There are times when college basketball does not live up to the hype. There are terrible shots, poor decisions, and baffling play. Sunday afternoon was not one of those times. Gonzaga and Tennessee played a fantastic game that featured big shots, back-and-forth play, and a star-making performance by Volunteer forward Admiral Schofield who hit monster 3-pointers down the stretch. While watching, one could state: "college basketball is great."
As we move toward the winter break for colleges, some players are going to become available that could be worth a waiver wire flyer now. Below, Jordan Tucker of Butler is profiled and there may be a few others (such as Iowa State forward Cameron Lard or Miami forward Dewan Hernandez) could bubble up.
ACC
Jordan Nwora, forward, Louisville Cardinals
Coach Chris Mack has found his star. At Xavier, Mack was able to have at least one excellent player every year. Often, it was a point guard, but he had some solid forwards as well. Nwora follows in this tradition and the 6-8 sophomore has scored 20 points nearly routinely (otherwise known as five times in nine games). He is averaging 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds to lead the Cardinals in both categories. In addition, he started the season coming off the bench.
Zach Johnson, guard, Miami Hurricanes
Things have not gone well for the Hurricanes. The team is in a deep dive in which they have lost four straight games, including back-to-back contests vs. Ivy League opponents. You can blame Johnson,
There are times when college basketball does not live up to the hype. There are terrible shots, poor decisions, and baffling play. Sunday afternoon was not one of those times. Gonzaga and Tennessee played a fantastic game that featured big shots, back-and-forth play, and a star-making performance by Volunteer forward Admiral Schofield who hit monster 3-pointers down the stretch. While watching, one could state: "college basketball is great."
As we move toward the winter break for colleges, some players are going to become available that could be worth a waiver wire flyer now. Below, Jordan Tucker of Butler is profiled and there may be a few others (such as Iowa State forward Cameron Lard or Miami forward Dewan Hernandez) could bubble up.
ACC
Jordan Nwora, forward, Louisville Cardinals
Coach Chris Mack has found his star. At Xavier, Mack was able to have at least one excellent player every year. Often, it was a point guard, but he had some solid forwards as well. Nwora follows in this tradition and the 6-8 sophomore has scored 20 points nearly routinely (otherwise known as five times in nine games). He is averaging 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds to lead the Cardinals in both categories. In addition, he started the season coming off the bench.
Zach Johnson, guard, Miami Hurricanes
Things have not gone well for the Hurricanes. The team is in a deep dive in which they have lost four straight games, including back-to-back contests vs. Ivy League opponents. You can blame Johnson, a transfer from Florida Gulf Coast, for the some of the team's porous defensive perimeter, but he has also scored well. Johnson has scored at least 11 points in his last six games and is averaging 13.7 points and 2.8 assists, which aren't significantly different from his numbers with the Eagles.
BIG TEN
Jon Teske, center, Michigan Wolverines
Teske has been growing slowly. As a junior, the 7-1 center is starting for the Wolverines and providing quietly solid numbers. Teske's season averages of 8.8 points on 53.1 percent from the field, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks are only mildly interesting in deeper leagues, even though he is certainly center-eligible. Over his last three games, he is averaging 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, including grind-it-out wins over Northwestern and South Carolina. Teske should be picked up now, if he is available.
Anthony Cowan, guard, Maryland Terrapins
Of late, the Terrapins have been alternating wins and losses, but Cowan has been as consistent as anyone in the country. He has scored in double digits in every game and has not been held under 15 points in his last five contests. The 6-0 junior has not shot the ball well from the perimeter (just 28.3 percent on 3-pointers), but he is able to force his way to the basket and the free-throw line. Cowan is averaging 16.6 points and 4.6 assists, and should be ready to produce against Big 10 competition.
BiG 12
Cameron McGriff, forward, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Not much was expected from the Cowboys this season and the team has fallen into a tailspin of late with three straight losses. McGriff has also been slumping with just 8.7 points in the losing streak, but he has been a solid overall option. The forward is averaging 14.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. He has improved his long-distance shooting in each of his three seasons in Stillwater and is hitting 38.9 percent of his 3-pointers. McGriff may not be a star, but he is a solid player that can be counted upon to provide decent stats.
Jaylen Fisher, guard, TCU Horned Frogs
Fisher missed the first three games of the season while recovering from knee surgery. He took very little time to ramp up and joined the starting lineup in his second game back. The Horned Frogs have not lost since. While Fisher ran the point with Alex Robinson last season, their roles are more defined with Fisher moving off the ball. He has knocked down 18 3-pointers in his last four games and is knocking down 48.6 percent of his 3-pointers. Fisher can still run the offense when Robinson sits, but is only averaging 2.5 assists in his starts.
BIG EAST
Jordan Tucker, forward, Butler Bulldogs
As mentioned above. Tucker is soon going to be eligible for the Bulldogs, so the 6-7 sophomore should be picked up now. He transferred from Duke midway through last season after not getting much playing time. Tucker has been hyped as a big-time scorer and the Bulldogs could use another player, particularly in the frontcourt, who can put the ball in the basket. Kamar Baldwin has been struggling, but maybe another offensive option will open the court for the junior guard. Tucker should be available for Butler's game against Indiana on Saturday.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, forward, Seton Hall Pirates
Mamukelashvili has moved into the starting lineup and the 6-10 sophomore has been hitting the boards. Before being limited to 20 minutes due to foul trouble in the overtime win against Kentucky on Saturday, Mamukelashvili had played 30 minutes in each of the three previous games. More playing time means more production for the native of Georgia. He had a double-double against New Hampshire and is averaging a pleasant 8.3 points and 7.9 rebounds.
PAC-12
Louis King, forward, Oregon Ducks
Like Fisher, King is coming off of knee surgery. The 6-9 freshman was touted as a five-star prospect, but we were waiting for him to get healthy enough to play. He made his debut on Saturday with 11 points in 17 minutes. He hit three 3-pointers and should help loosen opposing defenses from surrounding Bol Bol in the paint. Once he gets in the starting lineup (and it shouldn't be long), King will provide defensive versatility and plenty of points and rebounds.
Chase Jeter, center, Arizona Wildcats
Jeter is our second former Blue Devil who has found a better home away from Cameron Indoor. Jeter never found a place with Duke, but is a main contributor for Arizona. The spindly 6-10 center provided a season-high 19 points on Sunday as Arizona fell to Alabama. He has fine post moves and has scored in double figures in eight out of 10 games. Because he is slightly awkward, he can get in foul trouble and has fouled out twice with three other games of four fouls. Jeter is taking an even bigger role since Ryan Luther was put in a reserve role.
SEC
Rayshaun Hammonds, forward, Georgia Bulldogs
Nicolas Claxton had a huge debut and is continuing to put up nice all-around numbers for the Bulldogs, but Hammonds is coming on. The 6-8 sophomore is leading the team with 14.4 points and has been right on his average in the last two games. He broke out on Nov. 19 with 31 points in the win over Illinois State, and has scored in double digits in six of eight games. Hammonds is converting 53.8 percent of his field goals and should be challenged next Saturday against Arizona State.
Breein Tyree, guard, Mississippi Rebels
Earlier in the season, the shots weren't falling for Tyree. That is not the case now for the 6-2 junior. He has scored 20 points or more in four of his last five games, including 28 points in the Nov. 23 win over Baylor. Tyree has been very aggressive in getting to the basket and has attempted 6.3 freebies per game, making 84.0 percent. He has only missed one free throw in his last four games (21-of-22, 95.5 percent). Tyree should score well again on Wednesday against Southeast Louisiana.
MID-MAJORS
Malik Fitts, forward, St. Mary's Gaels
Jordan Ford, featured in this space earlier this season, opened the season on fire, struggled for a few games, then came back. Meanwhile, Fitts has been more consistent and scored in double digits in every contest except two. The 6-8 sophomore has averaged 15.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in the Gaels' three-game winning streak. Fitts has scored at least 20 points, including 27 points and 13 rebounds in the Nov. 24 loss to Harvard. He should be an All-WCC player.
Lamontray Harris, forward, Morehead State Eagles
Harris has been on the Eagles for four seasons and has seen his role grow. The 6-7 senior has been hitting the boards and has four double-doubles in nine games. It looks like it might be a long season for Morehead State and the team has only won one game against Division I competition, but Harris has been balling through the losses. He is providing 12.6 points on 51.9 percent from the field and 9.9 rebounds. One key to his success is that Harris has been able to curb his propensity to foul.
Charles Minlend, guard, San Francisco Dons
A shoulder injury cost Minlend his 2017-18 season, but he did not lose his ability to hit shots while he was on the mend. The 6-4 redshirt sophomore averaged 10.0 points as a freshman, but has bumped that number up to a team-high 14.4 points for the 8-1 Dons. He has scored at least 10 points in every game except the blowout win over Sonoma State in which Minlend only contributed two points. He is coming off his first double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win over California.
B.J. Stith, guard, Old Dominion Monarchs
It may have been that Stith needed five games to adjust to not playing with his brother Brandan, who was on the Monarchs last year as a senior. The 6-5 senior averaged just 11.6 points as Old Dominion started out 2-3. Since Nov. 23 when the Monarchs beat Northern Iowa in their second straight meeting, Stith has been scoring easily and often. He has put up 24.4 points on 54.6 percent from the field with 8.4 rebounds and the team has not lost. Stith and Ahmad Caver are going to be hard to stop in Conference USA play.
Milan Acquaah, guard, California Baptists Lancers
We go deep for our final player of the week. Acquaah is a Washington State transfer who has found a bigger role on the newest team in the WAC. The team won't be eligible for postseason play until 2022-23, but they are still in Division I. The 6-3 sophomore won't be around then, but he is producing now. He is averaging 22.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.2 steals. Before being held to 13 points by Cal Tech, Acquaah had scored at least 24 points in five straight games. He is going to be a big fish in a little pond for the next few seasons.
