NBA DRAFT WATCH: CBB 'ELITE 8' PREVIEW (SUN.03.26.23)
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| Baylor Scheierman was a problem against Princeton in the Sweet 16, shooting 5/7 from 3, as Creighton won 86-75 (Photo Credit: Chelsea Nicholson/Creighton Athletics) |
March Madness has had its mayhem and share of memorable moments this year as the stage is now set for the Elite 8. The schools that have weathered the storm and had enough success to reach this round are just a game away from advancing to the Final Four, — a dream for even some of the most successful programs across the country each season. Deserving of a deep dive that provides perspective of the programs and players who will determine the outcome of today's games, Matt's Draft Journal previews the matchups below.
#5 SAN DIEGO STATE VS #6 CREIGHTON (2:30, CBS)
Pitting two teams with contrasting styles of play against each other, today's South Regional Final in Louisville will feature a dogged defensive squad in San Diego State (30-6) against a potent offensive attack in Creighton (24-12). Champions of the both the Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament, San Diego State has defeated #12 seed College of Charleston (63-57), #13 seed Furman (75-52), and upset #1 seed Alabama (71-64) in their most recent game, en route to reaching the Elite 8. Representing the Big East, the Blue Jays of Creighton have gone through #11 seed NC State (72-63), #3 seed Baylor (85-76), and ended the promising run of #15 seed Princeton (86-75) to get to today's game.
Anchoring the Aztec defense is their big man Nathan Mensah. A 6'10 graduate senior, Mensah is a 2-time conference Defensive Player of the Year and tallied 5 blocks against Alabama in San Diego State's Sweet 16 victory. Also a force on the offensive glass, he'll usually add a couple second chance opportunities. Supplementing him in the SDSU starting lineup are forward Keshad Johnson, wing Matt Bradley, as well as guards Lamont Butler and Darrion Trammell.
Bradley is a transfer from Cal, where he was a 2-time PAC-12 All-Conference performer. In his two seasons since joining the San Diego State, he's added another couple of All-Conference accolades in the MWC. Leading the Aztecs in scoring, the lefty can bully his way to the basket and balances that being a true threat to get going from beyond the arc. He'll likely look to have an improved performance from his last game when he shot 2/9 from the field, scoring 6 points against Alabama.
Johnson is an obvious athlete when watching him in action, as he is capable of catching lobs, playing above the rim, and rebounding the ball. The backcourt of Butler and Trammell causes opponsing offenses trouble with their pressure on the ball. A 2-time All-MWC Defensive team selection, Butler has active hands which led to him having 4 steals in the win against Alabama. He also leads the team in assists. His teammate Trammell took charge of the offense last game scoring 21 points, including shooting 3/5 from 3.
Also seen in the regular rotation for San Diego State are a mix of a couple transfers and two graduate seniors in Aguek Arop, Jaedon Ledee, Micah Parrish, and Adam Seiko. Coming from TCU, Ledee is a formidable presence at forward who plays well in pick and roll action and can successfully score the ball from inside the arc, while also adding value as a rebounder. He tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block in the win verse Alabama. Parrish, a transfer from Oakland, is a versatile lefty guard/forward who can shoot the ball from the perimeter while having the ability to battle in the paint on defense; as he put up 9 points, including two 3's, with 8 rebounds and 3 assists last game. 5th year grad students who've spent their entire time at San Diego State are guard Adam Seiko who is a promising perimeter threat and forward Aguek Arop who can score the ball with efficiency from inside the paint and crashes the offensive glass.
Creighton comes in with a lineup lauded with potential future NBA players headed by 7'1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner, swingman Arthur Kaluma, wing Baylor Scheierman, guard Trey Alexander, and point guard Ryan Nembhard. The Blue Jays rely heavily on their starting five, with each player typically being on the floor for 30-plus minutes each game.
Similar to opposing big man Nathan Mensah, Kalbrenner was the conference Defensive Player of the Year, earning the honor in the Big East. He'll also make Mensah work with his offensive ability as he is 2nd in the country in field goal percentage (70.8). Kalkbrenner does an admirable job consistently playing with high hands on both ends of the floor, rarely having an issue at finishing in the paint and making it equally challenging for opponents to convert with him in the vicinity on defense.
Baylor Scheierman is a wing who is a legit triple-threat option that can dribble, pass, and shoot with proficiency. A transfer from South Dakota State where he won the Summit League Player of the Year last season, Scheierman was invited to and participated in the NBA Draft Combine last year before deciding to return to college. He's been an excellent addition to the current Creighton cast with his dangerous, deep shooting ability that he displayed in their Sweet 16 win against Princeton, when he shot 5/7 from the 3-point mark — putting up 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Sophomore Arthur Kaluma is a quintessential swingman with the physicality, size, and strength to play on the interior and agility, instincts, and skill to operate on the perimeter as well. A legitimate 2-way player who gives effort on both ends of the floor he's surfaced on the radar of NBA scouts, who they'll have their eye on as long as he remains in school.
Classmates with Kaluma, Trey Alexander is a smooth shooting guard that is a scoring threat from each level of the floor. Capable of playing off the catch within the structure of the offense, Creighton also counts on him being capable to create separation from the defense with his handle and ability to get his own shot.
Brother of NBA rookie for the Indiana Pacers and former Gonzaga player Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard has established his own identity at the college level. Another prized recruit in the class that also brought in Alexander and Kaluma, Nemhbard is a tactical true point guard with a quick, tight handle, polished passer, as well as becoming an increasingly more comfortable and confident scorer. He led the game in scoring and put up a career-high 30 points when Creighton defeated Baylor in the second round of the tournament.
When Creighton does decide to go their bench they'll usually call on guard Francisco Farabello and center Fredrick King, while also occasionally supplying minutes to guard Shereef Mitchell and forward Mason Miller.
A transfer from TCU, Farabello is a streaky shooter that has had 103 of 138 made baskets during his college career come from beyond the 3-point line. So far is he for 4/8 from distance during Creighton's tournament run. King is a legit big with significant stature and has done well with the minutes he's received during his freshman year, actually providing a defensive presence that matches, if not exceeds that of Kalkbrenner on a per minute basis. Mitchell is a 4-year guard who makes his mark on the defensive end with high effort and is the team's best on-ball defender, while Miller is the son of former NBA player Mike Miller, and can stretch the floor; sharing the same strong shooting attribute as his father.
SAN DIEGO STATE PROJECTED LINEUP/ROTATION
F 31 Nathan Mensah 6'10, 230 SR (6.1 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.6 blk)
F 0 Keshad Johnson 6'7, 225 SR (7.7 pts, 5.0 reb, 53.2 FG%)
G 20 Matt Bradley 6'4, 220 SR (12.8 pts, 3.8 reb, 2.1 ast)
G 5 Lamont Butler 6'2, 200 JR (8.5 pts, 3.4 ast, 1.5 stl)
G 12 Darrion Trammell 5'10, 175 SR (9.8 pts, 3.1 ast, 1.3 stl)
F 3 Micah Parrish 6'6, 200 JR (7.9 pts, 3.6 reb, 37.3 3P%)
F 13 Jason Ledee 6'9, 240 SR (7.9 pts, 5.3 reb, 50.0 FG%)
G 2 Adam Seiko 6'3, 210 SR (6.2 pts, 1.4 reb, 46.1 3P%)
F 33 Aguek Arop 6'7, 225 SR (4.5 pts, 2.9 reb, 58.4 FG%)
CREIGHTON PROJECTED LINEUP/ROTATION
C 11 Ryan Kalkbrenner 7'1, 260 JR (15.9 pts, 6.1 reb, 2.1 blk)
F 24 Arthur Kaluma 6'7, 225 SO (11.8 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.7 ast)
G 55 Baylor Scheierman 6'7, 205 SR (12.8 pts, 8.3 reb, 3.3 ast)
G 23 Trey Alexander 6'4, 185 SO (13.7 pts, 4.2 reb, 42.3 3P%)
G 2 Ryan Nembhard 6'0, 170 SO (12.3 pts, 4.0 reb, 4.9 ast)
G 5 Francisco Farabello 6'3, 185 SR (3.1 pts, 1.3 reb, 16.0 min)
C 33 Fredrick King 6'10, 235 FR (3.5 pts, 2.5 reb, 60.9 FG%)
G 4 Shereef Mitchell 6'1, 170 JR (1.8 pts, 34.5 3P%, 7.4 min)
F 13 Mason Miller 6'9, 190 FR (2.3 pts, 1.6 reb, 37.7 3P%)
#2 TEXAS VS #5 MIAMI (5:05, CBS)
Looking to be crowned the Kings of Kansas City at the end of the day, Texas (29-8) and Miami (28-7) will face-off against each other in the Midwest Regional Final for the chance to advance to the Final Four in Houston. Having won the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) regular season title, Miami defeated #1 seed Houston 89-75 in the Sweet 16 to reach today's round of the Elite 8. They took care of #12 seed Drake (63-56) and #4 seed Indiana (85-69) in the first two rounds of the tournament. Texas two steps into today's game having defeated #3 seed Xavier (83-71) in their last game, having beat #15 seed Colgate (81-61) and #10 seed Penn State (71-66) their two previous games.
A balanced team across the board both offensively and defensively, the Texas Longhorns have depth and the ability to win in multiple ways. They start guards Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter who compliment and play off one another well in attacking opposing defenses, while also being able to call on Sir'Jabari Rice and Arterio Morris off the bench to steady their offensive output. In the front-court Dylan Disu, Dillon Mitchell, and Timmy Allen are a part of the first five on the floor, with Christian Bishop and Brock Cunningham being just as reliable to play their role in keeping the team rolling.
Miami plays at an up-tempo pace with the athletes across the board to attack offensively and apply pressure defensively all over the floor. They rely on their starting lineup to lead the way with a 4-guard attack led by Isaiah Wong, Nijel Pack, Jordan Miler, and Wooga Poplar, having Norchad Omier as the lone big. Off the bench they'll play guards Bensley Joseph and Harold Beverly, as well as forward Anthony Walker. With forward AJ Casey also finding the floor in certain situations.
Texas enters today's game with senior forward Dylan Disu as a question mark after having suffered a foot injury in their last game against Xavier which forced him to miss the majority of the game. Disu is a formidable scorer in and around the paint, with the ability to face up or score with his back to the basket. He also provides a defensive presence as a timely shot blocker, leading the Longhorns in that category.
Timmy Allen is a formidable forward, capable of exchanging minutes between the '3' and the '4'. An astute passer and reliable rebounder, where he leads the team, he has a propensity for making midrange shots from near the elbow. Dillon Mitchell is a highly athletic freshman who was a consensus top-5 recruit in the country, with most of his efforts coming in diving to the rim looking for dunks and attacking the glass for putbacks.
Off the bench, though possibly having to be faced with additional minutes and responsibility should Disu be unable to go or limited in anyway, Christian Bishop and Brock Cunningham are both hard working, high effort players. Bishop is a physical forward who makes players play through his chest in the post on defense and finds high percentage opportunities of offense with timely cuts, rolls, and slips to the basket. Cunningham is a capable floor spacer on one end and battles for position while also showcasing active hands on defense.
The Longhorns backcourt is balanced by Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter who evenly distribute the ball-handling responsibilities while they're on the floor. Carr is a combo guard that is a talented scorer and quality distributor of the basketball. The transfer from Minnesota plays with a bop in his handle that allows him to get to various spots and make shots from both the perimeter and in the paint. Hunter is a quick, driving point guard who likes to use that advantage to get in the lane to convert on layups and collapse the defense to help get his teammates high-percentage shots. The transfer from Iowa State will also keep the defense honest from the perimeter and pull up from 3 when given space to shoot.
Keeping the ball rolling for Texas, Sir'Jabari Rice is a different style, yet distinguished guard in his own right. A grad transfer from New Mexico State, he's scored over 1,500 points in his college career. Equipped with a highly effective ball-fake in his arsenal that allows him to get into the lane often, Rice is a crafty, under control ball-handler who can score on a variety of shots when he gets inside the arc. Talented freshman guard Arterio Morris also comes off the bench, bringing an aggressive, attacking style of play on both ends of the floor. Making the most of his minutes, he'll get downhill off the dribble to get into lane and put pressure on opposing point guards when on defense.
The Miami Hurricanes uptempo attack is powered by some prominent guards of their own. Leading the way is NBA prospect Isaiah Wong, a talented combo guard. An explosive athlete, supplied by premium quickness with the ball in his hands and the verticality to elevate above the rim, Wong will work to get looks at the basket, pull up with confidence from deep, and step in and rise up to take the midrange shot if that's what the defense gives him.
Another emerging and intriguing prospect on NBA teams radars is Jordan Miller. At 6'7, 195 pounds Miller is a lanky wing who will put the ball on the floor and take advantage of mismatches as he is often guarded by less agile and athletic forwards in Miami's 4-guard offense. A do-it-all difference maker on both ends of the floor, he can crash the glass, step outside and shoot the 3, find the open man as an positive passer, and force turnovers with his length and lively energy.
Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar join Miller and Wong as guards in the Miami lineup, with Pack being a prominent perimeter threat and Poplar being interchangeable on the wing alongside Miller. A transfer from Kansas State, Pack has the range to heat up in a hurry from beyond the 3-point line and is aware enough to sneak his way into the lane for layups when the defense overcommits. Poplar primarily operates off the ball as a slasher and shooter from the wing while bringing energy defensively as an active and effective defender.
Manning the middle for Miami is Norchad Omier who plays the with intensity of a raging bull. A relentless rebounder on both sides of the floor, he ends offensive possessions for opponents and creates numerous extra offensive opportunities for his Hurricanes. A consistently reliable option near the rim offensively, he is also a difference maker defensively; being able to move his feet out near the perimeter disrupting pick and rolls while also capable of recovering to protect the paint.
Bringing in minutes off the bench Bensley Jospeh and Harold Beverly contribute to the Hurricanes uptempo, guard-oriented attack. Joseph will often see the floor with either Pack or Wong, where he can operate effectively off the ball as a steady shooter from the perimeter. When with the ball in his hands he is a sound decision maker who will find where the ball should go for an open shot. Beverly will also share some of the ball-handling duties off the bench and usually gets a high percentage shot when he does look to score. Forward Anthony Walker athleticism and effort is his calling card. When he makes a play it is usually through his hustle and leaping ability to corral a rebound, deliver a dunk, or looking to block a shot. AJ Casey is another forward who will occasionally see action when the Hurricanes seek to put more size on the floor.
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