The college basketball season works its way into the second half, as late January arrives and February is just around the corner. It’s going to be Selection Sunday before you know it. Europeans are finding more and more of a place in college basketball as this global game flows through American universities as a gateway to the NBA and a professional career. Which Europeans have been the best of the best in college basketball this year? Let’s take a look:
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona Wildcats
The Finnish big man has been a stud for the Wildcats. He kept the team from unraveling when wing Allonzo Trier was suspended for PED use and was just reinstated this past Saturday against UCLA. Markkanen is an accurate three-point shooter, and because of that, he then knows he can fake opponents into the air and drive on them to get to the basket. Markkanen is well above average as a shooter, passer and dribbler. That blend of skills makes it impossible for other teams to contain him. They might take away the jump shot, but then he can pass or drive. They can’t take away all three skills.
Dusan Ristic, Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats don’t have one stellar European; they have two. Ristic, from Serbia, is an above-average post-up scorer who works with his back to the basket, whereas Markkanen is a spot-up shooter who can also dribble drive against opponents. Ristic has a decent mid-range jumper – he can face up to the basket when he needs to – but he is more the muscle, whereas Markkanen is more of a finesse player. The complementarity of Arizona’s big men gives the Wildcats needed versatility.
Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels are fighting an uphill battle as far as the NCAA Tournament is concerned, but if they didn’t have Saiz, they wouldn’t even be an NIT team. Saiz plays very active defense as a banger near the rim. He is a force on the boards who gives Ole Miss a large measure of its defensive presence. He is a capable low-post scorer – maybe not the most artful, but enough to keep defenses honest. Saiz gives Ole Miss structure and physicality. The Rebels would be lost without him.
Manu Lecomte, Baylor Bears
The Bears have no top-50 recruits, but Lecomte, from Belgium, has acted the part of a top-50 player. He has hit big shots all season long and has provided steady leadership at the point guard position. Baylor has played sluggish first halves in a number of its games this season, but with very few exceptions, the Bears round into form and display a lot of composure late in second halves. That’s a commentary on coach Scott Drew, but it’s also a reflection of Lecomte’s ability to run good sets and keep his teammates together on the court. This is a player whose value goes far beyond the stat sheet.
The Bears have a big game at Ole Miss on Saturday night (6:00 PM ET) but as long as they can overcome that hurdle, they’ll continue to be the top team in the country. While the football program endures a huge black eye (see: Art Briles), the college basketball program has been a shining star.
Bogdan Bliznyuk, Eastern Washington Eagles
The Big Sky Conference has a European college basketball star. Bliznyuk is averaging 18 points per game for the Eagles, a team that has regularly been in the hunt for the league championship and an NCAA Tournament berth in recent years. Mid-major teams don’t have the same depth or high talent level of the power conference teams, so while cohesion and cleverness are meaningful ingredients in a championship recipe, they very much need one guy to step up and become the focal point of the offense. Bliznyuk has been just that for EWU. Unlike the high-major Europeans mentioned above, Bliznyuk absolutely has to be on his game in the conference tournament, because that is what will determine EWU’s March fate. Nevertheless, what happens then shouldn’t be held against him. He’s been fantastic to this point.
Click here to bet on the college football futures for the 2017 season right now. DSI has all of the latest lines, spreads and props for this week’s action!
