College Basketball Is Back: Season at a Glance
There are far too many teams to cover them all so Sports Editor Will Lyons gives you some storylines, teams and players to watch this season.
The Usual Suspects
Kentucky — Great blend of talented freshmen and experience. Should be able to score with any team in the country with the only real question mark being the health and eligibility of the three talented 7 footers (Bradshaw, Ivisic, Ugonna-Oyenso) on the roster.
Duke — Returning super sophomores Tyrese Proctor and Kyle ‘Flip’ Filipowski sets Duke up for success. Add in an elite recruiting class and returning experience with Jeremy Roach and Ryan Young. Anything short of a Final Four will be a disappointment for Coach Scheyer.
Michigan State — Tom Izzo has his most talented team in recent memory. Key returnees A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker and Malik Hall will bring scoring and toughness to this Spartan team. With talented freshmen in Xavier Booker, Gehrig Normand, and the explosive Coen Carr. We have seen Coach Izzo put on master classes with less talent so the rest of the country should be on high alert.
UNC — The Tar Heels return a lot of experience and production in Armando Bacot and RJ Davis. Impact transfer Harrison Ingram brings some versatility at 6’7” with passing that is desperately needed in Chapel Hill. Expect Cormac Ryan’s shooting and Elliot Cadeau’s playmaking to give Hubert Davis his most balanced team to date.
Kansas — Returning Kevin McCullar Jr. and Dajuan Harris would be viewed as a big win by most programs, however we are talking about Bill Self and Kansas. They added the top player in the transfer portal in Hunter Dickinson (Michigan) the 7’1 center is a double double threat every time he steps on the court. Add in the scoring prowess of Harris and the versatility of McCullar Jr. you have a talented roster. Expect freshman Elmarko Jackson to be the X-factor for this team with loads of scoring ability and athleticism.
Villanova — Nova returns a solid core from last year’s team with Eric Dixon, Justin Moore, and Mark Armstrong from last year’s squad. If Armstrong takes the leap I expect him to take Nova will be far better than next season. The portal additions of Tyler Burton (Richmond), Hakim Hart (Maryland) and T.J. Bamba (Washington State give Nova Hart is an electric wing player (Hart) that makes plays on both ends of the floor. Burton should add significant depth in the painted area alongside Dixon, while Bamba should provide the backcourt with some firepower.
The Return of Rick Pitino and St John’s
Rick Pitino is one of the best coaches of all time. He has had success everywhere he has been and St. John’s won’t be any different. In the months since taking over he has completely reshaped the roster through the transfer portal and flipped 5 star guard Simeon Wilcher from UNC to St. John’s. In an era of legal NIL Coach Pitino is as dangerous as any coach in the country.
Returning arguably the best player in the conference in big man Joel Soriano (15.2 PPG, 11.9 RPG, while shooting 53.3% from the floor last season) was huge for the Red Storm and the expected lineup of Dannis Jenkins (Iona), Jordan Dingle (Penn), Nahiem Alleyne (VA Tech/UCONN), Glenn Taylor (Oregon State) and Joel Soriano should be a major threat in the Big East.
The bench will also feature talented transfers in Chris Ledlum (Harvard), Zuby Ejjiofor (Kansas), Rj Luis (UMASS) and former top 30 recruit Simeon Wilcher.
What does Memphis look like amid an influx of transfers and denied eligibility waivers?
Average age of 23 years makes them the oldest team of college basketball. Coach Hardaway hit the transfer portal hard and will have the most experience team during his tenure at Memphis. Rolling out a lineup of Jahvon Quinerly (Alabama), Caleb Mills (Florida State), Jaykwon Walton (Wichita State), David Jones (St. John’s), and Jordan Brown (Louisiana) should give the Tigers a chance to make some noise this season however the status of DeAndre Williams and high profile freshman Mikey Williams severely limit the depth and ceiling of this team.
Must see Freshmen
Ja’Kobe Walter, Wing Baylor — 6’5” scoring guard with tons of athleticism and three level scoring ability. Anticipate Scott Drew to help him improve on his efficiency in his one season of college basketball.
Stephon Castle, Guard UCONN — Big guard or wing that will be an impact player whenever he’s on the court. Very smooth player that uses changes in pace, his handle and size to create scoring opportunities.
Elmarko Jackson, Guard Kansas — Jackson is a big time athlete that can really score the basketball. Bill Self will need him to get comfortable right away with the dismissal of Arterio Morris. There will be big minutes available for the McDonald’s All-American during his expected lone season for the Kansas Jayhawks.
DJ Wagner, Guard Kentucky — Shifty scoring guard that plays with the ultimate chip on his shoulder despite his NBA bloodline. Consistent shooting and showcasing the ability to consistently run the point will be the keys for DJ.
Justin Edwards, Wing Kentucky — Edwards is a lanky wing with shooting and athleticism for days. His impact on both ends of the court will be the key to a deep run for the University of Kentucky.
Isaiah Collier, Guard USC — A point guard that’s built more like a running back. Collier is a cerebral point guard that gets down the court in a blur. His ability to score and create for others will make raise the outlook of a talented USC Trojan team.
Aday Mara, Big UCLA — The 7’3” Spanish big man is one of the most intriguing players in the country. The projected first round pick has a ridiculous wingspan that helps him compensate for limited explosiveness. With his height and size (242 lbs) Mara will be one of the most imposing prospects this season. Elite footwork and touch will set him apart in the PAC 10.
Omaha Billiew, Forward Iowa State — Very good functional athlete at 6’8” with touch out to the tree and versatile defensive ability. Expect Billiew’s versatility to be a huge plus for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Scotty Middleton, Wing Ohio State — Middleton is a rare case where he will make his impact on defense on day one. If the offense comes along (currently more of a play finisher and spot up shooter) you’ve got the makings of one hell of a player.
Elliot Cadeau Guard UNC Tar Heels— Cadeau is an electric playmaker. UNC was one of the worst teams as far as assist production last season and Cadeau is the player tailor made to remedy that issue. Simply put Cadeau is probably the passer UNC has had since Kendall Marshall.
Mackenzie Mgbako, Wing Indiana Hoosiers — 6’8” wing that projects as an impact three & D player. Improving his shot creation and motor will maximize his upside as one of the best players in his high school class.
Hannah Hidalgo, Guard Notre Dame — Gifted distributor and scorer that will help Notre Dame navigate the absence of Olivia Miles. Expect Hidalgo to be the ACC Rookie of the Year.
JuJu Watkins, Guard USC Trojans — Simply put JuJu is the one. A gifted scorer with size on the perimeter. Watkins has a polished offensive game as a multi-level scorer with winning pedigree.
Milaysia Fulwiley, Guard South Carolina — Fulwiley can score in bunches. She will immediately compete for the title of flashiest player in the country with high level passing skills and a deep repetoire of moves to get to her shot.
Mikaylah Williams, Forward LSU — Big time prospect that can simply produce in every facet of the game. Williams can score, defend and rebound at a high level and will force her way into the lineup for a deep LSU team.
Aaliyah Del Rosario, Center LSU — The rich get richer. On top of having Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow Coach Mulkey brings in 6'5" post player Aaliah Del Rosario. She is a highly skilled post that would probably average a double double if she wasn’t joining an already loaded front court.
Jadyn Donavan, Guard Duke — Uber athletic scoring guard that will be an immediate contributor for Coach Lawson and the Blue Devils. Her offensive ability is not all Donavan brings to the table as she can guard 1–3 making her even more valuable.
Zoe Brooks, Guard NC State — Super talented and somehow under the radar. Brooks is a big time scorer from New Jersey that can fill it up with a knack for getting to the rim or scoring in the mid range. Expect Brooks to score a lot of buckets during her time at NC State.
Super team in Women’s Basketball
Coach Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers return from a championship season even better than before. They return Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johson and bring in a star studded transfer portal class. Bringing in high scoring guard Hailey Van-Lith from Louisville (19.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.2 APG) and the dominant Aneeshah Morrow (25.7 PPG, 12.2 RPG at DePaul) bolster an already impressive roster.
The return of Paige Bueckers
Paige Bueckers is one of the most talented and advertised players in recent memory. The 2020–21 AP Player of the Year is returning from injury to give the already deadly UCONN Huskies even more firepower.
Caitlin Clark
Clark is the most dominant guard in college basketball in recent memory. Last season she led the University of Iowa to a runner up finish in the title game. If Clark is anywhere near last season’s averages of 27.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 8.6 APG from last season she will continue to be at the top of the player of the year conversation.
Conclusion — With the NBA and now College Basketball back in full swing it is a great time for Hoops fans. You can find a game any night of the week and can start scouting the next draft class or just enjoy things from a casual glance. Either way there is a ton of high level basketball to enjoy!
