NCAA Basketball: Takeaways from 2023 Charleston Classic results
2nd place – Dayton Flyers (3-2)
Takeaway: Nate Santos has emerged as the 2nd-best player
When starting point guard Malachi Smith went down for the season, the Flyers’ hopes of being ana at-large contender out of the A-10 seemed to have dashed. But while they didn’t leave the Charleston Classic with the ultimate prize, they still did end up with a pair of Quad 1/2 neutral wins. And that’s thanks to the big play of Nate Santos, a transfer from Pittsburgh.
The 6’7 wing isn’t the kind of rim-protecting forward that Toumari Camara was but he’s become the team’s second-leading scorer, behind star DaRon Holmes. Santos had 19 points and nine rebounds in the win over LSU, including the game-winning three-pointer. He followed that up with 18 points in the win over St. John’s. If the forward keeps that up, Dayton will remain the team to beat in the A-10.
1st place – Houston Cougars
Takeaway: LJ Cryer is the undisputed go-to option
Outside of St. John’s, there wasn’t really a team with the talent level to compete with the top-10 Cougars. So them winning the Charleston Classic is by no means a shock. The only thing we know for sure is the offensive pecking order. Jamal Shead did have a season-high 16 points in the win over Dayton but the leading scoring once against was LJ Cryer, who dropped 18.
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Cryer also had 19 against Towson and 14 versus Utah, making 11 total three-pointers. The 6’1 guard averaged 15.0 ppg at Baylor before transferring out so his success isn’t a surprise. But Houston knowing that Cryer is the guy while Temple transfer Damian Dunn can be an effective role player is good to sort out now, while still being able to win titles. The Cougars look good enough to compete in the Big 12 in year one.