After about a month and a half of the college basketball season, many questions have been answered. Go-to-guys have been established, rotations have been set and trends are clearly beginning to develop. However, there are still several issues yet to be solved – which can be troubling for a fantasy owner. Questions about shot distribution or minutes played make it difficult for some owners to feel completely confident about starting a certain player during a given week. With conference play just around the corner, here are a few teams from the Big East and ACC that are becoming problematic for fantasy owners.
Maryland Terrapins
Maryland has been a fantasy nightmare this season for the most part – and it looks like it will continue for the time being. First of all, Greivis Vasquez, one of the more productive players in the country last season, is shooting below 35% from the field and only averaging 13.6 points. Secondly, freshmen Jordan Williams and James Padgett have split time at the center spot, not allowing one of them to really become a viable fantasy option. Furthermore, Dino Gregory missed the first eight games of the season due to suspension, but now is back and looks to steal more minutes from the newcomers. He started immediately upon his arrival. It will be interesting to see how the inside minutes are divvied up and if Vasquez can step up.
Boston College Eagles
The Eagles are certainly going to be a team to keep an eye on as the season progresses. They have four players – Corey Raji, Joe Trapani, Reggie Jackson and Rakim Sanders – who attempted at least 10 field goals in the last two games. Sanders missed eight games due to suspension or injury, but he needs his shots and constantly looks to score. Will all four of these players be able to coexist on the court for the rest of the season? Individually, Raji, Trapani, Jackson and Sanders are worth owning in a fantasy league, but it remains to be seen if they will all produce numbers. Expect plenty of ups and downs and inconsistencies in terms of shot distribution for Boston College in conference play.
Virginia Cavaliers
Sure, Virginia likely won’t be a factor in the ACC standings and don’t have a litany of players worth owning in a fantasy league, but they’re a very interesting case study. The Cavaliers have had nine different players start a game this season, and 10 players are playing at least 10 minutes per game. Sylven Landesberg is getting his, but Mike Scott has been hampered by a high ankle sprain. No one else has been consistent enough to garner significant fantasy attention. However, there are people questioning why freshman Tristan Spurlock isn’t getting more minutes – there likely will be another player to step up during conference play worth owning, but it’s anyone’s guess as to who that player will be. Sammy Zeglinski is averaging in double-figures, so keep an eye on him.
Big East
Seton Hall Pirates
Heading into the season, I knew that Seton Hall’s shot distribution – and fantasy fate – would be a nightmare and a question mark throughout the season. Currently, the Pirates have six players averaging double-figures in points and six players taking at least six shots per game. Jeremy Hazell is averaging over 20 points per game and Herb Pope is putting up a double-double. After that, however, it’s a crapshoot. Robert Mitchell has been solid, but Jordan Theodore and Eugene Harvey are inconsistent in the backcourt. Keon Lawrence missed the first eight games, but he’s suddenly averaging 28 minutes per game. And what about Mr. 40 Points, Jamel Jackson? Bobby Gonzalez is going to have his hands-filled juggling this lineup.
Cincinnati Bearcats
At first glance, Cincinnati doesn’t seem like much of a difficult team to grasp. Deonta Vaughn and Lance Stephenson get most of the shots on the perimeter, Yancy Gates gets the looks down low. However, it’s not that simple. Stephenson is leading the team in scoring, but he has had five single-digit scoring games. Gates played just four minutes two games ago, and Vaughn is averaging less than 10 points per game. Dion Dixon is playing well lately, but he’s coming off the bench. Throwing a wrench into the equation is the addition of Ibrahima Thomas, who became eligible four games ago and has started the last two. Mick Cronin has started 10 different players for at least one game this season, and it will be interesting to see how the production sorts out the rest of the way.
Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals have a pretty set lineup: Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith in the backcourt, with Jared Swopshire and Reginald Delk at the forward spots and Samardo Samuels down low. However, nearly everyone on the roster has been inconsistent, which has created problems for fantasy owners. 11 players are averaging at least 10 minutes per game, and a twelfth player has started a game. This is not the same sort of depth that Texas has, where every player complements each other; this is Rick Pitino struggling to find a consistent group. For example, the team’s best defender, Preston Knowles suddenly didn’t start the past two games – and the Cardinals won both contests. Until Pitino settles on a rotation, stay away from everyone besides Samuels.
St. John’s Red Storm
St. John’s has been one of the best surprises in the Big East this season, but the Red Storm are no cakewalk for fantasy owners. Heading into the season, there was optimism, as St. John’s had four double-figure scoring options in D.J. Kennedy, Paris Horne, Sean Evans and Anthony Mason. However, only Kennedy and Dwight Hardy are scoring in double-figures and nine different players have started a game this season. Hardy and Brownlee are two of the team’s most productive players, and they come off the bench. Justin Burrell started the first seven games, but has missed the last four with an injury, while Mason Jr. has yet to play a game since December of 2008 because of a variety of ailments. What will Norm Roberts do when they return? Watch this situation.