On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
10 players not named Cooper Flagg defining men's college basketball
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg has garnered the most hype during the men's college basketball season. And deservedly so — the 6-foot-9 player of the year candidate is averaging 19.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He's led Duke to the top of the ACC standings and a No. 3 national ranking.
But Flagg isn't the only player lighting up college basketball this season. As March Madness approaches, here are 10 more players who have defined the season.
Johni Broome | Auburn
Broome was a third-team All-American last season. He's headed for first-team accolades this year. He's leading the SEC in rebounds (10.7) and blocks (2.7), while guiding Auburn to a No. 1 national ranking.
Braden Smith | Purdue
No Zach Edey, no problem. Smith is a magician with the basketball, averaging 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 2.5 steals. He's everywhere on the court and has Purdue in the mix for another Big Ten title, garnering high praise from the opposition in the process.
Michigan assistant coach Mike Boynton told @MattNorlander that Braden Smith is the best point guard he’s ever coached against not named Steph Curry. pic.twitter.com/lSJ3haejbh
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) February 13, 2025
Mark Sears | Alabama
Sears recently eclipsed the 2,500 career points mark, becoming one of only 82 players in men's Division-I college basketball history to reach the milestone. More importantly, he's led Alabama to a No. 2 national ranking. Grab the popcorn for Saturday's clash between the Tide and archrival No. 1 Auburn.
Hunter Dickinson | Kansas
Yes, the fifth-year big man is still around, and yes, he's still a dominant force. On a Kansas team with plenty of weapons, Dickinson has seen a dip in his numbers, but he's still the most impactful player for the Jayhawks. He's starting to play his best ball of the season too. He's shooting his highest percentage from the field (.574), while averaging more points (18.5) than any of the three previous months.
Kasparas Jakucionis | Illinois
Remember the name (and learn how to pronounce it, too: Yah-koo-CHOH-nis). The Illinois freshman out of Lithuania is averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists and earned a spot on the Wooden Award Top 20.
Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton
Game-changers have the ability to rule March Madness, and Kalkbrenner is a game-changer inside. The 7-footer is approaching 400 career blocks (373) and is averaging career-highs in points (19) and rebounds (8.5). Until a Feb. 11 loss against UConn, Kalkbrenner had led Creighton to a nine-game winning streak.
"(Ryan) Kalkbrenner is awesome," said Marquette head coach Shaka Smart. "I'll be sending him a graduation present when he finally leaves."
Kadary Richmond | St. John's
Richmond and the Johnnies have taken college basketball by storm this season, no pun intended. Under Rick Pitino's leadership, St. John's has reached a top-10 national ranking for the first time since 2000, and Richmond is a large reason why. He's been a bulldog defensively, ranking third in the Big East in steals (49) and leading the conference in defensive win shares.
KADARY. RICHMOND. GAME. pic.twitter.com/rfCrEEYxcG
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) February 1, 2025
Alex Karaban and Liam McNeeley | UConn
Don't sleep on the Huskies. November's disappointing trip to Maui was overshadowed by poor play and Dan Hurley's sideline antics. However, UConn is 17-7 overall and still a threat. The duo of Karaban and McNeeley has kept UConn in the national conversation. Karaban provides the steady presence, while McNeeley is capable of takeover moments like his 38 points in a Feb. 11 win over Creighton.
Kam Jones | Marquette
After a January statistical dip, Jones is back to scoring in bunches. Jones recently became Marquette's third all-time leading scorer, and earlier in the season in a win over Purdue, he posted the school's first triple-double since Dwyane Wade's in 2003. As March approaches, it's worth noting that in five games this season against Power 5 competition outside the Big East, Jones is averaging 20.2 points per game. He's a problem for every defense in America.
More must-reads:
- UCLA staves off Indiana's comeback attempt
- Vanderbilt HC Mark Byington: Auburn doesn't 'have any weaknesses'
- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Significant concern emerges for Bengals, Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals defense has stepped up its game in training camp this summer, and it's giving the coaching staff some pause about Joe Burrow's protection. The Bengals were tied with the New York Giants, giving up the 11th most sacks in the league last year (48). Given Burrow's importance to the team and long injury history dating back to his time at LSU, Cincinnati needs to see improvement from the offensive line. Per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals' depth on the offensive line is a concern at training camp. During one practice, backups Cody Ford and Devin Cochran were seen getting first-team reps while starting right tackle Amarius Mims was sidelined, dealing with a hand injury. But it's not just the backups that are a worry. Cincinnati is expected to give third-round rookie Dylan Fairchild the starting job at left guard. "On top of concern regarding rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild, currently the leader in the clubhouse to start at left guard, the cast of question marks lacking experience, floating behind the starting tackles, is startling," Dehner wrote. "If the Bengals had to play Cleveland this Sunday without Mims, they couldn’t tell you who would hold down the starting spot. "Meanwhile, the Bengals’ defensive line consistently produced disruptive reps, and they are a group lacking historically potent pass rushers in their own right...The Bengals just feel notably weak and inexperienced. When the rest of the offense is so stacked with talent, and the history of the performance in front of Burrow being what it is, that’s hard to look past right now." The Bengals decided to spend their money on pass catchers for Burrow. Given the results of the offense last season, it's easy to understand why Cincinnati wants Burrow to deliver the ball to exceptional athletes. The risk is that Burrow won't hold up behind an offensive line that is lacking investment. If injuries pile up during the regular season, it's a concern that will only increase.
Rumor: Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II Expected To Sign With Warriors Once Jonathan Kuminga Signs Deal
Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II are expected to sign with the Golden State Warriors once Jonathan Kuminga signs his deal, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Kuminga is a restricted free agent. Most people believe the swingman will sign his qualifying offer worth $7.9 million and then enter unrestricted free agency next offseason. “Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II have all long been expected to sign with the Warriors this summer but remain on hold when it comes to making those deals official while the Jonathan Kuminga situation plays out,” Stein wrote. Payton II and Melton played for the Warriors last season, while Horford played for the Boston Celtics. Golden State lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. The Warriors want to re-sign Kuminga. The franchise recently offered the forward a two-year, $45 million contract. Kuminga, though, declined the offer because the contract had a team option in Year 2 and there was no built-in no-trade clause. Kuminga wants to leave the Warriors. He doesn’t have a good relationship with head coach Steve Kerr. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Warriors last season in 47 games. He shot 45.4% from the floor, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. The 22-year-old Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with Golden State. The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings are interested in acquiring Kuminga in a sign-and-trade deal, but the Warriors don’t like the offers. The Kings offered a three-year, $63 million deal to Kuminga, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic. In the sign-and-trade proposal, the Warriors would get Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick. More NBA News Rumors
Spurs risk roster issues with De'Aaron Fox extension
When the San Antonio Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox midway through last season, their guard rotation appeared to be wide open. Stephon Castle was the only other long-term ball-handling prospect on the roster and, despite a strong year, was still a rookie. However, the NBA Draft has seen the addition of Dylan Harper, another young guard with All-Star potential, and the ability to one day lead the Spurs franchise next to Victor Wembanyama. Harper's addition and Castle's emergence as the 2025 Rookie of the Year raised questions about Fox's fit and long-term future in Texas. The problem was that Fox was eligible for an extension this summer. On Monday the Spurs inked Fox to a four-year $229M deal, with no player option for the final year. The new contract, which will see Fox earn approximately $57.25M per year, will kick in next summer. Suddenly, San Antonio has a young guard rotation of Harper, Castle and Fox, all of whom struggle to score on the perimeter, and have shown issues when letting shots fly off the dribble. "The Spurs already had two point guards who struggled from distance in Stephon Castle, whom they spent the No. 4 overall pick on in 2024, and De'Aaron Fox, whom they acquired in a deal with the Sacramento Kings ahead of the February trade deadline," Bryan Toporek wrote for Forbes on Saturday. "Castle shot 28.5% from deep on 4.1 attempts per game as a rookie, while Fox is a career 33.0% three-point shooter who has shot 32.5% or worse from downtown in five of his seven NBA seasons." Fox's new salary will ensure teams will think twice about trading for him. He is, after all, a high-level talent, but not one capable of spearheading a roster. In truth, San Antonio may have repeated the Chicago Bulls' error from when they paid Zach LaVine $215M over five years back in 2022. We saw how difficult it was for Chicago to move on from LaVine. Fox is a tertiary star on a contending roster. And now, he's being paid like one of the top talents in the NBA. The Spurs would have been wiser to cut their losses with Fox and build around Castle and Harper as their guard rotation. Still, the decision has been made, and Fox is now cemented as the lead guard for the next half a decade (once you include the upcoming season), giving Castle and Harper room to grow as two guards who can complement Fox's play style and add some grit or explosiveness to the rotation. San Antonio is a franchise that rarely puts a foot wrong. However, the decision to pay Fox may come back to haunt it as a costly misstep. In the modern NBA, you can't have three non-shooting guards in the same rotation. Yet, somehow, head coach Mitch Johnson must figure out how to make it work. Not the greatest task for a young coach heading into his first full season with the franchise.
Steelers Fans Get Strong Warning That The Offense Could Be In Big Trouble For 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense is set to be very exciting for the 2025 NFL season. Pundits remain divided on just how good or bad this unit will ultimately be, given the many changes and challenges it faces. While the addition of Aaron Rodgers brings star power, his age at 41 raises questions about durability. Meanwhile, DK Metcalf is entering uncharted territory, having never played with the Steelers, and the running back room features several new faces trying to find their footing. Many fans have been eager to see how the offense has looked during the early stages of training camp. There have been some promising moments, flashes of what could become a dynamic attack. However, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly has expressed concern about how much the offense has struggled to consistently perform while speaking on his podcast Kaboly + Mack. While some attribute these struggles to the defense being simply that good, Kaboly points to a different angle that deepens the worry surrounding the offense’s outlook. Kaboly’s perspective highlights underlying issues beyond what meets the eye, suggesting that the offense’s struggles might not be just temporary growing pains. His insight adds a layer of urgency for the Steelers to address these concerns quickly if they hope to maximize the potential of their new-look offense in 2025. With key players adjusting to new roles and schemes, how the offense evolves over the coming weeks will be critical for the team’s success. "Yesterday, it was just a clinic put on by that defense," Kaboly said. "Even the team periods and some of those runs, nothing was happening. You can think the offense will come around and that the defense just has some great players." Kaboly detailed how on Saturday it was another defensive clinic, which is an exciting thing for Steelers fans to hear, and many are confident this defense will be good. The bigger concern is what this offense can bring. If the offense can provide just above-average scoring, protect the football, and move the chains here and there, the defense will be able to carry them to many wins. However, the offense must be serviceable, and Kaboly is worried because stars on defense like TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Cam Heyward, and Joey Porter Jr. weren’t even on the field. "For the most part, during these team periods, Watt wasn’t playing, Heyward wasn’t out there, Highsmith wasn’t out there, Porter wasn’t out there," Kaboly said. "Still, it was just an absolutely dominant faction out there. On the bright side of it, the defense is ready to go." The Steelers’ defense has always been the backbone of this team, and with players like Watt and Heyward leading the charge, it is no surprise they continue to impress. But the reality is the offense has to step up if this team wants to take the next step. Kaboly’s concerns highlight just how much pressure will be on Rodgers and the new-look offense to find consistency and put points on the board. Steelers' Offense Going Through A Bit Of A Transitional Phase It is clear that the Steelers are in a bit of a transitional phase, with new faces and a veteran quarterback trying to mesh. Training camp will be crucial for figuring out what this offense really has and how they can support the defense. Fans are hopeful but cautious; there is still a lot to prove before the season officially kicks off. At the end of the day, the Steelers’ identity has always been built on tough defense, but modern football demands balance. If the offense can stay serviceable and avoid costly mistakes, the defense can carry the team a long way. The next few weeks will tell if the Steelers can find that balance and compete at a high level in 2025.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
