catmandoo
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posted 01-20-2021 04:00 PM
Between the pandemic and events surrounding the election, it’s clear the Earth is spinning a bit wobbly on its axis these days.
In college basketball, we see it in this fact – blue bloods Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina are all unranked in the AP Top 25 poll. The last time that happened was 1961.
But instead of snickering, as opposing fan bases are sure to do, or stammering in disbelief as some are in the Lexington bluegrass and along Tobacco Road in Carolina, we should ask a simple question.
Why?
Turns out, there is one incredibly strong common denominator. And with that, a validation for what UK coach John Calipari has been screaming from the mountaintop since the start of the season.
“The change that we’re having, with the COVID thrown together, veteran teams have a huge advantage this season,” Calipari said. “The inexperienced teams are at a big disadvantage.”
The bulk of Kentucky’s playing time goes to four freshmen, a graduate transfer, two transfers, a redshirt freshman and a sophomore who missed the first nine games to injury.
None of those players had ever been on the court together. UK stands at 4-8 on the season.
At North Carolina, four of the five top scorers are freshmen or sophomores. Freshmen Caleb Love, Day'Ron Sharpe and RJ Davis each average a tick over nine points per game. Sophomore Armando Bacot, who started every game last year, is tops at 11.2. The Har Heels are 8-5 and only 3-3 in the ACC.
At Duke, the situation more closely resembles Kentucky, which comes as no surprise since coach Mike Krzyzewski followed Calipari’s One & Done approach after several successful seasons in Lexington.
The Blue Devils have three freshmen among their top four scorers – DJ Steward, Jeremy Roach and Jalen Johnson. Sophomore Matthew Hurt is tops at 19.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. Duke is just 5-4 after Coach K shut down the non-conference slate in December and sent players home.
“I'd like, for the mental and physical safety of our players and staff, to assess where we're at. I don’t think it feels right to anybody,” Krzyzewski said at the time. “I know somebody will take what I’m saying and make it like I’m making excuses. I don’t make excuses. We need to get a lot better.”
The freshmen on these three teams are not without potential, owning rankings similar to rookies who have come before them.
Kentucky’s Brandon Boston Jr. was ranked No. 5; Terrence Clarke, 8; Isaiah Jackson, 30; Devin Askew, 32; Lance Ware, 39; and Cam'Ron Fletcher, 70.
Duke’s Johnson was 13; Roach, 23; and Steward, 26. Carolina’s Love was 14; Sharpe, 15; and Davis, 48.
Yet, the titans of college basketball have combined for an 17-17 record.
“You’re not playing now against high school players. You’re playing against somebody who is three years older than you. More physical, more trained,” Calipari said, lamenting there was no normal summer and fall for young players to become acclimated.
For proof, look to that same AP Top 25 poll. Instead of the familiar names at the top, we find No. 1 Gonzaga along with Baylor and Iowa.
Undefeated Gonzaga’s top scorer is a senior, Corey Kispert. During those four years in Spokane, he has developed from the No. 106 player in the 2017 class to a 20-points-per-game scorer. Two other juniors – Joel Ayayi and Florida transfer Andrew Nembhard – are among the top five along with sophomore Drew Timme and freshman Jalen Suggs.
Undefeated Baylor’s top scorer is junior Jared Butler at 17 points. He was rated 97th coming out of high school. In all, one senior, two juniors and two sophomores round out the starting five in Waco.
Link
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
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