College Basketball Update and Check-in

We’re over halfway through the NCAA basketball season.  Now’s the time to see which teams and players are having impactful seasons, in addition to a small check-in on our local DMV squads.

Who have been the best teams so far?

Arizona sits at the top of the rankings, narrowly holding the number one spot with an undefeated record. Nebraska leads behind, also unbeaten, with huge wins over ranked opponents. Purdue’s offense has looked very good with the assist leader, Braeden Smith, leading the offense. The most recent top 10 involves teams Kansas, UConn, Houston, and Tennessee. Teams like North Carolina and Duke rely on their tough defense and leadership to win games. While teams like Baylor and Kentucky have high-powered offenses, overall, the latest top 10 shows a competitive season with a lot of teams able to make serious runs. 

What about the top players so far?

Braden Smith – Purdue 

One of the best point guards in the NCAA is averaging strong scoring stats and currently leads in assists.

Yaxel Lendeborg – Michigan

Yaxel Lendeborg has been a key contributor and standout player for the Wolverines and is regarded as one of the best players in the country. Although his stats slightly decreased from last year, he is still an efficient scorer and leader, averaging14.2 ppg (points per game), 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks.

AJ Dybantsa – BYU

Living up to his high school hype, Dybantsa is averaging 24.9 ppg, 6.7 rebounds, and 4 assists on 53.3 field goal pct, which is seen as insane stats for a freshman. 

Darryn Peterson – Kansas

Peterson was the number 1-ranked player in the high school class of 2024. He is a key factor, averaging 19.5 ppg, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists this season.

Cameron Boozer – Duke

Boozer has remained one of the top prospects. He starts for Duke at the power forward position and averages 22.6 ppg, 10 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Almost a double-double!

How have our local teams been doing?

The University of Maryland – UMD men’s basketball team is off to a challenging start with a record of 11-16. They have faced a tough schedule, but still manage to average an impressive 39 rebounds a game, which keeps them afloat when facing opponents.  

The University of Virginia- UVA has an impressive 25-3 record, defense is their power, only allowing 56 ppg. Their passing is also a key contributor, averaging 16 assists per game.

VT –  Virginia Tech has had a solid season with an 18-10 record. They have developed a strong perimeter, having an average of 38% three pointers made, which has contributed to their wins.

UMD Women’s Basketball – Maryland’s women’s basketball team has had a strong overall record, standing at 22-6. They have also been ranked in the AP top 25 and have a strong presence in the Big 10.

“UMD women’s basketball has been really exciting to watch this season. They play with a lot of energy and move the ball around well.” – Ella, a UMD student, shared with The Blake Beat, who goes to a lot of the local games.