Your college hoops weekend recap

We’ve got you covered on all the college basketball happenings just in case you’ve been knee-deep in fantasy football research. Remember: don’t overreact to the preseason. Unless you play in a league with me. Then please overreact to the preseason.

Let’s get to the news.

STARTING FIVE

1. K-State’s “Key” to success

The Little Apple buzzed with anticipation after our own Jeff Goodman shared that Kansas State expected to land Keyontae Johnson on Saturday morning. When the Florida transfer made the news official later that day, he instantly became the biggest acquisition of Jerome Tang’s young tenure.

Though the 6-6 wing hasn’t played in almost two years, he carries a low risk and could net a high reward for the coaching staff. Look no further than his last healthy season, when he terrorized SEC foes en route to a first-team all-conference appearance.

Johnson excels out of triple threat, probing defenders with jabs and then using his explosive first step to power past them.

The veteran lives in attack mode; in addition to his rim pressure, he also ferociously cleans the glass and knocks down 3s off the catch.

Now cleared to return to action after dealing with a heart condition, Johnson will hope to regain his form under Tang’s watch. Worth noting: Baylor great Jared Butler also suffered from a heart condition when Tang was on staff with the Bears. Another note: Johnson has a $5 million insurance policy because of his health condition. If he plays 10 games, the policy is no longer valid.

K-State still has a makeshift roster that looks like a far cry from Baylor’s guard-oriented, 3-point sniping blitzkrieg, but at least it now possesses some high-end talent. If Johnson can be even 80 percent of what he was pre-injury, it could be enough to keep Kansas State out of the loaded Big 12’s basement.

In addition to Johnson, K-State received another commitment Sunday: JUCO forward Anthony Thomas.

2. Chris Beard is hungry

Last year, Texas overpromised and underdelivered in Chris Beard’s first season. The Longhorns entered the season as a consensus top-5 team, flush with coveted transfers and veteran guards. With one of the sport’s most promising young coaches in charge, postseason glory seemed imminent.

A 22-12 finish with a second-round loss to Purdue wasn’t quite what Texas fans envisioned.

Nonetheless, Beard has waivered in neither his high hopes nor his expectations. He shared about this and more with Fox Sports/The Field of 68’s John Fanta over an Arby’s roast beef sandwich:

Despite his questionable fast food taste, Beard has reasons for such optimism. His teams have a proven track record of defensive excellence, while Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter should instantly elevate the offense with his sublime playmaking.

Moreover, former New Mexico State star Sir’Jabari Rice will help alleviate some spacing concerns — the 6-4 guard canned 36 percent of his 3-pointers over the past three seasons. Combine those two with the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class, and they might provide the boost the Longhorns need.

The newcomers alongside a solid group of returners could turn Beard’s daydreams into realities. Now he just needs to ditch the beef n’ cheddars.

3. Not your average Euro-trip

Virginia’s foreign tour in Italy ran the gamut of sports experiences. In their first contest, the Hoos put on a vintage defensive performance, holding Stella Azzura to 24 points. Later in the week, Virginia faltered in its penultimate game, as Serbia’s KK Mega Basket notched a 19-point victory. But on the final day, the Hoos enacted revenge, triumphing over Mega Basket in double-overtime (despite a rare Tony Bennett technical foul!). Hear the head coach break down the games in the clip below:

Of particular note: junior guard Reece Beekman poured in 21 points, dished 4 dimes and grabbed 4 boards in the finale. For a Virginia team in desperate need of a shot creator, this development brings promise.

In addition to Beekman, freshman Isaac McKneely (No. 11 in the highlights) also played a key part in the victory. The 6-4 guard knocked down three shots from distance and displayed craftiness and coordination attacking closeouts.

Historically, rookies have faced a steep learning curve in Charlottesville. But McKneely possesses pedigree, a college-ready frame and a gorgeous jumper. He could be an impact player from the first day he steps on campus … err, grounds.

4. Hawks fly together

Billy Lange and St. Joe’s received a jolt of energy Saturday when 4-star wing Shawn Simmons committed to the Hawks. Per On3’s Joe Tipton, Simmons checks in as “the program’s highest-ranked recruit of the modern recruiting era.”

Despite a tradition of success, St. Joseph’s has been down bad, as the kids say, for the past few years. The Hawks haven’t made the NCAA tourney or posted a winning record since 2016, and they’ve finished in the bottom three of the A-10 in each of the past three seasons.

But Simmons’ commitment signals a return to better days. The 6-7 high-flyer has a flair for the dramatic on the court, along with grab-and-go potential and impressive defensive instincts.

Simmons joins two more Philly natives, top-200 point guard Xzayvier Brown and three-star forward Anthony Finkley, to comprise what could be a foundational 2023 class for Lange.

Also on the recruiting front: 

• Kymany Houinsou, a 6-6 wing from France, will head to Washington State this season.

• Seattle U picked up guard Dominiq Penn, who played in just six games last season for Washington.

• Houston reserve big man Kiyron Powell entered the transfer portal.

5. Former top-80 recruit chooses Bethune-Cookman

Zion Harmon, a one-time heralded point guard in the class of 2021, announced his transfer to Bethune-Cookman over the weekend. The 5-11 floor general originally committed to Western Kentucky but never suited up for the ‘Tops last season due to personal reasons.

Still, the sophomore brims with upside as a slick ballhandler with finishing ability that belies his size.

For Bethune-Cookman, the addition pushes it into SWAC contention just two years after the university called off the season because of COVID concerns.

The Wildcats rebounded in 2022, winning seven conference games in Reggie Theus’s first season. With Harmon and last year’s top-three scorers (guards Marcus Garrett and Joe French; wing KJ Davis) in the fold, B-CU will build off of that momentum.

Just as significant, it could push them to a place they’ve never been — the D-I NCAA Tournament. Until 1980, Bethune-Cookman competed in D-II. That also was the last year they made a tourney appearance. They won the SWAC in 2011 and 2018, but fell short of the title game in both appearances.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Willard’s first pitch

New Maryland coach Kevin Willard threw out the first pitch for the Orioles on Friday. Note the look of determination on his face in the second frame. It screams “I’m ready to rebuild a once-proud program.”

THE FAST BREAK

Links to use as a palate cleanser during your Tom Brady-Masked Singer conspiracy theory research.

• Sister Jean turned 103 yesterday.

• The NCAA is trying to get programs to narc on each other.

• Oregon embarked on a Canadian foreign tour over the weekend.

• Former ECU coach Joe Dooley returned to Bill Self’s staff as a recruiting coordinator.

FLOYD STREET’S FINEST

How Cardinal can rule

Louisville assistant Josh Jamieson joined Jeff Greer last week and dished on what the roster needs most. Almost on cue, Fabio Basili, a 6-5 guard, decided to re-classify to the class of 2022 and give the Cards a much-needed lift to its backcourt.

How does all that shake out? Jeff can explain.

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