NCAA Basketball: Dayton, Oklahoma State excel and more weekly takeaways
By Brian Rauf
8) Malachi Flynn is a mid-major star you need to know
We started this Rauf Report with a well-known mid-major star in Obi Toppin, and we’re going to close it with one you should start to familiarize yourself with in San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn.
Flynn, a transfer from Washington State, has guided the Aztecs to a perfect 8-0 start that includes victories over BYU, Creighton, and Iowa, the latter two coming as they won the Las Vegas Invitational.
While San Diego State has a solid roster, the 6-2 guard has given them the leader and go-to player they’ve desperately needed. Flynn leads them in points, assists, and steals but, more importantly, is pacing a team the way you’d expect a star point guard to. He ranks in the top 70 in the country in assist rate, dishing one on nearly a third of all shots made while he’s on the court, while also ranking the top 200 in turnover rate.
That sure is nice, but San Diego State really loves his ability to take over a game with his scoring when needed. That was on full display against Iowa, as he scored 28 points in the second half and showcased his entire offensive arsenal in the process.
What a second half for Malachi Flynn! @malachi_flynn3 scored 28 second-half points to help @Aztec_MBB rally from 16-point deficit to beat Iowa 83-73 and win Las Vegas Inv. #Aztecs now 8-0 and deserve to move into Top 25 next week. pic.twitter.com/T9kRjeBPfG
— Troy Hirsch (@troyhirschfox5) November 30, 2019
Why Michigan should be ranked #1. dark. Next
San Diego State has emerged as a legitimate NCAA Tournament team thanks to who they’ve been able to beat during this start, and Flynn’s play has been the biggest reason why.