DAILY DISH: Lehigh’s CJ McCollum out for the season

By Kels Dayton
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Updated: January 8, 2013

By: Kels Dayton

CJ McCollum’s college career could be over. (Kevin Mingora/Allentown Morning Call)

I’d like to start this Daily Dish by announcing that I, Kels Dayton, am bummed out.

The best player in mid-major college basketball is out for the season, and likely won’t play college hoops ever again. Lehigh senior guard CJ McCollum broke his foot on Saturday in a 59-55 loss to Virginia Commonwealth. McCollum was the nation’s second-leading scorer at 23.9 points per game, and one of the most exciting players in the country. He was a preseason All-American and Naismith candidate, but now he’s likely reduced to cheerleader. McCollum was a microwave, able to heat up in a hurry and drain shots from all over the court. He became a star last season after he torched Duke for 30 points in a thrilling NCAA Tournament upset. Coach Mike Kryzyzewski called McCollum, “the best player on the floor.”

He had a silky-smooth shot and a high-major level confidence. After the 15th-seeded Mountain Hawks stunned the Blue Devils, McCollum demanded his teammates act like they’d been there before. Lehigh shook hands with Duke, and engaged in some polite celebration after the takedown. There were no court-rushing, One Shining Moment-making antics. It was surreal.

You’ll see McCollum again. He’s listed as a lottery pick on NBADraft.net, and most scouts believe that he will have a long, successful career in the league. It’s just unfortunate that McCollum won’t get a redux in the NCAAs, where Lehigh was hoping to make even more noise this season. With him, Lehigh was a darkhorse threat to reach the Sweet 16. Without him, it’s tough to imagine that the Mountain Hawks will outduel 13-3 Bucknell in the Patriot League tournament.

OTHER NOTES:

Unbelievably, Missouri State is 3-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference after going 0-10 against Division 1 competition in non-conference play. The Bears were stunningly bad in the preseason, losing to Jacksonville and Alabama A&M (ALABAMA A&M)! Their 62-55 win over Illinois State on Tuesday night was especially troubling, considering the fact that the free-falling Redbirds (9-7, 0-4 MVC) started the season with wins over Dayton and UAB and very nearly stunned Louisville on the road.

Minnesota could be a darkhorse Final Four contender if it continues to play with this much tenacity defensively. The Golden Gophers (14-1, No. 9 ESPN/USA Today poll) blew past Michigan State down the stretch in a key game on New Year’s Eve, and then outclassed Northwestern at home on Sunday. Minnesota also owns wins over Memphis, Stanford and Florida State, and only lost to No. 1 Duke. Wednesday night’s showdown at Illinois could go a long way towards deciding whether or not the Gophers are equipped to make a deep NCAA run.

Finally, Michigan’s Trey Burke just might be the best player in college basketball right now. The sophomore point guard is averaging 18.2 points and 7.5 assists per game this season, and has been a terrific playmaker for the Wolverines. Michigan is ranked No.2 in the nation for the first time since the Fab Five were in Ann Arbor, and Burke is the biggest reason why. He’s good enough to lead the Wolverines to the Final Four.