Big loss in the SEC

How does Miss State handle an injury to star Tolu Smith? Plus, Florida loses a likely starter, Arkansas adds a impact freshman, coaches on the hot seat, and much more.

Author

Tristan Freeman
October 06, 2023

It was a rough day for SEC frontcourts as two of them lost key contributors. And depending on a potential court ruling, it could get very rough to get international players into schools for legal reasons. I’ll explain below.

1. Tolu’s tough break

Many of the impactful SEC big men such as Charles Bediako, Colin Castleton, Liam Robbins, KJ Williams, and former National POY, Oscar Tshiebwe won’t be around this season.

That gave Mississippi State a decided edge since its best player and star, Tolu Smith, stuck around Starkville for 2023-24. Having a first-team All-Conference player (according to The Almanac) is a huge boost when you’re trying to back-to-back appearances in the Big Dance.

And then the Bulldogs got unlucky.

Smith was the biggest reason why the Bulldogs made the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He led the team with 15.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg on 57% shooting, including a season-high 28 points and 12 rebounds during an SEC Tourney win over Florida.

Simply put, replacing one of the country’s best players is no small thing.

This thrusts West Virginia transfer Jimmy Bell Jr. into the spotlight. He’s one of the sport’s biggest bodies at 6-10 and 270 pounds. He averaged 4.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 19 mpg last season. He’s a solid defender, but isn’t going to give you much on offense. Freshman center Gai Choi will likely get some minutes, along with JUCO transfer JaQuan Scott.

Still, it’s not all bad for Mississippi State. Its top five scorers are back, which should keep the Bulldogs respectable during non-conference play. DJ Jeffries, Shakeel Moore, Cameron Matthews, and Dashawn Davis all averaged at least 6.9 ppg, plus Marshall transfer Andrew Taylor was a 20 ppg scorer last season.

It’s tough news, but Mississippi State isn’t doomed yet. It managed to overcome a 1-7 start in SEC play last season to make the 2023 NCAA Tournament. But now, they’ll need someone to step up and become the new focal point of the offense.

GET SOME WEEKEND READING

Find your happy place

The best part of The Almanac? It’s got something for everyone.

There are more than 800,000 words in our college basketball preview, which has previews for all 362 teams, the transfers to know, the freshmen to watch, betting insights, and so much more. We’ve even got which coaches are likely to make a jump to a job at a major conference — and which ones are likely to be out.

So order your subscription now. It’s just $20.

2. Arkansas lands Isaiah Elohim

Even a great recruiter like Eric Musselman can take some “L’s” on the trail. In the past couple of weeks, local Arkansas prospect Annor Boateng committed to Missouri, while Rakease Passmore, cut the Razorbacks from his top-3 list.

Arkansas was due for a win. And it got one on Thursday.

Isaiah Elohim is a consensus top-50 prospect in the 2024 class. He’s a 6-5 guard/wing with tremendous scoring capabilities and can score at all three levels. And while a solid defender, it’s the offensive potential that makes Elohim so appealing.

Most of Arkansas’ latest transfers play on the wing. Guys like Khalif Battle, Jeremiah Davenport, and Denijay Harris will be gone after next year, while Houston transfer Tramon Mark is a pro candidate. It’s an opportunity for Elohim to be a factor as a freshman.

Also, about Musselman: This is now the 15th high school player Arkansas has landed since 2020. Per Jeff Borzello, all have ranked inside the ESPN Top 100.

Guess we should expect some more wins.

3. EJ Jarvis decides he’s done with hoops

E.J. Jarvis was one of six transfers Florida landed this offseason. The 6-8 forward averaged 11.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg for Yale last season. The hope was that he’d be part of a new frontcourt rotation that could collectively replace the production of star big man Colin Castleton.

Time for a new plan.

It’s an important loss for Florida, whose depth is going to get tested at the start of the season. UC-Riverside transfer Zyon Pullin will miss the first three games of the season, leaving them with 11 scholarship players, many of them unproven at the SEC level.

From a frontcourt perspective, this puts a lot of pressure on Seton Hall transfer Tyrese Samuel to have an impact at the four-spot, though the Gators may also use Will Richard (once Pullin returns) in some small-ball lineups. As long as Samuel can make the transition, Florida should be able to withstand this departure.

Best of luck to Jarvis, a Yale graduate, who I’m sure has plenty going for him in the future.

4. Don’t gloss over this legal section

Thursday the National Labor Relations Board held a hearing about the Dartmouth men’s basketball team attempt to unionize. A favorable ruling by the NLRB could pave the way for college athletes to become employees, which would have significant long-term consequences for the sport.

Perhaps the strongest point made during the hearing was by the players, who noted that the team manager gets paid through a work-study program, yet the players don’t receive compensation.

Another question to resolve would involve the status of international players, who are in the United States via F-1 student visas. The current rule is that those who are on those visas can only work 20 hours per week. However, if players are ruled to be employees, that might put their visa and overall legal status in jeopardy in this country. Four Dartmouth players are on these visas.

It’s a reminder that this isn’t only about a group of players on an Ivy League team. This unionizing effort and the future NLRB decision will have an impact on the sport and everyone in it, including in ways that aren’t getting talked about.

5. Coaches who could find a cooler seat

If you haven’t gotten your online copy of The Almanac, what are you waiting for? It has everything, including my favorite thing: Lists!

The “Hot Seat” coaches list includes several coaches who’ll be feeling the heat all season. Which ones are likely to win enough to relieve some of that heat?

Here’s my list.

Mike Hopkins, Washington

Barely over .500 after six seasons, Hopkins must feel like he’s on borrowed time. Not to worry. Besides bringing back its best player (Keion Brooks), Washington added a number of key transfers this offseason, including the new backcourt duo of Paul Mulcahy and Sahvir Wheeler. This roster has the most individual talent in years for the Huskies and there’s real potential for a nice season. 

Billy Lange, St. Joe’s

In four seasons, Lange has yet to finish over .500 despite consistently having multiple all-league caliber players. The good news is that everyone who had eligibility returned, including 20 ppg scorer, Erik Reynolds II. It’s the ultimate “put up or shut up” season for Lange. Given the talent, the Hawks can put up a lot of wins a winnable Atlantic 10.

Anthony Grant, Dayton

Speaking of the A-10, preseason predictions have the Flyers as the team to beat. But Dayton’s been the favorite the last few seasons without an NCAA tourney appearance to show for it. A surprise return by star big man and All-American contender DaRon Holmes gives them a great chance to lead the conference — as long as the guards can remain healthy.

Hubert Davis, North Carolina

When you coach the first AP preseason No. 1 team to miss out on the Big Dance, you’re going to have a warm seat. Yet Davis has a great chance of bouncing back, because of star center Armando Bacot scoring guard RJ Davis. If the new group of transfers including Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram are better roster fits, there’s no reason why the Heels can’t be a Top 3 ACC team.

Brad Brownell, Clemson

It seems like Brownell is on the hot seat every season. Bringing back two All-ACC players in PJ Hall and Chase Hunter will keep the Tigers in the mix for an NCAA tourney berth. Provided they avoid confounding losses (like to Loyola Chicago or Louisville), they should be able to make the Big Dance and give Brownell another season.

Heel of a story

North Carolina’s getting attention as a Top 25 team, which makes sense given its talent. Yet after last season’s mess, can the Heels meet those expectations in 2023-24? Rob Dauster, Terrence Oglesby and John Fanta argue about the Heels’ outlook and if people are actually underrating them.

Links as you pull out the fall clothes because it’s about that time.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! If you have a news tip or feedback, email us at [email protected].