College basketball opening night takeaways: Kentucky looks strong and more of what we learned as season starts

Opening day in faculty basketball featured 126 video games wherein Division I groups confronted off towards each other, together with all 25 groups ranked within the AP Prime 25 in motion, so whereas the slate in totality was a bit lackluster, there was nonetheless a lot of data to course of and lots to glean from all of it. And in true faculty hoops style, there have been after all just a few surprises, too. Like Florida State shedding to Stetson? No. 14 TCU narrowly avoiding catastrophe to Arkansas-Pine Bluff? St. Thomas giving a better-than-expected scare to No. 9 Creighton?

Yeah, it was a kind of nights in faculty hoops because the season formally received underway with an entire heap of chaos. 

What we discovered from the primary day of motion is probably not laborious and quick classes by which we are able to venture the remainder of the season — Creighton remains to be undoubtedly going to the Closing 4, TCU nonetheless has some shein as a plucky darkhorse within the Huge 12 and Florida State absolutely will probably be higher — however a small pattern measurement for now’s all we have set to work with. So what sort of takeaways can we draw apart from these we all know in the future into the season? 

Listed here are six issues we discovered from the day that was.

Kentucky Onyenso dominates inside…

When Ugonna Onyenso dedicated to Kentucky on Aug. 1 as a late addition to the Wildcats’ 2022 recruiting class, it was simple to shrug off his addition as merely a long-term funding. In any case, he was reclassifying from the Class of 2023 and never becoming a member of the Wildcats till after their chemistry-building summer season journey to play 4 exhibition video games within the Bahamas. However after his robust debut on Monday, it appears like Onyenso may assist UK this season, if wanted. With reigning nationwide participant of the yr Oscar Tshiebwe on the mend from a knee surgical procedure and 6-foot-9 sophomore Daimion Collins out for private causes, Onyenso logged 20 minutes and made a major defensive impression in UK’s 95-63 win. The 6-11 Nigeria native blocked 4 pictures and altered just a few extra whereas making 3 of 4 pictures from the ground.

Although Tshiebwe’s return will reduce the necessity for Onyenso to log vital minutes early in his profession, it is clear he brings a component of rim safety which will in any other case be missing from Kentucky’s rotation. Junior ahead Lance Ware is an efficient shot blocker and Tshiebwe averaged 1.6 blocks per recreation final season, however the Wildcats completed eleventh within the SEC in blocks per recreation final season. With a 7-5 wingspan, Onyenso may also help UK instantly in that regard. Maybe he’s a long-term venture who will finally blossom as soon as Tshiebwe departs, however the early returns counsel he can contribute instantly as properly.

…and opens it up for UK shooters

Kentucky completed 297th nationally in made 3-pointers per recreation final season with simply 6.1 because the Wildcats scored a bigger share of their factors contained in the arc than any crew that performed within the 2022 NCAA Event. The early returns counsel this crew will probably be improved from the perimeter, thanks largely to a pair of sharpshooting transfers. Antonio Reeves drilled 6 of 12 makes an attempt from past the arc in his UK debut whereas main the No. 4 Wildcats with 22 factors in a 95-63 victory vs. Howard. The previous Illinois State guard hit 39% of his makes an attempt from deep whereas taking part in within the Missouri Valley Convention final season. Fellow sharpshooting switch CJ Fredrick completed with 20 factors whereas hitting 2 of 5 makes an attempt from deep as Kentucky mixed to make 11 of 24 makes an attempt from 3-point vary.

The Wildcats made 19 of 41 makes an attempt from 3-point vary of their first two video games of final season earlier than actuality set in and the skin struggles started. So this crew might want to show that it may maintain the skin taking pictures over the lengthy haul because the schedule toughens and opponents get a greater scouting report on UK’s strengths. However it was an encouraging begin, particularly since level guard Sahvir Wheeler was not on the ground facilitating open appears and Tshiebwe was not on the ground drawing double groups.

Gonzaga’s Timme goes to feast

Lower than 24 hours into a brand new season, sure people needs to be feeling very, superb about their Drew Timme choices for NPOY. With Chet Holmgren and Andrew Nembhard off to the NBA the expectation is that he’s going to be Gonzaga’s all-everything this season, and one recreation into the season that seems to be right. He feasted towards an overmatched North Florida crew for 22 factors in a recreation the No. 1 Zags had properly in management by halftime and received 104-63. Julian Strawther and Malachi Smith are going to be pivotal items for the Bulldogs’ prospects, however this crew goes to go as Timme goes — and it certain appears like he’ll go supernova this season.

Groups changing Corridor of Famers begin sizzling

Kyle Neptune and Jon Scheyer are within the fairly unenviable positions of changing Corridor of Famers at Villanova (Jay Wright) and Duke (Mike Krzyzewski), respectively, however Neptune and Scheyer can each boast 100% win percentages of their new positions after a robust begin to the season Monday. Neptune’s No. 16 Nova crew let La Salle linger a bit longer than it ought to’ve, however cruised to an 81-68 win of their opener. In the meantime, Scheyer and No. 7 Duke dominated Jacksonville — doing so with out five-star freshmen Dereck Full of life and Dariq Whitehead — in a 71-44 victory. 

Should you’ve listened loyally to the Eye on Faculty Basketball podcast over the previous few months, you have heard Gary Parrish rave about Michigan freshman Jett Howard. The 6-7 ahead completed recruiting cycle ranked because the No. 45 total prospect by 247Sports, however Parrish has been adamant that Howard will probably be among the many nation’s prime freshmen whereas taking part in beneath his father within the Huge Ten.

Howard’s debut ought to solely add to the thrill. He completed with 21 factors and 5 assists on 8 of 15 taking pictures, together with a 5 of 10 mark from past the arc, because the Wolverines dealt with Purdue Fort Wayne 75-56. When Purdue Fort Wayne closed with 61-49 with beneath seven minutes to play, Howard responded with the sport’s subsequent eight factors to finish any drama. After a comparatively underwhelming season from final yr’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class headlined by five-star prospects Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate, there needs to be hope after Monday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that the Wolverines might have scooped up a possible all-conference freshman this time round in Howard.

Two mid-majors confirmed they will rating factors in bunches as James Madison blasted Division III foe Valley Forge 123-38 — almost a yr to the day that it beat Carlow 135-40 in a equally lopsided nonconference beatdown. Hours later, Bryant received one of the best of Thomas in an excellent greater margin, inning 147-39 and outscoring Thomas 73-17 within the second half. Bryant’s 147 factors are probably the most it has scored in a recreation since at the least 2010 and its 39 factors allowed are the fewest in a recreation in that very same span.