The Can Ball Report NC-Double-Eh Preview

That time of the year is finally here - the college basketball season, which officially begins this Friday November 9.  And to whet your whistle a little bit we have endeavoured to give you who we think will be news worthy this year.  As we do about this time every season we comb the Canadian players playing in Division 1 and we give our predictions as to who could be making some noise.  Well, we have that list for you right now.  Some names you may know and some you may not populate the list so without any further adieu, here is the Can Ball Report NC-Double-Eh preview ...

Most Outstanding Player – Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga

Last season, there was no question that Robert Sacre was the heart of the Gonzaga team.  Now, it’s Kevin Pangos.  He has used his freshman season as a coming out party and you can expect that a lot more will be expected of Mr. Pangos.  He may not be the most dynamic player on the team (that could likely go to Gary Bell) nor will he be the best player (that would likely go to Elias Harris) but make no mistake about it, the team will rise and fall with the heady PG.  Pangos will likely be among the first to help offset the loss of scoring due to Sacre’s graduation but he’ll also will be needed to be the be the vocal leader as well.  He averaged 13.6 points, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals which were all team highs and with him being a vet, so to speak, he could improve upon those averages greatly.  Now if he runs the team in the way that we expect he can, the Bulldogs could be going deep into March for the first tie mina a long time and he could almost assure himself a spot on the mock NBA Draft boards come June.

Top Newcomer – Anthony Bennett, UNLV

Anthony Bennett has been among the elite high school players in North America for the last few years and he’s taking his resume and pedigree to the desert at UNLV.  Teaming with likely NBA Lottery pick Mike Moser, Bennett will be given every opportunity to shine this season and it’s very possible he could be as bright as the Vegas strip.  The Rebels are a pre-season Top 25 team in most polls and with Moser being the number target of most opposing defenses, look for Bennett to display his overall game both inside and out.  I’m sure by mid season that teams will be looking to hone in on him more but if he can adjust to that he should be among the best new faces on the NCAA landscape by Tournament time.

Top Transfer – Nick Wiggins, Wichita State

Nick Wiggins was a Second Team Junior College All American last year for one of the top juco programs, Hutchinson.  Now he’s at Wichita State where four for the departing seniors were guards.  This should make him excited.  There is a good chance he’ll get to play lots and when he does play he can fill it up from just about anywhere.  I’m not saying that he’s All Missouri Valley Conference yet but I think he’ll get a pretty good shot at it if he gets consistent burn.

Best Situation – Brady Heslip, Baylor/Kyle Wiltjer, Kentucky

This is a toss up between two very good players on teams that are for the most part retooling. 

Kentucky lost five players to the NBA this past spring and only one was a senior.  This makes Wiltjer among the most experienced players on a very young but talented Kentucky team, which is saying something since he’s only a sophomore.  He’ll likely be the slowest and least exciting of the many thoroughbreds on the Wildcats but he’s also the most polished offensively.  I’d think that he’s not only getting more minutes but he’ll also be one of the team’s playmakers all year.  Expect to see his numbers of 5 points and 1.8 rebounds to increase significantly.

Heslip is also in a similar situation at Baylor.  Losing four players from last season, three to the NBA, will force him to be one of the main guns this season.  As one of the top shooters in college basketball, he’ll be the perfect compliment to both the slashing Pierre Jackson and the fresh frontcourt studs of Ricardo Gathers, Isaiah Austin and J’mison Morgan.  He already showed he can play at the high major level last year and this year he’ll prove he can be a focal point.   

Worst Situation – Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State

Last season Jordan Bachynski played lots and towards the end of the season he looked like he was finally rounding into form averaging 13.1 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks over his last three against USC, Arizona and Stanford.  Pretty impressive I’d say especially when you include a 19-point, 9 board, 2 block performance against the Trojans.  Now he has to continue that play into this year under tough coach Herb Sendek.  This is a guy that can be notoriously tough on players and with the frontcourt being a little thin on size and experience, the pressure will be on for Bachynski to really step up for this team to compete in the Pac-12.

Most Important to Team – Myck Kabongo, Texas

Myck Kabongo is a very good player and a likely future NBA player but for this season, at least, he’s the lead player on a team that only gives him one teammate that is not a sophomore or freshman.  Unlike in Kentucky, the Longhorns don’t have the same level of incoming talent and as the lead guard he’ll have to play the role of upperclassman on the court.  The incoming players are an even mix of frontcourt and backcourt players which will put immense responsibility on the heady PG to reign in the energy and steer them to wins in what became an improved conference overall. I’m sure that there will be a lot of scoring done by the young ‘Horns but it will be Myck who initiates the offense and directs the traffic and with there being a very good chance of coach Rick Barnes implementing a type of three guard offense Kabongo will be the heartbeat that keeps this Texas team breathing. 

Due for a Breakout – Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State

New Mexico State had a really good season last year.  The Aggies went 26-10 and made it to the NCAA Tournament.  This year’s edition will be minus Wendell McKines and Canadian Hernst Laroche but Daniel Mullings will be the one to watch.  Last season, he posted a triple-double and looked like he could be on the cusp of being among the elite in the Western Athletic Conference.  And I’m not the only one that thinks so with Mullings making both the conference coaches and media polls as a pre season All Conference selection.  As the Aggies’ returning leading scorer (9.3), rebounder (4.1) and thief (1.6) look for his role to not expand but explode.

Redemption Time – Khem Birch, UNLV

Two years ago, Khem Birch was a high school All American that was headed to a celebrated Pitt program that was looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.  Well, after a few games Birch didn’t feel that it was a place for him and bolted for the Vegas desert amidst the chatter that he was not ready to work for his spot.  All this situation did, whatever was true or not, was cast him as another malcontent in a world of overly indulged child stars.  Now it’s time for Birch to show out and prove to everyone that had something to say about his transfer that he is that player that could be a major part of a successful team. 

Don’t Call It a Comeback – Marc Trasolini, Santa Clara

After suffering a season ending knee injury in a pre-season game in his home province of British Columbia, Marc Trasolini’s senior season went from looking great to abysmal.  His injury also deep sixed Broncos season.  Without the team’s best inside player and on court leader, they sputtered to an 8-22 record.   Well, Traz is back and looking to make this season the best he’d had.  He’ll be looked on again to anchor the middle and with a returning core of experienced players his presence should be enough to improve from last season’s finish. Traz will be looking to regain some of the form that he had as a pre-season WCC All Conference selection to close out his career. He may not be the focus in the middle this time around but he’ll definitely be the difference maker in more games than not. 

Remember Me – Mangisto Arop, Indiana State

Mangisto Arop was among the best of the Canada’s young players and was headed to Gonzaga to be among the best in the NCAA.  Well, that didn’t happen.  After two seasons that saw his time and possibly his welcome diminish, he transferred to … Indiana State. Maybe not the glamour school that we Canucks envisioned he’d be finishing his college career at but it’s a fresh start for him.  Most importantly, he’ll be able to show what he was considered among the best players heading into the NCAA immediately.  With the Sycamores returning only one starter from last year’s 18-15 team, Manny will be needed to step in and make contributions from the first tip.  He showed flashes of what he can do in his limited time as a Zag so we should all be excited to see what he can do with substantially more court burn.

The Sleeper Cell – Dejan Kravic, Texas Tech

Being from my alma mater (he is a York University transfer in case you didn’t know), I have a particular soft spot for Kravic to succeed.  But I don’t think he’ll a whole lot of my prayers heading into his first season in the NCAA.  Texas Tech was the worst team in the Big 12 Conference, as their 1-17 record would indicate.  They team was very perimeter oriented largely due to there being few options in the middle.  Kravic is an answer for this.  He’s big, strong and after a redshirt year learning the system and the high major college game, he should be able to make an immediate contribution down low.  Now I’m, not saying that he’s going to dominate because he won’t.  But what he will do is play well enough to turn some heads this year. 

Fab Five

Marc Trasolini, Santa Clara

Myck Kabongo, Texas 

Brady Heslip, Baylor

Melvin Ejim, Iowa State

Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga

Next Five

Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State

Justin Edwards, Maine

Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga

Anthony Bennett, UNLV

Kyle Wiltjer, Kentucky

Top Five Newcomers

Dyshawn Pierre, Dayton

Anthony Bennett, UNLV

Dejan Kravic, Texas Tech

Naz Long, Iowa State

Nick Wiggins, Wichita State