NCAA Daily December 20-21

These did not get posted earlier, so in case people were interested, here were my columns for Monday and Tuesday last week:

December 19, 2011

If you were a fan of basketball, this weekend was absolutely fantastic. Not only did we get a nice little preview of what the NBA has in store for us, but the NCAA gave us some of the best of what non-conference competition has to offer. There were break out performances, upsets and clutch shots galore. Will try to highlight a few of the best in this Monday’s NCAA Daily:

(Kevin Duffy/Stamford Advocate)
Drummond Dominant in Latest UConn Victory

After what many deemed as a disappointing start to his freshman season, Connecticut’s latest 77-40 victory showed why people have high expectations for Andre Drummond. Granted, the victory came against the now 4-7 Holy Cross Crusaders, but Drummond finally seems to be coming into his own and had his best game as a collegian. This was the second game Drummond has played without a protective mask he had to wear due to obtaining a broken nose, with his being a much more effective offense force in both Connecticut wins. Against Holy Cross, the powerful big man went for 24 points while making 11-12 field goal attempts (91.7%), adding 8 rebounds plus 5 blocks in 31 minutes of play. To top it off, no fouls, no turnovers.

Many might write this off as being one good game against an inferior team, but I think it is starting to show just what Drummond can bring to the table. He is now averaging 9.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 3 bpg for guard heavy Connecticut. However, I believe that his numbers should continue to rise and that he will remain a force, even in the rugged Big East conference. The Big East is tough and Drummond should struggle at times. Luckily, he is 6’10 and 260 pounds (at least) and should be up for the physical play, not to mention providing menacing match-up problems with his out of this world athleticism. It is hard not to be excited about Drummond. He has been described as having a "low motor" and as much to passive, but the talent and physical gifts are omnipresent.

Jim Calhoun’s team is now 9-1 and for the first time this season, started the intimidating 4/5 duo of Drummond and Alex Oriakhi. They start two sophomore’s in the backcourt, Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb, while freshman DeAndre Daniels has been the starter on the wing. Freshman little man Ryan Boatright has been instant offense off of the bench while Roscoe Smith and Tyler Olander can each play multiple front court positions. Each seemed to play their roles to a tee in this latest victory, even with Lamb having an off game shooting the ball. This is a team that has two players currently atop the NBADraft.net 2012 Mock Draft and they are showing the nation that they may have what it takes to make a deep tourney run, or a possible run at a second NCAA title.

(Jason Franchuk/Daily Herald/CougarBlue.com)
#6 Baylor Blocks BYU’s Win Attempt

With Baylor ahead of home team BYU by 3 points, PF Brandon Davies 6’9 lined up for a potential game tying long range shot. Unfortunately for Davies, 5’10 Pierre Jackson swooped in to block the attempt as Baylor left Utah with an 86-83 win to move to 9-0 on the season. Perry Jones III was the star of the contest with a career high 28 points, showing a lot more aggression this season as Baylor’s go-to offensive player. Brady Heslip also chipped in 18 points on 6-10 3PT while Jackson added 13 points, 7 assists and the monumentally clutch rejection.

Despite Baylor’s length and athleticism, BYU managed to crush them on the glass 41-26. Davies was in fact the main catalyst until his rejected tying attempt and finished with 18 points and 13 boards. Jackson was almost the games scape goat as he missed the front end of a one and one attempt that could have possibly put the game out of reach, but he definitely redeemed himself. BYU still should have a lot to feel happy about for the teams prospects on their first season AJ (After Jimmer). Freshman Matt Carlino had 18 points in his college debut and seniors Charles Abouo and Noah Hartsock both had solid performances to keep them close against a very talented Baylor team.

(Darrell Bird/CatsPause.com)
Anthony Davis Developing in the Post For #3 Kentucky

Not to be outdone by Andre Drummond’s coming out game, Anthony Davis continued to impress during his freshman season at Kentucky. Davis scored 14 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and swatted 5 shots in an 87-62 win over Chattanooga. Doron Lamb and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 24 and 17 respectively, but Davis has been the Wildcat that people are dying to talk about.

He is still developing as a post player after a major growth spurt in high school took him from a guard to a now PF/C role, not to mention shooting him up to the top of his HS class rankings. But, as the season wears on, Davis is getting more and more comfortable with his back to the basket.

“It makes the game a lot easier when I stay low, hold your ground when they try to push you up,” Davis said. “If I stay low, I’ll be fine.”

The Wildcats certainly think that he will be as they still are considered one of the better teams in the nation. While Anthony Davis does not have Andre Drummond’s girth, he seems to be a freakish athlete in his own right and he had a much smoother transition to NCAA play. The debate on which of these players will be the first taken in the draft is sure to be one that rages on throughout this season. Right now, a majority seem to think Davis has a head start, but I believe once these two play against conference opponents, it should really get interesting.

(Brandon Castel/The-Ozone.net)
Ohio State Bests South Carolina Though Sully Suffers Setback

It was a bitter sweet victory for #2 Ohio State as they bested the South Carolina Gamecocks, 74-66, but lost star forward Jared Sullinger early in the game to a bone bruise on his left foot. This is yet another injury setback for Sullinger who missed time due to back spasms. The injury happened only 6 minutes into the game, when Sullinger was unintentionally kicked and limped to the bench.

He ended up leaving the arena for X-Rays, coming back in street clothes with a pair of crutches. It is unknown how serious the injury is, though Buckeyes coach Thad Matta seems to think it is not to severe. Ohio State leaned on sophomore forward Deshaun Thomas once again in Sullinger’s absence, as he finished with 30 points (perfect 11-11 from inside the arc) in the win.

(Ryan Fagan/Sporting News)
#1 Syracuse Holds Off NC State For Road Win

North Carolina State made a few runs to put a slight scare into the nations #1 ranked team, but Syracuse’s depth once again proved to be too much for their opponent. The Orangemen won the contest 88-72, with Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters doing what they could to put the game out of reach. Waiters, Cuse’s Sophomore 6th man, is showing that he may indeed be the teams most dangerous offensive weapon.

He had a team high 22 points and managed to show off his perimeter scoring along with the strength and athleticism that made him one of the top recruits in the nation in 2010. He seems to be embracing his role as the first player into the game, though in a close contest, he more than likely will be out there on the floor. Senior wing Kris Joseph is the teams leading scorer, not to mention adding 21 points of his own in this contest, but it appears that Waiters might be the player to go to when Syracuse needs offense.

NC State definitely was impressive in their own right, as the fans propelled them to keep Syracuse on their heels in the midway points of both halves. Senior CJ Williams had the game of his career with 25 points while sophomore Lorenzo Brown showed off his PG ability with 10 points, 13 assists and 6 rebounds. At times they seemed to stifle the Syracuse zone, but as the game wore on, mistakes and telegraphed passes killed them. Sophomore forward CJ Leslie is incredibly talented, but only played 25 minutes due to what was described as cramps and dehydration. Had Leslie been available for more action, the game might have been closer, but Syracuse definitely seemed to have the more complete team.

(CL Brown/The Courier-Journal)
Russ Smith’s Career High Propels #4 Louisville Past Memphis

Sophomore guard Russ Smith had a career high 24 points to lead seven double figure scorers for Louisville as they managed to hold on for a 95-97 win over Memphis. Louisville has been one of the better defensive teams in the nation and still held Memphis to fairly low percentage shooting, but the Tigers shot 43 foul shots on the game. Luckily, the Cardinals shot 40 of their own, shooting a better percentage and winning the turnover battle to fight off their persistent opponent.

Memphis sophomore Will Barton had yet another huge performance in a Tigers loss with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Despite his skinny frame, Barton is very aggressive and not afraid to fight down low. He has been the major bright spot for the 5-4 Tigers who were ranked near the top 10 to begin the year. They definitely seem to lack a post presence and the play of senior Wesley Witherspoon has to be deemed disappointing. Barton and fellow sophomore Joe Jackson are athletic talents, but the Tigers seem to still have difficulty in these close contests against tougher teams.

(Rachel George/Orlando Sentinel)
#13 Florida Roasts Future Conference Mate #22 Texas A&M

While these two teams may be playing in the same conference next year, Billy Donovan’s Gators showed the lower ranked Aggies they are still not on their level with a convincing 84-64 victory. Aggies junior Khris Middleton struggled for his 12 points as he shot 5-18 (27.8%) from the field before fouling out in 36 minutes. Florida’s leading scorer, as per usual, was Kenny Boynton with 22 points. But, freshman Bradley Beal has probably been Florida’s most complete player this season. Beal had 16 points and filled up the stat sheet with 4 rebounds, 3 helpers, 3 thefts and 2 blocks.

(Ed Graney/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Re-Awakening of Mike Moser Helps UNLV Upset #19 Illinois

After struggling in UNLV’s last 4 games, sophomore Mike Moser broke out of his funk with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 64-48 upset of previously undefeated Illinois. Still only .1 rebounds behind Rice’s Arsalan Kazemi for the nations lead, the former UCLA transfer finally played up to the status that made him one of college basketball’s best early season surprises. This is huge quality road win for the Mountain West Rebels and should look great on their resume for the NCAA Tournament if they have a strong conference record. DJ Richardson scored 19 points and grabbed 8 boards for Illinois in the loss and was the only Illini player to hit double figure scoring.

(Tony Krausz/The Journal Gazette)
Butler Scores Another Miracle Win on Andrew Smith’s Last Second Tip

The Crossroads Classic first contest was an incredible success as the inaugural showdown at Conseco Fieldhouse featured a down to the wire classic between Purdue and Butler. With the Boilermakers up 64-56 with 6:40 remaining in the game, they looked like they were thoroughly in control of the offensively challenged Bulldogs. However, with great defense and some smart play calling, Butler eventually took the lead 65-64.

Purdue’s Lewis Jackson missed the first of two free throws, tying the game with 10 seconds remaining and the ball in Butler’s possession. After a missed shot, Butler center Andrew Smith sank a put back with 1 second remaining. With Purdue unable to get a good shot off, Butler finished with a 67-65 win and another incredible contest for the highlight reels of Brad Stevens coaching career with the program.

(Tim Ethridge/Evansville Courier & Press)
Cody Zeller Keeps #18 Indiana Perfect

Indiana freshman Cody Zeller may not be the NBA prospect that some of his fellow first year big men are, but it is hard to say that any freshman has been more impactful on his team. Zeller had 21 points, 8 boards and a couple blocks to keep the Hoosiers a perfect 10-0 in their 69-58 victory over Notre Dame in the second match-up of the Crossroads Classic. While Notre Dame kept the game close, it seemed they had no answer for the freshman big man, who leads the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks, steals and field goal percentage. The Irish are undermanned in the post, but Zeller keeps doing work no matter who he is up against and may be having the best overall freshman year of anyone in the NCAA.

(Michael Lananna/The Daily Tar Heel)
Tyler Zeller Not Outdone By Younger Brother with Big Game for #5 UNC

Appalachian State coach Jason Capel had a solid return to the Dean Dome, as his team only lost 97-82 to North Carolina. His Mountaineers still made this a tougher win for the Heels than UNC coach Roy Williams would have liked, which has to be a decent consolation for coming up short. Tyler Zeller led the way for the Tar Heels as the center had 31 points and 10 rebounds.

“Nothing can prepare you for a seven-footer running that fast,” Capel said. “It’s just impossible to do.”

Still have to give Capel props for trying.

(Tom Enlund/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/Sacramento Bee)
Todd Mayo Fills In Admirably For DJO in #11 Marquette Win

In yet another major weekend performance by a freshman, Todd "OJ’s Brother" Mayo scored a team high 22 points as the Marquette Golden Eagles crushed Northern Colorado, 93-72. The Golden Eagles were without leading scorer Darius Johnson-Odom, who was suspended one game for breaking team rules. Mayo has been a major spark plug off of the bench for Marquette and seems to be making a name for himself, beyond his famous older sibling. Golden Eagles senior PF Jae Crowder was his usual solid self with 19 and 11 in the win.

(Kellis Robinett/The Kansas City Star)
Kansas State Scores Upset Win Over #23 Alabama

The Kansas State Wildcats continued their solid early season play with a 71-58 victory over the ranked Crimson Tide of Alabama. NBADraft.net forum legend JNixon-Iggy9 is a notorious fan of Frank Martin’s team and had to be loving this victory in getting the Wildcats some credibility after losing some key players from last season. 7 foot junior Jordan Henriquez had a career performance with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while senior Jamar Samuels triggered a late run that helped K-State survive a tough shooting start. The Wildcats are now 7-1, as Alabama’s JaMychal Green’s 20 point and 9 rebound performance was one of the few bright spots in this tough Crimson Tide road loss.

(Brandon Marcello/Clarion Ledger)
#17 Mississippi State Now At 10 Straight Wins

After a disappointing early season loss to Akron, Mississippi State held on for their 10th win in a row over Detroit, 80-75. The Bulldogs imposing front court combination of junior Arnett Moultrie and Renardo Sidney did damage, with 17/13 for the former and 16/7 for the latter. Bulldogs Freshman Rodney Hood made a key jumper near games end to put things out of reach. Mississippi State has some solid guards and athletes, but if they expect to compete with the nations best, their size with Moultrie and Sidney will be their greatest attribute. It would be hard to come by two bigger, more talented players than those two, at least from a stand point of having some weight to back it up.

(Ryan Divish/The News Tribune)
Lorenzo Romar Finds UW Loss to South Dakota State, "Unacceptable"

The Washington Huskies continued their string of erratic play in a 93-72 home loss to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The Huskies were burned by Jackrabbits guard Nate Wolters, who had 34 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the 10-4 teams "upset" over the now 5-5 UW. Wolters played the entire game and did not commit a single turnover, garnering high praise from the opposing coach.

“I haven’t seen a performance like that since Jason Kidd was in the then Pac-10 when he controlled the entire game,” Romar said. “ … I thought it was an awesome performance. One of the best performances by a point guard I’ve ever seen at this level.”

Despite the continued strong scoring provided by Washington freshman Tony Wroten Jr., who finished with 23 points, UW was burned from the perimeter, outshot at the foul line and could not come back from a sluggish start. The Huskies were missing center Aziz N’Diaye due to injury, but they are a much too talented team to lose games like this at home. Nate Wolters obviously is a great player, but with the talent on the Huskies roster, I am not surprised that their coach was incredibly heated.

(Vahe Gregorian/STLToday.com)
#9 Mizzou Gets 30 Bench Points From Michael Dixon, Stay Undefeated

The Missouri Tigers have not played the toughest early season schedule, but they certainly seem to look the part of a national contender as they keep crushing the competition. Their latest 94-56 whupping of William & Mary had 6th man Michael Dixon scoring a career high 30 points for the nations 2nd leading scoring offense. In what was a slow day for usual scoring leader Marcus Denmon, Dixon stepped up, Kim English scored 17 points and Ricardo Ratliffe shot 5-6 for the Tigers. Other than Denmon’s slow day, this has become the norm for this team. Bring on the Big 12.

(RJ Young/The Oklahoma Daily)

Steven Pledger Putting Up Numbers For Surprise Oklahoma

After a couple of down seasons in Norman after the departure of current NBA star Blake Griffin, the Sooners are coming back with a vengeance this season. Coach Lon Kruger is looking to turn the team around and his star thus far has been junior guard Steven Pledger. The 6’4, 220 pound Virginia native had 31 points on 10-13 FG, 4-5 3PT and 7-7 FT in a 79-74 win over Houston. He is averaging 19.5 ppg on the season for the 8-1 Sooners while shooting over 60% from the field and over 50% from long distance. Definitely a player to watch, as Oklahoma has become a team to watch behind his solid play.

(Nick Wilke/knightnews.com)
Keith Clanton/Marcus Jordan Combo Doing Wonders For UCF Knights

The University of Central Florida Knights overcame a slow start to beat the Old Dominion Monarchs, 61-53. The teams leading scorer on the season is Michael Jordan’s younger son, Marcus Jordan, while his elder son Jeff also plays on the team. But, the teams star is burly junior PF Keith Clanton, who had 23 points and 16 boards in this latest contest.

Clanton is a stat sheet stuffer, averaging solid numbers across the board. While you might want to see him shoot a slightly higher percentage from the field and line, he has shown he has decent range and can stretch the floor. He seems to be a more likely NBA prospect than either of the Jordan boys, though he is undoubtedly greatful for their help in the team being 8-2 on the year.

(Shannon Russell/Cincinnati.com)
#8 Xavier Loses Suffers First Loss Without Suspended Stars

Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons and Dezmine Wells were all unavailable for Xavier’s tilt yesterday with Oral Roberts. Without the three starters, the Musketeers suffered an embarassing 64-42 loss to the Golden Eagles, their first of the season and their lowest point total in 11 years. The three starters were sidelined due to a brawl that took place in their game against rival Cincinnati. The return of star PG Holloway should help in Xavier’s next game, but Lyons and Wells still will be sidelined as Xavier takes on scrappy Long Beach State on Thursday.

(Sameer Bhuchar/The Daily Texan)
Myck Kabongo Keeps Improving For Texas

The Texas Longhorns had a solid home victory over tough Atlantic-10 opponent Temple, winning 77-65. Junior guard J’Covan Brown scored 23 points to lead the team and they got another solid performance out of freshman PG Myck Kabongo. The 6’1 lightning fast Canadian import was seen as one of the top PG’s in last years HS Class, but struggled with turnovers and poor shooting to begin the season. In Texas’ last few games, however, Kabongo has been living up to expectations as a talented floor general. He had 18 points as the Longhorns are now 8-2. Next up will be a major test against North Carolina. We will see if Kabongo can continue his recent play, or if UNC brings to life his early season struggles.

(Bob Clark/The Register-Guard)
Virginia Beats Oregon at Matt Knight Arena

Despite taking a lead into the half, the Oregon Ducks could not hold off the Virginia Cavaliers as they lost, 67-54. The loss was indeed reminiscent of the Ducks loss to the Cavaliers last season in Virginia, though this time hurt a bit more being at home. Mike Scott continues his strong senior season for coach Tony Bennett’s Cavs as he finished with a game high 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Virginia is now 9-1 on the season and look to be one of the fringe teams in the ACC behind Duke and North Carolina. The Ducks now move to 6-3 on the year, led by senior guard and Minnesota transfer Devoe Joseph with 16 points. Joseph has averaged 15.7 ppg in his first three games at Oregon and may become the Ducks primary scoring option in conference play.

That is all for today, I know I even missed a few big performances. Shout out to New Mexico’s Drew Gordon for his 20 rebounds against Oklahoma State and to Oakland’s Reggie Hamilton for putting up 41 in a narrow victory over Valparaiso. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season, I will be back with more on the state of college basketball tomorrow!

December 20, 2011

Greetings college basketball fans! After a weekend full of exciting match-ups, Monday sent us into overdrive! Once again, here is NCAA Daily to give you the latest news:

(Bret Strelow/Fayobserver.com)

#5 North Carolina Trounces Nicholls State

It was the Tar Heels versus the Colonels last night, but it might as well have been the North Carolina Angry Lions taking on the Nicholls State Wounded Zebras. UNC rolled to a 99-49 victory, at times looking like they were in a different stratosphere than their opponents. It took them a while to get rolling, but once they did, it was a massacre. North Carolina outrebounded their opponents 69-33, ran transition breaks to perfection and spiked rival shots like volleyballs. This was the type of game that really helps roll out the similes.

Dexter Strickland was the only North Carolina starter to score in double figures as he was given the benefit of some nice three on one finishes, not to mention utilizing his obvious speed advantage. But, this game gave us a chance to see a lot of North Carolina’s subs in action. James Michael McAdoo only played 17 minutes, but for much of them he was a more focal part of the offense.

He tied Strickland with a team high 14 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. McAdoo was hyped as possibly being the best NBA prospect on North Carolina, even while playing a bench role. It seems the NBA is likely in his future, but he does still need to develop his body and could be even more aggressive near the basket. His release on his shot is high and very difficult to defend, while he obviously has more of a post game than many peers his own age. Still, I think another year in college would highlight his eventual qualities as a combo forward. He definitely seems like more of a 4, but his position is yet to be determined.

John Henson dominated the boards and was the leader of the UNC SWAT team with 7 blocks. He has developed quite well and should be a mid first round to late lottery pick. Tyler Zeller was impressive running the court and also finished with double digit boards. Harrison Barnes at times looked dominant, but settled for too many jump shots rather than attacking. Guess it is difficult to blame him, but his handle still needs work. Kendall Marshall had some brilliant dishes and nice drives, though he is not a top flight athlete. Still a very smart player. Finally, if UNC is going to win the NCAA title, as many predict, Reggie Bullock and PJ Hairston will play nice roles. Both are solid shooters that know how to score.

(Glenn Guilbeau/Shreveport Times)

LSU Hands #10 Marquette First Loss

Playing in front of the home crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU showed flashes of the old Pistol in their 67-59 defeat over #10 Marquette. LSU coach Trent Johnson, thought to be on the hot seat, had his biggest win in his Tigers career knocking off a powerful Golden Eagles team that had been undefeated and on a roll. Sophomore guard Ralston Turner led the way for LSU, scoring 22 points including clutch buckets that ultimately sealed the game for the Tigers.

Despite solid performances from Marquette’s two star players, seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, Marquette received limited offense otherwise and only 4 points from their usually potent bench. LSU outshot the Golden Eagles 53.5%-36.2% from the field, overcoming losing the turnover battle 18-14. Trent Johnson is off to an 8-3 start and this game could very well save him his job. He has gone 5-27 and finished in last place these past two seasons in the SEC, hopefully this game marks a turn around for the Tigers.

(J. Brady McCollough/McClatchy Newspapers)

Davidson Latest Mid-Major To Shock #12 Kansas

Kansas has had their share of disappointment against smaller schools the last few years. In 2010, a powerhouse Kansas squad lost to Northern Iowa in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Virginia Commonwealth showed another stacked Kansas team the door. Now, Davidson joins the list after barely losing to Kansas 59-57 after a Stephen Curry game winner came up wide right in the Elite Eight. Monday night was sweet redemption for the Davidson Wildcats as they beat Kansas, 70-64.

The game was at a "neutral" location, though seeing as this location was the Sprint Center in Kansas City, safe to say their were a few more Jayhawks fans in the audience. Nonetheless, Kansas was clearly not the same team they usually are at Phog Allen Field House, as Davidson played the aggressor, much to the chagrin of Jayhawks coach Bill Self.

"I don’t know if you take as much from this game as those other games," Self said. "Because this team’s not that good," Self said of Kansas. "That wasn’t an upset tonight."

Nik Cochran led the Wildcats with 21 points coming on only 6 field goal attempts(!). They staved off junior Jayhawks PF Thomas Robinson, who still finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds. Tyshawn Taylor, who had surgery only 8 days before, came back with 15 points and 7 assists, but he did not get rid of his turnovericitis (always tough to do), finishing with 5 on the game.

(Eric Martin/IndyWeek.com)

#7 Duke Massacres UNC Greensboro

In another contest that stated close for a while and than turned into a slaughter, Duke dropped NC Greensboro 90-63. The brothers Plumlee each grabbed 13 rebounds, something they coordinated before the game. Mason, however, told Miles that he would do the scoring, as he finished with a game high 15 points. The freshman seemed to shine for Duke, as Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook each had 14, while Mike Gbinije finished with 8 points on perfect shooting from the field and line. Duke’s only loss on the season is to #2 Ohio State, as they are 10-1. It would be a shock if they had more than one loss heading into ACC play.

(Stephen Hawkins/AP/Miami Herald)

#6 Baylor Thrashes Paul Quinn

Yes, they played against a person rather than a team. Quincy Acy used this advantage for scoring 24 points. 7 dunks, out of Baylor’s 17 on the night. Paul Quinn was indeed a team, but they were from the NAIA. Basically Baylor was Walter Sobchak and Paul Quinn was Donny in Big Lebowski terms. They were out of their element! Quinn had two players of their 9 players over 6’2, the tallest being 6’6. Meanwhile, Baylor used the fact that they had 8 players as tall or taller than Quinn’s big man to win 95-54. The Bears are now 10-0 and are returning to regular NCAA competition.

(Kevin Bowen/Indiana Daily Student)

Is #17 Indiana Underrated?

I believe that this 11-0 team is not getting the props that they deserve. I have no ties to the Hoosiers, but after watching them beat Kentucky and seeing their roster in action, it is a wonder they are not getting more love in the rankings. They destroyed Howard by a 107-50 margin last night. I know that score differential is not necessarily always the best indicator, especially against a 3-9 team like Howard, but these guys just keep doing work.

Rankings are not necessarily the end all be all, but I am surprised that Tom Crean’s Hoosiers are not getting more love. The Kentucky win in itself was a major accomplishment and they have still yet to lose. Big 10 play will of course be an indicator of where they end up being ranked, but for the time being, I do not know how one could say 16 teams have been better than Indiana. Honestly, even 10 teams would be a stretch. Well, they should move up after a few upsets, but if they beat Michigan State on the road in their first conference game, this team will have to get props.

(Patrick Marshall/Whiteandbluereview.com)

Doug vs. Damian For the NCAA Scoring Title?

We are still early in the season, but two players are emerging as possible NCAA scoring leaders. Weber State junior guard Damian Lillard had 28 points last night, keeping him in first place currently averaging 25.7 ppg. Right behind him is Creighton sophomore Doug McDermott, whose 35 points moved him up to 25.2 ppg. Conference play gives the advantage to Lillard, as it is easier to dominate the Big Sky as opposed to the Missouri Valley Conference.

Still, McDermott’s early season performance is very impressive. After almost leading the Bluejays to a CBI championship last year, #23 Creighton looks to have NCAA Tournament aspirations. McDermott’s father, Greg, is the teams coach and I am not sure their has been a father son combo competing for the scoring title since Press and Pete Maravich. Another little known fact is, Doug played on the same HS team as Harrison Barnes. Barnes is obviously a fantastic prospect in his own right, but now we know he was not the only reason his HS team was so formidable.

(Danielle Chilton/KentuckySports.co)

Terrence Jones May Miss Samford Game

#3 Kentucky may be without starting forward Terrence Jones for tonights game against Samford. The sophomore dislocated his finger in Saturday’s contest against Tennessee-Chattagnooga, limiting him to 10 minutes. Wildcats coach John Calipari said that if Jones did not practice before the game, he would not start in the game tonight. Look for senior Darius Miller to likely take his spot, as the Wildcats pretty much have 6 starters. Freshman Kyle Wiltjer should also see more time, as he did when Jones went down on Saturday.

(Bill Pollock/Missourinet.com)

Jabari Brown Transferring To Missouri

The saga finally ended for good yesterday as Jabari Brown decided on Missouri as his new school. Brown was one of the top rated SG’s in this years incoming freshman class, but decided to transfer from original school Oregon after only two games. Frank Haith picks up a player that should fit in wonderfully to his line-up, as three of his starting guards are seniors. Though I feel like Missouri and Oregon are incredibly similar in style, I hope Brown finds his place and does well for Mizzou when he becomes eligible December 2012.

(AP/Channel3000.com)

Jared Sullinger To Play Tonight Against Lamar

Despite a bone bruise on his left foot that he suffered on Saturday, coach Thad Matta has insisted he expects Jared Sullinger to be in action for tonights match-up with Lamar. Sullinger, a returning All-American and pre-season favorite for National Player of the Year, missed some games due to back spasms and suffered the injury against on an inadvertent play against South Carolina. We will see if the big man is looking like his normal self, finally calming the concerns of Buckeyes fans everywhere.

(Todd O’Brien/CNNSI.com)

The Todd O’Brien Story

This story is more than likely going to become viral, as Todd O’Brien writes an expose (expo-zay, I do not have accents) on his battle to play basketball for his last season of eligibility. The 7 footer started his career at Bucknell, than sat out a transfer season before ending up at St. Joseph’s. He sat out the required year before playing two seasons for Hawks coach Phil Martelli. As he had earned enough credits to graduate in the summer, he was told about an initiative that let grad students transfer to different schools to fulfill their degree without having to sit out.

O’Brien was apprehensive at first, as he did not necessarily want to be seen as "that guy" who had played at three different schools, but he finally decided it was what was best for him. Martelli had limited his playing time as a junior and he felt that a change of scenery for grad school might be what was best. When he finally told the coach, his response was definitely not what he had expected. This unfortunate clash of both has led the big man to sit and wait things out at UAB while his former school has refused to grant his release without giving valid reason.

This article may not be seen as a great injustice, but I feel that O’Brien is speaking from the heart. He is the first student athlete ever denied the ability to play at a different school as a graduate student and it seems to be for no good reason. To make matters worse, the NCAA has done nothing to help him in this process and sticking to their fairly outdated rules that claim the school, in this case St. Joseph’s, has the final say. Todd O’Brien has yet to play and is sitting on the sidelines waiting for a release that looks like it will not come. Just wish that if St. Joseph’s does not finally step up and do the right thing, the NCAA, a committee supposedly trying to look out for student athletes, would finally step up to the plate.

That is all for today good readers! I want to wish a Happy Channukah to all celebrating and a Happy Holidays to everyone. Will hit you all up with more of the latest NCAA Basketball news on tomorrow’s NCAA Daily!