With the vacations forward, it’s a super time to compensate for all issues school hoops. Like certainly one of my favourite quirky stats, which you’ll have missed final week: Each nationwide champion since 2004 was ranked within the prime 12 of the Week 6 AP Ballot the yr they received all of it. So, followers of Tennessee, Auburn, Iowa State, Duke, Kentucky, Marquette, Alabama, Gonzaga, Florida, Kansas, Purdue and Oregon, congratulations.
Possibly it’s not too late to ask for tickets to San Antonio for the vacations.
1. The Doug Gottlieb dunk-a-thon
There are quotes that age poorly … after which there’s this from Gottlieb, the previous Fox Sports activities scorching take artist who Inexperienced Bay tapped as its head coach this offseason — regardless of Gottlieb having as a lot school teaching expertise as you and I:
Everyone seems to be operating with this clip. Doug Gottlieb by no means referred to Michigan Tech as ‘No one U’. By no means even talked about them. What you do not hear is, “Each sport on our schedule is a sport that we are able to lose”. That is @GottliebShow speaking about their energy of nonconference. https://t.co/jrqT2wFzRB pic.twitter.com/7XZS8VfGBe
— Kyle Malzhan (@KyleMalzhan) December 19, 2024
That now-infamous “No one U” quote got here days earlier than Inexperienced Bay’s loss to DII Michigan Tech on Wednesday, and even when Gottlieb wasn’t particularly remarking on Michigan Tech, he greater than bought his level throughout. (Free thought for the high-quality people at Michigan Tech: print some “No one U” shirts, should you haven’t already. They’ll make a killing, and I’ll take a big.) Gottlieb’s “protection” of that touch upon X wasn’t any higher.
Accomplished with this crap. We scheduled up. Together with Michigan Tech. No the place ever, have I been crucial of anybody on our schedule. Now, again to work. https://t.co/zfJcA8TlaO
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) December 18, 2024
Scheduling UP? Towards a DII workforce that went 11-17 final season? C’mon, man. Gottlieb — like yours actually — most likely didn’t even know Michigan Tech’s mascot earlier than final week! (In the event you do, and also you’ve by no means lived in Michigan, then kudos.)
However the true motive individuals are up in arms over the entire “No one U” factor is due to how patently silly this complete Gottlieb experiment is. Not solely did Inexperienced Bay rent somebody with zero school expertise — his lack of {qualifications} is insulting sufficient to the teaching occupation — however the true damning half is that Gottlieb has continued internet hosting his radio present since being named head coach! You’ve bought time for that, buddy? When your workforce is 2-11, in final place within the Horizon, has misplaced eight straight and ranks 329th out of 364 groups in KenPom’s effectivity rankings? Actually?
Given these circumstances, having the elitist angle to name anybody “No one U” has made Gottlieb prime for dunking on. Some free recommendation for Doug: Simply get off social media. When Adam Schefter’s placing you in a physique bag, it’s time to sit back with the Twitter fingers.
And Jeezus, Doug. A seven-game dropping steak and final place within the Horizon League? Much less time on social media and extra time within the gymnasium. pic.twitter.com/r58Fpwfvb8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2024
And as if this whole flaming catastrophe isn’t humorous sufficient, guess what Gottlieb was doing the morning of that Michigan Tech loss? Oh, you betcha: Posting a couple of decades-old name from a sport he had completely nothing to do with.
It stinks for the children at Inexperienced Bay that they’ve gotten roped into this, however Inexperienced Bay signed up for it by hiring Gottlieb. You wished publicity? Properly, you’ve bought it. Time to wallow on this mess of your making for a minimum of one other three months.
2. 4 undefeated groups stay, even after Jumpman Invitational scares
There are solely 4 undefeated DI groups left: No. 1 Tennessee, which beat Illinois (in Champaign!) on its closing possession final weekend; No. 7 Florida, which held on versus North Carolina on Tuesday regardless of dropping all of a 17-point first-half lead; No. 14 Oklahoma, which trailed mainly all sport versus Michigan however received on a 4-point play with below 15 seconds left; and … Drake, which beat its third high-major workforce this season (Kansas State) courtesy of an extra time buzzer-beater. (Hilariously, Drake’s subsequent opponent? Inexperienced Bay!)
Three SEC groups, and the Missouri Valley front-runner. Similar to all of us drew it up.
However having been in Charlotte, N.C., for the Jumpman Invitational, I need to concentrate on Florida and Oklahoma, each of which have been significantly better this season than I believed they might be. SEC prognosticators picked them sixth and fifteenth within the preseason.
Florida’s depth and steadiness make it among the best groups within the nation. Per CBB Analytics, amongst high-major lineups which have performed a minimum of 75 minutes collectively, UF’s starters have the Tenth-best internet ranking, outscoring opponents by 31.1 factors per 100 possessions. What’s wild, although? That’s the Gators’ solely fourth-most environment friendly lineup this season; the opposite three all characteristic completely different combos of forwards subsequent to Todd Golden’s trio of senior guards: Alijah Martin, Will Richard and Walter Clayton Jr. However that trio undoubtedly drives the bus in Gainesville, and rivals any backcourt within the nation. It’s accounting for 54.2 % of Florida’s scoring, 56.1 % of its assists and 34.4 % of its rebounds. Clayton has been the perfect of the bunch — an 18.5 point-per-game scorer who seems to be like an All-American — however all three have been superior, and few (if any) groups have the flexibility to close down the complete trio.
Richard was the late hero towards North Carolina. RJ Davis was stable defensively in forcing Martin into a troublesome turnaround jumper, however Richard will get the primary contact after the miss, then the offensive rebound after which completes the triple-jump for the putback. The Gators are eighth nationally in offensive rebounding share, per KenPom, and Richard was certainly one of 5 completely different gamers with a minimum of two such boards versus the Tar Heels.
As for Oklahoma, in a yr stuffed with elite freshmen, one man who undoubtedly isn’t getting sufficient consideration is Jeremiah Fears — however that ought to change after Wednesday, when Fears did this to push the Sooners previous the Wolverines:
Discuss stones. Fears canned the next free throw, too, in a high-pressure setting. What he’s doing defies standard requirements for reclassified guards. Fears ought to nonetheless be a highschool senior, however as a substitute, the 18-year-old opted to graduate highschool early and be part of the Sooners in July. All of the 6-foot-4 freshman has accomplished since then is emerge as Porter Moser’s finest participant and a possible first-round NBA draft decide.
What’s maybe most spectacular about Fears is how he’s been so efficient, largely as a one-on-one scorer. Per Synergy, Fears’ most effective offense is in iso conditions, the place he ranks as “glorious” and within the 88th percentile nationally. That’s absurd and speaks to Fears’ particular quickness. He attracts 5 private fouls per sport, per CBB Analytics — which ranks within the 98th percentile nationally — and his 6.5 free-throw makes an attempt per sport are Thirteenth-most amongst high-major gamers. Look how simply he will get previous Tre Donaldson, who grades out as Michigan’s stingiest perimeter defender:
What’s equally encouraging, particularly for NBA evaluators, is how comfy Fears seemed within the pick-and-roll versus Michigan. Per Synergy, Fears had a season-high 11 possessions as a pick-and-roll handler versus the Wolverines, and he both scored or bought fouled on eight of these journeys, resulting in 16 of his game-high 30 factors. I like how seamlessly he rejects screens to get to his spots. He does that right here after which gobbles up all of the house Vlad Goldin needed to cowl in Michigan’s drop:
Fears isn’t the one motive Oklahoma is undefeated and set to enter the highest 10, however he’s definitely the most important. Moser has his stud, and it ought to result in the Sooners making the NCAA Match for the primary time in his tenure.
3. In the meantime, North Carolina (and to a lesser extent, Michigan) nonetheless wants work
The Tar Heels have been a lot maligned this season, dropping to 1-5 versus high-major opponents after their loss to Florida. Actually, the identical points — like falling behind by double-digits — preserve cropping up for Hubert Davis’ workforce, which up to now has had no solutions for its issues. Although it’s solely December, it’s getting late early for UNC. If the Tar Heels don’t beat No. 18 UCLA on Saturday, of their closing important nonconference sport, then the storied blue blood doubtless might want to win a minimum of 15 video games within the ACC to have a snug at-large resume. (And looking forward to March, if North Carolina misses the NCAA Match for the second time in three seasons? Davis’ seat goes to get scalding scorching.)
As for Michigan, the Danny Wolf-Vlad Goldin pick-and-roll pairing stays one of many hardest actions to cease in school basketball. So, why did the Wolverines go away from these two down the stretch versus Oklahoma? Michigan led by 5 with below seven minutes to play, however its Twin Towers — who completed with 41 of the workforce’s 86 factors — bought off solely 4 photographs mixed thereafter. The remainder of UM went 1-for-6 with two turnovers, the final of which by Roddy Gayle got here with below 30 seconds to play and Michigan up three. Ouch.
Dusty Might has proven no hesitation to funnel offense by way of Wolf and Goldin, as he ought to; per CBB Analytics, once they’re each on the ground, Michigan outscores its opponents by 31 factors per 100 possessions. They’re a key motive why Michigan leads the nation in 2-point share. What’s a protection alleged to do when a 7-foot ballhandler strikes and passes like this on the perimeter?
That isn’t regular. It’s additionally why I’m nonetheless very in on Michigan over the long run, even when the highest of the Large Ten is loaded. The turnovers and inconsistent 3-point taking pictures are issues, sure, however I’m betting on these bigs (and Might) being adequate to sand out the Wolverines’ tough edges.
4. Hope you bought your UConn jokes in when you would …
As a result of since going 0-3 within the Maui Invitational, Dan Hurley’s Huskies look, nicely, much more just like the top-10 workforce we anticipated them to be.
Per Bart Torvik’s sorting device, since leaving Hawaii, UConn ranks because the No. 10 workforce within the nation, with the third-best adjusted offensive effectivity throughout that stretch. The Huskies protection continues to be eighty fifth in adjusted effectivity over that point — that looks as if it’s going to be extra of a year-long battle for Hurley — however three straight wins over top-40 KenPom groups, plus Wednesday’s extra time victory over Xavier (although XU was lacking its finest participant, Zach Freemantle), affirms that UConn is again heading in the right direction.
So how did Hurley try this?
A couple of methods. Leaning extra closely on five-star freshman Liam McNeeley has been a giant one. The 6-foot-7 McNeeley is tailored for the Cam Spencer function, and over UConn’s previous 5 video games, he’s averaging 16 factors, 6.6 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists per sport. He was large towards Gonzaga particularly, ending with a team-high 26 factors, and even preventing by way of foul hassle versus Xavier, he nonetheless managed to chip in 14 factors, 4 assists, three rebounds and no turnovers. No shock that after he picked up his second private foul within the first half versus the Musketeers, UConn went nearly seven minutes straight with out scoring. He’s grow to be that important to the Huskies’ success. Guess the place Hurley went with 90 seconds left and his workforce down one?
UConn additionally bought key contributions from Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed, who began his first sport of the season (as a result of typical starter Samson Johnson was out with a concussion). I’m nonetheless undecided that Reed shouldn’t be UConn’s beginning heart from right here on out; his footwork has been miles higher than it was at Michigan final season, and he ranks within the eighty fifth percentile or greater nationally as a post-up scorer, cutter and pick-and-roll roll man, per Synergy. I’ll gladly chair the Tarris Reed fan membership.
However what received the Xavier sport, and what UConn might want to present extra constantly, was protection. With simply over two minutes left in extra time, Xavier had the ball down 5; a basket would’ve made it a one-possession sport once more, and saved the Musketeers proper in it. As a substitute? Xavier missed back-to-back photographs from inside six ft — as a result of UConn constructed a wall — earlier than Solo Ball learn an ill-timed cross, jumped it and was subsequently fouled going the opposite method in transition. His two free throws turned what might’ve been a one-possession sport right into a 7-point cushion.
UConn’s subsequent defensive possession was simply as stout. Ball closed off Dayvion McKnight’s choices within the lane, forcing Xavier to reset, after which Karaban fought by way of an ineffective display screen to dam Marcus Foster’s late shot-clock 3:
UConn is way from a completed product, and it isn’t almost the wagon it was final season, however I nonetheless wouldn’t need any a part of the Huskies anytime quickly.
5. Blind resume check
Simply to verify your perceptions on the door. Which resume would you slightly have?
Workforce A:
• 7-3 general• High-40 offense and top-15 protection• One win over a top-35 workforce• Two of three losses to ranked foes
Workforce B:
• 9-2 general• High-40 offense and top-15 protection• No wins over top-35 groups• Each losses to ranked foes
Time’s up. Workforce A is … Illinois, one of many perceived Large Ten front-runners. Workforce B is … Maryland, which is receiving votes within the AP Ballot however with considerably much less nationwide consideration. Each groups have a possible first-round freshman, too — Kasparas Jakucionis (and Will Riley) for Illinois, Derik Queen for Maryland — which makes the comparability that extra fascinating. Long run, I most likely like Illinois’ make-up higher than Maryland’s? However I wouldn’t be shocked if the Queen-Julian Reese frontcourt pairing means the Terps fare higher in Large Ten play.
OK, one other one. Who would you slightly be?
Workforce C:
• 8-3 general• High-15 offense and top-75 protection• Three wins over top-35 groups• Two of three losses to ranked foes
Workforce D:
• 10-2 general• High-15 offense and top-75 protection• Two wins over top-35 groups• One among two losses to ranked foes
Acquired your vote?
Workforce C is … Purdue, one other Large Ten front-runner (which performs Auburn on Saturday, though the Tigers appear more likely to be lacking Johni Broome, who’s coping with a shoulder harm). Workforce D is … Dayton, which seems to be not similar to the Atlantic-10 favourite, however like a workforce that might do severe injury within the NCAA Match. Had Dayton not surrendered a 21-point result in North Carolina within the Maui Invitational, we is perhaps speaking in regards to the Flyers as a borderline top-10 workforce. Actually. Don’t sleep on Anthony Grant’s squad. Friday’s de facto street sport versus Cincinnati needs to be certainly one of this weekend’s finest.
Completely happy hoops watching, and completely satisfied holidays, to all of you.
