Men’s college basketball is officially back after an eventful offseason of transfer acquisitions and a new head coach.
After an action-packed opening day Monday that featured losses to top-10 teams, fresh-faced Blue Bloods and two Texas teams in disarray, there are three takeaways as the men’s college basketball season begins.
No. 6 Gonzaga defeated No. 8 Baylor in a top-10 clash.
In what looked like an even matchup on paper, the sixth-ranked Bulldogs won outright. Gonzaga, which shot 57.1 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three, took a 19-point lead at halftime and never looked back. The 101-63 win over Baylor is the Bulldogs’ biggest top-10 win ever. Maximum odds are possible for any team in the season opener against a top-10 opponent in AP Top 25 poll history, according to CBS Sports.
It’s only one game, but Gonzaga looks like a national title contender. The depth of this team is evident, with an experienced group and five different players scoring in double figures. The Bulldogs are still no. 23 Kentucky, No. 3 UConn faces a challenging non-conference game against No. 22 UCLA, but this looks like a tough game for anyone playing.
Cooper Flagg, Mark Pope win highly anticipated debuts at Duke, Kentucky
Flagg, projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, debuted for Duke at No. 7 on Monday and left his mark in a number of ways. Flagg had 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in his debut as the Blue Devils defeated home team Maine, 96-62. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel led the team with 22 points as Duke shot 55.6% from the field.
Duke’s schedule becomes more challenging with games against No. 23 Kentucky, No. 10 Arizona, No. 1 Kansas and No. 11 Auburn. Although they have a star-studded freshman class, this schedule will present some challenges early in the season for the Blue Devils.
The hype around No. 23 Kentucky and their new head coach was just as loud. Pope, who was captain of the 1995-96 championship team under Rick Pitino, coached his first game at Rupp Arena after former coach John Calipari left for Arkansas. In a game that was by no means a contest, the Wildcats disposed of Wright State, 103-62, behind Otega Oweh’s team-high 21 points. Koby Brea added 18 points and Amari Williams had a double-double.
This team definitely has chemistry and talent. Kentucky shot 60% from the field and 45.8% from three. They also played phenomenal defense with 11 steals and assisted on 30 of 39 shots. The team’s first real tests will come against No. 7 Duke on Nov. 12 and No. 6 Gonzaga on Dec. 7. If Kentucky can continue to share the ball, shoot at a high rate, and force turnovers, this team could look impressive. Pope’s first season.
Two Texas teams are in turmoil ahead of the start of the season.
If you’re a fan of the Texas SEC school, back-to-school night hasn’t been kind at all. No. 13 Texas A&M played a true road game at UCF and fell 64-61. The game became a defensive battle with both teams struggling to play consistently. Foul trouble was a big factor as the Aggies committed 17 fouls in the second half.
On a night when finding the bottom of the net became difficult, Texas A&M couldn’t overcome UCF’s 22 free throws. If the Aggies want to be a contender this season, they need to shoot the ball more efficiently and avoid foul trouble.
In Las Vegas, the no. 19 It wasn’t a great start for the Texas Longhorns as they fell victim to Ohio State, 80-72. The Longhorns couldn’t overcome the Buckeyes’ hot start out of the gate, making 9 of their first 12 3-point attempts.
Despite freshman Tre Johnson scoring 29 points, Texas shot just 36.8 percent for the game. With a matchup against third-ranked UConn on Dec. 8 and their first SEC matchup later this season, Texas will need to find better defense and more offensive production.
