Opinion: Is it March yet? What you've missed in college basketball so far this season
With the college football season in the rearview mirror — and Clemson as your national champion — it's time to catch up on what you've missed in college basketball and shift focus to March Madness.
*No. 2 Duke is incredible behind super freshmen Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett. Williamson and Barrett are candidates for national player of the year and are vying to become the No. 1 pick in this summer's NBA draft. Williamson (20.2 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game) has been a human highlight reel with his dunks, and Barrett (22.9 ppg) has given Duke a go-to scorer. But this Blue Devils team is most impressive because of how coach Mike Krzyzewski has fit all the pieces together — freshmen Cam Reddish and Tre Jones combine to give Duke an all-around arsenal.
The Blue Devils (12-1, 1-0) are the national title favorites because of talent and maturity despite their youth. However, the ACC, the country's deepest conference, will not make their path easy. An undefeated Virginia team, in particular, is scariest given the Cavs' motivation to rebound after a No. 16-over-No. 1 upset last March.
More: Virginia back at No. 1 in Paste BN Sports men's basketball coaches poll
*Michigan is the truth. The Wolverines weren't expected to be this good, having lost considerable talent from last year's national runner-up team. But here they are at 15-0, the latest win an impressive dumping of Indiana on Sunday.
What makes this team go? Coach John Beilein's defense that has the Wolverines third in the nation, allowing 55.6 points a game. Freshman Ignas Brazdeikis' dynamic play and consistent boosts from holdovers Charles Mathews and Jordan Poole also have paid dividends. The Big Ten has a handful of strong teams — Michigan State, Ohio State, the Hoosiers, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Maryland — so expect a Michigan team that comes out on top in the conference to garner an NCAA tournament No. 1 seed.
*The Pac-12 is just horrible. The league suffered the worst statistical December by a major conference in two decades, finishing with a .514 win percentage, which is telling considering many of the non-league opponents weren't from major conferences. UCLA fired coach Steve Alford after a dreadful loss to Liberty. Even a promising team like Arizona State followed up its huge win over Kansas with a loss to Princeton shortly after. Preseason top 25 team Oregon lost one of its best players, Bol Bol, to a season-ending injury. There are zero Pac-12 teams in the top 25, and only the Sun Devils have the non-conference credentials to re-enter the national equation anytime soon. Heck, even the MAC (Buffalo) has a top 25 team.
What's to come of the Pac-12 the rest of the way? Don't expect whichever team wins it all to get a top-five NCAA tourney seed. And if any Pac-12 teams are on the bubble, their ugly non-conference showing will not bode well.
*Kansas' pursuit of a 15th consecutive Big 12 title might be in jeopardy. The Jayhawks (12-2, 1-1) could have their work cut out for them to continue one of the most dominant streaks in sports. They most recently lost a critical conference matchup to an Iowa State team that has entered the equation for challengers to dethrone KU. They will also be redefining their identity midway through the season after losing All-America-caliber big man Udoka Azubuike to a season-ending injury.
Texas Tech is another team that's just as dangerous and Oklahoma, Kansas State, TCU and Texas all have solid rosters. Plus, it's not like playing at West Virginia is easy.
Kansas was the preseason No. 1 team because of a mix of experience (senior Lagerald Vick, 14.8 ppg), eligible transfers (Dedric Lawson, 18.6 ppg and 11.1 rpg) and top-tier freshmen (Quentin Grimes, 9.3 ppg, and Devon Dotson, 11.3 ppg). But the Big 12 gauntlet will test this team for when it really matters — with a goal of getting back to the Final Four.
*Tennessee looks like a No. 1 seed. The Volunteers (12-1) were a projected top 10 team heading into the 2018-19 season given their returning talent, but coach Rick Barnes' Volunteers have been even better than advertised. (Just take a 46-point win over Georgia on Saturday as evidence). Grant Williams (20.1 ppg) and Admiral Schofield (18.2 ppg) pace five players averaging double figures for a potent offensive attack. Tennessee's SEC slate won't get challenging until the final stretch when it faces threats Kentucky, Mississippi State and Auburn. As long as this group takes care of business in conference play, its non-conference credentials (which includes big win over Gonzaga) should give the Vols a No. 1 seed-caliber résumé.