Fansided

Finals week: Early grades across the college basketball landscape

By Chris Stone

Nov 30, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Manu Lecomte (20) dribbles the ball against Sam Houston State Bearkats guard Josh Delaney (15) in the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Manu Lecomte (20) dribbles the ball against Sam Houston State Bearkats guard Josh Delaney (15) in the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Nov 23, 2016; Lahaina, Maui, HI, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) shoots a free throw against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Championship Game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Lahaina, Maui, HI, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) shoots a free throw against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Championship Game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cs: They still get degrees

Indiana Hoosiers: Tom Crean’s squad has a pair of truly excellent wins in its Armed Forces Classic victory over Kansas and its home handling of North Carolina, but the Hoosiers also stumbled on the road to Fort Wayne in November. That evens itself out pretty well for a team that has a really high offensive ceiling, but faces questions on nights when the shots aren’t falling. James Blackmon has taken over as Indiana’s primary scorer while Thomas Bryant continues to improve in his sophomore season. Fellow sophomore OG Anunoby is the piece that makes everything tick, though, as the player that holds the Hoosiers’ defense together.

Kansas Jayhawks: Kansas hasn’t lost since the opening night of the season, but there are still some question marks facing the Jayhawks. Head coach Bill Self has continually gone small this season by starting four guards in place of his traditional system that emphasizes the interplay between his big men. A one-time Towson commit, point guard Frank Mason has evolved into a National Player of the Year candidate and freshman Josh Jackson has been the do-it-all wing that keeps the pieces moving. Kansas will face a tougher road now that sophomore forward Carlton Bragg has been indefinitely suspended after allegedly striking his girlfriend.

North Carolina Tar Heels: North Carolina only has one loss this season, a road defeat against the aforementioned Hoosiers, but the Tar Heels have still delivered about what was expected of them coming into the season. Offense continues to be North Carolina’s calling card as Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks have filled in well for the departed Brice Johnson. At the point guard spot, Joel Berry has become the Tar Heels’ most important piece and its shown this past week as the team has struggled to look like itself in closer than projected wins over Davidson and Tennessee.