|
| Kentucky guard Julius Mays is one of the few experienced players for the Wildcats this season (US Presswire) |
Doug Gottlieb came over from ESPN a few months ago and will be a triple-threat on CBS: He's already hosting a television show, he's set to do a radio show, and he'll also help us over here with some writing. Don't worry -- we've got our best editor to try to clean it up. Here's his first take after the opening weekend of action:
Kentucky held off Maryland, but a couple of truths were exposed. First, this will be the first year since John Calipari's first five years at Memphis that he doesn't have a "pro" at the point. Last year, Marquis Teague was the biggest question mark as the frosh struggled to run his team during the first two months of the season. But Teague improved steadily, and he was surrounded by an amazing amount of talent and maturity, as well as quality ballhandlers at power forward and center in Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis. In my opinion, Teague was over-drafted, although he improved significantly as the season progressed. He was terrific in the first half of the national championship game. Ryan Harrow never has been a true point, is in his third year of college (transferred from NC State) and is still trying to learn how to run a team. To be fair, the first big game back after transferring is always difficult, and he had the flu, but his decision-making needs improvement. Kentucky is not as talented as last year. Nor do the Wildcats have a Darius Miller-type veteran -- without a scoring ego -- to lead them. Jarrod Polson saved the day and Kentucky will improve, but if you think this version of Big Blue is going to run through college hoops like last year's team, you will be disappointed. It's not going to happen.
On the other hand, we got to see the Alex Len who Mark Turgeon and staff raved about before his NCAA suspension, which wound up hindering his development last season. His adjustment to college basketball also took a little longer with the Terps' dysfunctional backcourt (led by Terrell Stoglin), limiting the quality of his looks late in his freshman year. Len will be a lottery pick whenever he leaves College Park. He'll be tested in the ACC against elite big-man talent like James Michael MacAdoo, Mason Plumlee, Kenny Kadji/Reggie Johnson and Richard Howell.
UCLA needs some Bazz. The Bruins' new arena looked outstanding on television, and though everyone in basketball knew the Bruins needed a massive upgrade in their locker rooms and weight room, the biggest need in the arena -- the end zone seats' proximity to the court -- was addressed, for the most part. Pauley Pavilion was a horrible place to watch a game in the end zone seats and provided little atmosphere because they were too far off the floor, While there is still space between the hoops and the seating, it has been fixed. (You can question my opinion, but since my father has had season tickets since the mid '80s in the end zone area, I would dispute anyone being more knowledgeable).
As for the Bruins, Jordan Adams, though a bit shot-happy, was outstanding in his first college game. He overshadowed the other, more heralded freshmen. Adams has lost some weight, and dominated the game offensively with 21 points. The Wear twins, David and Travis, have improved and are both still playing inside, which is the right place for them. Larry Drew barely looked at the hoop offensively; he was fine, did little other than handle the ball and execute the offense. Josh Smith and Tony Parker looked fat, though Smith still has great hands and can be unstoppable when he gets an angle down low. UCLA wanted to push the ball more than the past two seasons, and they were marginally effective, mostly because their wings don't shoot well. While their bigs can run, they aren't "runners." Kyle is a very adept passer, as he has been labeled, but he is a below-average athlete and he can be pressured when moved to the point.
Do not get me wrong. UCLA is better than last year as the Wears are solid and more experienced, while Adams and Norman Powell are effective wings. But unless they get their Bazz -- Shabazz Muhammad -- eligible, they are just a nice team that might make the NCAA tournament. They only have one point guard on the roster, and Drew appears to be an older version of the player he was at North Carolina, and they lack the guard talent of some elite teams in terms of shooting and ball-handling.
Michigan State looked huge, a little tight and traditional, but they should be fine depending on match-ups. Keith Appling scored 17, but he struggled at times, as did the other Spartans, with the quickness of UConn. Kevin Ollie's game plan was to spread Michigan State to attack them off the dribble or on ball screens. While the Spartans calmed down and improved steadily in the second half, it's fairly obvious that while they want to dominate the glass with Adrien Payne and Derek Nix playing at the same time, neither is a capable ball handler and can be pressured anytime they touch the ball away from the hoop. Branden Dawson, who looked strong coming off an ACL injury, is a slashing, post-up, rebounding 3, who I believe could be awesome as an undersized college 4. But like Nix and Payne, he's not a strong ball handler. Michigan State, like UCLA, lacks the multiple point guards of Missouri, UConn, NC State, Syracuse and several other teams. In a traditional Big Ten, Sparty will be fine. Adynamic lineup with Appling, Travis Trice, Gary Harris, Dawson and Nix might give them the ball handling and quickness they lack.
Same old Oklahoma State, so far. Many pundits have a love affair with Marcus Smart, who is an outstanding talent as a freshman, but he doesn't score. Smart is basically playing the point, but his assists are mainly setting up the offense and hitting open shooters. Oklahoma State literally has zero interior presence, and the Cowboys struggled to put away a UC Davis team that won five games last year. In fact, they were bailed out by Smart’s caddy and high school teammate, Phil Forte, who is a dead ringer for both Travis Ford and Keiton Page as a shooter. Don’t get me wrong, Markel Brown is still a freak athlete, LeBryan Nash has improved and J.P Olekemi is a match-up problem at the 4 and 5. But can they guard anyone or hit enough shots to spread people out? With Zeke Marshall of Akron and Jarnell Stokes of Tennessee looking like possible matchups in Puerto Rico, Oklahoma State's lack of size and depth will be put to the test in their next two games. Oklahoma State went from underrated to overrated in the two months leading up to the season.
Follow me on twitter @Gottliebshow, watch Leadoff on CBS Sports Net weeknights at 12 a.m. ET or listen to the Doug Gottlieb Show on CBS Sports Radio beginning Jan. 2, 2013.