College Hoops Tip-Off: Memphis is Awesome, Fred Hoiberg Isn’t, and More

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C’mon Fred Hoiberg…

The first game of the Fred Hoiberg-Nebraska marriage didn’t go well. The Huskers were blown out by UC Riverside, giving us a notable upset on opening night. Nebraska was a 15.5-point favorite here and nearly lost by 20 (66-47) after shooting 29.1 percent from the field. Yes, it’s basically a brand new team compared to last year but still, the fans sold the place out and UC Riverside was ranked No. 249 by KenPom going into the game. UCR isn’t even verified on Twitter…

To recap, Hoiberg’s last two games as a head coach have resulted in him being replaced by Jim Boylen and becoming the laughingstock of the Big Ten. Go get ’em, Fred.

We want LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton but we don’t need them.

Respect to LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton for securing the bag overseas while not sacrificing their draft stock too much, but, man, these guys would be fun to watch in the NCAA. Fortunately for us, day zero proved there are plenty of players, teams, and storylines worth investment.

The Memphis Tigers are going to be fun as hell to watch.

This team was incredibly fun to watch. Seven-foot freshman and early front-runner for the number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft James Wiseman looked spectacular. He scored 28 points, making 11 of his 14 shots and 6 of 7 free throws. He notched 11 rebounds and three blocks all without turning the ball over once. The only criticism of his may come if he continues not attempting three-point shots. However, in an NBA where athleticism, spacing and running the floor are at a premium, especially in big men, James Wiseman will have the eyes of the nation on him this year. The Robin to Wiseman’s Batman, Precious Achiuwa, tallied 14 points and 8 rebounds. Assuming he proves he is at least capable of shooting a three-pointer confidently, his draft stock should do nothing but rise alongside Wiseman.

Duke’s win over Kansas is a preview of things to come.

Both teams combined for 44 turnovers, which, in the span of a 40-minute game is not great. The sheer athleticism and playmaking on display, though, was great. David McCormack and Udoka Azubuike held down the Jayhawks’ frontcourt and held their own against top big man prospect Vernon Carey Jr. Both teams shot above 30% from three. Duke’s Tre Jones posted a clean 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals while his Kansas counterpart Devon Dotson dropped 17 points on 50-plus percent shooting from the field. If you tuned into the first five minutes of this game you probably watched the whole thing. Even if you didn’t you’re in luck because it didn’t disappoint and is definitely a candidate for an April rematch.