Here are 10 things my eyes and spies told me over the weekend in college basketball.
1. Kansas is still a bit limited with Frank Mason and Devonte Graham, even though they represent a major strength to the team
It may sound like a contradiction, but Mason is a gritty driver and defender, but he is not in anyway a creative playmaker. Graham has become a very good shooter and he is also a tough on ball defender, but he is not constantly in motion with Kansas' offensive style, so he doesn't truly stretch the floor like his numbers dictate he should.
As tough and cohesive as they both are, they are both small for their positions and that makes them less disruptive defensively and prone for other guards to simply shoot over them, like Indiana did. Josh Jackson looked every bit the freshman as he was a fine, nice player, but not dynamic just yet as KU lost an over-officiated game to IU in Hawaii. I ranked KU the No. 1 team in the country heading into the season, and the Jayhawks are still very talented, well-coached and tough-minded. I just wonder if some of the issues with their veterans' ceiling limits them against the best of the best.
2. When is Yale coach James Jones going to get a bigger job?
Yale was awesome last year winning the Ivy League and advancing to the second round. Jones' Elis just beat Washington at Hec Edmundson Pavilion without their top player, Makai Mason, who is out for the year. I'm sure we will look at its final record this season and judge Yale's success based upon whether or not they get into the NCAA Tournament, but this guy should get stronger looks than last year when Tulane and Vanderbilt considered him and passed.
3. Miles Bridges is as good as advertised
People are going to go crazy about the dunks, but I love the agility along the baseline as well. He has the ease in which he plays both inside and out. Bridges seems coachable and competitive as everyone has told me and after watching several games (exhibition and vs Arizona) he could be better than advertised.
4. North Carolina has really helped Joel Berry and Justin Jackson in their development
Jackson's body has filled out and his jumper continues to improve, meanwhile Berry is a "takeover-a-game" scorer, which has not traditionally been the case for Roy Williams. Kirk Heinrich had the green light his last couple years at Kansas and other point guards have been able to control the game under Roy, but Berry is playing with a super-high level of confidence and skill as a scorer as well as facilitator.
5. Vandy has no point guard
While it is true that Riley LaChance only had one turnover against Marquette when Vandy was thumped by the Eagles on Friday night, several other staffs watching the game agreed that Vandy not having a true 1 is going to be its undoing. Matthew Fisher Davis is also a terrific player off the ball, but 19 team turnovers were in large part because too many non-traditional ball handlers are forced to make plays. LaChance and Davis are best suited frankly to play together as wings in my opinion, but without a true 1, Vandy will have to figure out how to have cleaner games against teams' pressure.
6. Learn the name Manu Lecomte
Saw him when he was at Miami two years ago as a scoring combo guard, now as a point at Baylor, I think he will contend for All-Big 12 selection in a league dominated by point guards like Mason at Kansas, Monte Morris at Iowa State, Jawun Evans at Oklahoma State and Jordan Woodard at Oklahoma). Lecomte had a double-double vs. Oral Roberts in his debut and was better than his stats showed.
7. UCLA doesn't guard anyone
"Lonzo (Ball) has never played defense in high school or AAU," I heard over the weekend. "He just gambles all the time, and of five players on the floor, they have like one who is committed to defense. They are crazy talented in transition and (UCLA coach Steve) Alford is having fun moving Bryce (Alford) around and off the ball, but they ain't winning big without guarding anyone."
To be fair, the same can be said in many years -- including last year -- about North Carolina. The Tar Heels don't really defend until they get into March and by then they understand the concepts they glossed over in the beginning of the season.
But, UCLA plays a bunch of big boys coming up and, as I wrote a week ago, Dayton will guard the hell out of 'em if they meet in the second round of the Wooden Legacy tournament.
8. Oklahoma State has a player of the year candidate, but there is nothing much inside
Mitchell Solomon still looks timid and there is just youth and inexperience behind him.
Meanwhile Jawun Evans was "Unguardable against Campbell," one of my "Eyes" told me. "They put him in ball screens and opened up the floor for him, he gets into your body and gets to the line, he has become a better shooter and he finds (Jeffrey) Carroll and (Phil Forte) wherever they are. Dude, those three can easily give you 60 a night."
9. Kentucky's shooting needs to improve
It isn't time to be concerned about Kentucky's shooting just yet, but it also doesn't seem far-fetched to think it might not be a strength. Through two games the Wildcats are shooting 26 percent on their 3-pointers. Now freshman have a tendency to play too fast and with the added strength of lifting in college, their shooting can take time to adjust, but the make-up of this team is one of dynamic athleticism and defensive competitiveness, not shooting. Let's keep an eye on this as we all remember when Joe Mazzulla and WVU knocked off UK with John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins.
10. Is Lorenzo Romar on the hot seat?
Romar is beloved as a guy in the basketball community. He takes time to shake every coach's hand when he comes out pregame. He handles himself with class and his program has produced a bevy of quality NBA draft picks, but losing to Yale at home with the best freshman in the country on your team and Yale doesn't have their best player? I know he has Michael Porter signed up for next season as well as a laundry list of others who want to play with Porter, but that is not a hot start for the Huskies.
