DAILY DISH: Early Feast Week Recap

By: Kels Dayton

Miss anything from the first course of the week-long heaping helping of hoops that is Feast Week? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Grab a plate and dig in; here’s the best from the first portion.

MAUI INVITATIONAL 

WINNER: Illinois over Butler.

The Illini breezed through the Maui Invitational, capturing the title with three double-digit wins and a total lack of drama. Illinois didn’t even have to play North Carolina, Texas or Marquette, the three teams everyone thought would figure in the championship picture before the tournament began. Instead, the Illini hammered USC, 94-64, outclassed Chaminade, 84-61, and took apart Butler, 78-61, in the final. Guard Brandon Paul was outstanding on the island, averaging 22.5 points per game and showing why he is a sleeper pick for the Big Ten Player of the Year. Paul just may be the most underrated player in the nation; there’s nothing this kid can’t do on a basketball court.

WHAT WE LEARNED: Mississippi State is truly awful. The Bulldogs were humiliated in three games in Maui, losing 95-49 to North Carolina, 89-62 to Marquette and 69-55 to Texas. USC isn’t much better, and Texas got blown out by Chaminade. Even North Carolina looked unmistakably crappy in a semifinal mauling against Butler, trailing 62-31 at one point before making the final result respectable.  The bottom line? There were some big names in this tournament, but not very many good basketball teams.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LEARN: Who Butler is. The Bulldogs have at times been impressive (in wins over North Carolina and Marquette) and underwhelming (in blowout losses to Xavier and Illinois). There’s plenty of talent on this team, but its reliance on streaky outside shooters like Chase Stigall and Rotnei Clarke might spell doom for Butler if it can’t figure out other ways to score. If anyone can do it, Brad Stevens can, so expect the Bulldogs to become much more consistent as the season progresses.

MOMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT: Tough to go against between Rotnei Clarke’s running game-winner to beat Marquette, but Chaminade’s evisceration of Texas was absolutely stunning. The Silverswords didn’t get lucky and stun Texas on a last-second shot; they beat the Thanksgiving stuffing out of the Longhorns, leading by as many as 19 and thoroughly dominating the second half. Chaminade senior guard DeAndre Haskins was by far the best player on the floor, going off for a ridiculous 32 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Even though the ‘Horns were (and still are) without star sophomore guard Myck Kabongo, Texas should never be blown out by a Division II team. It could be a long, long season in Austin.

 

PRESEASON NIT

WINNER: Michigan over Kansas State.

The Wolverines pushed past Pittsburgh, 67-62, in a hard-fought semifinal and then outmuscled Kansas State, 71-57, to take the Preseason NIT championship. Tim Hardaway Jr. was the story, scoring 23 points and reminding fans at the Garden of his father with an array of crossover dribbles that must be written into his DNA. Michigan never looked like the fourth-best team in the nation, but it did enough to survive a fairly tough field and emerge 5-0. A November 27 showdown with N.C. State will be a big-time barometer for both teams, who came into the season with unusually high expectations.

WHAT WE LEARNED: Hardaway, Jr. could be on his way to stardom. The 6-6 swing man can dribble like his father, slash and drive like a wing, and rip down boards like a big man. It’s amazing that Tim Hardaway, of all people, would have a son who grew up to be 6-6, but Hardaway Jr. seems to have hit the genetic lottery. Tim Jr. is averaging 18.2 points and 6.8 boards per game, and it doesn’t hurt that he plays alongside Trey Burke (16.4 ppg, 6.8 apg). The duo could be scary-good at the end of the season, and Michigan just may have the best backcourt in the country.

SURPRISE OF THE TOURNEY: That Delaware (2-3) earned itself a trip to New York and a prime-time slot in one of college basketball’s most prestigious preseason tournaments. The Blue Hens knocked off Ivy League heavyweight Pennsylvania, 84-69, and then beat Virginia in Charlottesville, 59-53, to earn its trip. Even though Delaware plays in the giant-killing Colonial Athletic Association, the Blue Hens have been about as relevant as Daniel Baldwin. This was a big deal for them, and they afforded themselves very well in a close, 66-63 loss to Kansas State in the semifinals. Junior guard Devon Sadler has been a revelation, averaging 21.6 points and 5 rebounds per game. Sadler even dropped 32 on Kansas State and put up 25 in the win over Virginia. Watch out for him, and the rest of the Blue Hens, once conference play comes around in January.

 

CANCUN CHALLENGE 

WINNER: Wichita State over Iowa.

The Shockers were the clear-cut class of this field, cruising to wins over Howard and DePaul before climbing past Iowa, 75-63, in the final. Wichita State doesn’t have any real stars, but this team is deep and plays together. Forwards Cleanthony Early (14 ppg, 7 rpg) and Carl Hall (13.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg) lead the Shockers, but no other player averages in double figures in scoring. This team gets it done with defense, unselfishness, and rebounding. Wichita State could be an NCAA Tournament team.

WHAT WE LEARNED: Iowa is improving under head coach Fran McCaffery. The Hawkeyes showed some real fight in coming back from a 38-18 halftime deficit against Gardner-Webb at home, winning the second half 47-18 and winning by nine.

 

OTHER NOTES:

 Creighton looked terrific in knocking off Wisconsin, 84-74, torching the Badgers on 25-of-48 shooting after a 2-for-10 start. Doug McDermott dropped 30 points, looking every bit like the preseason first-team All-American he was. The Bluejays controlled the pace of play and dominated the Badgers, which frustrates the hell out of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan, who prides himself  on dictating the tempo. Creighton has a real chance of soaring in the polls if it can get past Arizona State in the Las Vegas Invitational Final, as the Bluejays don’t have many more non-conference tests.

The Battle 4 Atlantis has been the absolute best preseason tournament this year. First of all, there’s a loaded field that includes Duke, Louisville, Memphis, Missouri, Minnesota, VCU, Northern Iowa and Stanford. And then there’s the upsets (VCU over Memphis), great performances (41 points from Minnesota’s Andre Hollins, also against Memphis), and the unbelievable Duke-Louisville final on Saturday night.

 

 

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