Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Hoops HQ Fast Break. This will be a weekly forum in which we ask our experts to answer some burning questions from around the sport. We’ll be having regular installments of our Women’s Fast Break as well.
Today’s panel includes Seth Davis, Hoops HQ’s Editor-in-Chief; Alex Squadron, Hoops HQ’s Staff Writer; Jeff Goodman, Co-Owner of Field of 68; Chris Dortch, the longtime editor of Blue Ribbon Yearbook; and Rapheal Davis, a Hoops HQ Social Correspondent and analyst at Big Ten Network. Let’s run:
Gonzaga obliterated Baylor Monday night. Yes, it’s only one game, but is there reason to believe that this may finally be the Zags’ year?
Seth Davis: As far as I can tell, pretty much every year is the Zags’ year. I don’t want to overreact to just one game, but I don’t want to under-react, either. That was a big-time whoopin’ they put on a very good Baylor team. We’ve talked a lot about how much Mark Few brought back from the group that reached the Sweet Sixteen, but it’s apparent that the transfers he signed are going to be major contributors as well. Khalif Battle (the guard from Arkansas) and Michael Ajayi (wing from Pepperdine) give Gonzaga a physical, athletic presence that Few’s teams have sometimes lacked. I’ve long said it’s only a matter of time until Few breaks through and wins that elusive first title. It wouldn’t shock me in the least if this is the team to do it.
Goodman: I mean, I think Gonzaga is one of the 10-12 teams that have a shot. But let’s still remember that the Zags brought back their core and Baylor’s top three guys are newcomers. This could be more of an indication that the Bears aren’t as powerful as we thought, or at least not yet. Gonzaga is really balanced, but I wouldn’t put them in Kansas or Alabama’s class.
Dortch: It’s far too early to tell, and I wish the Zags had hard-luck Steele Venters, who would be their Dalton Knecht if he could ever get healthy. (He’s out for the season because of an Achilles injury.) But this is a team that has deep NCAA Tournament run written all over it.
Squadron: I’ve been watching V.J. Edgecombe’s poster dunk on repeat, but I won’t let that distract me from the big picture here. To answer your question, yes, there is definitely reason to believe this might be Gonzaga’s year. The Bulldogs’ are loaded with talent, experience and depth, and their chemistry is obvious, which is to be expected considering six of the top seven players from last season are back. On Monday night, the Zags had 25 assists and shot 57 percent from the field and 42 percent from three.
Rapheal Davis: Although the Baylor win was huge, let’s remember the Zags are a couple weeks out from giving up 96 points to USC in an exhibition loss. I worry about their ability to defend the ball, as well as their interior defense and rebounding. To me, the game said more about how heavily dependent Baylor’s success will be on freshman guard VJ Edgecomb.
The other game between ranked teams Monday was Ohio State versus Texas. The Buckeyes looked pretty impressive in leading wire to wire. How optimistic should Ohio State fans be?
Seth Davis: Given that the Buckeyes missed the last two NCAA Tournaments, I’d say the fans should be damn near delirious. Jake Diebler absolutely crushed it in the portal and his stud freshman guard John Mobley (14 points, 4 of 4 from three) showed up big-time. They won this game without getting any production from sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw, the transfer from Kentucky. Bruce Thornton showed he’s one of the top point guards in the Big Ten (20 points and five assists). It remains to be seen how high Ohio State’s ceiling is, but if this team stays healthy I would be shocked if it doesn’t at least get back into the tourney.
Goodman: The Buckeyes have terrific guards, but Diebler will need Bradshaw to be consistent this season. Bradshaw and Sean Stewart (transfer from Duke) are going to have to give the Buckeyes something on offense. Texas was also without a couple of guys. But I like Ohio State’s perimeter players, and this Mobley kid is one of the under-the-radar freshmen to watch. Diebler has been raving about him all off-season.
Dortch: Very. The game continued the Buckeyes’ late-season 2023-24 run under Diebler, who took over under the worst of circumstances and let OSU to an 8-3 record and a trip to the NIT quarterfinals. Looks like he’s a coaching natural.
Squadron: It’s important to note that Texas was missing Tramon Mark, the 6-foot-5 senior transfer from Arkansas (ankle), but Ohio State fans should still be very excited about their squad. The starting backcourt is no joke, and I’m also keeping an eye on Mobley. The dude has crazy range and the confidence of an established vet.
Rapheal Davis: Ohio State fans should feel confident that Coach Diebler is the right guy. Defense has been the Buckeyes’ Achilles heel the past few seasons, but that seems to be addressed for now. OSU held Texas to 36 percent from the field and 25 percent from three. Micah Parish, the transfer from San Diego State, was an underrated pickup.
If you could pick one other team from opening night that made you say, “Wow, these guys are legit,” whom would you choose?
Seth Davis: I was noodling around on Synergy Tuesday morning and caught some of Iowa State’s 83-44 drubbing of Mississippi Valley State. Obviously the competition wasn’t strong, but this is going to be the best team T.J. Otzelberger has had in Ames. He’s got a talented, veteran perimeter trio in Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert and I absolutely love the addition of Glue Guy Josh Jefferson, the 6-foot-9 junior transfer from Saint Mary’s.
Goodman: UCF had the best win of the night, and Johnny Dawkins will need to have a strong season. Darius Johnson is a veteran and knows Dawkins and his system, but the key in the win at home over a ranked Texas A&M team was the play of three transfers: Jordyn Ivy-Curry, Keyshawn Hall and JJ Taylor.
One more team is South Dakota State, who knocked off a talented, athletic and experienced McNeese State group. The Jackrabbits did it with a bunch of young guards. Freshman point guard Owen Larson didn’t have a single turnover against McNeese and hit the game-winning three.
Squadron: I don’t want to overreact to a game that the Crimson Tide were favored to win by 27.5 points, but as I watched them demolish UNC Asheville 110-54, it really sank in just how stacked they are. Seven players scored in double figures, led by Mark Sears’ 20 points. Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., two major contributors from last season, played just 31 combined minutes. The team dropped 110 points (on 63 percent shooting) and only attempted 18 threes (making eight). All three freshmen — Derrion Reid, Labaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell — shined. And remember, Chris Youngblood remains sidelined by an ankle injury and hopes to return in mid-December. How is anyone going to stop this squad?
Dortch: Duke wasn’t playing a formidable opponent, but ever since I took a deep dive into the Blue Devils’ personnel while editing Blue Ribbon, I’ve thought this is a team that has the talent and depth to win the national championship. Cooper Flagg showed he’s legit.
Rapheal Davis: Michigan is an offensive machine, and Danny Wolf is a unicorn. Tre Donaldson is a stud. 16 points, seven assists and no turnovers. Roddy Gale could be one of the better two-way players in the country. For the Wolverines to score 101 points with Vladislav Goldin scoring just two was highly impressive. And after giving up 92 points to Toledo in an exhibition they only gave up 53 to Cleveland State.
SETH'S PRESEASON RANKINGS
Men’s College Basketball Top 25 Rankings
Seth Davis’ rankings for Week Four. Oregon jumps into the top 10, UConn drops out.Let’s do the same for players. Who played well enough that it made you want to give the guy an extra close follow the next few weeks?
Seth Davis: Not that it was surprising, but Kam Jones shot 14 of 16 and scored 32 points in Marquette’s easy win over Stony Brook. Life is different for the Golden Eagles now that point guard Tyler Kolek has moved on to the Knicks, but all signs point to Jones having a humongous year.
Goodman: Illinois freshman forward Will Riley, who went for 31 and also had seven boards and three assists in an Illini rout. This kid is exceptionally talented, but we’ll see if he can produce at a high level when the competition increases.
Dortch: Not to be repetitive, but Flagg disappointed no one with his collegiate debut.
Squadron: Tre Johnson. The freshman proved right away that his elite offensive ability translates to the college level. Go back and watch the highlights from his 29-point performance against Ohio State — Johnson scores in every possible way and makes it all look effortless.
Rapheal Davis: I’ve got two freshmen. Maryland’s Derik Queen (22 points, 20 rebounds vs. Manhattan) is a dude and Georgia’s Asa Newell (26 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks vs. Tennessee Tech) will be fun to watch.
We’ve got a big game coming up Friday night with North Carolina at Kansas. Who you got and why?
Seth Davis: Unless the Jayhawks are playing the Celtics, I would never pick against them in Allen Fieldhouse. The Tar Heels will be formidable once freshman guard Ian Jackson gets acclimated, but I think carrying a heavy load is a lot to ask of him so early in his college career.
Goodman: Kansas. I think the Tar Heels are overrated, and I worry about them up front. Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams and Flory Bidunga should have a field day. This one could get ugly.
Dortch: KU because it’s in the Phog and because Dickinson is back from injury and was solid in his debut.
Squadron: I’m taking Kansas. North Carolina lacks size and will likely struggle to stop Hunter Dickinson down low. And of course, Allen Fieldhouse will be absolutely rocking.
Rapheal Davis: I never bet against Kansas at home in big games. AJ Storr, the Wisconsin transfer, only scored five points in the opener against Howard, but he is a primetime guy. I expect him to have a big night.
