Another week of college basketball is behind us, as we inch closer to conference play in the Big 12. It was another relatively slow week in college basketball as almost all schools are now on winter break. There were a few good games this week, but most teams are at the softest portion of their schedule. Dominant performances were hard to come by, as many top players saw shortened minutes because of blowouts. For that reason, we will be going a little under the radar for our player of the week.
Player of the Week
Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State
Jeffrey Carroll had a great week for an Oklahoma State team that defeated a very good Wichita State team. Carroll is not the usual suspect from the Cowboys to put up points, but he did just that in an important game against the Shockers. Carroll scored 22 and added five boards, both of which tied Juwan Evans for the team lead. Carroll also tallied 18 points earlier in the week in a blowout over Arkansas – Pine Bluff. He has had a bit of a breakout year, and has flown under the radar thanks to Evans and Phil Forte. Carroll has over doubled his scoring average, increasing it from 8.2 points per game to 16.5 points per game. He’s also scored only 66 total points less than he did through all of last year, doing so in about one third of the minutes he played last year. His rebounding has also increased from four per game to 7.3 per game. Carroll is averaging 2.5 minutes less than he received last year, but has increased production almost across the board. The most impressive increase, and the most important in his increase in scoring, is his three point shooting percentage, which sits at 45.9 percent. Carroll has developed into a key cog in a high powered Cowboys’ offense that is fourth in division one with 93.5 points per game. Carroll’s development as a quality third scoring option has given space to Evans and Forte when they’re on the floor together. He could be very important if Oklahoma State would like to make a run in conference play this year.
Who’s Hot
Bob Huggins, West Virginia
Yes, this spot also went to a head coach last week, but Bob Huggins managed to one up the accomplishment of Bill Self last week. Like Self, Huggins did it at the expense of the UMKC Kangaroos in a blowout victory. Huggins won his 800th game as the Mountaineers dominated the Kangaroos from the opening tip, 112-67. He became only the 20th head coach ever to capture 800 victories, which is a testament to his coaching acumen, and his longevity. Huggins is a coach that I have long underestimated, and the season the Mountaineers is having shows how great of a coach he is. Thanks to his pressing defensive style, West Virginia is 9-1 entering the week, with their only loss being a narrow four-point loss to Temple. Huggins has steered the team to this record, even though they lost last year’s leading scorer and leading rebounder, another testament to Huggins’ ability. The Mountaineers performance against UMKC was very fitting given the circumstances. They utilized Huggins’ press to suffocate the Kangaroos and cruise to victory. Eight different players registered a steal, while three players accumulated at least three steals. Huggins doesn’t have the flash that Self does, with number one overall picks and national championships, but he has been able to consistently produce NCAA tournament teams throughout his career, reaching the big dance 22 times. Huggins has the Mountaineers on track to not only reach the tournament, but to be in the discussion for the Big 12 regular season championship. He is heading one of only a few teams in conference that could knock Kansas off of their throne.
Who’s Not
Khadeem Lattin, Oklahoma
Khadeem Lattin and the Oklahoma Sooners would be the biggest disappointment in the early third of the season if not for their Red River rivals, the Texas Longhorns. The Sooners have stumbled their way to a 6-4 start to the season. The start would be less of a concern, especially since they have no very bad losses, if not for the play of Lattin, who is the team’s best defender, and was expected to see a large uptick in his offensive stats thanks to the departure of All-American guard Buddy Hield. Lattin has only increased his scoring to 9.4 points per game and has seen his turnovers increase from .8 per game to 1.7 per game. Lattin’s biggest issue continues to be defending without fouling. For as high-level of a defender as he is, Lattin struggles to stay out of foul trouble, averaging three per game and this week was the perfect example of that. Facing Memphis, Lattin picked up two quick fouls and was relegated to the bench for the rest of the first half. He then picked up a third in the second half, essentially ending his night. He only tallied nine minutes for the sooners in the overtime loss to the Tigers. Lattin is still playing well defensively, averaging 2.1 blocks per game and 1.9 steals per game, but his fouling is putting the Sooners’ season, and his future NBA career, in jeopardy. If Lattin has any hope of being drafted, he has two options. His first option is developing an offensive game to match his defensive one, which is highly unlikely given his lack of progress on the offensive end up until this point. His second option is more likely to occur. Lattin must tighten up his defensive ability to the point where he is a shutdown defender and must learn to box out and rebound at a much better rate. That is his easiest path to being drafted. Unfortunately, with his current play, Lattin has not been doing his draft stock any favors.
Projected Top Five Teams at Season’s End
This week we revisit our season preview and reassess where teams stand as we inch closer toward conference play. Play up until this point will be taken into account, as well as any injuries and unexpected development of players.
(Preseason projections in parentheses)
5. Iowa State Cyclones (4)
Iowa State has started at 7-3 and not done much to change my preseason projection of where they’ll finish. Monte Morris continues to play very well for the Cyclones and will attempt to continue that as the season progresses. Their slight drop is more because of the play of the next two teams, rather than their own.
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9)
What a start for Brad Underwood and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. This was a team that I projected to finish near the bottom of the conference this year, and to this point, they have played like an NCAA tournament caliber team. In the preseason I said that Jawun Evans and Underwood could see the big dance by Evans’ senior year. That could happen much sooner than I ever projected.
3. West Virginia Mountaineers (7)
I noted earlier that Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers have exceeded expectations, and they have done so to a level that puts them in contention for a Big 12 regular season title. West Virginia continues to wreak havoc on opposing offenses with their press forcing 26.1 turnovers per game. That is good for first in the NCAA, with a 5.46 advantage over the field. The Mountaineers look to once again make a run for the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament.
2. Baylor Bears (3)
The Baylor Bears look like one of the best teams in college basketball this season and could challnge the Jayhawks incredible string of Conference titles. Lead by Johnathan Motley and his 15.9 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game, the Bears are undefeated, sitting at 11-0 with one game to play before conference play begins. Baylor has reached their eleven victories with one of the most impressive resumes to this point, with wins over Louisville, VCU, Michigan State, Oregon, and Xavier. While they have yet to be challenged by a legitimate Final Four level team they should be able to give Kansas a real test and possibly dethrone them for Conference champions.
1. Kansas Jayhawks (1)
The Jayhawks have only suffered one loss up until this point, a four-point overtime loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in their first game. They have been lead by Frank Mason and his play will only be supplemented by the continued development of ultra-talented freshman Josh Jackson. Bill Self has his Kansas team rolling, with a big early season win over Duke to help boost a resume that will almost assuredly land them on, or at least near, the number one seed line on Selection Sunday. While it’s tmpting to project Baylor at one, there’s a reason KU has won 12 straight conference titles, their coaching and fan base usually tip the scales in their favor.