Glory days

Could these programs join Texas football in a return to prominence? Plus, notes from Pac-12 and MVC schedule releases, thoughts on if D1 has too many schools and more.

September 16, 2022

Good news. It’s almost the weekend. We’re also almost there with every conference schedule being public, so we can stop being excited about schedule releases. Still, that’s our latest news, so we looked at the Pac-12 and MVC slates, as well as which programs could be the Texas football of college basketball. (Wait, what?)

Yes, it was phrased awkwardly on purpose. I’ll explain below.

Let’s get to the news.

STARTING FIVE

1. Five proud programs that may be “back”

Texas nearly pulled off the college football upset of the year, giving No. 1 Alabama all it could handle last weekend. The once proud contender under Mack Brown has struggled for the past decade. The ongoing joke online — “Is Texas back?” — doesn’t seem so funny to Longhorn fans.

So what’s the college hoops version?

Which programs after years of jockeying could emerge out of mediocrity this season? Here are my top five.

5. Texas A&M

The Aggies went seven straight years with 20+ wins, but have just two NCAA Tournament appearances since 2011. Coach Buzz Williams nearly had them dancing last season and has a solid returning core, including forward Henry Coleman and guard Wade Taylor IV. Building a roster capable of competing in the SEC took time, but this group is capable of making the leap.

4. Stanford

From 1994-2008, the Cardinal made a Final Four, five Sweet 16s, won conference titles and missed the NCAA Tournament just once. In the 14 years since? Just one invitation to the Big Dance. Now boosted by the return of former 5-star point forward Harrison Ingram and Davidson transfer Michael Jones, they return to the tourney for the first time since 2014.

3. Xavier

OK, this fudges the criteria a bit considering the Musketeers were a No. 1 NCAA tourney seed in 2018. But the last four years aren’t what we expect of Xavier. With a familiar face in Sean Miller back on the sidelines (who took Xavier to an Elite Eight in 2008), the program should be able to meet its fans’ expectations. Forwards Zach Freemantle and Jack Nunge are back, as well as guard Colby Jones. That four-year NCAA drought will end.

2. Florida

Yes, the Gators made the Big Dance four of the last eight years, including an Elite Eight run in 2017. But it’s been mostly meh since Billy Donovan left. Enter new coach Todd Golden, who comes from San Francisco with a ton of hype as the next great young head coach. He’s got a big man (we’ve heard it’s the “Year of the Big”) in star center Colin Castleton, who should ensure they finish in the top 5 of the SEC and be primed to win more than one NCAA tourney game.

1. Indiana

The college hoops equivalent to Texas football. The Hoosiers (barely) reached their first NCAA Tournament last season after a four-year hiatus. And even when Tom Crean’s teams were contenders, they weren’t consistently great, making three Sweet 16s during his nine-year tenure.

This program is ready for a breakthrough. And with arguably its best roster in a decade — led by star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis — they should contend for their first Big Ten title since 2016. Could they also advance to their first Elite Eight in 21 years? That would be a true throwback.

2. Pac-12 schedule takeaways

Some things never change. Like Pac-12 hoops on Thursdays and Saturdays. That consistency allows the league to produce a nice, tidy grid for its conference schedule announcement.

I mean, feast your eyes on this glorious single-page schedule.

Some thoughts:

The Utah-Colorado road trip

For the preseason favorites Arizona and UCLA, it’s notable that the Wildcats avoid the dreaded Colorado-Utah road trip. The high altitude at both spots can derail visitors. Arizona gets the Utes at home to start off league play, before going back home to play Cal, a nice and easy turnaround. UCLA and USC? Get the oxygen masks ready.

Arizona State’s must-win games

The Sun Devils need a postseason appearance for the sake of coach Bobby Hurley. Their revamped roster makes it possible, but they have a brutal 3-game stretch to end the regular season (at USC, at UCLA, at Arizona). They’ll have to do their damage early on, starting with four home games in the first five of their league slate, including bouts with Stanford and Arizona.

Save the best for last

Arizona travels to UCLA on the final day of the regular season. Depending on how things work out, that matchup could decide the conference title and a 1 seed for the Pac-12 Tournament. Does Oregon sneak into the top spot with the benefit of closing at home against Stanford and Cal? Perhaps.

3. Rally in the Valley

The Missouri Valley also announced its 2022-23 league play schedule, including for the first time, a 20-game schedule for all teams. Loyola-Chicago left for the Atlantic 10 and Illinois-Chicago to the Horizon League, but the MVC stayed at 12 total teams with the additions of Belmont and Murray State from the Ohio Valley.

Early conference games

MVC better be ready for conference play early into the season — league action begins on Nov. 30. Potential league champion Drake is at Indiana State, which is ideal for an upset scenario. Usually, teams are still prepping for conference play in late November and early December. This could be a good time to catch someone napping.

Protecting top teams

The MVC isn’t playing true home-and-home series this season. That’s notable because preseason favorites Drake and Bradley are playing Evansville once. The Aces were the worst team in the league last season, and barring any personnel surprises, should end up in the bottom tier again. Drake and Bradley also close the season against each other.

4. Should programs get cut from D1?

We’re literally entering the biggest season in college basketball history. Division I features a record 363 programs, including five newcomers (Stonehill, Lindenwood, Texas A&M Commerce, Queens, Southern Indiana). Hartford, now an independent, is set to move down to D3 by 2025.

But is 363 too many?

That was the latest “Candid Coaches” subject, where Matt Norlander and Gary Parrish interviewed 100 D1 coaches about various topics. And the coaches were split: 53.7 percent said to stay at 363, 26.3 percent said to cut the field by 15-20 percent, and 12.6 percent wanted to cut by 40 percent. Only 7.4 percent said cut it more than half.

More than 350 programs are a bit much because many have little to no hope of accomplishing a ton from an athletic standpoint. But how does one decide who would get cut?

The NCAA D1 Transformation Committee could weigh in. There are set criteria for moving into D1 but nothing for maintaining that status. What criteria would they use? My biggest concern is that whatever they use could be a detriment to the HBCU schools and to the MEAC and SWAC in general. On the other hand, if those conferences get some version of an exemption and others get cut, would that be fair?

Even if lowering the total number of D1 teams is ultimately the right one, “how” and '“who” won’t have a consensus. Any potential reduction would make waves.

5. Blazing his own trail

The Almanac ($15.99 if you buy before Sept. 27!) continues to unveil its top-100 player rankings. Inside the top 40 includes a sharpshooter from Tennessee, a 5-star freshman from Alabama that isn’t a football player, and arguably the top player from the transfer portal on the possible No. 1 preseason team.

Also, there’s Jordan “Jelly” Walker, who at No. 40 is one of the top mid-major players entering 2022-23. He started his career at Seton Hall, played fewer than eight minutes a game, transferred to Tulane, and was a two-year starter, averaging 10.5 ppg and 4.6 apg.

The third stop launched him to stardom. Last season at UAB, Walker averaged 20.3 ppg and 4.9 apg, led the Blazers to the NCAA Tournament and was named Conference USA Player of the Year. His return positions the Blazers as a C-USA favorite and a mid-major program to watch in 2022-23.

He’s a perfect example of how one player can completely change a program’s fortunes through the transfer portal. Can’t wait to see what he does this season.

GOODMAN & HUMMEL PODCAST

Boring name, flashy game

Nick Smith is arguably the best incoming freshman guard in the country and will be the reason why Arkansas makes a potential Final Four run this season. Check out his interview on the Goodman and Hummel podcast.

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you explain to your older family members how to watch football on Amazon Prime.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PLUM DELUXE TEA

Maybe you know Plum Deluxe for its tea of the month club. Or as the leading tea subscription and one of the most well-liked “surprise and delight” subscriptions. Whatever it is, they know once you try it, you’ll want more. That’s why there’s free shipping on all purchases.

To sponsor a future Field of 68 Daily newsletter, please connect with us here. For article ideas, newsletter feedback, tips and more, shoot us a note at [email protected].