1. Jahlil Okafor – C – Duke Blue Devils (18.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.6 APG) – At first glance, it appears that Okafor was off a bit in the Blue Devil’s win against No.2 Virginia on Saturday, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. The truth is, the Cavaliers are one of the best teams at double-teaming in the post, and that’s exactly what they did to Okafor. Still, he was able to impact the game significantly despite Duke’s offensive troubles for most of the game. Okafor had some crucial rebounds on the offensive end late, and made an assist to Quinn Cook out of a double-team with a little over one minute left for a three-pointer that put the Blue Devils up for good. Okafor is a complete player, and it has shown in every game he’s played this season.
2. Jerian Grant – G – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (17.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.0 RPG) – Whoops. Grant and the rest of the Fighting Irish had quite the strange follow-up to taking down Duke in the previous game, dropping a 76-72 decision at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Grant was still effective, scoring 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting while grabbing four steals and dishing out three assists, but just couldn’t quite do enough to get the win. Grant, who had been kept at bay for most of the game, scored nine straight points to put Notre Dame ahead by one point with 31 seconds to play, but Pitt’s James Robinson hit a runner in the lane with 19 seconds left to put the Panthers back up for good. It was a commendable performance in the closing minutes for Grant, but not enough for the win, and not near as good as his previous outing against Duke. He got back on track in Wednesday night’s 71-63 victory over Boston College, finishing with 17 points, seven assists, and two rebounds. Still, he’ll remain in the number two spot for now, and gets another crack at Duke on Saturday.
3. Frank Kaminsky – F/C – Wisconsin Badgers (17.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.3 APG) – Kaminsky continues to step up his production virtually every week, yet remains a little under the radar. Maybe it’s because he’s doing all the things we’ve come to expect from him over the last three seasons, or maybe it’s because he plays for a Badgers team that likes to take their time an offense, preferring methodical passing and patient shot selection rather than an uptempo approach. Either way, it’s a shame. Kaminsky has averaged 23.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in his last two outings, both of which were convincing wins over quality Big Ten foes Iowa and Indiana. His shooting percentage hasn’t dipped below .500 since Jan. 4th, and he’s still dishing out a few quality assists each game as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLXZI9ugrsI
4. D’Angelo Russell – G – Ohio State Buckeyes (19.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.2 APG) – Russell has not slowed down as the Buckeyes have stepped up their play in recent weeks, averaging 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 6-of-13 from behind the arc in games against No.16 Maryland and Purdue. He continues to make opponents look silly with absurd passes, drives, and pull-up threes off the dribble, looking incredibly at ease the entire time. It’s quite a sight, almost as if he’s restraining himself out of sheer mercy. Russell did look a little frustrated while playing without sophomore forward Marc Loving alongside him in the Buckeyes’ 60-58 loss at Purdue on Wednesday night, as he shouldered more of the load after the Big Ten’s leader in three-point percentage was suspended indefinitely by coach Thad Matta before the game. With Loving now out, Russell’s production could increase even more, but it remains to be seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j83fdQwbdtk
5. Georges Niang – F – Iowa State Cyclones (15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.5 APG) – The 6-foot-8 forward hybrid is continuing to exploit opponents with mismatches, and has stepped up his play against the upper-tier teams in the highly-competitive Big 12. Niang had one of his best efforts of the season in the Cyclones’ 89-76 loss at No.8 Kansas on Monday night, scoring 24 points off of 50 percent shooting, including three-of-five from three-point range. Although a bit undersized for post-play, Niang has proven effective down low, where he is able to drive off the dribble, often pump-faking opposing players and drawing contact to get to the free-throw line, where he is 77 percent on the season. Niang’s ability to play virtually every position on the floor has given opposing coaches nightmares, and his confidence is only growing after beginning the season nearly 30 lbs. lighter than last year. His current career-high 40 percent three-point percentage is just another example as to why teams have no idea how to properly defend him.
Other notables: Melo Trimble (Maryland), Justin Anderson (Virginia), Delon Wright (Utah), Tyler Haws (BYU).
