Big wing in the Little Apple

Kansas State adds some needed star power. Plus, a pair of grad transfers shake up the portal, Arizona's insane schedule and more

Author

Riley Davis
June 12, 2023

Life is full of unsolved mysteries: What secrets are disclosed in Area 51? How many ships has the Bermuda Triangle claimed? What actually happened to Amelia Earhart? How has Baby Gronk already taken so many official visits?

Well, one thing that is no longer a mystery is where Arthur Kaluma will play this upcoming season.

Let's get to the news.

1. Kaluma chooses K-State

Queue up “Low Down” on your favorite music streaming platform — Kansas State is back for more.

In a previous era, the Wildcats would be rebuilding after losing their two best players, Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson from a 26-win season that was one victory shy of a Final Four. But as the portal helped them form that nucleus, it has now helped them reload.

Jerome Tang and Co. landed Nowell’s replacement last month in Tylor Perry (North Texas). Since then, the staff had been relatively quiet. Well, that changed Sunday when it reeled in Creighton transfer Arthur Kaluma.

Kaluma, a hyper-athletic and powerfully built wing, is not a carbon copy of Johnson. He’s more comfortable at the 4 than the 3, and he doesn’t have an explosive first step. Nevertheless, he could still see a similar usage. The 6-7 junior has more than enough skill to attack off the bounce (he attempted 41 percent of his shots at the rim last season, the same number as Johnson, albeit with less efficiency).

Plus, he shines as a lob threat. Perry should connect with him on plenty of alley-oops this season.

The move also represents a massive win for Tang. The coach warded off two programs that have terrorized the recruiting trail in recent years in Alabama and Kentucky (though those days could be numbered for the latter) to finalize a roster ready for Big 12 contention.

Other transfer news:

2. A grad-ual process

Speaking of the portal, it supposedly closed on May 11 … but did it actually?

Through the NCAA’s graduate transfer rules, which permit players to enter beyond the deadline and receive immediate eligibility, we’ve learned that the portal doesn’t operate like a tightly-secured vault. Instead, it’s more like the cosmic openings that appear out of nowhere in Across the Spider-Verse.

Jokes aside, we could theoretically see new entrants up until August. That was the case on Friday, as two notable additions appeared. The first was former Rutgers standout Paul Mulcahy. At 6-7, Mulcahy functioned as a point wing for the Scarlet Knights, serving as the team’s primary initiator the past two seasons. His numbers paint him as a top-notch facilitator — Mulcahy finished in the top 10 of the Big Ten in assist rate in 2022 and 2023.

But his size allows him to guard multiple positions, setting him apart from other ballhandlers.

“[Rutgers] could straight cut your water off — and Mulcahy can do that,” one Big Ten assistant coach told me. “He’s physical and tough. He can probably guard 1 through 4 […] but he can also be an all-time help guy.”

The same coach also noted his ability to back defenders down and play bully ball in addition to his passing acumen.

A number of schools have already reached out to Mulcahy. His unique skillset and his pivotal role in Rutgers’ turnaround under Steve Pikiell make him a surefire impact player at his next stop.

And he wasn’t the only stat sheet stuffer to announce a transfer over the weekend — Jordan Brown, who was First Team All-Sun Belt at Louisiana this past season, will lace up for one more campaign.

You may recall the 6-11 big man pouring in 20 points against Tennessee, as the Ragin’ Cajuns nearly pulled the upset in the Round of 64. But Louisiana was actually the third school he attended. Brown, a McDonald’s All-American in the class of 2018 (!), spent one season at Nevada, two at Arizona (including one redshirt) and two in Lafayette, where he blossomed into a star.

There are some concerns about him obtaining a waiver, but I’d still expect plenty of Power 5 interest for Brown. He played well against good competition in 2023, plus he produced in a smaller role at Arizona in 2021.

Brown and Mulcahy won’t be the last. More big-time grad transfers appear on the horizon:

3. Tommy gunning for all the smoke

Another day, another scheduled matchup with a projected Top 5 team for Arizona.

The Wildcats will travel to Indianapolis to battle Purdue on Dec. 16, making for an enticing matchup on paper. Notably, the two teams bear some similarities in their roster construction. Both feature towering big men who dominate the paint (Zach Edey and Oumar Ballo) and highly-skilled yet inconsistent guard duos (Braden Smith/Foster Loyer and Jaden Bradley/Caleb Love).

Of course, their styles of play couldn’t be more opposite. Purdue plays more methodically, executing its sets with precision (324th in tempo in 2023), while Arizona wants to turn games into track meets (13th in tempo). These contests always bring intrigue as to which team can exert its will.

But beyond the on-court product, the scheduling reveals that Tommy Lloyd and the ‘Cats are embracing every challenge this upcoming season. While this showdown technically occurs at a neutral site, it’s no secret that the hosting arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse (home of the Pacers), is Boilermaker country. It’s a bold move, especially since the game will take place a little over a month after Arizona voyages cross country to play Duke in Cameron Indoor.

Factor in later bouts with Michigan State (in Palm Springs, Calif.) and Alabama (in Phoenix), and it appears that Lloyd has taken a page out of Mark Few’s playbook. Like his former boss, he has loaded his team’s slate with Q1 opportunities in the noncon — a smart move, as those may be few and far between in Pac-12 play.

What’s not to love?

Jalen Hood-Schifino has just about everything you’d want in an NBA prospect for a guard: Size, ability to play either position, confidence and passing. Even his shot, which wasn’t always consistent as an Indiana freshman, shows promise. That’s why Randolph Childress and Jeff Goodman think he’s one of the most underrated prospects in the draft.

Links as you observe the phenomenon that is sportswriters’ obsessions with Jason Isbell:

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