Around College Basketball: Cotton’s Elite Company, Towson’s Early Turn, Mondy’s Green Light

1. How good has Bryce Cotton been for Providence this season?  The junior guard is one of only two players in the nation averaging at least 23 points, five rebounds and four assists in the country.  The other is Loyola Marymount point guard Anthony Ireland, a Waterbury, CT native who has been absolutely stellar this year, putting up 23.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per night.

Both Cotton (.455 from the field, 41% from three) and the 5’10 Ireland (.490 from the field, 50% from three) have shot at a very high rate, and both get to the free throw line frequently (9 FT attempts per game for Cotton, 8 for Ireland).

If you’ve been reading this site from the beginning you’ll remember Ireland’s name.  He’s was a 29 point per game scorer  in his senior season in Connecticut before transferring to Winchendon for a tremendous prep season that saw him earn first team all NEPSAC Class A honors in 2010.  He quickly became a favorite, leading a Winchendon team that included high level talent Khem Birch and Markus Kennedy, but was led by a trio of mid-major recruits in Ireland, Devon Saddler (Delaware) and Eric Ferguson of Georgia Southern.

Ireland isn’t the only one of the three making waves as a junior.  Saddler’s Delaware group upset Virginia to make it to Madison Square Garden for the preseason NIT where he scored 32 points versus Kansas State on Wednesday and followed that up with 28 more against Pittsburgh Friday night.

Ferguson ended up at Georgia Southern as his godfather is the head coach there and was a 15 point, eight rebound small forward last season who toyed with the idea of declaring for the NBA Draft.

It was easy to see Ireland’s talent at Winchendon — his ball handling and clutch shot making were as good as anyone in New England in 2010, but his size and status as summertime backup (he played behind Naadir Tharpe for the New England Playaz) probably kept high majors away.

It’s easy to fall in love with rankings, and they are more accurate today than they’ve ever been, but players like Cotton and Ireland are just the latest examples that high school production should be given as much credence as physical measurables.

2. Semaj Christon was on campus at PC in May of 2011 before choosing Xavier and going on to a tremendous prep season at Brewster Academy.  While Providence certainly rebounded well in landing McDonald’s All American Kris Dunn, Christon may be one of the top two or three freshman point guards in the country this season.  His 23 point (10-14 shooting), six rebound, one turnover game on Friday night led Xavier to a win over a tough Drexel club.

3. Some were quick to criticize Nerlens Noel after a shaky season opener against Maryland, but he’s been highly-productive early in the season, averaging 12.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, and having even more of an impact on the defensive end blocking 3.6 shots and coming up with 2.6 steals per game.  While limited offensively, he’s shooting nearly 63% from the field.

4. Speaking of steals, St. Andrew’s product and Syracuse sophomore Michael Carter-Williams is getting four per game.  He’s also averaging 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the very early part of the season for the Orange.

5. Former PC recruit, and current St. John’s freshman, Chris Obekpa is blocking 4.5 shots per game.

6. Keno Davis’ Central Michigan group lost to Iowa and Utah by double figures early, but have started 3-2 thanks to wins over the likes of Wright State and Idaho State.  They’ll face their stiffest challenge of the season later this month when #4 Michigan comes to town.  The Wolverines are fresh off of a preseason NIT title and have a lot of scoring options.

7. Towson is off to a 3-2 start after finishing 1-31 last season.  Pat Skerry got a very tough break when Frank Mason did not qualify this season. Mason would have been a freshman, and a very good one in the CAA.  How good?  He’s headed to Kansas next season.

Still, Skerry’s group is an overtime loss away from a 4-1 start, and with his recruiting acumen it’s only a matter of time until they are competing at a high level in the new-look CAA.

Georgetown transfer Jerrelle Benimon has been very good early, averaging 16.2 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game, while South Florida transfer Mike Burwell has added a much-needed shooter.  A third Big East transfer, Bilal Dixon, has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in three of their five games.

8. Cincinnati could have the best backcourt in the Big East this season.  The Bearcats have started 6-0 after wins against Iowa State and Oregon this weekend, and they are now sixth in the country in points per game (86.8) and first in rebounding (49.8), despite the graduation of Yancy Gates.

Sean Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright are combining for 37 points a night, with Kilpatrick going off against Iowa State for 32 points on 16-16 at the free throw line.

9. Duke and Louisville played a great one last night, which might have gone under the radar as it went up against critical college football games.  Duke led by eight at the half and held on late, as they have defeated the Cards and also Kentucky in the season’s first month.  Louisville was without defensive stalwat Gorgui Deing, however.

10. Duke Mondy has the green light at Oakland.  After scoring 51 points in their first two games his pace has slowed of late, as he’s shot 13-39 over the past three games while turning it over 14 times in those contests.  He went 6-20 in a 70-52 loss to Michigan State on Friday.

Email Kevin at kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

25 Comments

You must be logged in to post a comment Login