We’re about halfway through the season with the essential conclusion of NCAA Basketball non-conference play. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
A few short weeks ago, we were wondering if Villanova would be able to make it three in four years, if Zion Williamson would be everything in college LeBron James wasn’t, and if Loyola-Chicago would be living up to the post-Final Four hype.
Plenty has changed in just under two months.
The top ranking in the country has been a revolving door for some of the country’s most prestigious programs.
Williamson has been great, but there have been plenty of stars – including freshmen – who have outshone the most polarizing player in recent memory. And Villanova and Loyola-Chicago have gone to-to-toe as two of the country’s most disappointing teams.
As we near the halfway point of the season, there is so much left to learn about the players and programs that are making the 2018-19 college basketball season special. But there’s also enough proof in the pudding to make valid declarations at this point of the year.
The contenders and pretenders are emerging, with a clear top-tier ready to take a stranglehold of the top of the rankings. New stars are emerging every day, from Buffalo’s C.J. Massinburg to Marquette’s Markus Howard.
There are also trends bound to affect the sport, both in the now and in the future. The journey to the Final Four in Minneapolis is winding – there are insights that might be able to take us there sooner, though.
Here are five important takeaways from non-conference play.
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