Rush The Court

Chris Johnson is an RTC Columnist. He can be reached @ChrisDJohnsonn. *Ed. Note: since Monday night had such a weak schedule of games, we combined the ATB for that night into the weekend’s edition.

The Weekend’s Lede. Prepare For College Hoops Boredom.In the interest of sparing you Monday night’s gulf of emptiness, and to give you a substantial recap to kick off the week in preparation for probably the most non-eventful week on the college hoops calendar, I’m incorporating the weekend into a lengthy ATB review. There was plenty of exciting action over the past three days, and for your sake and mine, I hope you enjoyed as much as of it as you can. If you missed anything – if the seasonal urge of holiday shopping or Christmas tree purchasing consumed your time – the next few days could feel especially painful. The dreaded final exam lull sneaked under the national consciousness, cloaked by the sport’s high drama in leagues across the country, but there’s no avoiding it any longer; it’s here. In that spirit, hopefully the weekend that was gave you enough to chew on over the coming week. I’ve singled out a few highlights, big moments and breathtaking plays to guide your thinking. For the sake of good, exciting basketball, let’s dive into the past three days’ worth of games.

Your Watercooler Moment. Illinois Is Better Than We Thought, And Now It has A Win To Prove it. 

Entering Saturday night’s showdown at Gonzaga, the most you could say about Illinois was that John Groce had clearly coaxed better performances across the board from the same players who quit on Bruce Weber down the stretch last season. They were undefeated, ranked in the top 15 of last week’s AP Poll, and clearly improved over last year’s NCAA Tournament miss. But if you dug deep into Illinois’ body of work, it was hard not to come away thinking their undefeated start (and Maui Invitational crown) had at least something to do with a mostly forgiving early schedule. What the Illini did in Spokane – take down a top 10 team with Final Four potential on its home floor – legitimizes their undefeated run. Granted, the Bulldogs were coming off an unimpressive two-point escape at Washington State, the only time they’d been challenged all season, but it’s hard to argue Mark Few’s team wasn’t one of the nation’s best when the Illini visited the Kennel Saturday night. All things considered, Illinois’ victory was one of the most impressive true road wins we’ve seen all season. And no small measure of credit is owed to Brandon Paul, who contributed 35 points on 10-of-16 shooting in a national coming-out party that saw not only his own perception (and NBA draft stock) skyrocket, but also that of his team, and their prospectus in a crowded Big Ten.

Also Worth Chatting About. Kansas Is Still Kansas.

Just when you thought Kansas’ run of eight straight Big 12 titles might be in jeopardy, when the losses of National Player of the Year finalist Thomas Robinson and erratic-yet-effective point guard Tyshawn Taylor would leave the Jayhawks on the short end of another casually brilliant Bill Self season, Kansas goes out and eviscerates a very good Colorado team on national television to validate its place among the nation’s elite crust of national frontrunners. That’s just what the Jayhawks needed to reintroduce their veteran leadership and collective talent to the world, and to erase any doubts that existed about their league and national championship bona fides – if those doubts even existed in the first place. More importantly, Kansas unleashed highly-anticipated redshirt freshman Ben McLemore as a Freshman of the Year type of talent that many pegged him as. McLemore had already shown the potential to be Kansas’ primary offensive weapon this year; Saturday’s romp merely confirmed what many already knew.

Dunkdafied #1. Earlier this season, Mason Plumlee punctuated Duke’s comeback victory (and in the eyes of much of the national hoops consciousness, it’s No. 1 ranking) over Ohio State with a breathtaking alley-oop. Victor Oladipo sees you and raises you this rim-rock (and we can probably assume he fashions his Hoosiers the best team in the land). No lobs needed here, thank you very much.

Your Quick Hits… 

• Arkansas is Faster, Michigan is Better. It’s not hard to figure out Arkansas’ underlying offensive philosophy. The Razorbacks run… fast (to the tune of the nation’s 17^th ranked adjusted offensive tempo, per KenPom). With the adoption of a  bigger, perhaps less mobile lineup this season, you could see where Michigan may have run into some trouble keeping up with Mike Anderson’s breakneck pace. As early Final Four favorites are so often inclined to do, Michigan reacted, adjusted and countered with a balanced offensive display – all five Wolverines finished in double figures – to outlast Arkansas and remain undefeated on the season. Presuming they handle three low-profile opponents in Ann Arbor and a neutral site game with West Virginia, the Wolverines will enter Big Ten play with a spotless resume.
• Arizona State’s First Triple-Double in School History. Two weeks ago, Kansas center Jeff Withey became the second player in program history to record a triple-double. It’s tough to argue that Jordan Bachynski’s feat, becoming the first player in Sun Devils history to reach double figures in three statistical categories, belongs in the same realm of achievement as Withey’s. In the context of Kansas’ rich basketball history, Withey’s 16-point, 12-block, 12-assist game is a career-defining statistical gem. None of which takes away from Bachynski’s record-setting effort, which fell only three points short of a carbon copy of Withey’s stat line. It probably deserves mentioning that the Sun Devils (8-1) look much improved over the lowly 10-21 squad that lost 12 games last season in an historically awful Pac-12.
• Arizona Looks Locked-In For Monster Match-up. Everyone’s talking about Saturday’s game between Florida and Arizona, two teams with undefeated records and boatloads of young talent, veteran leadership, coaching guile and Final Four legitimacy. And why not? It’s probably the most compelling match-up between national contenders we’ve had all season. Only the Wildcats needed to prove themselves in a tricky road environment first. Mission accomplished. Winning at Clemson does little for Arizona’s national perception, but what it does do is prove the Wildcats’ freshmen talent is portable, and that transfer point guard Mark Lyons, when self-contained and focused, can be a huge benefit on the offensive end. Plus, if Arizona would have lost the game, Saturday’s visit from Florida wouldn’t feel nearly as intriguing: two top-ten teams, both playing excellent basketball and flaunting pristine non-league portfolios, untested through the early part of the season. Yes, please.
• Look Out ACC, Duke’s Not a Finished Product. You cannot overstate the breadth of the Blue Devils’ accomplishments in non-conference play. Not only have they defeated three of last year’s Final Four teams, they’ve done so in a year where – based on my vaguely defined preseason perception barometer – the prevailing consensus was that the Blue Devils would be playing catch-up to UNC and NC State as they faded from the ACC title picture. However the conference race plays out, Duke has already cemented its spot as the clear front-runner entering ACC play. Coach K can add another feather to his cap after Saturday’s 23-point pasting of Temple at the Izod Center. The Blue Devils’ resume stands alone right now; but the future is more uncertain. With the way this team’s constructed, is it fair to wonder whether Duke has reached its talent ceiling? Have we already seen this team’s very best? Is Duke peaking in December? Given the typical maturation path of most teams, it’s not outrageous to suggest Duke, scary as it may be for the rest of the ACC, is just getting started.
• UCLA……Wins! It’s crazy to consider the evolution of UCLA’s perception over the past year – from a second-consecutive Tourney fail, to the scathing Sports Illustrated report that shed poignant personal insight on the institutional failures and player misconduct (and, you know, Reeves Nelson) within the program, to Ben Howland’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class, to #freeShabazzMuhammad, to… you get the point. The Bruins are college basketball’s Dallas Cowboys; the media circus has reached its saturation point. As UCLA stumbled out to a 5-3 start (including one grade-A abomination against Cal Poly at home), speculation over who would replace Howland as UCLA’s next coach entered the national discourse. So you can’t blame me for taking interest in UCLA’s win over an inexperienced, Myck Kabongo-less Texas team at Reliant Stadium Saturday. The Bruins have a long way to go before the collective product equals the sum of its highly-talented parts, but getting back in the win column before a two-game stretch of “winnable” (re: air quotes) home games against Prairie View A&M and Long Beach State is progress.

…and Misses.

• The Crowning Charity Stripe Fail. In case you missed the above video as it floated around the web on various platforms Sunday, here’s to hoping you enjoy what could well be the worst (repeat: worst) free throw attempt of all time. The moment of release gets phased out by an inopportune camera cut-away, but it bears wondering: What ungodly wrist jitter or elbow tweak caused the ball to take off on such a steep trajectory? Anyway, pretty remarkable stuff – that is, if you derive pleasure in athletic embarrassment.

• One Win and One Bigger Loss for UNLV. If there was any Top 25-caliber team who could withstand an injury to one of its frontcourt players, it’s UNLV. The Rebels have arguably the nation’s best and deepest forward rotation, highlighted by early Freshman of the Year contender Anthony Bennett and, up until Saturday, Mike Moser. After suffering a gruesome elbow injury while diving for a loose ball in the Rebels’ one-point win at Cal Sunday, word leaked Monday that Moser will miss at least a month with a dislocated elbow. Now that frontcourt doesn’t look all that formidable; but when you consider the impending eligibility (he’s expected to return December 17) of Pittsburgh transfer Khem Birch, a top-five big man in the class of 2011, the Rebels should be able to stay above water without Moser for four weeks.
• Washington, Show Us Your True Colors! Inconsistency doesn’t do Washington’s early-season erratic behavior nearly enough justice. All of the following took place over the course of the Huskies’ first eight games: a 22-point home win over Loyola (Maryland), a one-point survival of Albany, an overtime win over Seton Hall, two convincing defeats courtesy of Ohio State and Colorado State, a win over St. Louis, a two-point near-loss against Cal State Fullerton and a three-point home defeat to Nevada. Once you’ve digested that, try and peg Washington’s long-term prospects, then forward me your results, because I’m having a hard time predicting the Huskies’ on a game-to-game basis, let alone the Pac-12 season.
• Let’s Not Relive Last Year’s Pac-12. It’s early, and there’s a LOT of basketball left to be played, teams are still figuring themselves out, and we haven’t even entered conference play. With all those caveats under serious consideration, I can’t help but bemoan another poor non-conference showing from the Pac-12. It’s not just Washington: California, Colorado, UCLA and USC have all taken steps back recently (UCLA’s slide is of a more distant origin). The league is on the whole better than last season, but there’s no disputing the Mountain West’s current status as the best conference on the West Coast. With all the money and coaching talent and recruiting resources at hand, it shouldn’t even be competitive. The Pac-12 should be one of the best leagues on the country every season. As it stands, inclusion in the top-five would (again) be a stretch.

Other Outcomes of Note.

• Creighton 77, Akron 61 – Sandwiched in between last week’s thumping in Lincoln and a tough road spot at California, Doug McDermott powered the Blue Jays with 30 points in a comfortable win over the Zips.
• Florida State 91, Maine 59 – Poor Maine. Of course the Seminoles were going to work off their fury after being embarrassed by visiting Florida last Wednesday.
• Marquette 60, Wisconsin 50 – Speaking of teams who fell victim to Florida’s scorching start, Wisconsin has some kinks to work out if it hopes to sustain Bo Ryan’s recent run of success.
• Middle Tennessee 65, Ole Miss 62 – As far as I can tell, there’s been a widespread underselling of the Blue Raiders’ prospects this season. They knocked off Marshall and Tennessee in the NIT after hanging on the outskirts of bubble consideration last season. They’re playing to that level again this season, but it feels like no one’s noticing.
• Minnesota 71, USC 57 – If your only loss on the season came against Duke in a pre-conference tournament – the Blue Devils haven’t lost in an early-season tournament since 2006 – you’re pretty good.
• West Virginia 68, Virginia Tech 67; Virginia Tech 70, Mississippi Valley State 49 – The former won’t put a black mark on Virginia Tech’s surprisingly hot start; there’s no shame in losing at Morgantown, even to this year’s less-than-vintage Mountaineers squad.
• Kentucky 74, Portland 46 – Two cupcakes were exactly what Kentucky needed to get back on the winning track following consecutive losses to Notre Dame and Baylor.
• Iowa 80, Iowa State 71 – Hard to poke holes in Iowa’s 8-2 start. The Hawkeyes’ two losses – Wichita State and at Virginia Tech – are entirely forgiveable.
• Georgetown 46, Towson 40; Georgetown 89, Longwood 53 – One can assume John Thompson wasn’t too happy after his team’s 46-point performance against Towson. Longwood was on the wrong end of the Hoyas’ bounceback effort.
• New Mexico 65, Valparaiso 52 – Winning at The Pit is a mountain climb in itself; it’s downright unfeasible when you commit 23 turnovers.
• Northern Iowa 82, George Mason 77 – Two quality mid-majors with NCAA Tournament aspirations. UNI really needed this one; their upcoming schedule is filled with challenges.
• Butler 74, Northwestern 65 – The Bulldogs hadn’t proved themselves on the road against a capable opponent. Now Butler can give full attention to the coming Crossroads Classic match-up with Indiana.
• Ohio State 89, Long Beach State 55 – It’s the second straight game that sophomore Sam Thompson hit double-figures in points (13). Competition level aside, if Thompson’s recent surge is the least bit sustainable, the Buckeyes can throw him at their oft-raised (and probably rightfully so) criticism: an outsized preponderance of scoring responsibility for DeShaun Thomas.
• Illinois-Chicago 64, Colorado State 55 – With wins over Northwestern and the Rams in tow, UIC (8-1) looks like a viable force in the watered-down Horizon League.

Dunkdafied #2. Too many high-class throwdowns to whittle it down to one. Here’s another. Anthony Bennett’s aerial prowess is well-regarded. My favorite part: Mike Moser, arm in sling, jostling his teammates in excitement at the end of the clip.

To Rush Or Not To Rush. The emotions of a court rushing are like no other celebratory affair in sports. It is exciting, invigorating, a huge rush and it feels blithely rebellious. It’s a blast. I get it. Here’s the rub: Part of the court-rush ecstasy is the rarity of the whole event. You don’t leave your seats for just anyone; you pick your spots. So while I understand Eastern Michigan fans getting jacked up over their team’s three-point home win over Purdue, in the end the Boilermakers – in their current rebuilding state – aren’t worth anyone’s celebratory deference. EMU fans tacitly admitted that beating Purdue, a 4-5 team with losses to Villanova, Oregon State and Xavier, is a towering achievement. Hate to break it to you, but Purdue really isn’t all that good this season. Save the court rushes for a more commendable feat. You know better.

The Weekend’s All Americans.

First Team

• Brandon Paul, Illinois (NPOY) – This is the kind of talent we always knew Paul had. Now John Groce has found a way to unleash it in steady doses. Paul’s 35 points were the key to Illinois’ big win in Spokane.
• Russ Smith, Louisville – The uncertainty surrounding Louisville’s ability to score the basketball is not new. Smith helps that perception with performances like these: 31 points, seven rebounds.
• Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State – Anytime you roll out a triple-double, a spot on this list is a given.
• Doug McDermott, Creighton – I should plan on reserving a spot for McDermott on Creighton game nights. Nothing new for the Bluejays’ star forward – just another 30-point night.
• Seth Curry, Duke – The only shots Seth Curry missed in Saturday’s win over Temple were from beyond the arc. His 23 points set a season-high.

Second Team

• Deandre Daniels, Connecticut – The Huskies could use another scorer to complement Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatwright. Daniels had 23 in Friday night’s win over Harvard.
• Mason Plumlee, Duke – When Curry has his three-point stroke going, Plumlee’s job becomes much easier. Tally up another double-double for the senior, who now has six on the year.
• Andrew Smith, Butler – Against Northwestern’s green front line, Smith dominated the low post for 24 points and 10 rebounds in helping the Bulldogs to a solid road win.
• Brock Motum, Washington State – The Cougars may have given Illinois a nice blueprint on how to attack Gonzaga. Motum, who submitted his second consecutive 23-point game in Sunday’s win over Fresno State, played the part of Paul (only slightly less successful).
• Ed Daniel, Murray State – When Isaiah Canaan isn’t the Racers’ most productive player, this is a dangerous team. Canaan matched Daniel’s 21 points, but the senior threw in 15 rebounds for good measure.

Tweet Of The Weekend. That pretty much sums up Kansas’ beatdown of Colorado, which not only spoke to Kansas’ “dominance” but also raised legitimate concerns about Colorado’s ability to compete with elite teams.