While fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers have been enjoying the play of their team, the team was surely keeping one eye on the start of the college basketball season as many of the top prospects made their debut. Last week we gave you a few prospects to look at, and we’ll do so again so you know what to watch for as a fan of the Cavs.
The college basketball season opened up last weekend to some mixed results. Six days ago, Coach K and Duke took on the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden. Potential 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero looked great alongside fellow freshman Trevor Keels. They combined to score 47 of Duke’s 79 points. However, on the other side of the court, Wildcat freshman TyTy Washington Jr. struggled, shooting 3-of-14 from the field, and finishing with only nine points.
Outside of the two major matchups at Madison Square Garden last week, there were only a couple of big games. On Friday, UCLA hosted Villanova and got an 86-77 overtime win. Bruins freshman Peyton Watson did not impress, playing only two total minutes. It will be interesting to see if Watson gets lost on UCLA’s team behind Johnny Juzang and Tyger Campbell.
My personal favorite prospect, Patrick Baldwin Jr., was a little bit less than spectacular in week one. He averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game as UW-Milwaukee started out their season 1-1.
Well, we finally got a look at seven-footer Chet Holmgren in a Gonzaga uniform this past week, but it was another Bulldog that really impressed. While Holmgren has shown off his arsenal of skills, returning Zag junior Drew Timme had himself quite a game against Texas this past week. He scored 37 points in the win, while shooting 15-of-19 from the field. Unfortunately, Timme will be downgraded in the draft because of his age (21), but a smart team will pick him up and find ways to best utilize him.
Last week college basketball showcased a number of draft prospects for the Cavs to watch. Who is on the viewing list in Week 2?
This week in college basketball, we have the early season tournaments. The Gavitt Tip-Off, Phil Knight Invitational, and the Hall of Fame Tip-Off will dominate the headlines this weekend. Cavs fans will be able to get another early-season look at guys like Michigan freshman Caleb Houstan and Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham. Finally, we can get a better look at Duke freshman Trevor Keels tomorrow when they take on Gardner Webb.