NCAA Basketball: 2018-19 Winners/losers of the week (version 1)

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: The Duke Blue Devils cheerleaders carry their schools flags on to the court prior to the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional against the Kansas Jayhawks at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

5 of 6

AUBURN, AL – FEBRUARY 14: Chuma Okeke #4 of the Auburn Tigers battles for a rebound against Kevin Knox #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half of a game at Auburn Arena on February 14, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Winner – Chuma Okeke

Similar to Moore of Kansas, Chuma Okeke was going to be part of a loaded team filled with NBA talent. With both Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy sitting out last season due to NCAA issues, Okeke averaged 7.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg in 21.6 mpg as a freshman. Those two are back along junior forward Anfernee McLemore were supposed to cut into Okeke’s minutes this season.

However, Purifoy is out the first nine games of the season while Wiley himself has been dealing with a foot sprain and couldn’t play in the season opener. That allowed Okeke to step up big time, averaging 19.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg. He led the Tigers with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 7/11 shooting in the blowout of No. 25 Washington.

Okeke was a top-100 recruit in his own right and has plenty of talent. But the plan was him taking more of a backseat to both Wiley and Purifoy. That’s not going to happen, with Okeke likely sowing up a starting spot in the lineup. Who knew that he would end up being the best big man for Auburn?

2. Loser – George Mason

Last season the Patriots finished 16-17 (9-9). But due to the heavy amount of losses from many of the other teams in the Atlantic 10, George Mason – due to the fact they returned everyone plus added Jarred Reuter from Virginia, was picked as a preseason favorite to win the league.

That prediction doesn’t look great right now after George Mason drops a pair of home games to Penn and American University. Both games were close throughout and the Patriots could’ve won them each. However, it’s disconcerting that a team with so much returning experience and cohesiveness would struggle out the gate like this.

George Mason can still win the A-10 and should still be considered one of the favorites. But it has to sting for Patriot fans that the at-large hopes are essentially gone, after just a few days into the season.

Home/NCAA Basketball News