College Basketball Week 1: 5 biggest takeaways
By Chris Stone
The college basketball season started off with a bang this past weekend. Here’s what we learned.
The opening night of the 2016-17 college basketball season delivered just as everyone had hoped. It wouldn’t be college basketball without upsets. No. 18 UConn was knocked off by Wagner, 67-58, after shooting 35.7 percent from the field. The Huskies presumably will bounce back and turn out just fine before March given the strength of their backcourt.
This year’s Armed Forces Classic also featured a pair of high profile matchups that were decided by a total of six points as Arizona bested Michigan State despite a stellar performance from super frosh Miles Bridges and Indiana held off Kansas in overtime.
In honor of the sports opening weekend, here’s a look at a five things we learned.
1. James Blackmon and Thomas Bryant are ready to lead Indiana
The biggest question facing the Hoosiers after their run to the Sweet Sixteen last season was how they would handle the loss of senior point guard Yogi Ferrell. Ferrell provided Indiana a steadying hand last season as a guard capable of creating shots for himself or for his teammates when the moment called for it. On Friday, we got a hint of how the Hoosiers might be ready to move on from their experienced leader.
Junior guard James Blackmon returned to the Indiana lineup with a bang and exploded for 26 points on just 17 field goal attempts to lead the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-4 guard knocked down four of his eight three-point attempts, including a contested three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Lagerald Vick with 2:31 remaining in overtime to give his team a lead it wouldn’t look back from. Before his sophomore season was cut short, Blackmon was scoring an efficient 15.8 points per game on a true shooting percentage better than 60 percent. He looked ready to shoulder an even larger burden for Indiana now that he’s fully healthy once again.
Center Thomas Bryant also looked like a re-born talent. Before fouling out, Bryant compiled a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in what was the most emphatic statement he’s made in his college career. The 6-foot-10 sophomore likely could have been a first round pick last June, but opted to return to school and it seems to be paying off. Bryant looked quicker and more mobile as he ran the floor and physically imposed himself against Kansas’ Landen Lucas, a strong interior defender at the college level.
Although there will no doubt be games this season where the effect of missing Ferrell will be felt, Blackmon and Bryant look prepared to carry Indiana this season as the team’s offensive leaders while sophomore OG Anunoby brings it on the defensive end.