Tim Hardaway Jr., 6-5 junior guard, Michigan: Hardaway came out of the gate ready to play as he went 5-for-5 on 3-pointers and finished with team highs of 25 points (8-10 FG) and 10 rebounds with 3 assists and 2 turnovers in 31 minutes of Michigan’s 100-62 victory over Slippery Rock.
Consistency will be the key for Hardaway this season; if he maintains high efficiency scoring the basketball while limiting his turnovers, the Wolverines will become that much tougher to beat.
Alex Len, 7-1 sophomore center, Maryland: Against the highly recruited 7-foot freshman frontcourt duo of Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein, Len scored 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting, grabbed 10 boards, had 4 blocks and zero turnovers.
Coming off a season in which he averaged just 6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2 blocks, The Ukraine native is poised to break out for the Terrapins. He has a good touch in the mid-range, battles for position in the post with aggression offensively and is active with his arms around the hoop on both ends. His development should be interesting to track as the season wears on.
Cody Zeller, 6-11, sophomore center, Indiana: In typical Zeller fashion, powered his way to 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks, including an impressive two-handed stuff where he nearly caught the ball above the rim. Zeller averaged 1.5 steals per game last season and had multiple 5 steal games.
Zeller has a nose for the ball, good hands, anticipation and timing – pretty good traits for a big man to have. He showed why he’s been selected as the Preseason Naismith Player to the Year in various publications.
Kyle Wiltjer, 6-9 sophomore forward, Kentucky: Wiltjer shot the ball with consistency and range in Kentucky’s season opener against Maryland at the Barclays Center. He scored 19 points (4-of-6 from deep) to go along with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks.
Wiltjer’s shooting will be big for the Wildcats, but Calipari would like Wiltjer to become a more well-rounded player so that when he isn’t making shots, he is still effective.
Ryan Arcidiacano, 6-4 freshman point guard, Villanova: The freshman plays with savvy well beyond his years, and against a solid Marshall team he dropped a team-high 25 points (6-11 FG, 4-9 3PT, 9-10 FT), 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers.
Nicknamed “Arch,” the guard has deep range on his jump shot to go along with an unselfish nature and advanced passing ability. He’ll have to knock shots down for ‘Nova this season, as he is probably the team’s most consistent deep threat.
Jeff Withey, 7-0 senior center, Kansas: Withey, who led the nation in shot blocking efficiency last season, was up to his usual tricks against a vastly overmatched Southeast Missouri State team. The center had 17 points, 12 rebounds (5 offensive) and 5 blocked shots in the opener.