Winners and losers from the draft deadline
The Stache is back and Kansas and Houston are celebrating. All the news you need from Wednesday.
A day of NBA Draft decisions kept college hoops Twitter busy on Wednesday. More than 40 players settled on their basketball future (full list here), some of which were a little surprising. We’ll spend the next couple newsletters breaking it all down, starting with winners and losers today, along with some additional links. And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Field of 68 Daily.
Let’s get to the news.
THREE POINTERS
1. Zags get the best mustache in sports back
Yes, two-time All-America and NPOY candidate Drew Timme will return for another season, trying to help Gonzaga notch its first national title.
That was Wednesday’s biggest news, but hardly the only good bit for the Zags.
Julian Strawther, the 6-7 sharpshooting wing, is back despite likely being picked during the NBA Draft on June 23. His mix of size and athleticism could allow Mark Few to play him next to guards Nolan Hickman, Rasir Bolton, and potentially Chattanooga transfer Malachi Smith (who seems Gonzaga bound), with Hunter Sallis coming off the bench. That’s just an embarrassment of riches.
Should the Zags be ranked No. 1 entering the season? Yes. For me Gonzaga is the best — with or without Smith. It’s assuming Hickman makes a jump after playing a small role behind Andrew Nembhard last season. It’s tough to replace an elite decision-maker of Nembhard’s caliber, but a mix of players could make up the production lost. (You can check out my personal top-25 rankings here.)
2. Two recent Final Four teams poised to return
Kansas lost three starters and super-sub Remy Martin from their national champs, but might not miss a beat. Jalen Wilson is back and could win Big 12 player of the year. Texas Tech transfer and defensive standout Kevin McCullar also withdrew from the draft. While Red Raiders fans aren’t happy, the Jayhawk faithful couldn’t be more excited to see the 6-foot-6 wing in action. The three experienced Big 12 starters, DaJuan Harris, McCullar and Wilson form the foundation of the team, but there’s plenty of young talent with four top-50 recruits enrolled for 2022-23. Could Kansas be the first repeat champion since 2007 Florida? It’s very possible.
Houston, who nearly beat Villanova in the Elite Eight without Marcus Sasser, gets the elite scoring guard back for 2022-23. This places the Cougars right in the national title mix.
Before a December injury, Sasser averaged 17.7 points, while shooting 43 percent from deep in 12 games. Kelvin Sampson’s program wins regardless of talent, but there’s no shortage of talent either. They have the best guard duo around with Sasser and floor general Jamal Shead, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22.
3. Duke loses Trevor Keels, but shouldn’t worry
Duke’s opener on November 15 will be a new experience: No Coach K and four new starters.
Jeremy Roach is the lone Devil with any significant experience returning with Trevor Keels electing to stay in the draft (he’s a likely first round pick). Keels could’ve put the Blue Devils in top-five ranking consideration, but here’s the thing: Duke has so much talent coming in for new coach Jon Scheyer that it should be a Top 25 mainstay. Probably.
It’s hard to argue against the talent. With four top-15 recruits, including Dereck Lively and Kyle Filipowski, Duke has the highest-ceiling of any team if the pieces fit. You simply never know with young teams. It didn’t work with Kentucky two years ago, it didn’t work Memphis three years ago, but it’s worked for Duke year-in and year-out. Duke’s recruiting didn’t take a hit. It’ll look different though.
MORE FROM THE NBA DRAFT DEADLINE
Winners, losers from Wednesday’s decisions
There are obvious winners from the deadline (Drew Timme’s quotes alone make us all winners), but let’s breakdown the notable ones from this week.
WINNERS
GONZAGA
Bringing back Timme and Strawther is an automatic win. Ignore the “Gonzaga never lives up to expectations” takes. Making seven straight Sweet 16s and two national title appearances in the last five tournaments doesn't seem too shabby. Well, it’s time for the Zags to finally put the criticism to sleep by winning the ever-elusive championship in Houston. This team is deep.
STANFORD
Jerod Haase needs an NCAA Tournament bid to avoid the hot seat — and has a roster to do it with Harrison Ingram returning to Palo Alto. As a freshman, the former five-star forward averaged 10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 32 games. Davidson transfer Michael Jones will add perimeter shooting, which the Cardinal didn't have enough of last year. The progression of Isa Silva could determine if Stanford breaks their eight-year tournament drought.
MIAMI
Etch the Canes in the Top 25 rankings with Isaiah Wong's return. Wong (15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists as a junior) pairs with Kansas State transfer Nijel Park as one of the sport’s elite tandems, but also sport a nice starting five with Jordan Miller, and Anthony Walker and Arkansas State transfer Norchad Omier.
FURMAN
Some of the little guys deserve some love too! The Paladin faithful saw their hopes of an NCAA Tournament bid disappear when Chattanooga's David Jean-Baptiste nailed a 30-footer as time expired in the conference title game. However, Furman gets back Jalen Slawson (14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists) and Mike Bothwell (15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7), making Furman the obvious SOCON favorite.
HOUSTON
Houston became a clear title contender once Sasser returned. He's such an electrifying scorer and looks like he's playing pop-a-shot when the rhythm starts flowing. I would argue with Jarace Walker and Terrence Arceneaux enrolling that this could be Houston's best roster under Kelvin Sampson.
KANSAS
I covered the Jayhawks above. Yes, Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun stayed in the draft, but with Wilson and McCullar back, that’s a huge win for the Hawks.
LOSERS
ARKANSAS
Sure, once Arkansas added three frontcourt players Jaylin Williams’s return didn’t seem likely. Still, the Razorbacks lost a double-double threat who made opponents second-guess taking the ball inside since Williams led the country in charges forced. His departure makes Arkansas a borderline top-10 team. Gifted five-stars Nick Smith, Anthony Black, and Jordan Walsh could turn Arkansas into title contenders, but for today, they’re right here.
ARIZONA
The Wildcats missed a golden opportunity to win a national title in 2021-22. They have to replace Bennedict Mathurin, Christian Koloko, and now super glue-guy Dalen Terry is gone. That’s three starters and the portal options are getting lighter by the day. There are a lot of unknowns in Tommy Lloyd's second season in Tucson.
MARQUETTE
Marquette lost 7 of its last 11 games and got drilled in the NCAA tourney. And now, first-team all-Big East forward Justin Lewis isn’t returning. OMax Prosper and Oso Ighodaro should see increased roles. Like most Shaka Smart teams, the Golden Eagles should defend consistently, but the talent level is down.
IOWA STATE
The Cyclones didn't technically lose anyone from their roster to the draft besides Izaiah Brockington, but the long-speculated move of A.J. Green to Ames won't happen.
For a team that desperately needed perimeter shooting, missing an option like the reigning Missouri Valley POY hurts.
MICHIGAN
The Wolverines already got Hunter Dickinson back two months ago, though the decisions of Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate came on the final day. Neither will return to school, and both will likely get drafted. Silver lining? It gives freshman Jett Howard and sophomore Kobe Bufkin a chance to start right away. Plus, Dickinson’s still in Ann Arbor.
ICYMI
The 2022-23 season comes into shape
Yes, there was a lot of action on Wednesday. More notable decisions below.
Jules Bernard won’t be back at UCLA.
St Bonaventure brought in 6-foot-11 sharpshooter Noah Waterman from Detroit Mercy. The lengthy forward shot 44 percent from bonus range on 168 attempts in two seasons with the Titans.
Samford's Ques Glover (19.2 points and 4.8 assists last season) decided he wanted to spend another year in school.
Wake Forest star Jake LaRavia will stay in the NBA Draft.
Oregon point guard Will Richardson returns and puts the Ducks firmly in the top-25 mix.
March Madness legend Max Abmas decided the pros can wait another year. .
First Team All-A10 selection Tyler Burton is back for Richmond.
FOUR QUESTIONS
Bringing it all back home
If Baylor Scheierman is mistaken for a quarterback in his home state of Nebraska, it’s for good reason. He looks like one. At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, he could be an imposing presence on the gridiron (and was one in high school). But Creighton doesn’t have a football team. He’s there to hoop — and maybe push the Blue Jays to a Final Four.
After three seasons of starring for South Dakota State, he told Jeff Goodman why Creighton, what’s ahead and what he was like a football player.
Q: All the blue bloods went after you. Duke, Kansas and Kentucky. Why did you choose Creighton?
Scheierman: “I chose Creighton because I felt like their play style fits me perfectly. We also are going to have a great team that has a chance to do something special and I can do that in my home state.”
Q: What role do you see yourself in next year in Omaha?
Scheierman: “The role I see myself playing is really just being the same player I’ve always been, make plays for others and myself, make shots at a high level and be a leader.”
Q: What’s the first purchase you made or will make from your NIL?
Scheierman: “I don’t really plan on making any purchases. I honestly am going to put the majority of the money away.”
Q: You played quarterback in high school in Nebraska and threw for 3,942 yards and a state-record 59 touchdowns as a senior. What QB are you most like, and why?
Scheierman: “I think there are a lot of quarterbacks that I’m like, to be honest. I was one of those QBs where I didn’t necessarily run a lot, but I was very elusive and scrambled well. I was very smart, knew the coverage and knew what play we were running and I knew based on the coverage what routes were gonna be open. My arm strength was top-notch and I was able to throw the ball anywhere on the field.”
Baylor Scheierman and Creighton will be the favorites to win the Big East in 2023.
MORE ON THE DRAFT DEADLINE
North Carolina wasn’t sweating deadline day
The Tar Heels came this close to winning it all in 2022. They also came this close to not figuring it out in time for their NCAA Tournament run. Yet here they are, relaxed in June and staring at another Final Four run in 2023 because their players came back for another season.
What other teams didn’t have to worry on Wednesday? The Field of 68 crew breaks it down.
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THE FAST BREAK
As if there wasn’t enough news on Wednesday
Kentucky head coach John Calipari spoke candidly to Paul Finebaum on the “Paul Finebaum show” about the loss to Saint Peter’s, and noting that he told AD Mitch Barnhart about it being “unacceptable if we’re not the gold standard in facilities and everything else.”
Iowa State gave T.J. Otzelberger a raise and an extension after Iowa State’s surprise season.
As noted above, Duke’s been just fine with one-and-dones. Mike DeCourcy explains why.
Boston College officially announced former Miami AD Blake James as its new athletic director.
Louisville reportedly will give interim AD Josh Heird the job full time.
Rights deals for the Big Ten and Pac-12 are coming. It’s mostly football focused, but interesting to hear how much $$$ the leagues are asking.
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