Point taken

Good morning! What type of lead guard do you prefer? A more traditional pass-first player? One with a scorer’s mentality? A lock-down defender? All of the above?

How about we dive into the best point guards in college hoops.

1. Start an argument with a Top 20 point guard list

Making a list of college basketball’s best point guards seems easy.

There are obvious candidates such as Mark Sears and Braden Smith, super-seniors such as Dajaun Harris and Jeremy Roach, and talented sophomores such as Bruce Thornton and Malik Mack.

So it’s no surprise to see all six names on the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard.

However … the Cousy list leaves much to be desired, which we seemingly say every season.

First off, there’s no Kadary Richmond. That’s an obvious error considering he was one of the sport’s top lead guards last season when he was a do-everything lead guard for Seton Hall and finished in the Top 40 in assist rate (to say nothing of his nasty defense). And if Richmond is on the Jerry West list when it drops today, including his backcourt mate, Deivon Smith, also would be reasonable.

Not including New Mexico’s Donovan Dent? That’s just dumb.

Also notable omissions: Dug McDaniel (Kansas State), Kezza Giffa (High Point), Xavian Lee (Princeton), and Chucky Hepburn (Louisville). And I don’t even want to know what Dan Hurley thought about Hassan Diarra’s omission.

Tell you what, why not spotlight a better list?

Now, it’s not a perfect list (peek at those mentions), but that’s mostly a gripe of player order, not inclusion. (That said, Ace Baldwin should be on our list instead of Jaden Bradley. And UNC fans are gonna kill Dauster and Goodman for not having Elliot Cadeau.)

Sears and Smith are the clear 1-2 punch. Lipsey and Harris might be a smidge high, but are Top 10. Jackson Shelstad and Wade Taylor IV might end up hunting their own shots too much, but you can’t argue with their talent.

But out of all these players, the one who should be included is Creighton’s Steven Ashworth. A career 39% 3-point shooter who doesn’t turn the ball over and executes an always-efficient Blue Jays offense? I’d take that guy. Especially when he’s the one who’s gonna keep Pop Isaacs in check for shot selection.

2. Alabama’s offense already humming (but the D …)

When Alabama streaked to an early lead in its exhibition vs. Memphis Monday night, it was everything you’d expect from Nate Oats’ squad.

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