Player of the Week:
Liam McNeeley, UConn
A career-high 38 points from McNeeley that leads to one big question: how did this guy play on the same team as Cooper Flagg? I mean it seems unfair in retrospect that the two most lethal scoring freshmen were on the same high school roster. McNeeley has been the best player for UConn (when healthy) all year, and his performance in front of a hostile crowd in Nebraska is the stuff of legends. It was a huge response game for his Huskies, as they fell out of the AP poll for the first time in an eternity. McNeeley made shot after shot, tough jumper after tough jumper. He’s one of the most NBA ready prospects in the Big East in my opinion. He’s got size, a 6’7, 210-pound frame with surgical pace that lets him get to his spots with ease. His jumper is clean both off the dribble and off the catch, and he’s a compact defender that will solidly defend anyone on the floor with little trouble. If you like Big East basketball, you should love Liam McNeeley.
Who’s Hot?
Eric Dixon, Villanova
I’m a serial comment checker on Instagram. Is it good for my mental health? Probably not, but it can provide some insight into what the general consensus on things is. After Nova took down Saint John’s in Philadelphia on Wednesday, the official March Madness page posted the final score. The top comment read: “March ain’t ready for Eric Dixon!” They’re so right. He didn’t have his best performance of the year against the Red Strom, it was another inefficient night for him, 5-of-17 from the field, but his gravity is almost incomparable to anyone else in the country. The game plan that a lot of teams employ to stop the Wildcats is akin to what we saw from the Chiefs in the Super Bowl last Sunday. Put all the energy into stopping their best player and hope the rest of them don’t beat you. While Saquan didn’t beat the Chiefs, his presence sure did. On Tyler Perkins’ game-winning three, the next defender was positioned to prevent Dixon from receiving a skip pass, allowing Perkins to make that shot. Both of these Philly athletes, Saquan and Dixon, are helping their team even when they aren’t putting up huge stat lines. It’s for that reason that Dixon is my player of the week. The Wildcats are now owners of the longest winning streak in the Big East, and they’re heating up at the perfect time.
Kam Jones, Marquette
Despite the offensive woes from Marquette, Jones has been elite as ever. One of the frontrunners for NPOY for most of the season, Jones moved to third on the all time scoring mark for Marquette in their win over DePaul. That’s more collegiate points than the likes of Dwayne Wade, Jimmy Butler and Doc Rivers. Jones is far and away the best player Marquette has had since Butler, and he’s been excellent this season. Over the last week, Jones averaged 23-5-5, and has continued to try to will the Eagles to wins. I talk a lot about how scary it would be to see a motivated Eric Dixon in March, but Jones is equally as scary… and he’s experienced.
Who’s Not?
Dan Hurley’s Public Image
He barks at the fans on a court that the team has historically struggled on after falling out of the AP poll for the first time since November of 2022, he has two rings and he’ll remind you of it, he has a hotter temper than any of his players, he dubbed himself “the best coach in the sport,” he is Dan Hurley. Now being referred to as the villain that college basketball needs, Dan Hurley has quickly turned the tide on his public image, going from the golden boy of the next generation of college hoops to an almost Coach K level public enemy. It’s beautiful to watch. I would have to agree that he is the villain college basketball needed. I think his looming presence as a two-time defending champion and a coach who has no regard for the typical level of reverence and respect for opposing fans makes every UConn game fun to watch. The Huskies will likely re-enter the AP poll this week, and their March Madness seed is still up in the air, but all eyes remain on them and their fearless leader as this season pushes on. Will they make Flagg regret his decision to choose Duke? So far, no. However, March Madness will be the real test.
Saint John’s AND Marquette’s Offense
Two of the best in the country are on different tracks offensively. Saint John’s had their worst offensive performance of the season this past week in a rare loss. Marquette has been struggling for a couple weeks now. Let’s begin with Saint John’s. They shot 37 threes in their loss to Nova, 10 more than their next highest number of attempts throughout the season. Did Nova unlock the secret to beating the Storm? Maybe. Their offense is predicated around downhill attacking, out-physicaling the other team, being the tougher matchup. Shooting 37 threes when your strong suit doesn’t include that isn’t what you’re looking for if you’re Rick Pitino. This is just one bad showing though, and that’s to be expected in the throes of a long season. Marquette on the other hand, their offense has been bad. If you recall, last week I mentioned how 70 points is the target mark for the Golden Eagles. They get to 70 points, they’re probably winning the game, if they don’t, they’re probably losing. In their three-game slide they didn’t score 70 once. They only scored 68 this past week against lowly DePaul, and while they did end up winning it wasn’t the dominance you’d want to see from a “contender.” Is the yearly Shaka Smart collapse in full effect? I hope not for the sake of Wisconsinites.
Power Rankings
5. Villanova Wildcats
Read the above passage. Dixon and company are scary.
4. Creighton Blue Jays
One bad loss, like many of the others. They’re still one of the hottest teams in hoops.
3. UConn Huskies
Too inconsistent to put in the top-2, but fun enough to put over the Jays.
2. Marquette Golden Eagles
Bad offense, but maybe it’s a good time to work out the kinks.
1. Saint John’s Red Storm
“One bad apple don’t make the grove bad!”