All season in college basketball it was Gonzaga, Baylor and all the others. They were preseason no. 1 and no. 2. They were the only undefeated teams to stand in university ties (until Baylor stumbled on February 27). And now these are the only teams left in the NCAA Tournament field.
You could point to a number of different reasons why these two are now fighting for a national championship on Monday night – the coaching, the schemes, the experience, maybe some lucky bracks – but Charles Barkley summed it up on Saturday. CBS.
“A lot of teams have Jims and Jims. And a lot of teams have Joes,” he said, referring to the quote about the importance of appreciating good players above all else. “Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two teams in the tournament with Jims and Joes.”
Barkley, as always, is right. Gonzaga and Baylor have advantages across the court. Monday night’s title game could contain eight NBA drafts in the 2021 cycle alone, and according to my score from Monday, there are five of them with a realistic first round upside down. That means 16.7% of the first round this year could consist of players in Monday’s game. It would be more blue-chip talent in the title race than the last time the Zags were in the championship in 2017, and just as much talent as the famous Wisconsin-Duke title race in 2015 that was responsible for producing five firsts. It does not even include future concepts, as the composition of both teams is likely to increase the number.
There will inevitably be a large audience for the game on Monday despite this talent rush – it’s the national stinking championship – but this game has reason for NBA fans and scouts for a reason. So here’s your root guide to following accordingly, with an estimate of where we projected each player in the draft as they declare in the spring.
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Beating the buzzer against UCLA in the Final Four to send his No. 1 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs to their second title ever in the game was a highlight for centuries. But for Suggs, the winner of the bench was not the game that best highlighted his prospects from that game. No, that game came late in the second half. With the game tied at 70, Suggs recovered for an incredible chase block at the edge, recovered the setback from a scramble and then at full speed gave a cent from distance one hand to a cutting Drew Timme who was on the money … and was.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “He’s electric, especially if you get him in transition. To give it to Timme – when I saw him raise it, I did not think it would be one of his biggest decisions he ever had. But he has a knack for fitting things into tight windows. ‘
Suggs’ competitive drive and moxie really impressed scouts all season. And while he’s not the leading scorer for this unbeaten Gonzaga team, he has pretty much acquitted himself as a bona fide prospect because of his demise, vision, shooting and – cliche as it sounds – ‘it’ factor. Teams are going to itch to make him their franchise point guard in the coming months.
“He just got this magical aura about him,” some said of Suggs.
A year ago at this point, Corey Kispert was barely on the NBA draft radar. But the 6-foot-7 senior has flashed all the skills and shooting you want from a specialist at the next level. He rated the 97th percentile as a spot-on shooter on the season and scored 44.5% from the 3-point series on the year. With a quick release and a reliable, repeatable move, there will be an NBA series for Kispert for a long time.
There is no one in Monday night’s title game whose NBA draft is rising faster than Davion Mitchell’s. He developed into Baylor’s most important player in the last month. And it’s not just because of his defense, though it’s clear: win Naismith Defender of the Year honors certainly do no harm. It is his transgression that was also nails. He has the electric eruption of a saturated Tesla and the ability to blow through defenders from the bounce and with skill to end the edge in special ways.
Against UCLA in the Final Four, Mitchell has 11 assistants and no turnover, becoming the first player in a Final Four since 1987 to score double figures in assists while committing no turnover.
“He’s a two-way player,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said on Saturday. “He really got going at the end of the half. That’s what makes him so good. Defensive player of the year. But on the attacking side, he can score and he can create for others.”
Jared Butler, who is the leading scorer in Baylor in the regular season and post-season, is a healthy, skilled combination who can do a little of everything. Excellent handle, good feeling, and o: he achieves a career high of 41.5% from the 3-point series in a Bears team that shoots the country in three points. Butler does not have the lottery potential that his teammate has from the backfield, but he still has good prospects and is strong in the first round. For winning teams in the back half of the first round, he could be an interesting second unit guard due to his experience and shooting ability.
If Gonzaga starts slowly or goes through cold periods, Joel Ayayi was a spark plug during the course of the season. He drained three-pointers if necessary and defended with his length. While his role is not as the best option, but rather as a shoot-when-open-field ranger, it should not remove the potential of his potential in the NBA; in fact, it should affect his ability to play the game off the ball. He is a talented 6-5 guard who has a few chops with the ball in his hands. He has improved steadily every season as a shooter and as a junior he has a best 39.4% career of three points.
‘We did not quite have the rhythm we normally had, and [Ayayi] did a great job performing and just making great plays, “a few said on Saturday about Gonzaga’s sluggish start.” You could see he felt good about his stroke, and he hunted a bit. . ‘
- Projection of CBS Sports concept series: 51-70
There’s a lot of intrigue surrounding Matthew Mayer, and it’s not just the charm of his hairstyle. First, a big reason is because he’s 6-9 and has a smooth hold to shoot over defenders. The second reason is because he hit 40% of his three-point shots this season. The third reason is because Mayer flashed some special stuff besides being a shooter. He reads defenses well and is a smart cutter, but he can also pick you up with the ball in his hands. He may be a long-term prospect – some of the potential has only come to light because Baylor is so loaded and his role is not as big as some of his star teammates – but his size and skill make him one to to look at. He is a possible choice of the NBA draft if he declares it out of season.
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
- Projection of the CBS Sports Draft Series: 51-70
During Gonzaga’s march to the national title race, Timme was the team’s most important and productive player. He’s a powerhouse in the arc leading their offensive two – point attack, who’s on track to be the best since Princeton in 1977. Timme has a fast footwork in the post and a cute style in his game that has been accent is emphasized. his incredible mustache and the celebration associated with it the look. But it was impressive how he managed to be this productive against big defensive greats. Timme scored for 23 points, five rebounds and three steals against USC and the potential no. 1-pick Evan Mobley was selected in the Elite Eight, followed by 25 points on Saturday against Bruins’ big man Cody Riley.
- Projection of CBS Sports concept series: 60-75
Over the past month in major venues, it has been Macio Teague – not Davion Mitchell or Jared Butler – who has had the most booming performances for Baylor. There was his 35-point performance against Texas Tech on February 7th. There was his 24-point outing against Kansas State the game after that. Then there were 22 points showcases against Hartford and Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament. A former UNC Asheville standout, Teague over the past few years, has blossomed as a prospect because of his steady shot, a high sense of play and the role-playing potential at the NBA level.