As the Dallas Mavericks continue to battle severe injury and a poor roster, it is only fair for some of us to turn a wandering eye towards what is happening in the college game. Some of the nation’s best have put forward their best performances to start the new year. However, this game is closer to a marathon than it is a sprint, and staying power is key to making it to the dance.
What does this week hold? Let’s dive in.
Prospect of the week: Kingston Flemings (Guard, Houston)
Last five games: 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists (1 turnover) per game
Can we just take a moment to recognize how absurd it is for a true freshman to have
an assist to turnover ratio of nearly six to one to start conference play? Not only that, but Flemings’ scoring prowess has also been on display in some of Houston’s biggest games. Against Texas Tech last week, Flemings scored nine of his 23 points in the last four minutes of the game, including the dagger three to put the game away.
For the year, Kingston is shooting 52.7% from the floor and 40% from three. Again, he’s a true freshman playing for Kelvin Sampson, who is notoriously hard on freshmen. And he’s orchestrating the offense at a high level while still playing the type of defense that is required for anyone to see the floor at Houston. Kingston Flemings is not an ordinary freshman, and we should expect him to be off the board very early come NBA Draft time.
Games of the week
Tuesday, January 13
Texas A&M at 24 Tennessee 0 6:00p CT (SEC Network)
3 UConn at 25 Seton Hall – 7:00p CT (Tru TV)
West Virginia at 7 Houston – 7:30p CT (FS1)
18 Alabama at Mississippi State – 8:00p CT (SEC Network)
2 Iowa State at Kansas – 8:00p CT (ESPN)
Tuesday is an underrated slate of games this week. Guys who will be in action include Nate Ament, Braylon Mullins, Tamin Lipsey, Darryn Peterson, Labaron Philon and Kingston Flemings. Should be an excellent night of ball.
Wednesday, January 14
Iowa at 5 Purdue – 5:30p CT (BTN)
10 Vanderbilt at Texas – 8:00p CT (ESPN2)
4 Michigan at Washington – 9:30p CT (BTN)
6 Duke at Cal – 10:00p CT (ACC Network)
TCU at 11 BYU – 10:00p CT (ESPN2)
Early on, we’ve got a great point guard matchup in Bennett Stirtz of Iowa, who will face off with Braden Smith of Purdue. Plus, the potential game of the night in Austin as Vandy comes to visit the Horns.
The joy of realignment means that Duke gets to go play at Cal on a Wednesday night for an 11:00p body clock start time. The late slate on this night will feature two of the consensus top three in the NBA Draft (Duke’s Cam Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa), as well as other first round talents in Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Yaxel Lendeborg, Hannes Steinbach and multiple other Duke Blue Devils.
Friday, January 16
Baylor at Kansas – 7:00p CT (FOX)
The rare Friday game! These two teams are both unranked, but the talent on display in the game should make for quality viewing. Kansas will have Darryn Peterson, who is going to be a top three pick in the draft. The Bears will counter with Cam Carr and Tounde Yessoufou, who are both likely first round picks as well. In a battle of underachievers, someone will get a needed win.
Saturday, January 17
19 Florida at 10 Vanderbilt – 1:00p CT (ESPN)
17 Arkansas at 21 Georgia – 3:00p CT (One of the ESPN Networks)
11 BYU at 15 Texas Tech – 7:00p CT (ESPN)
This isn’t even all of the quality games, as Duke and Purdue are both on the west coast against unranked competition. But in between your NFL playoff game viewing, these games will be fun to watch. BYU at Tech is probably your game of the day, as we get AJ Dybantsa against Christian Anderson. Arkansas at Georgia will be a good test for Arkansas’ Darius Acuff. It should be excellent theater all day long.
