 11 from the field. The Blue Jays will be back in action Monday night when Holy Cross rolls into Omaha.
Villanova
For the first time in 21 years, the Wildcats have a new captain of their ship. While there’s a new face on the sidelines, the ‘Cats still look like the ‘Cats. With their two best players – senior guard Justin Moore and freshman forward Cam Whitmore – sidelined with injuries, Caleb Daniels stepped up by tallying 24 points on 6 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc – not to mention his 10 rebounds as a guard. Eric Dixon also had a strong performance as a presence down low with 20 points en route to an 81-68 victory over Big 5 rival La Salle.
The first hiccup of the Kyle Neptune era came Friday night, as the Wildcats dropped a tough loss to Temple, 68-64. Three-point attempts were few and far between for the ‘Cats, who went a meager 2 of 7 from beyond the arc. Villanova’s offense emphasizes bringing the ball down low to get easy buckets and open up shots. Temple’s refusal to double in the post prevented the ‘Cats’ ability to take these shots. Sophomore Jordan Longino looked incredible, creating his own shots and finding the open teammate on many occasions. Longino’s development is coming at the right time in order to take some of the scoring pressure off of Caleb Daniels, while the team awaits the return of Whitmore and Moore. Villanova returns to the Finn to face off against Delaware State on Monday.
St. John’s
Fret not Red Storm faithful, basketball is back in Queens. The Johnnies battled against Merrimack on Monday and came out on top, 97-72: a strong performance from a team who possesses some high expectations. It was an onslaught of scoring, as the entire starting lineup for St. John’s finished in double figures – including a 21 point, 10 rebound, and four assist performance from DePaul transfer David Jones. There were some downsides, however, as St. John’s turned the ball over 29 times. Look for Big East preseason first-team guard Posh Alexander to limit this trend as an offensive catalyst.
Saturday night was another strong showing for the Red Storm, as they defeated Lafayette 83-68 at home. David Jones continued his hot streak of scoring, as he walked away with 20 points and five rebounds. Head coach Mike Anderson should be proud of the execution from his team, who was able to limit their turnovers this game by committing only ten in the win. One concerning thing for St. John’s is that star guard Posh Alexander only shot the ball three times. I would look to get Alexander more involved in the offense for Tuesday’s game against Connecticut State.
DePaul
The Blue Devils of the Windy City squared off against Loyola (MD) on Monday. It was the closest game for our first slate of games, but DePaul persevered, winning 72-66. Graduate school transfer Javan Johnson helped push them over the top, as he dominated with 24 points and ten rebounds. Fresh off a hand injury that sidelined him in February, Johnson is looking to contribute in big ways to this team. DePaul held several double digit leads during the game but was unable to capitalize on them. Look for that to be a point of emphasis for coach Tony Stubblefield going forward.
It was a feverish Friday night for DePaul, as they faced off against in-state opponent Western Illinois and came out victorious, 86-74. Umoja Gibson was dominant against the Leathernecks, as he notched 24 points, eight assists, and two steals while only missing two shots all night. DePaul as a team was on fire, shooting a solid 60% from the field. On the other end of the ball, DePaul was able to limit Western Illinois to 37% from two and 20% from three. The Blue Devils picked up a ten-point lead early in the first half and never looked back. Monday night will be a test for this roster, as they’re set to travel to Minneapolis to square off against Minnesota.
Butler
The Bulldogs of Butler were back in action Monday night, as they faced the New Orleans Privateers. Butler dominated the game on both sides of the floor, comfortably winning 89-53. They had five players in double figures, including graduate school transfer Manny Bates – an NC State product – pouring in 25 points and snatching 11 rebounds. On the defense end of the ball, Myles Tate and Pierce Thomas each had 3 steals. Surely, most of Butler’s practices this week will be focused on three-point shooting, as they went a meager four of 24 from beyond the arc. Coach Thad Matta has time, though, to iron out the kinks before their next game, as the Bulldogs don’t play again until Monday when they travel to Happy Valley to face the Nittany Lions.
Marquette
Shaka Smart and his Golden Eagles hosted the Highlanders of Radford on Monday. When the clock hit double zeros, Marquette proved to be victorious, winning a close one, 79-69. Sophomore forward Oso Ighodaro commanded the Golden Eagles, notching 19 points and grabbing seven boards. Coach Smart can be pleased with his team, as they went a respectable 20 of 25 from the free throw line. If they can continue that production, Marquette could hang with the best of them.
The Golden Eagles were rolling Thursday night, defeating Central Michigan 97-73. It was a total team performance, as Marquette was able to dish out 27 total assists. Sophomore guard Tyler Kolek led that with eight points, five rebounds, and 11 helpers. Much of these passes made their way to David Joplin, who led the Golden Eagles with 23 points off the bench. Shaka and the boys have a tough matchup on Tuesday, as they will travel to Indiana to battle Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers. Keep an eye out for the Oso Ighodaro-Zach Edey matchup down low.
Xavier
The Musketeers battled the Morgan State Bears on Monday, prevailing 96-73. Junior guard Colby Jones led the offense by scoring 15 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing six rebounds. On the defensive end of the ball, Jones also snatched three steals. The team play was the key for the Musketeers, as they collected 24 assists compared to the Bears’ 11. Defense was a point of emphasis for coach Sean Miller, as Xavier was able to send back ten shots and steal 15 passes.
Team play was again a strong suit for the Musketeers in their 86-64 victory over Montana, who dished out a total of 23 assists. Coach Miller can also be proud of his team’s inability to turn the ball over – look to their nine turnovers as evidence. Senior forward Zach Freemantle led the way in scoring with 18 points, but seven Xavier players scored at least seven points. This is a team that feeds off one another, and we’ll keep an eye on that when they tip off against Fairfield on Tuesday.
Georgetown
328. That’s how many days Georgetown University had gone without receiving a win from their basketball program. That all changed on Tuesday when the Hoyas pulled out a 10 point overtime victory against Coppin State. Duquesne transfer Primo Spears led the way with 28 points and six rebounds. It will be interesting to follow the Hoyas this season, especially if their poor performances continue to persist. If things don’t turn around soon, don’t be surprised if their favorite son – Coach Patrick Ewing – is fired before seasons’ end.
Is Georgetown basketball back? Don’t look now, but the Hoyas are 2-0 and trending in the right direction. Saturday’s game against Green Bay is hopefully a sign of what’s to come from Georgetown, as they dominated in a 92-58 win. The guard play was phenomenal for Coach Ewing, as Primo Spears recorded 21 points and five assists and Brandan Murray contributed 19 and seven. The Hoyas are back in action on Tuesday in a matchup against Northwestern.
Providence
The reigning Big East champions picked up right where they left off, winning a surprisingly close game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Ed Cooley led Friars went down by as much as 15 early on to the Broncs due to Rider’s red hot three point shooting. The Friars failed to capitalize on the frequent fouling by Rider, hitting only 26 of their 43 free throw attempts. When Providence can settle into their stifling defense, they can be hard to stop, but only scrapping out a one-point victory on a banner night is a disappointing result.
The Friars looked much stronger on Saturday in their 89-65 victory over Northeastern. The Huskies took a one point lead two minutes into the second half, but Ed Cooley turned up the heat, refusing to play in another close game. Much improved free throw shooting was a key to success for the Friars, who converted 14 of 19 from the charity stripe. Jared Bynum was back in form, leading the offense with 21 points and nine assists. Kentucky transfer Bryce Hopkins dominated down low with ten points and 11 rebounds. Providence plays again on Tuesday against Stonehill.
UConn
Defense and depth shined for the Huskies Monday night against the Stonehill Skyhawks, as UConn won convincingly, 85-54. Freshman Donovan Clingan came off the bench and locked down the paint, blocking four shots and grabbing seven boards. Virginia Tech transfer Nahiem Alleyne also provided a spark defensively with four steals and eight points. Big East preseason player of the year – center Adama Sanogo – carried the offense with 19 points and six rebounds.
Head coach Dan Hurley led another dominant performance for the injury-plagued Huskies in an 86-57 win over Boston University. Sanogo proved once again why he’s one of the top players in the nation, as he controlled the game with 27 points and 15 rebounds. UConn’s defense shined, allowing the Terriers only two three-pointers throughout the whole game. The Huskies are back in action on Tuesday, taking on Buffalo at home.
Seton Hall
Wednesday saw the first game of the Shaheen Holloway era as the head coach at Seton Hall. Fresh off leading St. Peter’s to the Elite Eight of last year’s tournament, Holloway is poised to lead his alma mater to similar heights. Wednesday was a group effort for the Pirates, as they had four players finish in double figures in their 79-52 victory over Monmouth. Freshman Tae Davis came off the bench and quickly provided a spark, adding 11 points and 8 rebounds.
Coach Holloway faced off against the team he turned into March’s most recent Cinderella story on Saturday night. Holloway and the Pirates came out victorious winning 80-44 over the Peacocks of St. Peter’s. This game was never within reach for the Peacocks, as Seton Hall was able to go up by as much as 42 at one point. Senior guard Al-Amir Dawes led all scorers with 13 points and ten rebounds. The Pirates have a real test on Wednesday, as they will face off against Iowa.
As NCAA fans, it is almost impossible to wrap our heads around the glorious co-existence of the dawn of college basketball and the postseason buzz around college football. For schools reeling in the football arena – think Virginia, for all of the Cavalier fans out there – feel free to turn your attention to basketball for as long as winning lasts.
If your school has exceeded expectations – consider TCU’s ascendance – don’t worry too much after your no. 14 ranked Horned Frog basketball team nearly fell to an inferior University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Game 1. You’ve already won, right? But – if you’re greedy – you’ll use college basketball as an escape to further your college’s glory.
Now, we’ve experienced the thrill of Week 1 and have garnered enough understanding of where some teams sit – even despite the unpredictability of the non-conference schedule. Who’s already doomed for disaster? Who’s making a case for national supremacy? Let’s examine the roller-coaster ride that has been Week 1 of CBB’s return.
Florida State and Louisville are doomed
The Rothstein-ism, “epitome of brutality,” fits well into the trajectory of both the Seminoles’ and Cardinals’ seasons. The former – predicted to finish fifth in the ACC preseason poll – dropped its first game to in-state, Atlantic Sun member Stetson. Oh, and the Seminoles (0-2) would subsequently defy the odds by suffering a fourteen-point loss to another in-state foe – UCF.
To imagine a Leonard Hamilton-coached team losing back-to-back non-conference games is beyond the realm of comprehension. Even with a roster chock-full of talent – including defending ACC Sixth Man of the Year Matthew Cleveland – the Seminoles have already played themselves into the CBI Tournament, far from the luxury of March Madness.
Luckily enough for Florida State, they have an 0-2 companion in the ACC – the lowly Louisville Cardinals. In the first year of Coach Kenny Payne’s tenure, the Cardinals have successfully lost to Division 2 opponent Lenoir-Rhyne in an exhibition, fallen by 1 to a crosstown team in Bellarmine, and conceded a last-second jumper from Wright State’s Trey Calvin to seal a 73-72 victory in an uncharacteristically winless KFC Yum! Center. I’m actually all ears for worse ways to lose your first two basketball games.
Now, Louisville and Florida State may be doomed, but don’t get it twisted: the ACC will return with a vengeance. The best – yes, I said it – conference in college basketball will not tolerate this sort of inadequacy from its members. Expect Duke, North Carolina and Virginia to turn on the burners as they attempt to reclaim the ACC’s glory.
Houston is the best team in the country, and it’s not even close
PHI SLAMA JAMA HAS RETURNED! It’s only taken two games against inferior opponents for me to realize that Houston should be ranked no. 1. I’ll bear the burden of defending the Cougars against the claims that they haven’t faced a top-25 team – well, neither has anyone really – but I’ve seen enough from Gonzaga and North Carolina to catapult Houston to the top of the ladder.
No one could have expected that junior forward J’Wan Roberts – who averaged 3.2 points last season – would be the Cougars’ co-leading scorer (15.5 ppg) and second leading rebounder (9 rpg). What a great sign for Coach Kelvin Sampson to have Roberts ascend, and, if he eventually fades, we all know who will pick up the slack. Preseason All-American guard Marcus Sasser and freshman phenom Jarace Walker are right behind Roberts – averaging 14 ppg and 15.5 ppg, respectively – and will inevitably be the X-factors if Houston wants to make a deep run in March.
I just can’t stop talking about this team. They’re lightyears ahead of any competition in the American Athletic Conference. They’re fueled by two straight years of bitter losses late in March, and they have the talent to push even further. Walker may just be the most dynamic freshman to grace the court in 2022, while Sasser is on track to return to his high level of play before an injury last season.
When the AP Poll releases on Monday, I expect the Cougars to remain in their current position due to the lack of movement from the top two. What the committee should know, however, is that Sampson and company have blitzed through the competition in a way that the Tar Heels and Bulldogs have not. I consider Gonzaga’s recent win over an unranked Michigan State to be neither encouraging nor impressive considering their preseason expectations.
Villanova will be fine, TCU may not
Ok, maybe it was Wright for Villanova fans to miss Jay. It’ll be an immense project for first-year coach Kyle Neptune – the former assistant under the two-time national champion – but it’s unfair to write off a team that is without arguably its most talented player: five-star forward Cam Whitmore. Yes, Villanova did lose the battle for Philadelphia after Temple knocked the Wildcats off for the first time in ten years. Don’t read into the Wildcats 1-1 record, though.
Whitmore’s return from a thumb injury – likely to happen later this month – will reinvigorate a team that is undergoing as big of an administration change as FDR’s to Herbert Hoover’s. I don’t believe that Kyle Neptune will be as disappointing as Herbert Hoover and his economic policies, but he’ll have big shoes to fill. The Temple loss is not at all an indicator of where this team will be in March, especially if the Wildcats fall out of the top 25. They’ll be just fine as the season hums along and will certainly challenge Creighton for Big East supremacy.
TCU fans, I’m so sorry for dragging your team’s name through the mud. It’s not fair. However, maybe the Horned Frogs’ basketball program won’t share the same luck that football has enjoyed this season. Ranked no. 14 in the AP Poll after returning all five starters from a Round of 32 team, the Horned Frogs (2-0) may have been bound for disappointment. I’ve said it time and time again: you can’t overvalue veteran teams based on their performance in a prior season’s postseason tournament.
Although led by an All-American candidate in junior guard Mike Miles (20.5 ppg), the Horned Frogs haven’t shot the ball well – going 22.6% from behind the arc – and have won their first two non-conference games by only twelve points. Perhaps these shooting woes will correct themselves, but perhaps they won’t. TCU will have to prove that they can put away inferior competition before returning to top-15 consideration nationally.
A Quick Word:
Gonzaga needs to help Drew Timme, and Malachi Smith needs to find his footing after recording only five points in 30 minutes of action
North Carolina is not a no. 1 team after struggles against the College of Charleston and UNC-Wilmington
Virginia Tech’s Grant Basile (20.5 ppg) – by way of Wright State – could very well end up being the nation’s most impactful transfer
Michigan State should be considered a top-25 team after their dogfight against Gonzaga
I can’t wait for some Blue Blood v. Blue Blood action this week
College basketball is around the corner, baby! And now, as the great insider Jon Rothstein has often quipped, “We sleep in May.” There’s no time to cut corners from here on out. It’s time for the reign of college basketball – a great complement to what has been a very fun college football season – and the wait is finally over. Insofar as preseason rankings, we’ll dive into the Top 10, switch some things around, and highlight the Glue Guys and MVPs for the best teams in the nation. The anarchy that ensues will topple these rankings, but, hey, it’s college basketball. You just have to appreciate the fact that uncertainty is the name of the game. And. Here. We. Go.
1. Gonzaga
AP no. 1: North Carolina
I’m throwing myself into the lion’s den with this take, but let’s take a step back and analyze what Mark Few has at his disposal in 2022. The Bulldogs – a no. 1 seed in 2022 who ultimately fell to Arkansas in the Sweet Sixteen – are inevitably dealing with some setbacks. Former freshman and unicorn Chet Holmgren (14.1 ppg, 9.9 ppg) left Spokane after one defensively-dominant season, while the “glue guy” for Few in guard Andrew Nembhard (11.8 ppg, 5.8 apg) also departed for the Draft. The key here – however – is the mustached-sensation Drew Timme. The power forward from Texas – having averaged 17.5 points per game in what was arguably a down year – unlocks this team’s potential. Throw in transfers Malachi Smith (19.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg) – a redshirt junior and Southern Conference POY in 2021 – and Efton Reid (6.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) – a 7-foot sophomore center from LSU – and you’ve got a no. 1 seed that just reloaded.
2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Rasir Bolton
Team MVP: Senior forward Drew Timme
2. North Carolina
AP no. 2: Gonzaga
The Tar Heels seem like the overwhelming favorite at no. 1, but I’m holding off on immersing myself completely in the hype. Consider that they are eerily similar to UCLA in 2021 – a team that also made a Final Four run as a lower ranked seed – who catapulted themselves to the no. 2 spot in the following preseason AP poll. The Bruins would end their season to the Heels, ironically, as a no. 4 seed – a stark contrast from their early-season ranking. However, this Carolina team on paper is very, very good. When you have a core of senior forward Armando Bacot (16.3 ppg, 13.1 rpg) and junior guards RJ Davis (13.5 ppg, 3.6 apg) and Caleb Love (15.9 ppg, 3.6 apg), you’re in a pretty good position for success. The loss of last year’s Larry Bird doppelgänger Brady Manek will hurt this team from behind the arc, but the addition of Northwestern transfer Pete Nance in the frontcourt will be key. If Nance can replicate Manek’s legendary, one-year career in Chapel Hill, watch out for the Heels. But for now, I can’t put a no. 8 seed from the 2022 NCAA Tournament in the no. 1 spot.
2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior forward Leaky Black
Team MVP: Senior center Armando Bacot
3. Houston
AP no. 3: Houston
Houston is just so dang well-coached. Kelvin Sampson has proven that time and time again – you need not look further than a 2021 season which ended with a 32-6 record and an Elite Eight appearance, all while junior guard Marcus Sasser (17.7 ppg) was out. Well, Sasser is back, and the Cougars are hungry. After finishing 3rd in national scoring defense (58.8 ppg) in 2021, Houston has established an identity which involves a relentless press and a rangy, athletic defense which will hound you until the ball is coughed up. Expect freshman forward Jarace Walker – ranked no. 10 in the ESPN100 rankings – to complement Sasser offensively while developing his skill on the other side of the court. There’s just too much to like here from a team that seems so criminally underrated every season. Cue references to Phi Slamma Jamma, because the Cougars are back in the national spotlight.
2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior forward Tramon Mark
Team MVP: Marcus Sasser
4. Kentucky
AP no. 4: Kentucky
Can’t count the ‘Cats out even after the 2022 stunner at the hands of St. Peter’s. Everyone’s favorite rebounder and NPOY – senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 ppg, 15.1 rpg) – is back (despite an off-season knee procedure) and in full command of the Kentucky frontcourt. As per usual – and with the suspicious recruiting successes every year – Coach Cal has brought in another swath of talent to Lexington. Freshman guard Cason Wallace and classmate Chris Livingston will compete for the final two starting spots alongside Tshiebwe, senior guard Sahvir Wheeler (10.1 ppg, 6.9 apg) and forward Jacob Toppin (6.2 ppg). Oddly enough, this roster should look relatively similar to last year’s – a treat we don’t usually get from the Kentuckys and Dukes of the world. But out of the blue bloods, the combination of freshmen and veterans makes for a sky-high ceiling for the ‘Cats (who have no excuse to lose with their talent).
2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Sahvir Wheeler
Team MVP: Senior center Oscar Tshiebwe
5. Creighton
AP no. 5: Baylor/Kansas
Wait, I thought Creighton hasn’t been relevant since Dougie McBuckets? The ghost of Doug lives on through the ascending Blue Jays, who once again find themselves in the top 25 after reaching no. 7 in the 2020-21 season. Might be bold to put Coach Greg McDermott’s team ahead of proven rosters like Baylor, Kansas, and UCLA, but the return of sophomore guard Ryan Nembhard (11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg) and junior center Ryan Kalkbrenner (13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) give the Blue Jays arguably the most talented starting-5 in program city. Throw in potential lottery pick Arthur Kaluma (10.4 ppg) and the headband assassin in South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman (16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and there are virtually no weaknesses – barring of course the depth issue that may play out in Omaha. If McDermott can find one or two key contributors off of the bench, then the Blue Jays will very well slot themselves into top dog status in the Big East.
2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Baylor Scheierman
Team MVP: Sophomore forward Arthur Kaluma
6. Baylor
AP no. 6: Baylor/Kansas
2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior guard LJ Cryer
Team MVP: Senior guard Adam Flagler
7. UCLA
AP no. 7: Duke
2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Tyger Campbell
Team MVP: Senior forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
8. Duke
AP no. 8: UCLA
2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior guard Jeremy Roach
Team MVP: Freshman center Dereck Lively
9. Indiana
AP no. 9: Creighton
2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Xavier Johnson
Team MVP: Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis
10. Kansas
AP no. 10: Arkansas
2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior guard Dajuan Harris Jr.
Power Five Press 