This article is part of our Freshman Haze series.
Now that that silly football game is over, it is college basketball's time to shine. We have the last few weeks of conference play that lead to conference championships that lead to the Big Dance. It is going to be great.
This week's septet includes some players I have somehow let through my sieve-like mind. These are players I really should have profiled earlier, but I was saving them for a special occasion. That occasion is today! The Haze will take a week off next week as its writer heads to the frozen northeast, but we'll be back in two weeks with start of the top-30 freshman countdown.
Wade Baldwin, guard, Vanderbilt Commodores
Earlier in the season, I profiled Riley LaChance, and the 6-foot-2 guard from Wisconsin is still averaging 12.4 points and 3.0 rebounds. Baldwin, another 6-2 guard, is getting plenty of playing time in the Commodores backcourt. Baldwin is more of an offensive facilitator than LaChance and has six straight games of at least four assists. He adds 7.5 points and is hitting 38 percent of his three-pointers. He hit four three-pointers on his way to a season-high 18 points in the overtime loss to LSU on Jan. 24.
Jae'Sean Tate, Ohio State Buckeyes
While it has been D'Angelo Russell who has taken off (and is the second player in the Big Chief leagues based on the sum of points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks after Jordan Mickey). Tate, a 6-4 guard, has been a rotation player for
Now that that silly football game is over, it is college basketball's time to shine. We have the last few weeks of conference play that lead to conference championships that lead to the Big Dance. It is going to be great.
This week's septet includes some players I have somehow let through my sieve-like mind. These are players I really should have profiled earlier, but I was saving them for a special occasion. That occasion is today! The Haze will take a week off next week as its writer heads to the frozen northeast, but we'll be back in two weeks with start of the top-30 freshman countdown.
Wade Baldwin, guard, Vanderbilt Commodores
Earlier in the season, I profiled Riley LaChance, and the 6-foot-2 guard from Wisconsin is still averaging 12.4 points and 3.0 rebounds. Baldwin, another 6-2 guard, is getting plenty of playing time in the Commodores backcourt. Baldwin is more of an offensive facilitator than LaChance and has six straight games of at least four assists. He adds 7.5 points and is hitting 38 percent of his three-pointers. He hit four three-pointers on his way to a season-high 18 points in the overtime loss to LSU on Jan. 24.
Jae'Sean Tate, Ohio State Buckeyes
While it has been D'Angelo Russell who has taken off (and is the second player in the Big Chief leagues based on the sum of points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks after Jordan Mickey). Tate, a 6-4 guard, has been a rotation player for the Buckeyes but has score more lately in Russell's wake. He had a 20-point game on 9-of-10 from the field on Jan. 25 in the win over Indiana. He has scored double digits in four of his last six games. Even if Russell leaves, Tate should be able to slide into a bigger role.
Cliff Alexander, forward, Kansas Jayhawks
When I watch the 6-8 Alexander play, I see a lot of Thomas Robinson potential. Robinson's pro career has not gone well, but he was a low-post beast at Kansas. Alexander has a similar build and athleticism. He has spent his freshman season coming off the Jayhawks bench and averaging just 18.7 minutes. In that spare playing time, he has managed to produce 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Alexander was particularly effective last week against Texas and Oklahoma with 28 points and 22 boards.
Rashad Vaughn, guard, UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Imagine my embarrassment when I realized that I had not profiled Vaughn yet. Some freshmen have not lived up to their hype, but Vaughn has lit up the UNLV offense. He averages 17.2 points and has scored in double digits in all but two November games. The 6-6 native of Minneapolis had a season-high 31 points in the two-point win over Utah State on Jan. 24. He has been limited to 21 points in his last two games. Vaughn grabs 4.9 rebounds and is converting 36.3 percent of his three-pointers.
Patrick McGaw, guard, UNLV Runnin' Rebels
With Vaughn doing the scoring, McGaw can concentrate on other things. The 6-6 wing provides perimeter defense and is averaging 1.5 thefts. He has hit multiple three-pointers in six straight games and most of his shots come from beyond the arc. McGaw has also been setting up the offense and averaged 4.8 assists over his last six games. If McGaw and Vaughn grow together in the Rebels backcourt, the Mountain West could be in UNLV's hands for the next few seasons.
Elijah Bryant, guard, Elon Phoenix
The Phoenix have not been successful in their first year in the Colonial. The team has won just three games in 10 tries. The 6-4, 225, Bryant looks like he will be able to lead the Phoenix into the Colonial light. Bryant leads Elon with 14.0 points and 2.6 assists. The native of Georgia is not a great shooter (37.5 percent from the field, just three-of-16 on three-pointers in his last five games), but he gets to the line 5.2 times per game and makes 75 percent of his freebies. He has accrued four fouls in his last four games. Better shot selection and more control to stay away from whistles will allow Bryant to grow.
Darreon Reddick, guard, Tennessee State Tigers
Last week when I wrote about Christian Mekowulu, my original intention was to write about Reddick. I pulled a last minute editorial decision and took out the guard for the forward. The 6-4 guard deserves his own profile. He had a 42-point week in losses to Murray State and Belmont in January, but fell off to four points in the win over Tennessee Tech last Thursday. For the season, he is averaging 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds, but he has scored in double digits in seven of his last nine games.
