NCAA Basketball: A 1-bid Pac-12, overrated Oklahoma, & more takeaways

NCAA Basketball: A one-bid Pac-12, overrated Oklahoma and more takeaways

By Brian Rauf | Dec 23, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts to a call during the second half of the championship game against the Utah State Aggies in the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 87-82. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 21: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles attempts a shot between Davonta Jordan #4, Jeremy Harris #2, and Montell McRae #1 of the Buffalo Bulls in the first half at the Fiserv Forum on December 21, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

6) Markus Howard‘s greatness

The National Player of the Year race is as wide open as it was at the beginning of the season and Marquette’s Markus Howard put his name into the ring with his 45-point performance (his second of the season) against Buffalo.

A second half for the ages... Markus Howard's 40-point 2H is worth another look 👀 @MarquetteMBB @BIGEASTMBB pic.twitter.com/618OYl2iCR
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 22, 2018

To put that game in perspective, he’s only the fifth player over the last 20 seasons with multiple 45 point games in one season – and he has only played in 12 games. But this isn’t completely out of the norm for Howard, who had 52 points in a win over Providence last season.

The 5-11 junior is now averaging 25.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game for a Golden Eagles team that is 10-2 and might be ranked in the top 15 in the country.

He means more to his team than just about anyone and, given his level of play, it’s impossible not to include him as one of the handful of Player of the Year frontrunners.

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