Freshman Haze: Baker's Dozen

Freshmen are notoriously inconsistent. Unlike upperclassmen, they have not figured everything out yet, but sometimes everything fits together and they help squads win when they aren't supposed to. Six of the following freshmen have helped their teams to pleasant winning streaks. Some did not start the season in their current role, but have found their place about five weeks into the year. We bounce around the country to examine freshmen who are contributing to winning programs. Let's begin where most things get started (including the first electronic digital computer): in Ames, Iowa.

Lindell Wigginton (G)
It's funny how we picture things. Wigginton was supposed to step in for Monte Morris and be the Cyclones' next point guard. He did not look particularly comfortable in that role to start the season, so coach Steve Prohm put the ball in Nick Weiler-Babb's hands. Wigginton blossomed nearly immediately as a scorer and he just won't stop. He has averaged 21.8 points over his last five games. The 6-foot-2 guard has converted 47.9 percent of his 3-pointers and made 2.3 long-range bombs per game. He did not even let the staunch defense of Northern Iowa slow him down, as he went for 20 points on Saturday in Iowa State's eighth straight win. If it weren't for Trae Young, Wigginton would be the favorite for Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Geo Baker (G)
The Scarlet Knights also figured to have their point guard in Corey Sanders, but he now has to share the ball with the 6-4 Baker for the good of the team. And the team has actually been pretty good. Baker is starting and has provided 12.5 points and a team-high 3.8 assists. He had his coming out party on Nov. 21 against Bryant with a season-high 29 points and seven 3-pointers. Baker has scored in double digits in his last six games and Rutgers has won its last four, including a New Jersey battle with Seton Hall on Saturday. Baker has only hit more than one 3-pointer in a game three times, but he does not shoot from downtown in a great volume.

Omari Spellman (F)
What must it be like to be a heavily recruited forward and end up at a university that is known for its legions of guards? Spellman had to wait a year to find out after he did not qualify academically last season. That edition of the Wildcats could have used him, but the 2017-18 team is happy to have the 6-9 forward. He is not a traditional power player despite weighing in at 245 pounds. Spellman has 3-point range and has hit 46.7 percent from deep. He is coming off his best game with 27 points and eight boards in the win over Temple. On the season, Spellman is averaging 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds for the undefeated Wildcats.

Kaleb Wesson (F)
Like Spellman, Wesson gives his team some interior muscle. The Buckeyes have some strong forwards in Keita Bates-Diop and Jae'Sean Tate., but the 280-pound Wesson gives the team an anchor. He had his best game against Wisconsin at the Kohl Center with 19 points and is averaging 12.5 points on the season. Wesson has not been held below eight points. The only thing limiting his production is tendency to foul. He has accrued at least four fouls in his last four games and fouled out after 18 minutes in the win over Appalachian State. The 6-10 forward has helped the Buckeyes win their last four games, including the opening pair of games in Big Ten play.

Eric Williams (G)
When I started playing fantasy college hoops, Duquesne was a great source of fantasy production with players such as Shawn James and Damian Saunders. The Dukes have not had statistical studs like those in a few years, but the 6-5 Williams may be the next player of fantasy prominence. The guard is tallying double-doubles with 15.4 points and 10.7 rebounds. As the schedule difficulty has lessened in December, Williams has helped the Dukes win their last five games with 15.0 points and 12.2 rebounds. He may not keep up this production in A10 play, but he won't fall off the map either.

Nick Sibande (G)
Sibande came to the RedHawks with the reputation as an athlete in search of a shot. It looks like he found his motion quickly as he has become the leading scorer for the other Miami, which has won four of its last five games. The 6-3 guard scored in single digits in three of his first four games, but has only been held below 10 points once in his last seven games. He equaled his season high of 21 points against Texas-Rio Grande on Sunday and is averaging a team-high 13.7 points.

Jordan Allen (G)
Not all freshmen are contributing to winning streaks, although the 6-4 Allen will certainly help the Broncos to future victories. The guard has been scoring throughout the season. He was held to single digits for the first time on Saturday in the overtime win against Wagner, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Allen opened the season with 21 points in the win over Hampton and has scored in the 20s in two other games. He is averaging 16.6 points and is converting 42.4 percent of his 3-pointers. The Delaware native will have to be at his best for the Broncos to have a chance to beat Penn State on Friday.