Mid-Season Madness (Part II)
The college basketball season is halfway complete, and a few schools have shown glimpses throughout the season that they could be raising the National Championship trophy come early April.
After watching countless college basketball games and teams throughout the season, both in person and in my living room, I have identified a few teams that I consider able to make a run for the National Title in the big dance. I have observed and evaluated TCU, Iowa State, and Providence throughout both non-conference and conference play and established the idea that any of these teams could hang a 2022-23 National Championship banner.
TCU Horned Frogs
This TCU team looks good on paper but even better on the court. The team returned all five starters from last year’s tournament team and added Rondel Walker, a junior Oklahoma State transfer.
The Horned Frogs have a well-rounded team featuring Mike Myles Jr, a Bob Cousy Award watchlist member. Seniors Emmanuel Miller and Damion Baugh have improved from last year and have elevated this team to the top of the Big 12 standings. The transition speed this team is equipped with is rare and sets them apart from opposing teams. The ball control and pure athleticism that Myles Jr., Baugh, and Emmanuel present when they are on a fast break is truly unique. They match up well with every team in the country because of their length and depth at every position. I believe Eddie Lampkin Jr., the 6-foot-11 center, is capable of guarding any of the top bigs in the country.
The Horned Frogs proved just how dangerous they are on January 21 when they beat Kansas. They didn’t just defeat the second-ranked Jayhawks, but they went into a hostile Allen Fieldhouse and blasted the Jayhawks for an 83-60 win.
Iowa State Cyclones
I was blessed to have the chance to watch Iowa State in person during the Phil Knight Invitational in November. I was particularly impressed with their versatility and size. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been running a nine-man rotation with an average player height of 6-foot-6.
What has captivated me the most about the Cyclones is their lack of pure scorers. To most, this would seem to be an immense problem, but I recognize it as an inordinate advantage for Otzelberger and the team. The team is not based strictly around one scorer but is rather a team of scorers with separate qualities that elevate the team in each game. Although senior guard Jaren Holmes is leading the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game, he has only been the game’s leading scorer in five out of Iowa State’s 19 games this season. Senior Gabe Kalscheur has led the team in scoring in six of the 19 games and senior sharpshooter Caleb Grill has led the scoring in four games, including a 31-point performance against North Carolina when he knocked down seven 3-pointers.
As well as sharing the scoring, the Cyclones rank top five in the nation for team steals with 9.7 per game and seventh in the nation for team opponent points by holding opponents to an average of 59.5 points per game. They defend extremely well and already look tournament ready in January. The Cyclones are 6-2 in Big 12 conference play and are coming off a massive win at home against fifth-ranked Kansas State. It is important to note the team has been playing conference games without their 6-foot-10 Slovenian senior. Aljaz Kunc has been out with a broken finger for almost a month. Kunc suffered the injury in practice before their Big 12 home opener against Baylor in late December. There have not been any recent updates as to when Kunc will be able to return, but Iowa State is sure to improve when he does.
Providence Friars
Following a historic 27-win season, many thought the Friars would struggle to repeat its similar 2021-22 Big East regular season championship. Head coach Ed Cooley has proved last season was not a fluke with a 16-5 start to this season. Fortunately, the Big East 2022 Coach of the Year was able to reload his team during the offseason after losing his two leading scorers. Cooley was able to acquire Bryce Hopkins during the summer. After transferring from Kentucky, Hopkins has become the team's most valuable player and leads the team with averages of 16.5 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game. Cooley and the Friars have established an identity through Hopkins’ shot making and playmaking abilities.
Along with Hopkins, the Friars welcomed a duo of guards. Devin Carter transferred from South Carolina and Noah Locke relocated from Louisville during the offseason. Both Carter and Locke have been key pieces to the Friars’ success this season.
Providence is averaging 78.8 points per game this season and has four players averaging double-digit points per game. Watching this team, I notice two things: their ability to get to the foul line and their rebounding. The Friars attempt 23.9 free throws per game which rank 13th in the nation and make 17.5 free throws per game which rank seventh in the nation. As we get later into the season, the games get tighter and free throws are usually deciding factors in these games. Providence attacks the rim relentlessly which leads to free-throw trips and puts opponents in foul trouble constantly.
The Friars average eighth best in the nation for total rebounds per game with 39.9 and are in the top 30 for offensive rebounds with 10.8 per game. They crash the glass hard on both ends of the floor and make every game a battle. Providence will challenge every team they face in the tournament and can make a run in March.
Senior Jared Bynum has returned from a four-game absence due to an abdominal injury. On Wednesday night the experienced point guard played under a minutes restriction and recorded just 11 minutes of action. Bynum could see an increase in playing time during Sunday’s game against Villanova.