NCAA Basketball: Takeaways from the 2018 NIT Season Tip-Off

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates with the trophy after Kansas' 87-81 win over Tennessee Volunteers at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Barclays Center on November 23, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers dribbles down the court during the second half of the game against Kansas Jayhawks at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Barclays Center on November 23, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

2nd Place – Tennessee Volunteers

Biggest Takeaway: Legitimate national title contender

When it comes to naming teams that have a true chance at winning a national title, Tennessee almost never comes to mind. They may get Final Four mentions but both Kentucky and Auburn are considered the likeliest to represent the SEC in the last weekend of the season.

In reality, the Vols should be ahead of both of them as the favorite, having no clear weakness throughout the roster. They can shoot, rebound, defend and have two All-Conference players in Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. Rick Barnes’ team showed that in beating Louisville and going toe-to-toe with the likely No. 1 team in the country next week Kansas for 45 minutes. This isn’t a flashy team with future NBA pros but the Vols looked just as impressive as any team during “Feast Week”.

1st Place – Kansas Jayhawks (5-0)

Biggest takeaway: Dedric Lawson is the star of Kansas

Besides the freshmen trio for Duke, no player was more hyped in the preseason than Dedric Lawson, who averaged 19 and 10 at Memphis before transferring. He was picked before the season by many as the Big 12 Player of the Year, as well as an All-American.

He didn’t have a great start with the Jayhawks this season, combining for 5/24 from the field for the first two games. Since then, he’s played as well as anyone in the country, including these past two games. Lawson went for 26 points and 12 rebounds against Marquette before leading all players with 24 points and 13 boards in the overtime victory over the Vols. He became the first Jayhawk in over a decade to put up a 20-10-5 stat line in a game.

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Lagerald Vick’s surprising start has been the catalyst of Kansas early season run thus far. But based on his performance in the NIT Season Tip-Off, it’s Lawson who’ll be the reason why the Jayhawks make another Final Four run. It may have taken him a couple of games to get it going but look for Lawson to establish himself as both the best player for the Jayhawks as well as the Big 12 completely.

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