1. Winslow is to Duke in ’15 what MKG was to UK in ’12: Undefeated in 50/50 plays, Justise Winslow is performing like an All-Star Glue Guy for the Blue Devils. The 6-foot-6 left-hander is excelling at the right time of year for Duke, regularly making key plays not evident in the box score. He takes charges and dives for loose balls. He guards the opponent’s best offensive player, and very well. Just like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on Kentucky’s last national championship team, Winslow is a first-class talent who doesn’t mind flying in coach. In two NCAA Tournament games, he’s averaging 9.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals. Duke faces Utah in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Houston.
2. Quentin Snider isn’t playing like a freshman: Louisville’s first-year point guard was thrown into the fire when Chris Jones was dismissed and has saved his best for the biggest stage. Snider averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds with only two turnovers in 72 minutes of his first two NCAA games. This isn’t one of Rick Pitino’s more talented teams, but Snider’s poise and scoring gives the Cards another weapon alongside Terry Rozier, Wayne Blackshear and Montrezl Harrell. Louisville plays NC State in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Syracuse.
3. Pac-12 is the surprise of the NCAA Tournament: This conference looked like Arizonaand everyone else most of the season, but the Pac-12 responded in the tourney with a 7-1 record, the Wildcats, Utah and UCLA reaching the Sweet 16. Oregon had a strong showing and was very competitive vs. Wisconsin before bowing out in the Round of 32. For a conference considered obsolete on the national scene, the Pac-12 has hit its stride at the right time.
4. Ben Howland at Mississippi State makes Malik Newman’s recruitment intriguing: Can Howland land the best guard in the Class of 2015 only weeks after landing his new job? For months, sources said Newman likely would end up at Kentucky or Kansas, but Howland changes the equation. Newman’s father played at Mississippi State and sources say his family loves the basketball program. It would take a leap of faith for the Jackson native to stay in his home state, but Howland offers a chance to play for a coach whose sent plenty of guys to the NBA. But is it enough for the 6-3 combo guard to pass on playing for Bill Self or John Calipari?
5. NCAA does right thing in ending immediate eligibility for transfers: The epidemic surrounding kids changing schools and wanting to play without sitting out needed to stop. Starting next season, the NCAA ruled players will have sit for a year before becoming eligible, though graduate transfers can still play immediately. April and May had become free agency in college basketball and this new rule should eliminate some of the chaos of recent years.
