Minutemen a-MASS-ing talent

Last night I dreamt that it was the first Monday in April. Wendell Green Jr. had just hit a step-back buzzer-beater three — from the logo — to send Auburn and Gonzaga into overtime. When the buzzer sounded, Drew Timme sprinted into the tunnel, shaved his mustache and heroically ran out to ear-shattering applause. Then I woke up.

March can’t come soon enough. In the meantime, here’s everything that happened yesterday in college basketball.

STARTING FIVE

1. Good news for Frank Martin’s new program

Four-star forward Tafara Gapare announced his commitment to UMass and his reclassification to the 2022 class. Gapare is a New Zealand native who first committed to George Washington in the class of 2021, then DePaul in the class of 2023, and now winds up in Frank Martin’s open arms in 2022.

Gapare is a skilled 6-10 forward with high potential on both sides of the floor. He received interest from numerous high-major programs including UConn, Illinois and Syracuse. But Gapare likes the fit with the Minutemen and already has championships in mind, telling 247sports, “I love the fact that’s it’s not a lot of freshman coming in and it’s some older guys that’s played college basketball. I think with the players we have and adding me you can crown us A10 champs now!”

Editor’s note — UMass has won one conference championship in the 26 seasons since John Calipari’s tenure.

2. Bad news for Frank Martin’s old program

Meanwhile, in Martin’s old stomping grounds, South Carolina didn’t have a great day: incoming transfer Ebrima Dibba will miss the season after suffering an Achilles injury. Dibba is one of five new faces set to join Lamont Paris’ team via the transfer portal, averaging 8.2 points per game over four seasons at Coastal Carolina.

Dibba sustained the injury during on-court summer workouts and underwent a successful surgery according to the school release. This is the second season-ending injury Dibba has endured in his college career, after missing all but six games of the 2019-2020 season with a torn ACL. The loss puts more pressure on the rest of the Gamecocks’ new faces to be ready immediately, though five-star recruit GG Jackson will help.

3. Oscar Tshiebwe’s business trip

Kentucky arrived in the Bahamas for its overseas trip earlier this week and while some enjoyed some beach time, their biggest star went to work. Tshiebwe cannot fully participate in NIL opportunities unless he’s outside of the U.S. (due to a student visa), so with the help of his agent and John Calipari’s blessing, Tshiebwe is making the most of his time abroad.

Tshiebwe is reportedly set to make roughly $500,000 in one week, bringing his total estimated NIL earnings to $2.75 million. What does the best player in college basketball do with that type of money? He travels back home to the Congo and buys his mom a home.

While Tshiebwe and his NCAA Tournament nemesis Doug Edert both cash in on NIL opportunities individually, I have yet to receive a response from either player on their interest in my pitch for them to star together in a buddy cop comedy series called “The ‘Cat and the ‘Stache.”

4. Penny gets his guy

Andy Borman has been hired as the newest assistant on Penny Hardaway’s Memphis staff. Borman was previously the Executive Director of the New York Renaissance EYBL program and has ties to some of the best talent to come through the circuit.

Initial impressions of Borman seem to be: “great recruiting hire.” I’m not sure that’s where Penny Hardaway needed any help, as he has signed the No. 1 class in the country, according to 247Sports, in two of the last four seasons. But it certainly can’t hurt.

Larry Brown’s status as an assistant coach at Memphis is now up in the air, with three slots currently filled. He may return in a non-bench coaching role of some sort. May I suggest Morale Interventionist/Back Specialist?

5. Under Armour Elite 24 is underway

Under Armour’s Elite 24 event tipped off yesterday in Chicago, and there are a ton of big names participating. The event is back on after a six-year hiatus, and will also feature a women’s game for the first time in event history.

The event splits the 24 participants into two teams. Team Havoc is headlined by point guard Isaiah Collier, Oregon commit Kwame Evans Jr., G League Ignite-bound Matas Buzelis and Bryson Tiller. Team ‘Futr’ boasts some ‘str powr’ as well, including Michigan State' commit Xavier Booker, Kentucky commit Justin Edwards and Duke commit Sean Stewart.

The men’s all-star showcase game will be played Friday night at 7 pm on ESPNU, following the women’s game at 5 pm.

SUMMER READING

Summer reading assignments suck. Trying to absorb info when your brain just wants to zone out is like trying to outrebound Oscar Tshiebwe. Well, good news. We did the assignment. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Sean Paul gives CliffsNotes on programs that aren’t Top 25 contenders but are worth knowing entering the 2022-23 season. So sit back, relax, and enjoy. 

Western Kentucky synopsis: The Hilltoppers regularly feature elite mid-major talent, but again failed to reach the Big Dance in 2022, extending their NCAA Tournament drought to nine years. This is their second-longest tourney drought (since missing from 1940-1960). A talented returning core and solid transfer haul could end that.

Main characters: Start with stat-sheet stuffing lead guard Dayvion McKnight and Jamarion Sharp patrolling the paint. The thickly-built McKnight thrives when getting downhill, shooting 56.5 percent on field goals at the rim (per Hoop Math). He posted 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season. The next steps in his game are limiting turnovers (3.3 per game) and expanding his range (14-41 on perimeter jumpers).

The 7-5 Sharp blocked nearly five shots per contest and was Conference USA’s defensive player of the year. He briefly entered the portal before withdrawing. Journeyman Jarius Hamilton joins him in the frontcourt.

Keep an eye on high-major transfers Khristian Lander (Indiana) and Dontaie Allen (Kentucky). While neither had notable roles at previous stops, both could play 20+ minutes. Allen has good wing size and shooting ability, while Lander has game-changing speed and acceleration.

The conflict: Three-point shooting. The Tops hit 36 percent from beyond the arc last season but lost two of their main perimeter threats. There are few reliable shooting options remaining beyond Allen and Luke Frampton. McKnight is inconsistent and Lander isn’t a trustworthy shooter yet. Can Allen or stretch-4 Hamilton (33.1 percent from deep in four seasons) extend the defense?

Spoiler alert! UAB and North Texas are the teams to beat in Conference USA. But don’t discount Western Kentucky. It has enough talent to win the league if a few things break correctly.

THE FAST BREAK

Links to peruse while you weep over the simple fact that there is only one remaining episode of Better Call Saul:

• Mookie Cook will announce his college decision Friday. Will it be Oregon? (Again?)

• Brady Manek wore a “Coach K funeral” hoodie.

• TJ Power breaks down his final five potential destinations.

• Four-star combo guard Jamari McDowell has a final four.

• Three Man Weave’s Top 40 teams countdown rages on, with Michigan State checking in at number 31.

• 2023 guard Tyson Commander committed to Loyola (MD) and will reclassify to 2022. If, like me, after reading this you’d like to legally change your last name to ‘Commander’, you can do so here.

• Jack Margoupis, a 2023 forward, committed to Albany

FLOYD STREET’S FINEST

New-look Louisville

What type of expectations should Louisville fans have for Kenny Payne in his first year with the Cardinals? On the latest episode of Floyd Street’s Finest, Mike Rutherford joins Jeff Greer to address the ‘State of the Cards’.

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