I know, a lot of you are probably sick of me writing these articles about college hoops, when the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference, and the city will be hosting NBA All-Star Weekend in just a couple of weeks. But, I feel like this is a prime opportunity for some Cavs fans to see a couple of really good college players, that might end up in a Cavalier uniform come next season.
There are multiple games on throughout the day, including my projected current number one overall pick Jabari Smith leading his Auburn team in a Big 12-SEC matchup versus Oklahoma this afternoon. On top of that Paolo Banchero and Duke are in action currently today, followed by a great chance to watch the little-seen Bennedict Mathurin as his third-ranked Arizona team faces off with in-state rival, Arizona State. However, none of those are the best game on the agenda on Saturday.
That game belongs to Kentucky and Kansas. The two college basketball blue bloods meet in Lawrence, Kansas this evening, both having top-15 rankings. Kentucky could be shorthanded if projected lottery pick, point guard TyTy Washington continues to sit out after injuring his ankle a week ago. Even if he goes, he’s unlikely to be 100 percent, so keep your eyes on 5-foot-9 transfer Sahvir Wheeler.
He’s not on many NBA radars right now, but at one point he was called the best “94-foot college basketball player” in the country. He’ll likely have a heavy workload, which might hinder the Wildcat’s chances of winning.
On the other bench, Bill Self has coached this Kansas team to a 17-2 record, and the number five ranking in the country. Two guys to keep your eyes on for Kansas are guard Ochai Agbaji, who’s been on a tear of late, and junior wing Christian Braun. So let’s take a look at today’s matchup.
What: (12) Kentucky at (5) Kansas
Where: Allen Fieldhouse — Lawrence, Kansas
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Coverage: ESPN & WatchESPN
(Betting Odds: Kansas -5, Over/Under 152.5, according to WynnBet)
What to watch for from Kentucky
John Calipari was very clear when asked about playing star guard TyTy Washington Jr. yesterday, via Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:
"“This isn’t a game you play a guy at 80%,” Calipari said. “It’s just not.”"
The Kentucky program has given the NBA a lot of talent over the years, so I expect Calipari to stay true to his word. It also helps him with other recruits, in the sense that he won’t risk their careers for one college basketball game. With that being said, it’s pretty hard to imagine Kentucky beating Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse without their star guard.
Wheeler has the stamina to play nearly the entire game, but with the Jayhawk defense keying on him, it could be very difficult. For Kentucky to keep this one close, center Oscar Tshiebwe needs to play great. He’s being looked at right now as a late lottery pick, and his stock could rise. With the Cavs having one of the tallest rosters in the NBA, I would doubt that they would be interested.
You never know, it can’t hurt to have too much talent. If Washington Jr. is on the court, he excels in the open floor, while getting to the rim with ease. He’s very explosive, and can be a great on-ball defender at times, but he also has mental lapses on that side of the ball.
If Kentucky’s able to pull out this massive road victory without Washington jr. being 100 percent, look for the star guard himself, Wheeler, and Tshiebwe’s draft stock to go through the roof.
What to watch for from Kansas
Ochai Agbaji is a name you’re going to want to get to know, and fast, very fast. The 6-foot-5 senior guard is one of the best players in college basketball this season. He’s averaging over 21 points per game, while also grabbing five rebounds for game, and shooting over 52 percent from the field.
Over his last two games versus Texas Tech and Kansas State, he averaged 33 points per game, and hit some huge shots. On Monday versus the 13th-ranked Red Raiders, Agbaji scored 37 points, and hit the game-tying three to send the game into overtime. He was 13-for-23 from the field and 7-for-12 from three. Three days earlier against in state rival Kansas State, the senior guard dropped a team-high 29 points in the three-point win.
Overall, Agbaji moves great without the ball, is a plus defender, and can convert at the basket through contact. His recent run of form has me comparing him a little bit to Kemba Walker from the 2011 UConn Huskies. He’s older than most players that will be in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he may be worth it. However, Agbaji isn’t the only Jayhawk likely to be selected in the first round.
Enter Christian Braun. The junior wing is having a great season, and contributing all over the court. Often times he plays the most minutes on the team, and they look to him as a leader. For the season, the wing is averaging 15 points per game, while shooting 51 percent from the field. The scorer is also capable of hitting from deep, even though his 28 percent average this season is very underwhelming. Braun is more of a set shooter, that looks to come off screens, rather than penetrate with the dribble.
He was extremely efficient inside the arc up until recently, hitting over 73 percent of his two-point attempts at one point this season, as a positive note. For reference, Udoka Azibuke, former Jayhawk center, shot 74 percent from inside the arc for his career.
Braun has slipped to the second round in some of the latest mock drafts, but that could be perfect for the Cavs to pick him up with one of their second-round picks. If both players end up being drafted, it will be the first time two Jayhawks have heard their name called since 2018 when Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailuk were drafted in the second round. I have a pretty good feeling at least one of these guys goes in the first round.
Overall, this game would be one of the best of the season if Washington Jr. was fully healthy. On top of that, there is a minuscule chance that another Kentucky freshman plays his first minutes today. Shaedon Sharpe is technically eligible to play this season, but it’s not known if his plans are to play this season then enter the draft this summer, or sit out this season and enter the 2023 NBA Draft.
In either draft he would be a lottery pick, but Calipari said point blank he’d rather not play the young man in a tough road environment, via Parrish.
"“I’d rather not right now, only because I think he needs more time to elevate the intensity, the fight, all of the stuff you need.”"
It’s really a great chance to get a first look at some of the guys the Cavaliers will more than likely be interested in this summer. Braun would immediately help the Cavs from a shooting standpoint, and Agbaji could bring with him some leadership, veteran savvy, and a crazy shot making arsenal.
Be sure to tune in this evening at 6:00 PM on ESPN to see a very interesting matchup between the Big 12 and SEC.