This article is part of our College Hoops Barometer series.
With all the attention given to the Kentucky Wildcats, it's easy to forget about the other schools and conferences. The ACC, for example, may be the deepest and most competitive it has ever been. The conference currently boasts six ranked squads, including three undefeated teams in Duke, Virginia and newbie Louisville. By contrast, the Big 12 has five ranked teams, and the Big Ten has four. However, none of the ranked units in the Big 12 or Big Ten remain undefeated. The Miami Hurricanes have been a surprise thus far for the Atlantic Coast Conference, but perennial powerhouse Syracuse is not even ranked. Amazingly, the best may be yet to come, as the ACC could end up setting a record for the number of squads sent to the NCAA Tournament from a single conference.
As the holidays approach and conference play begins in earnest, let the College Hoops Barometer be your guide.
UPGRADE
Zach Auguste, F, Notre Dame - The return of star point guard Jerian Grant has brought the Irish back to prominence, and senior swingman Pat Connaughton does a little bit of everything for Notre Dame as well. However, the improvement in Auguste's game has played an integral role in the early season ascension of the Irish. As a sophomore last season, Auguste played little more than 16 minutes per game, averaging 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. However, increased minutes have led to increased production for the 6-goot-10 forward. Through 11 games, Auguste is averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 rebounds. He is shooting a blistering 65.3 percent from the field this season, which places him in the top 25 in the nation in field-goal percentage. Notre Dame is actually first in the country in field-goal percentage. The high-flying Irish are also among the top scoring teams in the nation, a bit of a surprise considering coach Mike Brey's offensive strategy used to be to burn clock. However, the emergence of Auguste and the return of Grant have led to a shift in philosophy, reaping early rewards in 2014.
Stefan Moody, G, Ole Miss – Moody has been red-hot over the last four games for the Rebels. During that span, the FAU transfer is averaging 21.3 points per game. In his last two games, Moody was lights-out from three-point range, hitting 10-of-21 three-pointers. His last outing, an 81-74 loss to Western Kentucky, may have been his best overall game, as he scored 25 points, snatched six rebounds and dished out five assists. The Rebels lost a lot of talent over the last year or two, with senior guard Jarvis Summers the only holdover. As a result, Moody does not expect to have much help, which should allow him to shoot freely and rack up the points, among other statistics.
Amida Brimah, C, Connecticut - Who says the center position is ancient history? Duke freshman sensation Jahlil Okafor posted a 20-20 game for the Blue Devils last weekend, and Brimah scored an outrageous 40 points against Coppin State on Sunday. The Huskies have struggled a bit without Shabazz Napier, and Ryan Boatright is battling an ankle injury. As a result, Brimah was needed to pick up the slack, and he responded by shooting a perfect 13-for-13 from the field against Coppin State. The 7-footer from Ghana was really in the zone, as he even hit 14-of-16 foul shots. His 12 rebounds were also a career high. Mostly known as a defensive specialist and shot-blocker extraordinaire last season, Brimah's game appears to be slowly evolving. While he remains raw, the promise is evident.
James Blackmon, G, Indiana – The Hoosiers are in the midst of a retooling job under coach Tom Crean, and Blackmon may be one of the players to push Indiana back to relevance. The freshman has shown a smooth shooting touch, hitting 49.6 percent of his shots from the field en route to 19.2 points per game. Blackmon has been deadly from beyond the arc as well, shooting an outstanding 45.9 percent from three-point land. Nearly half of Blackmon's field-goal attempts come from long distance. He's also an above-average rebounder at 6-4, averaging 5.1 bounds per game. He needs to put on some weight and work on creating his own shots. However, Blackmon has a pure shooting stroke; he compares favorably to former Hoosier Eric Gordon in size and shooting.
CHECK STATUS
Rico Gathers, F, Baylor - Gathers has patiently bided his time behind exceptional bigs like Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson, but now it's his turn to shine. The Bears are 8-1, and Gathers is nearly averaging a double-double. In fact, the junior forward has notched four double-doubles through nine games, punctuated by a 23-point, 13-rebound output against Texas Southern on Dec. 1. Another double-double came against a solid Illinois squad, while he managed the feat once again in Baylor's last game against conference-rival Texas A&M. The Bears are one of the best rebounding teams in the country, and Gathers is one of the main reasons why. Better shot selection is the only thing standing between Gathers and a starring role.
Myles Turner, F, Texas – Turner has had some ups and downs already this season for the Longhorns, including having to deal with bouts of poor shooting as well as lack of playing time. Turner is averaging just 20.3 minutes per game despite being one of the most hyped freshmen in the land. Likewise, he went through a recent rough stretch in which he shot a combined 4-for-19 over three games. There have been some highlights too, however, as he has feasted on inferior opponents. Turner shot 11-of-12 from the field against St. Francis (PA) on Nov. 25, compiling 25 points and 10 rebounds in the rout. His last game may have been the best of his brief collegiate career, as he tallied 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots against Lipscomb on Tuesday. While the upside is readily apparent, Turner will have his inconsistencies, and he will have to learn how to cope against stiffer competition. The 63-51 loss to top-ranked Kentucky should have been an eye-opener for Turner, who shot 1-for-5 from the floor and fouled out against the monstrously talented UK front line. Turner should be a star, but it may take a little bit of time.
Justin Jackson, G-F, North Carolina – Much like the rest of his UNC teammates, Jackson has been inconsistent this season. He is averaging 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, but has yet to find his long-distance stroke. His three-point shooting was supposed to be a strength, but that has not materialized. Jackson has hit just 4-of-22 three-pointers thus far as a freshman. Perhaps Jackson should focus on using his 6-8 frame inside the arc, where he is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenders. He can beat bigger, slower forwards off the dribble and get to the rack, and rise up and shoot over the top of smaller guards. His three-point shooting should come around, but shot selection remains an issue for the talented freshman.
Antoine Mason, G, Auburn – Coach Bruce Pearl brought some juice to a dormant Auburn program, along with a couple key transfers. Mason is one, a high-volume shooting guard who averaged 25.6 points per game for Niagara last season. However, Mason has played just two games thus far for the Tigers due to an ankle injury. It also remains to be seen if he can contribute in categories other than the scoring column. Will Mason be used to deferring some instead of taking all the shots? Will he buy into the team concept and acknowledge that he may not be the best player on the court at times? And will he be able to stay healthy and perform against stiffer competition? Stay tuned.
DOWNGRADE
Tyler Haws, G, BYU – The Wildcats seem to be known for dynamic scorers. Danny Ainge was the school's leading scorer until Jimmer Fredette, the sharpshooting phenom with seemingly limitless range. For whatever reason, Haws has gone much more under the radar, but barring injury should break Jimmer's school record for career points. "Barring injury" is the operative phrase, however, as Haws suffered a badly sprained ankle Saturday at Weber State and could be out until 2015 begins. Although the injury is not as bad as initially feared, it comes at a poor time for the Cougars, who play five games the next two weeks. Haws is second in the country in scoring, averaging 23.8 points per game. He's no one trick pony, either, averaging 4.5 boards and 2.4 dimes per contest. Haws will be virtually impossible to replace should he miss an extended period.
Alex Poythress, F, Kentucky – The Wildcats suffered a minor blow when it was determined that Poythress tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. It is minor because Poythress, in this writer's opinion, was more of a glue guy than a vital part of the Kentucky squad. Poythress came to the Wildcats with much fanfare but has not really lived up to the hype, making his hay as a rebounder and defender. While he may be an elite athlete, his development as a basketball player has been rather stunted. The junior averaged 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Still, Poythress brought an added element of toughness to the Wildcats that they may miss come tourney time.
Aaron Thomas, G, Florida State – The details are scarce, but regardless of the reason, Thomas was ruled ineligible for the rest of the 2014-15 campaign. The leading scorer for the Seminoles, Thomas averaged 14.8 points per game. The junior also added 3.5 boards, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. The loss is a huge blow to an already struggling FSU squad, which has limped to a 4-5 start. In the absence of Thomas, look for Montay Brandon to pick up the slack. A junior, Brandon is the second-leading scorer for the Noles, shooting a stellar 59 percent from the field.
Jershon Cobb, G, Northwestern – Cobb had a rough junior season, and his senior year has been equally frustrating. Last year, Cobb's season ended prematurely due to a foot injury. Subsequently, he underwent knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Still, when he was on the court, Cobb averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per tilt. He was deemed healthy to start this season, but struggled mightily from the field. In the first eight games of the year, Cobb averaged just 5.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He simply could not find his rhythm shooting the ball, hitting just 28.9 percent of his shots from the floor. Finally, he missed Saturday's clash with Mississippi Valley State with yet another foot injury. It is unclear at this time whether the injury is related to last season's ailment. It does not appear Cobb can stay healthy enough to make a consistent impact.
