I apologize for the lack of content recently, I've had a busy weekend between school work, Syracuse football and basketball, and some other things happening in my personal life. However, fear not, I've been watching college basketball and catching up on some games I've previously missed. I've also got some more articles planned and I'm working on some stuff I think will be pretty popular. Anyways, here are my thoughts on some college basketball games.
What I Saw
Western Kentucky @ Washington
- Both of these teams provided a blueprint on how to beat the 2-3 zone: get into the middle. While Western Kentucky was able to be effective by just gunning it from deep, they were most effective from deep after penetration on a drive and kick. The Huskies could barely make a shot from deep, so they were forced to go inside. Whether it's Jaylen Nowell penetrating or Noah Dickerson posting up, Washington was at their best around the rim.
- I watched this game knowing what happens in the next one for the Huskies, but I was still impressed by their defense. When they're at their best, they are tough to stop. They allowed just 19 points in the second half, and had 9 blocks and 6 steals as a team. Speaking of which, whenever Washington is in the open court, they are very good, and given how they create turnovers, they should be out their quite often.
- It's hard to watch this game and not see the potential of this Western Kentucky team. They were missing Auburn transfer Desean Murray, and had Dalano Banton and Josh Anderson in foul trouble all game, but they still looked good. The backcourt duo of Tavern Hollingsworth and Jared Savage showed lots of offensive potential, especially in the first half, and it's clear to see that Charles Bassey has tons of potential in the front court. As the season progresses, they should hit their groove and become a force to be reckoned with in Conference USA.
- One thing I'm worried about with Washington is their depth. They rely heavily on David Crisp, Jaylen Nowell, Matisse Thybulle, and Noah Dickerson, especially on the offensive end. Thybulle isn'y really an offensive threat outside of being slasher, so it's really on three guys. It's clear the reason the Huskies struggled in the first half was the lack of Dickerson thanks to foul trouble. They have Sam Timmins, who is a solid big, and guys like Dominic Green, Naz Carter, and Hameir Wright, who are intriguing pieces that fit well into the zone, but they need at least one of those guys to step up and be a consistent contributor.
Washington @ Auburn
- The thing that immediately jumped out to me about the Tigers was their intensity. I think the biggest deciding factor in this game was how much harder they played then their opponents. They were pressuring full court, getting every loose ball, forcing turnovers, and simply trying harder. They had 19 offensive rebounds, only 5 less than Washington had, and forced 18 turnovers. They should be a very good defensive team if they play like that every game.
- Not only will they be really good defensively, they're going to be great offensively. They have a super dynamic backcourt of Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, and Samir Doughty, who are all excellent scorers. They combined for 44 points, including seven threes. They also have Malik Dunbar off the bench, who contributed another 8 points. The front court is just as potent, with Chuma Okeke and Anfernee McLemore starting and Austin Wiley off the bench. The latter is a traditional, back to the basket post player with. a variety of low post moves, and the other two can step away and make threes, they combined for four makes from deep and Okeke was a perfect 3/3, or finish inside. There is such a variety of options that makes Auburn very dangerous on both ends.
- The more I watch Matisse Thybulle, the more I like him. He's not the best offensive player, but he's got an etherial quality to his game. He's so smooth when attacking the basket, which he is great at, and he's got a developing jump shot. But he really shines on the defensive end. He is currently tied for the NCAA lead in blocks (I'm writing this on Saturday night) with 8, and has 3 steals. His length is such a problem at the top of the zone, and he's excellent at finding the ball. I think he could really get some more national attention if his offensive game continues to progress.
Arkansas vs Texas (Armed Forces Classic, El Paso)
- I was very impressed with Arkansas in this one. Many projected them to be one of the worst teams in the SEC on account of them losing a lot of production last year. However, they cam out and played really well. There were certainly defensive losses and sloppy turnovers caused by inexperience, but they certainly surpassed my expectations. They competed at a high level and there are certainly some very talented players on the roster. Daniel Gafford is a possible lottery pick, and is going to be a problem for other teams thanks to his athleticism and shot blocking ability. Jalen Harris struggled in this one, but he can score the ball and has good vision. Adrio Bailey was also impressive with limited usage and should see a bigger role. I think Arkansas will be better than people think and they could be a team that steals a game from the elite in the SEC.
- I'm still worried about Texas this year. They really struggled especially on offense in this one, which is where I'm concerned about this team. They shot 31.3% from the floor and 32.3% from three. That's really bad, and this is a game they shouldn't have needed to be bailed out by a huge Kerwin Roach shot. When they attack the rim, they can be a pretty good team, but they seem content to settle and take threes or ill-advised shots. Texas went a stretch in the second half where they didn't make a field goal for roughly 10 minutes. They have a deep backcourt and they could improve, but I'm still in wait and see mode with the Longhorns.
- Two guys really stood out to me in this one: Isaiah Joe and Courtney Ramey. Joe could be one of the best players on the Razorbacks, and he showed why in this one. He was second on the team in points with 17, including knocking down 5 threes. He's an excellent shooter and his development is big for Arkansas. His floor spacing will be vital to give Daniel Gafford the space he needs to operate in the post. Ramey could be huge for Texas this year. He's a point guard and he could step into a big role immediately. He scored 10 points including 2 threes, and looked significantly better than Matt Coleman, who was a no-show in this one, not making a field goal in 8 attempts. I think Ramey could seize the starting point guard role sooner rather than later thanks to his good shooting ability and tough defensive play. These two freshmen should play big roles for their teams and I expect them to be good players now and in future years.
Southern Illinois @ Kentucky
- I don't think John Calipari knows what his best lineup is. I also think that the best lineup offensively is different than the best lineup defensively. I think the one name you can pencil into any lineup is Keldon Johnson. He's been leading the Cats in their two games so far on both ends, and he looks to be the emotional leader of the team as well. After his last performance, I think Nick Richards has to be in the best lineup as well. He had 19 rebounds, including 9 on the offensive end, and also recorded 3 blocks. After that, it's really a question mark. Immanuel Quickley is very good offensively, but Ashton Hagans is better on the defensive end, so one of them will need emerge as the star like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did last year. Quade Green looks like he should join them in the backcourt after Tyler Herro has been very disappointing. The power forward is also a mess, with Reid Travis and PJ Washington being unable to share the court thanks to their similar play styles, and I think EJ Montgomery should see a lot more minutes at that spot as well. Personally, I would go Quickley, Green, Johnson, Montgomery/Washington, and Richards, but Calipari needs to sort out his rotation if Kentucky wants to have success this year.
- The Salukis will be really good this year in the Valley. They can really shoot the ball well from deep, and their backcourt will cause problems this year. They were hurt by Armon Fletcher, their leading scorer last year, being in some foul trouble in this one, but they really gave Kentucky everything they could handle. They were forcing turnovers as well, and although they got massacred on the boards, they should be better against teams that don't have the insane size of Kentucky.
- Kavion Pippen stuck out in this one. The big man for Southern Illinois was so impressive because he looked very good against Kentucky's talented roster of big men. He had 16 points and 7 rebounds, which are good numbers in any game, but every more impressive given the opponent. He was also able to draw in the defense when he got the ball in the post and find open teammates on the perimeter. He's going to have a very good year this season, and don't be shocked if he and his teammates are dancing come March.
UNC Greensboro @ LSU
- The talk from this game is all about Naz Reid and Tremont Waters, and rightfully so. Those two are going to be a terrifying duo in the SEC. Reid, a freshman big, showed out in this one. He scored 29 points, including making 4 threes, and grabbed 7 rebounds. He's a very big body at 6'10" and 250 pounds, but he has an incredible amount of finesse to his game and is very skilled. He can play on the perimeter, which creates matchup nightmare. Waters is back for his sophomore year, and he's electric. He did it all for the Tigers, scoring 21 points, including making 2 of his 3 attempts from deep, dished out 10 assists, and picked up 6 steals. He was also instrumental in breaking the press they faced, as he could dribble through double teams or use his vision to find the open man. It's going to be very hard to stop this dynamic duo, and they are a big reason why I'm really high on LSU this year.
- What a game for the Spartans. They are going to be really good this season in the Southern Conference. Now, I don't expect them to make 57.6% of their shots from deep all year, but they are certainly a very good shooting team. Francis Alonso can stroke it, and so can Demetrius Troy and Kyrin Galloway, who made 8 of his 10 shots from deep in this one. They also have a very good pressing system that will create a lot of turnovers. They forced LSU into 17 turnovers in this one, in large part because of their traps.
- I normally like to highlight a player or two in this slot, and I certainly could. James Dickey is really good for UNC Greensboro, and Ja'vonte Smart was impressive for the Tigers. However, I want to talk about Wes Miller. He's one of my favorite coaches at the mid-major ranks. His pressing system is very effective and he's brought in some high quality players that fit the system perfectly. Dickey is an excellent example, He's an athletic 6'10" who is an excellent shot blocker and rim runner, which is all he needs to be. Miller, a former UNC player, is a name to watch in coaching searches, especially with Roy Williams not getting any younger.
Buffalo @ West Virginia
- I've got to start this off with CJ Massinburg. What a game he had. He scored 20 points in the last 5 minutes and overtime, including making a big three to send the game to overtime. He has an insane game, catching fire from deep going 9-15 from three, and dropping 43 points overall. He also had 14 rebounds, and he led his team to a big win. He didn't have a ton of support, given his teammates only made 2 threes on the night and the players who played over 20 minutes only shot 34% from the field. Massinburg put the team on his back and got Buffalo a top notch win.
- I think it would be pretty foolish to overlook how good West Virginia was in this game. They came out the gate hot, and the press looked pretty good without Jevon Carter. It certainly looked worse, but it was pretty serviceable and had Buffalo looking rattled. They also looked really good from deep, discounting Lamonte West jacking up 10 shots and he's a guy I'm not a huge fan of and I think he needs to learn his role. Sagaba Konate making 3 shots from downtown is pretty huge and if he can do that consistently, he's going to be really good. This team should be able to bounce back, but they'll need to improve their half court defense to do so.
- When watching this game, I was yelling at West and Esa Ahmad to stop shooting the ball. Those two took 29 shots, but made just 11. They were especially dreadful from deep, with West going 3-10 and Ahmad making none of his 4 attempts. I kept wanting to see more Beetle Bolden, who scored 21 points on just 9 shots, and giving more touches to Konate. I think the offense is still a work in progress and they need to figure out how they can score more efficiently, especially those two wings.
Ball State @ Purdue
- The Cardinals had some foul trouble in the front court, which was pretty huge. Tahjai Teague only played 22 minutes, while Brachen Hazen got 17. Those two started in the front court and are big pieces on both ends of the floor. Teague is an especially good defender and can take his man off the bounce, while Hazen is a stretch forward that gives the Cardinals more offensive capabilities. Without those two, they got dominated on the glass, getting 11 less rebounds than the Boilermakers. It also allowed Purdue to attack the rim more, which they are much better at, and Matt Haarms was great when he was on the court thanks to the lack of bodies in the paint. When those two are on the court, Ball State looked great, and they should be very competitive in the MAC this year.
- As for Purdue, the thing that stood out the most to be about their game was their defense. All night they seemed to be out and running in transition after a steal, and they forced Ball State into 18 turnovers. One individual standout was Nojel Eastern, who locked down Taylor Persons in the second half. While Persons scored 19 in the first half, he was held scoreless in the second thanks in no small part to Eastern's suffocating defense.
- There were a number of standouts in this one. For Purdue, Ryan Cline and Aaron Wheeler were noticeable. Cline didn't have the best game, going 3-12 from the field and 1-9 from deep, but he's got a good stroke and he's going to be a key floor spacer. He also contributed a team high 5 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds, and got 2 steals. He's going to be pivotal for Purdue as they look to replace a lot of production. Another big part will be Wheeler, a freak athlete who's going to provide some highlight reel plays this season. He's a very good leaper who got a few put backs, and has obvious potential on both ends. He can become a key contributor as the season progresses and he matures as a player.
- For Ball State, I was impressed with their two transfers, Hazen and KJ Walton. As I mentioned earlier, Hazen is a stretch four with a sweet stroke and he'll be very good in the MAC after transferring from Arkansas. Walton enters the program by way of Missouri, and he figures to be a star at this level. He's a superb athlete and he's more of a slasher, which compliments Taylor Persons perfectly. Those two are a very good backcourt, and these two should have Ball State towards the top of the conference this year.
Vanderbilt @ USC
- This game featured some excellent individual performances but they two that I saw were not so good. Neither team seemed interested in getting rebounds on the defensive end or making free throws in this one. The two teams combined for 40 offensive rebounds, with the Dores getting 19 and the Trojans grabbing 21. That's pretty awful by all accounts, although I think both can get better. For Vanderbilt, they are a very young team and their positional awareness should improve as they focus more on boxing out rather than just going up to grab the ball. For the Trojans, they were missing senior Bennie Boatwright to injury and he should help solidify the front line. They also had a collection of guards and wings on the floor at most times, while Vandy was trotting out two bigs. That put them at a pretty big disadvantage and they should improve versus smaller teams. As for the free throw shooting, the two teams combined to go 29-48, or 60.4%. I imagine Andy Enfield and Bryce Drew will have their teams taking a lot of shots from the line in their upcoming practices.
- It's impossible to talk about this game without talking about the 3 NBA prospect that were on the floor. Darius Garland and Simisola Shittu for Vanderbilt and Kevin Porter for USC looked like they weren't going to be in college next season. Garland for the most part was stellar, scoring 21 points with 3 threes and grabbed 5 rebounds. His shooting stroke looked great and he made a few plays that not many others in college basketball can make. Shittu was also excellent, with 14 points and 15 rebounds before he fouled out. He has the ability to grab and go off a rebound, which is crazy for a 6'10" 240 lb guy, and his ability to finish around the rim is excellent. He's going to be a stud this year and he's got some of the highest upside in the game. Speaking of upside, Kevin Porter might be on of the guys with the brightest futures in the country. He's a freak athlete and he showed it off with some nice dunks. He's also very skilled, making a three and scoring 14 points along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. He's one of the most electric players in college basketball in the open court, and if can stay out of foul trouble, he fouled out in this one after playing just 23 minutes, he'll fill up the highlight reels and the stat sheets.
Miscellaneous
- Cam Reddish looks like a legit shooter. He was really good versus Army, and there have been many that have said he's the guy with the highest ceiling on Duke's roster. I've been saying that floor spacing will be the Blue Devil's Achilles heel, and if he can be a consistent shooter from deep, he'll be huge for the team.
- How about Stony Brook? The Sea Wolves have started off 2-0 with a 22 points comeback win against George Washington and then a 83-81 victory over South Carolina. I thought they would be good and one of the better programs in the America East, but these results have Stony Brook looking like a team that could potentially be making a lot of noise in the conference.
- I've been pretty off the Loyola-Chicago bandwagon this offseason, but I didn't expect a loss to Furman. The Ramblers lost at home, and they didn't have many excuses. Cameron Krutwig was in a little bit of foul trouble, but outside of that, everyone was playing. They simply couldn't make shots, shooting just 37% from the field, and the bench, and area of concern for me, was dreadful, only getting 3 points. They'll need to improve as they have a tough conference schedule ahead of them.
- I've also been out on Texas A&M, and they lost at home to UC Irvine. The Aggies lose a ton of production, especially in the front court, and they are really going to struggle in the SEC. I know they didn't have Admon Gilder, but I'm not a fan of him, and I struggle to see them avoiding the bottom 3 in the conference.
- Yale went into Cal and got a win, which is big for the Ivy League. The top of that conference looks really good. The Bulldogs have some high quality talent with guys like Miye Oni, and they figure to be in a tough battle with Harvard and Penn at the top of the conference. The league has been getting better and better, and it could be a multi-big league in the near future.
- Ja Morant has been getting NBA buzz, and he showed why against Wright State. He dropped 26 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. Wright State isn't a slouch either, as they made the tournament out of the Horizon League last year, but Morant had his way with them. He'll be a player to watch all season as the Racers look to get back to March this year.
- The American Athletic Conference looks really bad. The preseason favorite UCF lost to FAU and SMU was knocked off at home by Southern Miss. Those are supposed to be two of the best teams in the conference, and losing these games has to be concerning for the entire conference.
A Look Ahead
Stanford @ North Carolina
The Cardinal head to Chapel Hill at 2-0, where they will face a tough Tar Heels team, also at 2-0. KZ Okpala has been showing out so far for Stanford, and he'll be huge in this game. If Stanford wants to win, he'll need to be locked in on both ends, along with Daejon Davis. It seems unlikely that those two will be able to lead their team over North Carolina, who are one of the best teams in the country. They are fresh off scoring 116 points at Elon, when they were led by Cameron Johnson and Nassir Little. They have a deep and talented team, with depth everywhere except point guard, and Coby White has been playing so well it doesn't really matter. They should be able to overwhelm the Cardinal in this one.
Prediction: UNC 84-66 Stanford
Buffalo @ Southern Illinois
Both of these teams have had strong starts to the year. Buffalo knocked off Saint Francis and West Virginia in Morgantown, impressive victories. CJ Massinburg was balling last time out, dropping 43 points on nine made threes and also getting 14 rebounds. He has a strong supporting cast with Jeremy Harris, Nick Perkins, and some talented role players. The Salukis were briefly in the national spotlight with their near upset of Kentucky in which they gave the Cats everything they could handle. They have a very talented team as I highlighted above, with guys like Aaron Cook, Armon Fletcher, and Kavion Pippen. It should be a close one, but ultimately, I think Buffalo has a little but more talent and that pushes them over the edge.
Prediction: Buffalo 77-73 Southern Illinois
Utah @ Minnesota
Both teams enter at 1-0 as they look to have big years in their respective conferences. They weren't great last year, but each team figures to have their sites set on March this year. The Utes knocked off Maine in their opener thanks to a balanced scoring output. Donnie Tillman figures to lead them along with Sedrick Barefield. Those two will lead the charge against a good Minnesota team who defeated Omaha in their opener. Jordan Murphy is basically a walking double double, and Amir Coffey will lead the team from the wing. I think Daniel Oturu and Isaiah Washington will decide the game. If they play well, then Minnesota will be in good shape. If not, they could get knocked off at home.
Prediction: Minnesota 65-57 Utah
What I Saw
Western Kentucky @ Washington
- Both of these teams provided a blueprint on how to beat the 2-3 zone: get into the middle. While Western Kentucky was able to be effective by just gunning it from deep, they were most effective from deep after penetration on a drive and kick. The Huskies could barely make a shot from deep, so they were forced to go inside. Whether it's Jaylen Nowell penetrating or Noah Dickerson posting up, Washington was at their best around the rim.
- I watched this game knowing what happens in the next one for the Huskies, but I was still impressed by their defense. When they're at their best, they are tough to stop. They allowed just 19 points in the second half, and had 9 blocks and 6 steals as a team. Speaking of which, whenever Washington is in the open court, they are very good, and given how they create turnovers, they should be out their quite often.
- It's hard to watch this game and not see the potential of this Western Kentucky team. They were missing Auburn transfer Desean Murray, and had Dalano Banton and Josh Anderson in foul trouble all game, but they still looked good. The backcourt duo of Tavern Hollingsworth and Jared Savage showed lots of offensive potential, especially in the first half, and it's clear to see that Charles Bassey has tons of potential in the front court. As the season progresses, they should hit their groove and become a force to be reckoned with in Conference USA.
- One thing I'm worried about with Washington is their depth. They rely heavily on David Crisp, Jaylen Nowell, Matisse Thybulle, and Noah Dickerson, especially on the offensive end. Thybulle isn'y really an offensive threat outside of being slasher, so it's really on three guys. It's clear the reason the Huskies struggled in the first half was the lack of Dickerson thanks to foul trouble. They have Sam Timmins, who is a solid big, and guys like Dominic Green, Naz Carter, and Hameir Wright, who are intriguing pieces that fit well into the zone, but they need at least one of those guys to step up and be a consistent contributor.
Washington @ Auburn
- The thing that immediately jumped out to me about the Tigers was their intensity. I think the biggest deciding factor in this game was how much harder they played then their opponents. They were pressuring full court, getting every loose ball, forcing turnovers, and simply trying harder. They had 19 offensive rebounds, only 5 less than Washington had, and forced 18 turnovers. They should be a very good defensive team if they play like that every game.
- Not only will they be really good defensively, they're going to be great offensively. They have a super dynamic backcourt of Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, and Samir Doughty, who are all excellent scorers. They combined for 44 points, including seven threes. They also have Malik Dunbar off the bench, who contributed another 8 points. The front court is just as potent, with Chuma Okeke and Anfernee McLemore starting and Austin Wiley off the bench. The latter is a traditional, back to the basket post player with. a variety of low post moves, and the other two can step away and make threes, they combined for four makes from deep and Okeke was a perfect 3/3, or finish inside. There is such a variety of options that makes Auburn very dangerous on both ends.
- The more I watch Matisse Thybulle, the more I like him. He's not the best offensive player, but he's got an etherial quality to his game. He's so smooth when attacking the basket, which he is great at, and he's got a developing jump shot. But he really shines on the defensive end. He is currently tied for the NCAA lead in blocks (I'm writing this on Saturday night) with 8, and has 3 steals. His length is such a problem at the top of the zone, and he's excellent at finding the ball. I think he could really get some more national attention if his offensive game continues to progress.
Arkansas vs Texas (Armed Forces Classic, El Paso)
- I was very impressed with Arkansas in this one. Many projected them to be one of the worst teams in the SEC on account of them losing a lot of production last year. However, they cam out and played really well. There were certainly defensive losses and sloppy turnovers caused by inexperience, but they certainly surpassed my expectations. They competed at a high level and there are certainly some very talented players on the roster. Daniel Gafford is a possible lottery pick, and is going to be a problem for other teams thanks to his athleticism and shot blocking ability. Jalen Harris struggled in this one, but he can score the ball and has good vision. Adrio Bailey was also impressive with limited usage and should see a bigger role. I think Arkansas will be better than people think and they could be a team that steals a game from the elite in the SEC.
- I'm still worried about Texas this year. They really struggled especially on offense in this one, which is where I'm concerned about this team. They shot 31.3% from the floor and 32.3% from three. That's really bad, and this is a game they shouldn't have needed to be bailed out by a huge Kerwin Roach shot. When they attack the rim, they can be a pretty good team, but they seem content to settle and take threes or ill-advised shots. Texas went a stretch in the second half where they didn't make a field goal for roughly 10 minutes. They have a deep backcourt and they could improve, but I'm still in wait and see mode with the Longhorns.
- Two guys really stood out to me in this one: Isaiah Joe and Courtney Ramey. Joe could be one of the best players on the Razorbacks, and he showed why in this one. He was second on the team in points with 17, including knocking down 5 threes. He's an excellent shooter and his development is big for Arkansas. His floor spacing will be vital to give Daniel Gafford the space he needs to operate in the post. Ramey could be huge for Texas this year. He's a point guard and he could step into a big role immediately. He scored 10 points including 2 threes, and looked significantly better than Matt Coleman, who was a no-show in this one, not making a field goal in 8 attempts. I think Ramey could seize the starting point guard role sooner rather than later thanks to his good shooting ability and tough defensive play. These two freshmen should play big roles for their teams and I expect them to be good players now and in future years.
Southern Illinois @ Kentucky
- I don't think John Calipari knows what his best lineup is. I also think that the best lineup offensively is different than the best lineup defensively. I think the one name you can pencil into any lineup is Keldon Johnson. He's been leading the Cats in their two games so far on both ends, and he looks to be the emotional leader of the team as well. After his last performance, I think Nick Richards has to be in the best lineup as well. He had 19 rebounds, including 9 on the offensive end, and also recorded 3 blocks. After that, it's really a question mark. Immanuel Quickley is very good offensively, but Ashton Hagans is better on the defensive end, so one of them will need emerge as the star like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did last year. Quade Green looks like he should join them in the backcourt after Tyler Herro has been very disappointing. The power forward is also a mess, with Reid Travis and PJ Washington being unable to share the court thanks to their similar play styles, and I think EJ Montgomery should see a lot more minutes at that spot as well. Personally, I would go Quickley, Green, Johnson, Montgomery/Washington, and Richards, but Calipari needs to sort out his rotation if Kentucky wants to have success this year.
- The Salukis will be really good this year in the Valley. They can really shoot the ball well from deep, and their backcourt will cause problems this year. They were hurt by Armon Fletcher, their leading scorer last year, being in some foul trouble in this one, but they really gave Kentucky everything they could handle. They were forcing turnovers as well, and although they got massacred on the boards, they should be better against teams that don't have the insane size of Kentucky.
- Kavion Pippen stuck out in this one. The big man for Southern Illinois was so impressive because he looked very good against Kentucky's talented roster of big men. He had 16 points and 7 rebounds, which are good numbers in any game, but every more impressive given the opponent. He was also able to draw in the defense when he got the ball in the post and find open teammates on the perimeter. He's going to have a very good year this season, and don't be shocked if he and his teammates are dancing come March.
UNC Greensboro @ LSU
- The talk from this game is all about Naz Reid and Tremont Waters, and rightfully so. Those two are going to be a terrifying duo in the SEC. Reid, a freshman big, showed out in this one. He scored 29 points, including making 4 threes, and grabbed 7 rebounds. He's a very big body at 6'10" and 250 pounds, but he has an incredible amount of finesse to his game and is very skilled. He can play on the perimeter, which creates matchup nightmare. Waters is back for his sophomore year, and he's electric. He did it all for the Tigers, scoring 21 points, including making 2 of his 3 attempts from deep, dished out 10 assists, and picked up 6 steals. He was also instrumental in breaking the press they faced, as he could dribble through double teams or use his vision to find the open man. It's going to be very hard to stop this dynamic duo, and they are a big reason why I'm really high on LSU this year.
- What a game for the Spartans. They are going to be really good this season in the Southern Conference. Now, I don't expect them to make 57.6% of their shots from deep all year, but they are certainly a very good shooting team. Francis Alonso can stroke it, and so can Demetrius Troy and Kyrin Galloway, who made 8 of his 10 shots from deep in this one. They also have a very good pressing system that will create a lot of turnovers. They forced LSU into 17 turnovers in this one, in large part because of their traps.
- I normally like to highlight a player or two in this slot, and I certainly could. James Dickey is really good for UNC Greensboro, and Ja'vonte Smart was impressive for the Tigers. However, I want to talk about Wes Miller. He's one of my favorite coaches at the mid-major ranks. His pressing system is very effective and he's brought in some high quality players that fit the system perfectly. Dickey is an excellent example, He's an athletic 6'10" who is an excellent shot blocker and rim runner, which is all he needs to be. Miller, a former UNC player, is a name to watch in coaching searches, especially with Roy Williams not getting any younger.
Buffalo @ West Virginia
- I've got to start this off with CJ Massinburg. What a game he had. He scored 20 points in the last 5 minutes and overtime, including making a big three to send the game to overtime. He has an insane game, catching fire from deep going 9-15 from three, and dropping 43 points overall. He also had 14 rebounds, and he led his team to a big win. He didn't have a ton of support, given his teammates only made 2 threes on the night and the players who played over 20 minutes only shot 34% from the field. Massinburg put the team on his back and got Buffalo a top notch win.
- I think it would be pretty foolish to overlook how good West Virginia was in this game. They came out the gate hot, and the press looked pretty good without Jevon Carter. It certainly looked worse, but it was pretty serviceable and had Buffalo looking rattled. They also looked really good from deep, discounting Lamonte West jacking up 10 shots and he's a guy I'm not a huge fan of and I think he needs to learn his role. Sagaba Konate making 3 shots from downtown is pretty huge and if he can do that consistently, he's going to be really good. This team should be able to bounce back, but they'll need to improve their half court defense to do so.
- When watching this game, I was yelling at West and Esa Ahmad to stop shooting the ball. Those two took 29 shots, but made just 11. They were especially dreadful from deep, with West going 3-10 and Ahmad making none of his 4 attempts. I kept wanting to see more Beetle Bolden, who scored 21 points on just 9 shots, and giving more touches to Konate. I think the offense is still a work in progress and they need to figure out how they can score more efficiently, especially those two wings.
Ball State @ Purdue
- The Cardinals had some foul trouble in the front court, which was pretty huge. Tahjai Teague only played 22 minutes, while Brachen Hazen got 17. Those two started in the front court and are big pieces on both ends of the floor. Teague is an especially good defender and can take his man off the bounce, while Hazen is a stretch forward that gives the Cardinals more offensive capabilities. Without those two, they got dominated on the glass, getting 11 less rebounds than the Boilermakers. It also allowed Purdue to attack the rim more, which they are much better at, and Matt Haarms was great when he was on the court thanks to the lack of bodies in the paint. When those two are on the court, Ball State looked great, and they should be very competitive in the MAC this year.
- As for Purdue, the thing that stood out the most to be about their game was their defense. All night they seemed to be out and running in transition after a steal, and they forced Ball State into 18 turnovers. One individual standout was Nojel Eastern, who locked down Taylor Persons in the second half. While Persons scored 19 in the first half, he was held scoreless in the second thanks in no small part to Eastern's suffocating defense.
- There were a number of standouts in this one. For Purdue, Ryan Cline and Aaron Wheeler were noticeable. Cline didn't have the best game, going 3-12 from the field and 1-9 from deep, but he's got a good stroke and he's going to be a key floor spacer. He also contributed a team high 5 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds, and got 2 steals. He's going to be pivotal for Purdue as they look to replace a lot of production. Another big part will be Wheeler, a freak athlete who's going to provide some highlight reel plays this season. He's a very good leaper who got a few put backs, and has obvious potential on both ends. He can become a key contributor as the season progresses and he matures as a player.
- For Ball State, I was impressed with their two transfers, Hazen and KJ Walton. As I mentioned earlier, Hazen is a stretch four with a sweet stroke and he'll be very good in the MAC after transferring from Arkansas. Walton enters the program by way of Missouri, and he figures to be a star at this level. He's a superb athlete and he's more of a slasher, which compliments Taylor Persons perfectly. Those two are a very good backcourt, and these two should have Ball State towards the top of the conference this year.
Vanderbilt @ USC
- This game featured some excellent individual performances but they two that I saw were not so good. Neither team seemed interested in getting rebounds on the defensive end or making free throws in this one. The two teams combined for 40 offensive rebounds, with the Dores getting 19 and the Trojans grabbing 21. That's pretty awful by all accounts, although I think both can get better. For Vanderbilt, they are a very young team and their positional awareness should improve as they focus more on boxing out rather than just going up to grab the ball. For the Trojans, they were missing senior Bennie Boatwright to injury and he should help solidify the front line. They also had a collection of guards and wings on the floor at most times, while Vandy was trotting out two bigs. That put them at a pretty big disadvantage and they should improve versus smaller teams. As for the free throw shooting, the two teams combined to go 29-48, or 60.4%. I imagine Andy Enfield and Bryce Drew will have their teams taking a lot of shots from the line in their upcoming practices.
- It's impossible to talk about this game without talking about the 3 NBA prospect that were on the floor. Darius Garland and Simisola Shittu for Vanderbilt and Kevin Porter for USC looked like they weren't going to be in college next season. Garland for the most part was stellar, scoring 21 points with 3 threes and grabbed 5 rebounds. His shooting stroke looked great and he made a few plays that not many others in college basketball can make. Shittu was also excellent, with 14 points and 15 rebounds before he fouled out. He has the ability to grab and go off a rebound, which is crazy for a 6'10" 240 lb guy, and his ability to finish around the rim is excellent. He's going to be a stud this year and he's got some of the highest upside in the game. Speaking of upside, Kevin Porter might be on of the guys with the brightest futures in the country. He's a freak athlete and he showed it off with some nice dunks. He's also very skilled, making a three and scoring 14 points along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. He's one of the most electric players in college basketball in the open court, and if can stay out of foul trouble, he fouled out in this one after playing just 23 minutes, he'll fill up the highlight reels and the stat sheets.
Miscellaneous
- Cam Reddish looks like a legit shooter. He was really good versus Army, and there have been many that have said he's the guy with the highest ceiling on Duke's roster. I've been saying that floor spacing will be the Blue Devil's Achilles heel, and if he can be a consistent shooter from deep, he'll be huge for the team.
- How about Stony Brook? The Sea Wolves have started off 2-0 with a 22 points comeback win against George Washington and then a 83-81 victory over South Carolina. I thought they would be good and one of the better programs in the America East, but these results have Stony Brook looking like a team that could potentially be making a lot of noise in the conference.
- I've been pretty off the Loyola-Chicago bandwagon this offseason, but I didn't expect a loss to Furman. The Ramblers lost at home, and they didn't have many excuses. Cameron Krutwig was in a little bit of foul trouble, but outside of that, everyone was playing. They simply couldn't make shots, shooting just 37% from the field, and the bench, and area of concern for me, was dreadful, only getting 3 points. They'll need to improve as they have a tough conference schedule ahead of them.
- I've also been out on Texas A&M, and they lost at home to UC Irvine. The Aggies lose a ton of production, especially in the front court, and they are really going to struggle in the SEC. I know they didn't have Admon Gilder, but I'm not a fan of him, and I struggle to see them avoiding the bottom 3 in the conference.
- Yale went into Cal and got a win, which is big for the Ivy League. The top of that conference looks really good. The Bulldogs have some high quality talent with guys like Miye Oni, and they figure to be in a tough battle with Harvard and Penn at the top of the conference. The league has been getting better and better, and it could be a multi-big league in the near future.
- Ja Morant has been getting NBA buzz, and he showed why against Wright State. He dropped 26 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. Wright State isn't a slouch either, as they made the tournament out of the Horizon League last year, but Morant had his way with them. He'll be a player to watch all season as the Racers look to get back to March this year.
- The American Athletic Conference looks really bad. The preseason favorite UCF lost to FAU and SMU was knocked off at home by Southern Miss. Those are supposed to be two of the best teams in the conference, and losing these games has to be concerning for the entire conference.
A Look Ahead
Stanford @ North Carolina
The Cardinal head to Chapel Hill at 2-0, where they will face a tough Tar Heels team, also at 2-0. KZ Okpala has been showing out so far for Stanford, and he'll be huge in this game. If Stanford wants to win, he'll need to be locked in on both ends, along with Daejon Davis. It seems unlikely that those two will be able to lead their team over North Carolina, who are one of the best teams in the country. They are fresh off scoring 116 points at Elon, when they were led by Cameron Johnson and Nassir Little. They have a deep and talented team, with depth everywhere except point guard, and Coby White has been playing so well it doesn't really matter. They should be able to overwhelm the Cardinal in this one.
Prediction: UNC 84-66 Stanford
Buffalo @ Southern Illinois
Both of these teams have had strong starts to the year. Buffalo knocked off Saint Francis and West Virginia in Morgantown, impressive victories. CJ Massinburg was balling last time out, dropping 43 points on nine made threes and also getting 14 rebounds. He has a strong supporting cast with Jeremy Harris, Nick Perkins, and some talented role players. The Salukis were briefly in the national spotlight with their near upset of Kentucky in which they gave the Cats everything they could handle. They have a very talented team as I highlighted above, with guys like Aaron Cook, Armon Fletcher, and Kavion Pippen. It should be a close one, but ultimately, I think Buffalo has a little but more talent and that pushes them over the edge.
Prediction: Buffalo 77-73 Southern Illinois
Utah @ Minnesota
Both teams enter at 1-0 as they look to have big years in their respective conferences. They weren't great last year, but each team figures to have their sites set on March this year. The Utes knocked off Maine in their opener thanks to a balanced scoring output. Donnie Tillman figures to lead them along with Sedrick Barefield. Those two will lead the charge against a good Minnesota team who defeated Omaha in their opener. Jordan Murphy is basically a walking double double, and Amir Coffey will lead the team from the wing. I think Daniel Oturu and Isaiah Washington will decide the game. If they play well, then Minnesota will be in good shape. If not, they could get knocked off at home.
Prediction: Minnesota 65-57 Utah
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