Cavs fans College Basketball Viewing Guide: Week 2
Tuesday, November 16th
Gardner Webb at Duke (7:00 PM, ACC Network): Last week we did get a look at the young Blue Devil team as they beat Kentucky. However, I think most Cavs fans were probably paying attention to possible 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, who did not disappoint. This time around it’s time to take a closer look at Trevor Keels.
The 6-4 freshman shooting guard was the leading scorer against Kentucky, pouring in 25 points while shooting 56% from the field. Keels would be another under-sized guard for the Cavs, but his creativity and play-making would go a long way on the offensive end. He does need to work on his shooting, but that will come with more game time. Even though Banchero looks like the real deal, from the Cavs perspective, it’s probably best to keep your eyes on Keels on Tuesday.
Gavitt Tip-Off Games (Big Ten vs Big East, Tuesday-Thursday)
Unfortunately, there is no Maui Invitational for the second straight year. However, in its place we have the new Gavitt Tip-Off Games. Big Ten teams will play Big East teams, so there will be a lot of prospects on display.
Seton Hall at Michigan (Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET, FS1): On Tuesday in particular, Cavs fans can get their first real look at Michigan freshman Caleb Houstan. One thing that Houstan has going for him is his height and length. Using his 6-8 frame, he’s able to shoot over defenders while also locking down positions 1-4 on the basketball court. The biggest positive in Houstan’s game is that he’s an excellent shooter, and has a very high basketball IQ. If Houstan can prove to be worth a high pick, he might end up being the perfect fit for this Cavalier team.
The Wolverines will be taking on Seton Hall. Another player to keep your eyes on in this game is the Pirates’ senior wing, Jared Rhoden. The 6-6 guard/forward is very athletic and has a solid shooting stroke. He was also a pre-season first-team all-conference player. Obviously, most eyes will be on Houstan and Michigan coach Juwan Howard, but Rhoden is no slouch himself.
Ohio State at Xavier (Thursday, 6:30 PM ET, FS1): Honestly, this is just going to be a good basketball game. These two haven’t met since 2007 when the Buckeyes beat them in the “Big Dance.” The Buckeyes had to crawl and scratch past Akron last week but got the win. As for Xavier, they beat Kent State last week. There are no elite prospects in this matchup, but it definitely has some NBA talent.
Malaki Branham, who I mentioned earlier, is a freshman wing for Ohio State. He went to Akron’s St. Vincent St. Mary for high school, where he was spectacular. He’s got a solid shooting stroke, plays hard, and has a very high basketball IQ. He had the game-winning assist for the Buckeyes versus Akron. Another Buckeye to watch is E.J. Lidell, who compares favorably to Eric Paschall, but with more upside and versatility. He can pretty much guard every position on the college level and should be a good rotation player in the NBA.