Grab Bag of College Basketball

Kris Jenkins from Villanova has hurt his knee and left the ‘Cats Tuesday night game versus Delaware early on.

Brice Johnson from North Carolina has improved his game since teammate Kennedy Meeks was injured and sidelined. Johnson is averaging 24.6 points with 9.3 rebounds in Meeks’ absence, while shooting 75%.

The Big East had three teams in top-10 in the Top 25 poll of which one was not Villanova. That is a landmark for the young conference of just three years. Villanova was not even part of that group of three, but might be the best. The three included Providence, Butler and Xavier.

Maryland is spreading the ball around. Each of the five starters on the team is scoring in double-digits and all five have close to the same number of shots per game. Melo Thomas has taken the most shots with 94 through the first 11 games, while Rasheed Sulaimon has taken the fewest amongst the starters with 79.

Oregon has seen the offensive emergence of Jordan Bell. The sophomore who is 6-foot-8 has scored double-figures in three straight games. Bell is averaging 10 points per game, while last year he averaged just 5.1. Oregon is 9-2 and has not yet had their star Dylan Ennis play due to an injury.

Jalen Lindsey may be the Providence Friars’ ace in the hole. The 6-foot-7 sophomore is scoring 14.5 points per game and hauling down 10.5 rebounds the past two games while making six shots from three-point territory.

Saint Louis won the Atlantic 10 titles in 2013 and 2014, but is struggling mightily this season at 5-6. The Billikens have already lost four home games.

Northern Iowa may have the best mid-major team in the nation. The Panthers already have defeated Iowa State and North Carolina, while earning an important victory against Stephen F. Austin. The Panthers will be one of the top MVC teams along with Evansville and Wichita State.

Dan Majerle, the former sharpshooter in the NBA has led his Grand Canyon team to victories over Houston and San Diego State the last week beating Kelvin Sampson and Steve Fisher, two great coaches, in the process.

Larry Brown returned from his suspension of nine games with a win. Now let’s see if he can continue the Mustangs superb start to the season when they begin conference play in January.