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NCAA Basketball: 2018 Legends Classic preview and predictions

By Drew Dinnhaupt

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 7: Shamorie Ponds #2 of the St. John's Red Storm dribbles the ball against the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center on February 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 7: Shamorie Ponds #2 of the St. John's Red Storm dribbles the ball against the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center on February 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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TUCSON, AZ – MARCH 03: Juhwan Harris-Dyson #2 of the California Golden Bears reacts during the second half of the college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on March 3, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Bears 66-54 to win the PAC-12 Championship. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ – MARCH 03: Juhwan Harris-Dyson #2 of the California Golden Bears reacts during the second half of the college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on March 3, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Bears 66-54 to win the PAC-12 Championship. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Team Breakdown

St. John’s Red Storm (3-0)

Heading into the season, junior guard Shamorie Ponds looked to be the Red Storm’s best player on both ends of the floor. Ponds has lived up to expectations having averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists per game through three games. Yet, Mustapha Heron has been more impressive thus far, as the Auburn transfer has posted 22.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.. Marvin Clark II (10.7 PPG) and LJ Figueroa (14.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG) have also contributed to the Red Storm’s success.

St. John’s, however, hasn’t looked all that fantastic in its first three games. The Red Storm nearly fell to Bowling Green State in an 84-80 victory but did manage to beat Loyola-Maryland and Rutgers by 19-points each, albeit both teams are weak this season.

I wouldn’t consider the Red Storm to be a dangerous team on a national scale, but they are the most talented and complete group participating in the Legends Classic.

California Golden Bears (1-1)

Cal is no longer the team it was three years ago when the Golden Bears earned a No. 4 seed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Consider last season’s 8-24 record to be a preview of what’s to come this season.

The season-opener was certainly an ugly one for Wyking Jones’ squad, as the Golden Bears fell 76-59 to Yale. Cal responded with a 14-point victory over a weak Hampton team.

Cal’s trio of junior guard Paris Austin (19.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.0 APG), sophomore forward Justice Sueing (13.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG), and freshman forward Andre Kelly (11.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG) to lead the way for Cal in the Legends Classic as well as the whole season.

Temple Owls (4-0)

Temple hasn’t impressed much defensively this season, but its production on the offensive end has earned them an undefeated record. The Owls are averaging 80 points per night through four games this season and have also been oddly consistent on defense by allowing exactly 67 points on three occasions.

Shizz Alston Jr. will have to maintain his current production into the Legends Classic for Temple to win a game, or perhaps two. Alston posted a career-high 30 points against Detroit Mercy last week; he currently averages 21.5 points and 5.5 assists per game, both of which are team-leading. He has also made 15 of his 31 three-point attempts on the season.

VCU Rams (3-0)

Like the other two unbeaten squads in the Legends Classic, the Rams have had an easy road to their 3-0 record with double-digit victories over Gardner-Webb, Hampton, and Bowling Green State.

VCU has unparalleled depth and balance this season. 12 Rams play 6.7 or more minutes per game while 11 average north of 4.3 points per game. Thus, guard Marcus Evans, VCU’s leading scorer, is posting a mere 11.3 points per game.

VCU’s defense that allows just 58.3 points per night (the 24th best figure in the country) will have perform up to par for the Rams to have a legitimate shot at the Legends Classic title.

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