Two to breakthrough

All hail Aaron Judge, who’s doing crazy things on the diamond. “Did Judge hit a dinger?” is the first thing my son asks when he wakes up in the morning. (The second question is about Albert Pujols. We’re really locked in on home runs right now.)

It’s late September. It’s good to be talking baseball. But we also have lots of college hoops news to cover. We’ll start with two programs with eyes on the prize in 2023.

STARTING FIVE

1. Could Creighton or Houston be the 1s?

Winning the NCAA Tournament is no small feat — especially when it’s your first time.

Only two of the last 10 national titles were first-time champions: Baylor in 2021 and Virginia in 2019. Otherwise, it’s the usual programs. Kansas, Villanova, North Carolina, Duke, most of whom will be championship contenders again this season.

Houston and Creighton are up for that challenge.

Both programs are on the shortlist of 2023 title contenders and with good reason. But you don’t need me to explain. Not when I can excerpt parts of The Almanac (available Monday). Let’s start with the Cougars.

They feature arguably the nation’s best backcourt, a relentless style, an impact freshman, and perhaps the most underrated coach in the game. Losing four starters only to win 32 games and fall one win shy of a Final Four? That’s blue-blood-type stuff.

Houston’s history isn’t threadbare (six Final Fours and they’ve sat atop the AP poll 11 times in school history, but not since 1983). But a breakthrough season would be massive. And rest assured, that’s the goal.

Creighton, on the other hand, is a bigger outlier.

The Bluejays have never been to a Final Four. They’ve only been to the Sweet 16 four times. Heck, they’ve never even cracked the top five of the AP poll. But they’re perhaps the trendiest of title picks in 2023.

From 23-12 and fourth in the Big East to a Final Four team? Such is life when you return a defensive anchor (Ryan Kalkbrenner), a likely first-round NBA pick (Arthur Kaluma), two dynamic guards (Trey Alexander and Ryan Nembhard) and perhaps the best incoming transfer for any team (Baylor Scheierman).

That’s the makeup of a champion.

Could Creighton or Houston break through? It’s possible. The only thing I know for sure is that The Almanac can give you more details. The excerpts above are just 30 percent of the team preview. It also has a playing style and roster analysis, potential potholes along the way, X-factors to consider, the latest team rosters, a prediction, and more.

The Almanac is only $15.99 for another few days with promo code HOOPS. Order now.

2. Age isn’t just a number

Tuesday’s Daily dove into the report that the NBA is planning to lower the minimum age requirement for the draft to 18. There are benefits (mostly for the players) and drawbacks (potential for fewer elite athletes in college hoops). But this would be such a significant change that a snapshot of other opinions would be worthwhile.

• Seth Davis is a fan. Full stop. His argument? It’s limited to a few select athletes.

• Mike DeCourcy wrote about this in 2018 when David Stern floated the idea. That column is still worth a read. His most recent opinion — that a change would hurt college sports and NBA — is essentially an update.

• Kyle Boone had five takeaways. No. 4 is the best outcome for college hoops in general.

As for the two programs a rule change could affect the most, here’s more reading from the Athletic for Duke fans and for Kentucky fans.

3. Buckeyes bolster ‘23 roster (still room for Bronny)

Ohio State added yet another Top 50 recruit in the 2023 class. Guess Chris Holtmann isn’t just going to let Tom Izzo have all the headlines.

Chatman is a 6-4 combo guard who chose the Buckeyes over Kansas, Xavier, Minnesota and Virginia. He’s their fourth commit (coming on the heels of George Washington III de-committing a few weeks ago) and gives them prospects at every position except point guard.

The 4-star prospect out of Minnesota is seen as a first-rate pick-and-roll player and is comfortable shooting off the bounce or catch. He’s probably best suited to play off the ball, which leaves the door open for, oh, I don’t know, a point guard who might be interested in Ohio State and also is rated as a Top 50 prospect.

Someone must be able to fit that description.

Also in recruiting news:

• Luke McEldon committed to Santa Clara. The 6-10 center plays at Cushing Academy, Va.

• Longwood picked up Emanuel Richards, a 6-5 combo guard in the class of 2023.

• Utah Tech added Angelo Kambala, a 6-0 class of ‘23 combo guard out of Nevada.

4. Ex-UCLA player Jalen Hill dies

This news emerged late Tuesday night, which the school confirmed early Wednesday morning.

Hill, 22, went missing in Costa Rica, according to his parents. No other details are available yet.

He played for UCLA from 2018-21, under both Steve Alford and Mick Cronin. He appeared in 77 games with 40 starts but left the team for personal reasons before their Final Four run in 2021.

Hill cited mental health reasons for his departure from basketball, exacerbated by COVID and subsequent isolation.

5. NIL news to know

Most NIL stories are about deals signed, collectives formed, or what schools are doing to create resources for players. The usual daily news-cycle type of thing.

Less common, but more interesting are how NIL is impacting the sport (it’s all some college recruits talk about) or its overall growth — especially in women’s hoops. (Average compensation for women’s hoops could surpass men’s hoops by the end of 2022.) Or there’s a headline-grabbing version, like when Syracuse booster Adam Weitsman says he’ll offer $1 million per year to a 5-star basketball player and a 5-star football player.

There’s the rare horror story, but there are also fill-your-heart-all-the-way-to-the-top stories like this from Matt Tait at the Lawrence Journal-World: Kansas players donated $17,000 to a local nonprofit that works to help people experiencing homelessness. That money doesn’t happen without NIL.

“It’s not always about taking,” Jalen Wilson told the Journal-World. “I’ve always been a big giver and I’m always trying to help the next person and we were able to do that. I just felt like we could make the statement that NIL’s not always about us gaining money; it’s about us being able to change people’s lives with the money we’re receiving.”

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you learn (in horror) that there are 2.5 million ants for every human.

• TCU’s Damion Baugh plans to appeal his impending NCAA suspension for signing with a non-certified agent.

• Ex-Washington and Portland State player Phil Nelson died last week at the age of 34.

• Bedlam no more: Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will end their football series. (Maybe basketball has a chance?)

• 2024 prospect Somto Cyril will sign with Overtime Elite for the 2022-23 season (and retain college eligibility).

• The ACC is moving its headquarters from Greensboro, N.C., to Charlotte.

• Indiana will sell beer at men’s and women’s basketball games starting this season. An obvious ploy to get Jeff Goodman to more games.

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