Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: 5 underrated mid-major players in 2018-19

By Zac Voynow

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Justin Wright-Foreman #3 of the Hofstra Pride drives to the basket past Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game tournament at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Justin Wright-Foreman #3 of the Hofstra Pride drives to the basket past Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game tournament at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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SPOKANE, WA – NOVEMBER 14: Jesse Wade #10 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs controls the ball against R.J. Cole #2 of the Howard Bison in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on November 14, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Howard 106-69. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA – NOVEMBER 14: Jesse Wade #10 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs controls the ball against R.J. Cole #2 of the Howard Bison in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on November 14, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Howard 106-69. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

RJ Cole, Howard

RJ Cole carried Howard to every single win they’ve accumulated so far this season. Howard is 7-9, which interestingly enough is one of the best records in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Not a single team in the MEAC has a winning record, and 2-14 Coppin State is 2-0 in conference play, and at the top of the standings. Needless to say, whichever team wins the MEAC will be a 16 seed, but I believe Howard is the most dangerous team out of all them due to one thing: RJ Cole.

Cole is a 6’1″ point guard from Union, NJ. He attended the powerhouse prep St. Anthony’s high school in Long Island. As a freshman he averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Now in his Sophomore season, Cole is still producing at a high level. He’s averaging 21.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 40.6% from the field, 35.1% from three, and 83.7% from the line.

The lone stat in his possession that isn’t all that good is his field goal percentage, but that’s solely due to his workload. He’s asked to do everything for the Bison, and that can be a tall task for anyone, let alone a division one athlete going up against other division one teams. If Howard does win the MEAC, make sure you watch Cole in the NCAA tournament.

Win or lose, he will put on a show.

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