ESPN Men's Basketball

DAYTON, Ohio -- Quick reaction to No. 2 Ohio State's 95-70 blowout of No. 15 Iona:

Overview: Iona entered the tournament as an interesting potential upset candidate, a very efficient, up-tempo offensive group with an experienced scoring star in Arizona transfer Lamont "MoMo" Jones. If everything went well, maybe Iona would get hot from deep, maybe make the game a track meet, and maybe (just maybe!) catch the Buckeyes off guard.

Not so much. Instead, Aaron Craft and the same brutal Buckeyes defense that shut down some of nation's best in the final weeks of the Big Ten season did the same against the Gaels, opening up a 27-8 lead in the first 11 minutes of the game. To Iona's credit, the Gaels didn't go all the way away -- they closed the lead to just six in the final minutes of the first half, and had the margin down to just 10 at halftime. But Ohio State only racheted up the pressure in the second half, eventually extending its lead into unreachable territory and finishing with a 25-point win in its NCAA tournament opener.

Turning point: After Iona caught up with the Buckeyes in the final minutes of the first half, it looked as if the Gaels had recovered from their initial surprise at OSU's pressure and might be able to keep the pace the rest of the way. But Ohio State ripped off a 9-0 run to open the second half, building its lead back out to 52-33, and the game was never close again.

Key player: Deshaun Thomas was his typically brilliant offensive self, scoring 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. But the real difference-maker -- and what has given Ohio State its edge in recent weeks -- is the supporting scoring of Sam Thompson, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds and a rousing standing ovation from the collected Ohio State fans. Sometimes the secondary scoring comes from Craft, sometimes it comes from Thompson, but as long it is there, Ohio State has an excellent chance to advance deep into the field.

Key stat: Iona averaged 37.3 percent from 3 (and 45.7 percent inside the arc) this season, when they were one of the 20 most efficient offenses in the country. On Friday, Ohio State held the Gaels to just 6-of-28 from beyond the arc.

What's next: Ohio State (27-7) advances and will play the winner of No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Iowa State; Iona ends its season with a second consecutive tournament appearance and a 20-14 record.

I know the feeling. You’re nervous. You know the big names -- Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Trey Burke -- but who’s this Nate kid I keep hearing about? Let me help you. Here are 10 mid-major stars who could really mess up your bracket in the coming days.

Mike Muscala (Bucknell) -- The Muscala Monster is a dangerous creature. The Bison are capable of upsetting Butler in the second round Thursday in Lexington because they’re led by one of America’s most underrated stars. He scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a two-point loss to Missouri in January. Muscala (19.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG) dropped 18 points in a win against NCAA tourney participant La Salle in December. He’s finished with 25 points or more in 10 games. He also has the strength of 10 men. Not really, but he’s legit and more than prepared to help Bucknell ruin brackets worldwide.

Nate Wolters (South Dakota State) -- He plays with a chip on his shoulder. Few Division I schools sought his services when he was a high school standout in St. Cloud, Minn. Every season since, however, Wolters has proven he was clearly overlooked. He led the Jackrabbits to their second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance via a silky game that’s caught the attention of NBA scouts. He’s one of the nation’s most explosive offensive performers. Wolters (22.7 PPG, 39 percent from the 3-point line) recorded a Division I-high 53 points in a Feb. 7 win against IPFW. He’ll make Thursday’s matchup against Michigan in Auburn Hills interesting.

Will Cherry (Montana) -- Damian Lillard is arguably the top player in the NBA’s rookie class. When he was a Big Sky star at Weber State, Cherry was his top adversary. The senior is known for his defensive prowess (1.9 SPG), but he’s a talented offensive player, too. Cherry is averaging 13.9 PPG for a Montana team that will face Syracuse in San Jose on Friday. The Grizzlies don’t have top scorer Mathias Ward, who is out for the season with a foot injury. But Cherry is a proven leader. He’s tough, too. He missed a few games in early March after aggravating a foot injury that cost him the first few months of the season. But he hasn’t shown any signs of regression since his return.

Siyani Chambers (Harvard) -- The West Region is probably the easiest region. With Gonzaga as the 1-seed, it just seems more wide open than the other three. So expect the unexpected. Harvard could spur some madness in its second-round matchup against New Mexico in Salt Lake City on Thursday. The Lobos are the better team. But the Crimson have overcome adversity to reach this point. Stars Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry left the team prior to the season because of an academic scandal. Chambers (12.9 PPG, 5.8 APG, 44 percent from the 3-point line), just a freshman, helped Tommy Amaker’s squad recover from those losses and earn another automatic berth with its second straight outright Ivy title.

Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary’s) -- The senior was a member of the Australian national team in the London Olympics. He’s struggled in his past two games, but Dellavedova will be ready for the NCAA tourney. The Gaels will face Middle Tennessee in Dayton in the First Four on Tuesday night. If they get past the Blue Raiders, they’ll see Memphis in the next round. Dellavedova (15.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, 38 percent from the 3-point line) is not just recognized as a mid-major star. He’s one of the best point guards in America, regardless of level. He’s talented and experienced. And he might help the Gaels nullify your bracket.

Jamal Olasewere (LIU Brooklyn) -- I don’t think we’ll see the first 16-over-1 upset. But if it is to happen, I pick the Blackbirds to pull off the feat. Why? Because Olasewere (18.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG) is a tough matchup for any team in the country. The 6-foot-7 forward is active inside, and he’s efficient in transition. The Blackbirds must get through James Madison in the First Four in Dayton on Wednesday. If they do, they’ll see Indiana on Friday in Dayton. If something crazy happens, Olasewere will certainly be involved.

Lamont “Momo” Jones (Iona) -- Iona is second in America with an average of 80.7 PPG. Jones, who started his career at Arizona, is the catalyst for the Gaels’ offense. He’s averaging 23.0 PPG, third in the nation. He’s recorded 30 points or more in six different games. He’s certainly a potent performer who guides a Gaels squad that can score in bunches. Iona, however, is facing one of the hottest teams in America right now. Ohio State has won eight games in a row, a streak that the Buckeyes capped with a Big Ten tournament title in Chicago on Sunday. But the Gaels play fast (17th in adjusted tempo per Ken Pomeroy). And their defense is porous. Still, Iona can overwhelm teams with its high-powered offense. That’s what makes its second-round matchup against Ohio State in Dayton on Friday so intriguing.

Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso) -- The 6-7 forward from Australia cracked ESPN's "SportsCenter" recently when his buzzer-beating 3-pointer knocked UW-Green Bay out of the Horizon League tournament. He’s one of the top mid-major players in the country. Broekhoff is averaging 15.9 PPG and 7.3 RPG for a Crusaders squad that will face Michigan State on Thursday in Auburn Hills. The atmosphere will favor the Spartans, but Valpo will be tough. The Crusaders are a versatile team with an offense that’s ranked 44th in adjusted offensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy. And Broekhoff is the key to that success.

Doug McDermott (Creighton) -- The Bluejays might be the most dangerous 7-seed in the field. They certainly hit a few bumps during Missouri Valley Conference play. Overall, however, they’ve been one of the top mid-major programs in the country. They have wins against Wisconsin, Arizona State, Akron and Cal. They lead the nation with a 50.8 percent clip from the field. Their defense is suspect (78th in adjusted defensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy). But McDermott, their leader, is a legit star. He’s averaging 23.1 PPG and 7.5 RPG. He could really go off in the Big Dance. First, he has to lead his team through a tough opening-round matchup against Cincinnati in Philly on Friday. Creighton is definitely a sleeper in the Midwest Region.

Ian Clark (Belmont) -- On paper, there’s a lot to like about Belmont. The Bruins are a strong squad that’s faced some of the best teams in the country in nonconference matchups. Belmont can beat Arizona in the second round Thursday in Salt Lake City. And a Sweet 16 run isn’t a crazy concept for this veteran squad. Clark (18.1 PPG, 46.3 percent from beyond the arc) is just one of the weapons that the Wildcats will have to neutralize when the two teams meet. He’s a stud who could really disrupt brackets throughout the country.

Player of the Month - Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga
(November: Mason Plumlee; December: Doug McDermott)

Olynyk’s rise from sub to redshirt to star is arguably the most surprising story of the season. January marked the peak of his emergence. Olynyk averaged 21.1 PPG and 7.5 RPG in just 27 minutes per game. His 31.4 points per 40 minutes ranked third in the nation during January. His month included back-to-back 30-point efforts, as well as a game in which he was perfect from the foul line and from the field.

Defensive Player of the Month – Nerlens Noel, Kentucky
(November: Jeff Withey; December: Nerlens Noel)

Defense alone is putting Noel into the conversation to be the nation’s top freshman. He averaged 6.4 blocks per game in January. No one else even averaged four. It’s the highest block average in January since Fairfield’s Deng Gai averaged 6.9 in 2005. Of course, he wasn’t doing it in the SEC like Noel, who set Kentucky’s single-game record with 12. Look at it this way: Noel had three times as many blocks (51) as missed shots (17) during the month.


Freshman of the Month – Jahii Carson, Arizona State
(November: Marcus Smart; December: Anthony Bennett)

Arizona State was picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12, but now rests squarely on the tournament bubble. Carson’s the main reason, and his January shows why. He averaged 17.5 PPG (third among D-I freshmen) and 4.6 APG (tied for ninth among freshmen) during the month. On the season, he’s on pace to be the first major conference freshman since Shaheen Halloway in 1996-97 to average 17 PPG and 5 APG.

Scorer of the Month – Erick Green, Virginia Tech
(November: C.J. McCollum; December: Doug McDermott)

Green averaged 27.4 PPG in January, over two points more than any other player. It’s the highest January scoring average by an ACC player since J.J. Redick averaged 31.0 PPG in 2006.

Virginia Tech went 2-5 in the month, in part because no other scorer emerged. Green accounted for over 40 percent of the Hokies’ points.

Free Throw Shooter of the Month – Lamont Jones, Iona
(November: Jordan Adams; December: Tyler Haws)

Jones hit more free throws than anyone else, and almost shot 90 percent from the line. He went 67-for-75 (89.3 percent) during the month, as he continues to make opponents pay for fouling him. That went a long way toward his 22.1 PPG during the month, which ranked seventh in the nation.

3-Point Shooter of the Month – Ian Clark, Belmont
(November: Ryan Sypkens; December: Jordan Price)

Clark hit 60 percent of his 3s during January, finishing the month 30-for-50. That led to a 78.0 effective field goal percentage, which led the nation. That’s the best shooting January since Boise State’s Tyler Tiedeman had a 79.9 eFG pct in 2008.

Rebounder of the Month – Richard Howell, NC State
(November: Jamelle Hagins; December: Andre Roberson)

Howell led the nation with 13.4 RPG during January. Of course, that includes his 18-rebound effort in the Wolfpack’s upset of No. 1 Duke. Howell had at least 11 rebounds in every game during the month and he has two of the top three rebounding games in the ACC this season.


Distributor of the Month – D.J. Cooper, Ohio
(November: Michael Carter-Williams; December: Trey Burke)

Sacred Heart’s Phil Gaetano led the nation in assists in January (9.6 APG), but no one had more assists per 40 minutes than Cooper (11.7). He either scored or assisted on 48 percent of the Bobcats’ field goals during the month. Ohio went 7-0 in January, and almost no one is as important to his own team.

Player of the Night: Isaiah Canaan
Trailing at the half and down 11 points with 17 minutes to go, Murray State’s undefeated season was in serious jeopardy. That’s when Canaan took over, scoring 24 points in the final 16:30. During that same stretch, Southeast Missouri State scored just 27 points. Canaan finished with 32 points as the Racers won, 81-73. It was Murray State’s fourth win after trailing at halftime.

Scoring Star Part I: Lamont Jones
Iona cruised to a 105-86 win over Canisius behind a career-high 43 points from Jones. The Arizona transfer went 16-for-23 from the field, including 7-for-12 from 3-point range. His 43 points set a Hynes Center record that had held up since 1984. It’s also tied for the second-highest scoring game in school history, and the most points since Sean Green’s 43 in 1991.

Scoring Star Part II: Damian Lillard
The nation’s leading scorer had one of his best games of the season, scoring 40 points in a 92-79 win over Portland State. The win moved Weber State to 9-1 in the Big Sky Conference. It was Lillard’s second 40-point performance of the season, the only player who can make that claim. Last season, only Jimmer Fredette (four) and Marshon Brooks (two) had multiple 40-point games. Lillard is on track to be the first player to average 25 points, five rebounds and three assists per game since Lester Hudson in 2008-09.

Scoring Duo: Kevin Murphy and Jud Dillard
Murphy (33) and Dillard (29) combined for 62 points in Tennessee Tech’s 94-88 win over Austin Peay. Both players are averaging more than 18 points per game. The only other team with multiple players averaging 18 points per game is Central Connecticut, which actually has three. Murphy and Dillard average a combined 39.8 points per game, which makes them the second-highest scoring duo in the nation behind Weber State’s Lillard and Scott Bamforth (40.7).

Strange Line of the Night: Chris Cooper
In Old Dominion’s 80-71 win over James Madison, Cooper grabbed 22 rebounds – matching the second-most rebounds in a game this season. The last ODU player with more rebounds in a game was Clifton Jones in 2001. Now for the strange part. Cooper went 1-for-7 from the field. The last time a player grabbed 20 rebounds and shot less than 15 percent? Marshall’s Tyler Wilkerson in 2009.

A scan of the college basketball box scores each night guarantees all kinds of statistical oddities and standout performances. Here are some we found from Thursday.

Iona 105, Canisius 86 and Weber State 92, Portland State 79
Iona’s Lamont Jones poured in 43 points and Weber State’s Damian Lillard scored 40 in the their teams’ victories. Lillard became the first player this season to record two 40+ point games, and Thursday marked the first time this season two players eclipsed the 40-point plateau on the same day.

Western Carolina 82, Chattanooga 76
Western Carolina’s Keaton Cole attempted 19 3-pointers in the win, tying him with Iona’s Sean Armand for the most in a regulation game this season. Cole is the only player to have three games with at least 15 3-pointers attempted; he scored 18 points in all three games. Maryland’s Terrell Stoglin attempted 20 3-pointers in the Terrapins’ 90-86 double-overtime loss to Miami (FL) on Wednesday.

Pacific 60, UC Riverside 52
Pacific’s Ross Rivera made 15 free throws in 21 minutes off the bench, the most made free throws by a substitute this season.

Trillion of the Night: Eric Strangis of Southern Cal played 10 minutes without accumulating a stat in the Trojans’ 60-53 loss at Washington State.

For full coverage of the Kansas-Missouri matchup, check out Weekend Watch.

Saturday

South Florida at Georgetown (ESPNU, 11 a.m. ET): OK, let’s see if South Florida is for real in the Big East. The Bulls are 6-3 and tied with Georgetown in the loss column. USF has wins at Villanova and DePaul, but that shouldn’t compare to Georgetown this season. The Hoyas have their mojo back. Georgetown can’t be ruled out to catch Syracuse with a game against the Orange next week.

Marquette at Notre Dame (1 ET): The Golden Eagles have to be applauded for playing well despite not having Chris Otule and Davante Gardner in the post. Gardner isn’t expected to be ready for this game. The Irish have been golden at home so far, save a game against UConn. The Eagles need this one in their quest to stay with Syracuse.

Vanderbilt at Florida (1 ET): The Commodores have a rough week with games at Arkansas and Florida. They’re already down one. If Vandy is going to be taken seriously as a real contender with Kentucky and Florida, it has to pull off an upset.

Virginia at Florida State (ESPN3, 1 ET): The Cavs and Seminoles are the two “other” choices to win the ACC. If either has visions of knocking off UNC or Duke from the top spot, it's got to win this game. FSU is on more of a roll. Beat back the Cavs in what should be a grinder and the Seminoles will continue to be in the chase.

Xavier at Memphis (1 ET): This had the look of a game between two teams that were the favorites in the A-10 and C-USA at the start of the season. Since then, both have taken a few shots. Neither is a lock for the NCAAs and both could use some momentum to pique the selection committee’s interest. Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons against Will Barton and Joe Jackson will headline this game.

Ohio State at Wisconsin (ESPN, 2 ET): This has become one of the most anticipated games of the Big Ten season. The Badgers don’t have the inside presence to deal with Jared Sullinger. But Jordan Taylor can certainly match up with Aaron Craft. The Badgers will have to do something special inside to win this game.

North Carolina at Maryland (ESPN, 4 ET): The Tar Heels are simply better, more talented and have the depth to dismantle the Terps. That’s what should happen. But Maryland has showed some fight lately. The Terps will have to play their best game of the season to pull off this upset.

UNLV at Wyoming (4 ET): The Runnin’ Rebels had to struggle in overtime to get past Boise State and Air Force in their last two road games. Wyoming is a better defensive team than Boise or Air Force. This will test the Runnin’ Rebels yet again. New Mexico and San Diego State were both able to get out of Laramie with a win. Will UNLV?

Old Dominion at George Mason (ESPNU, 5 ET): I was leading the chorus that George Mason should have received a television game in BracketBusters. And then the Patriots lost to Delaware. There is a four-way tie for first in the CAA between ODU, Mason, Drexel and VCU. Separation begins with this game.

Iona at Manhattan (ESPN3, 7 ET): Momo Jones went for 43 against Canisius on Thursday night. Scott Machado had 14 assists. But Manhattan is in step with the Gaels, tied atop the MAAC at 10-2. The winner will be tied with Loyola in the loss column. This game could determine all-important seeding in the MAAC tourney.

Oregon at Colorado (9 ET): The Buffaloes smacked Oregon State on Thursday by 22 at home, where they’ve been a force in their first year in the Pac-12. Oregon, meanwhile, had to come back to beat Utah. The Ducks need a split to stay in the chase for a top-three finish. Coach Tad Boyle has done a tremendous job in Boulder after losing his two best players from last season.

Sunday

Michigan at Michigan State (1 ET): Draymond Green (left knee sprain) may be a game-time decision. The Spartans do have depth to handle his possible absence. But it’s not preferred against a Michigan team that is confident going into East Lansing after knocking off the Spartans in a last-possession game in Ann Arbor. The winner here stays in the chase in the Big Ten. The loser might have to think about the second-place race if Ohio State wins at Wisconsin.

1. A Big 12 source with direct knowledge of the expansion board said that the league continues to be told that West Virginia will be in the league in 2012-13, but doesn’t have official word yet. The football schedule isn’t done yet, but the plans are for West Virginia to be in the league, instead of schools searching for a non-conference replacement. Regardless, the Big 12 needs a decision sooner than later on West Virginia’s status. The Big 12 has two schedules working right now, one with West Virginia and one without — and it will be a scheduling nightmare if the Mountaineers are legally blocked from joining the conference.

2. Three players had a tremendous night Thursday on three teams that you might not want in your region on your bracket. Momo Jones scored 43 for Iona in a victory over Canisius. Damian Lillard put up 40 in a win for Weber State over Portland State. Isaiah Canaan scored 32 (24 in the second half) for Murray State in a win over Southeast Missouri State. Lillard and Canaan have been consistently good all season. Iona coach Tim Cluess said last week he was looking for consistency from Jones. He might have found it Thursday.

3. John Shurna scored 28 points for Northwestern in a win over Nebraska. But unless the Wildcats can get on a monster run at 3-6 in the Big Ten or win the conference tournament, Shurna will be yet another Northwestern player who had a stellar career that didn’t include an NCAA tournament berth. There have been a number of these players in the history of the program, all likely thinking they were going to be the one to lead the Wildcats to that first-ever NCAA trip.

A little advice for Iona’s upcoming opponents: Don’t leave forward Randy Dezouvre open in late-game situations. Ever.

The senior sealed Iona’s dramatic 80-78 overtime win at Denver on Wednesday night by drilling a 19-footer with 1.6 seconds remaining in the extra period of a battle between two of the nation’s top mid-majors.

Scott Machado drove to the bucket, Denver’s Chase Hallam followed him and teammate Chris Udofia went to help. Machado found Dezouvre open near the top of the key, where the Montreal native hit the game-winner.

Coaches and players weren’t surprised. Dezouvre has been a clutch player in Iona’s practices.

The day before the Denver game, Machado’s practice squad lost an intrasquad scrimmage after Dezouvre hit the winner for the opposing team. And that wasn’t the first time.

“He’s hit that shot four times, at least, to win the game in practice,” Machado told ESPN.com. “He’s consistently doing that.”

Dezouvre said he had a flashback after he hit the game-winner Wednesday. But it wasn’t tied to a clutch shot he’d hit in practice.

In 2009, his Monroe College (N.Y.) squad was down by one in overtime with eight seconds to play against junior college power Southern Idaho. Dezouvre found space in the corner and hit the game-winning 3-pointer.

“One of the guards drove and I was open for the 3,” Dezouvre said about the 2009 matchup in Las Vegas. “It was real similar [to Wednesday night].”

Dezouvre is averaging just 5.0 points per game off the bench. But his clutch performance points to Iona’s surprising depth.

“MoMo” Jones, Michael Glover and Machado comprise the most talented trio in the mid-major ranks. But they get help from a solid bench, coach Tim Cluess said.

“That’s what makes us good, we do have more depth,” he said.

Cluess said he was disappointed by his team’s energy level Wednesday. The Gaels were down by 13 in the second half. They committed 19 turnovers and recorded 11 assists. They entered Wednesday’s game leading the nation in assists with more than 21 per game.

But Cluess also said he was proud of the way his team fought on the road, a point buttressed by its willingness to fight off a second-half deficit and finish strong in overtime.

And now he knows what to do whenever the game is on the line.

“We’ll just throw [Dezouvre] the ball from anywhere,” Cluess joked.

Or maybe, he wasn’t joking.

NEW YORK -- Arizona coach Sean Miller walked out for an interview during the first game Thursday night and heard a few fans yell down to him.

He said that on the West Coast he can step outside his locker room, in clear view of everyone in the stands, and not be pestered or heckled. Well, nothing about Madison Square Garden screams West Coast.

He knew then he had returned to the East Coast, and he loved it.

“I remember that feeling,’’ Miller said. “I love coming back here.’’

The Pittsburgh native and former Pitt player made a name for himself grinding his way through the Northeast. He took over at Xavier and continued to make the Musketeers a national program. And then he did something out of character -- he got out of his comfort zone and went West.

He could have come back East last spring when the Maryland job opened. He talked to Terrapins athletic director Kevin Anderson and knew shortly thereafter that his heart was now in Tucson.

It’s a good thing because his run of success in the desert is just beginning.

Arizona went to the Elite Eight last March and then lost the No. 2 pick in the draft in Derrick Williams and saw Lamont Jones transfer to Iona to be closer to home.

It didn’t matter. Four games into this season, the 4-0 Wildcats have the look of a team that will be a good watch throughout the season, a legit contender for a Pac-12 title and a threat to go deep into March.

No need to even bring up the nation's top recruiting class for 2012, an almost absurd collection of talent on its way to Tucson. Who needs to spin forward? This squad has plenty to show off this season.

On Thursday night at MSG, the Wildcats overcame an 8-point second-half deficit and pulled away late on host St. John’s, ending the game on a 23-6 run en route to a 81-72 victory. On Friday night (7 ET, ESPN), the Wildcats will face off with Mississippi State in the final of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.

Zona had an inspiring evening from New York native Kevin Parrom, back in his hometown after going through a horrific few months. He lost his grandmother and then his mother tragically to cancer and when he returned home in late September to visit his ailing mother, he was shot in the leg and hand by a gunman who broke into his father's home.

Against the Red Storm, Parrom connected on a pair of 3s and was no doubt an inspiration to the Wildcats and to the sizable number of fans in the Garden crowd cheering for him and the Cats.

“He’s finding his way back,’’ Miller said. “He’s a veteran player and he knows how to play and how we have to play this season. He’s so versatile. We don’t have a 6-10 guy, but Kevin (6-foot-6) can rebound, steal the ball and push it in transition. He gives us the dynamics to help us be more versatile.’’

The Wildcats are young in a number of spots and had a hard time keeping St. John’s Nurideen Lindsey away from the basket, especially off the dribble. But Arizona had plenty of options on the offensive end, making 14 3s, including three from Nick Johnson and three from Kyle Fogg. The Cats got production from nine players, with five in double figures.

“We’re like a hockey team right now, subbing in and out,’’ Miller said. “In three or four weeks, we’ll have more solid roles. This was only our second game with Kevin back. So we have to figure out how to bring him in.’’

Miller wasn’t ready to anoint this team as something other than what it is. The Wildcats are clearly a work in progress. But there is such a good vibe with this group. They have terrific bounce from players like Angelo Chol, and have oodles of potential if Josiah Turner settles into his role as a change-of-speed point guard with Jordin Mayes able to knock down key shots, too. Solomon Hill and Jesse Perry had their moments against the Johnnies.

The Wildcats won a game that will prove to be a significant one come March. They came East and showed that Miller has moved on and established his identity in Tucson.

Arizona was in turmoil four years ago with Lute Olson’s illness, two consecutive seasons of interim coaches and the potential for the roster to be gutted. But the implosion of USC’s recruiting class was a benefit for Arizona. Miller has recruited at an astronomical level since, beating out national power after national power across the country.

While rival UCLA plunges into turmoil, the Wildcats are rising up and proving that Arizona is nothing less than an elite program. There was reason to doubt the team's standing in the wake of Lute Olson's departure, but then the school went out and hired the right person at the right time.

Sean Miller is happy to be back on the East Coast this week. But he calls the West home now.

And there are thousands of Wildcat faithful who sure are thankful for that.

Josiah Turner, Arizona's top freshman, was removed from the starting lineup after showing up late to a shoot-around. He played 21 minutes without scoring a point and committed three turnovers.

In his place, sophomore Jordin Mayes had the best game of his young career, stepping out of the shadows to score 19 points and help the Wildcats hold off Duquesne on Wednesday. He hit four momentum-shifting 3-pointers and gave coach Sean Miller some savvy at the point guard position. After Turner was declared the starter, it is Mayes who is leading the team in scoring after two games, averaging 13.5 points.

"I had a lot of confidence," Mayes told reporters. Coach stays in my ear, hyping me up and telling me to stay confident. I'm going to play my game the way he wants me to play and help the team the best way possible."

The emergence of Mayes is an important development for the Wildcats, as they search for options in the post-Derrick Williams era. If Turner indeed returns to the starting lineup and lives up to expectations, Mayes provides them with dependable depth at guard. There is also the real possibility that Mayes holds onto the starting job.

That would be quite an achievement after it was discovered after Arizona's run to the Elite Eight that Mayes had a stress fracture in his foot. He was left in a walking boot and tried to avoid surgery, but then ended up needing it after resuming workouts and actually breaking the foot in July.

While the heralded Turner was the trumpeted as the heir to the point guard job vacated by Lamont Jones, there are questions as to whether he can take on that responsibility immediately. His high school career in Sacramento ended with his dismissal from the team. He turned down an invitation to try out for USA Basketball's Under-19 world championship team.

Meanwhile, Mayes quietly bulked up to 196 pounds and waited for his chance after Turner started two exhibitions and the season opener.

"It starts in practice," Mayes told the Arizona Daily Star. "Me and Josiah are going to compete regardless of who's starting. He came in with a big name, but there are a lot of great players in college basketball. He's going to get better, and I'm just trying to help him the best way I can."

1. Amid speculation of Missouri possibly leaving for the SEC, Kansas coach Bill Self reiterated that he sees no need to continue the Missouri-Kansas rivalry if the two teams aren’t in the same league. “I don’t feel any obligation to play Missouri,’’ said Self at Thursday’s Big 12 media day in Kansas City. “The Missouri fans want us to play, but I’m not sure Kansas fans care. If they’re not in our league then we should do what’s best for us. If it’s to play them in the Sprint Center, then so be it. But I’m not sure that will be the case.’’

2. Iona and Fairfield should have one of the best conference title races in the country now that Lamont Jones has been granted a waiver to play this season without sitting out after transferring from Arizona. The Gaels have quite a trio with Jones, Michael Glover and Scott Machado to go against Fairfield’s Derek Needham and Rakim Sanders. Don’t be shocked to see the winner of the MAAC as a team capable of pulling an upset in the NCAA tournament.

3. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said Thursday that the Tigers have sold 18,000 season tickets. He said he has to keep 700 tickets available for opposing teams and a few others that the department can sell on gameday. This figure speaks volumes about to the interest in college basketball in Memphis, where coach Josh Pastner says there's as much pressure to win as any top-10 gig. Johnson can’t get a return call from the Big East so clearly the Tigers aren’t on the league's wish list. But the Tigers’ fans clearly are showing their commitment, as they always have. Memphis is the pick to win Conference USA and was ranked No. 9 in the country in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll released Thursday.

The early departures of Derrick Williams and Lamont Jones from Arizona leave the Wildcats with questions about whether they can repeat as Pac-12 champions.

Just don't question the work ethic of Kyle Fogg, the team's returning leading scorer. As of last week, he had attempted nearly 40,000 shots in the offseason.

While Washington's Abdul Gaddy recently declared his intention coming off knee surgery to make 18,000 shots before the start of the season, Arizona team managers have already recorded Fogg making 26,414 of his team-high 39,132 attempts.

"We set a high number and I was able to get there just by working hard every day," Fogg said in a statement. "We had a great run in March last year and I want to do whatever I can to help us get back there again this season."

Also, the Arizona Daily Star reported Fogg has put on 15 pounds of muscle.

One of five seniors on the roster, Fogg's offseason plans should give coach Sean Miller cause for celebration as he searches for new leadership on a team that appeared to have lost its heart and soul.

A top defender and the team's leader in assists last season, Fogg is now making the transition into the post-Williams era a little easier.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, he told Jim Rome that he considered transferring after a coaching change that brought Miller on board, but he is glad he is now in a position to flourish.

Fogg also said he had no idea the Wildcats would reach the Elite Eight last season ("to be honest, not at all," he said), and that he thought of transferring during the coaching transition but that things have been great under Miller.

"It was kind of unstable," Fogg said. "Going in after my freshman year we didn't know who are coaches were going to be but I think Miller is a great coach, just [in] the things that he’s done. I believe we have the No. 1 recruiting class for next year and we have a bunch of great freshman now and I think he’s going to bring this program back to an elite level."

A few months ago, Lamont "MoMo" Jones was slicing and dicing the Duke Blue Devils on the way to a stunningly thorough Sweet 16 win. With the exception of Derrick Williams -- who posted a dominant 32-point, 13-rebound performance on his way to a near-lock top-two selection in this year's NBA draft -- he was Arizona's best player. Just a sophomore, Jones's future at Arizona seemed limitless.

Then he transferred. Wait ... huh?

Yes, Jones, apparently worried about his playing time with highly touted point guard Josiah Turner arriving in the fall, decided another hoops destination would be best for his long-term prospects. Right or wrong, advisable or not, that was his choice. The next question -- where Jones would take his talents -- was the more pertinent one.

The answer is arguably more surprising than the transfer decision itself. According to ESPN New York's Kieran Darcy, Jones will play his two remaining years of eligibility at ... wait for it ... Iona.

What would make Jones want to transfer from one of the country's elite (not to mention constantly improving) high-major programs to a small school in the MAAC? Jones clearly wants to be back in New York; many believed he would have transferred to St. John's if not for an NCAA rule that disallows one-time high school coaches from coaching their former players in college. (St. John's assistant Moe Hicks coached Jones for part of his high school career.) Likewise, Jones said in a statement that his desire to be "closer to my family, and in particular my grandmother," was a driving force behind the decision. Jones said his grandmother is ill, and he will seek a hardship waiver from the NCAA that would allow him to play this fall rather than waiting the usual transfer year to become eligible.

Whether or not the NCAA grants that waiver remains to be seen. If Jones doesn't play this year, Iona will still be an interesting mid-major squad, a team that returns its top two scorers, Michael Glover and Scott Machado, after a solid 25-12 season. If Jones is able to play in 2012, Iona becomes a huge MAAC favorite and Sweet 16 sleeper candidate.

Either way, one thing is for sure: Jones is going to put up huge numbers in the MAAC. He'll be a star. He might well dominate. That seemed to be the point of his transfer decision in the first place, and man, will it ever be true for the Gaels.

The point guard position at Arizona is steeped in tradition and glamorous enough for the program to be known as Point Guard U, so expectations are high for incoming freshman Josiah Turner.

Turner, ESPNU's third-ranked point guard, will have every opportunity to step right into that role following the departure of emotional leader Lamont "MoMo" Jones, who is transferring to a school closer to his Harlem home.

It's funny how things work out because Turner was in Queens over the weekend in the point guard capital of New York showing what he can do, taking MVP honors and bragging rights at the iS8/Nike Spring Championship final. According to the New York Post, he even outplayed a New Yorker in Tavon Sledge, who is headed to Iowa State.

Turner told ZagsBlog.com he proved he could play, adding that he wasn't sure why Jones transferred.

"I was surprised,” Turner said. "I was wondering why he did it, I was surprised."

Arizona head coach Sean Miller likely would've used Turner more as a lead guard even with Jones in the house, but now Turner will have an even greater opportunity to run the show.

"He said my role would be to come in and play hard," Turner said. "I’m going to have a big role on the team so he just said play hard."

Turner will have another chance to show what he can do before heading to Arizona when he tries out for the USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team in June. He was one of only three high school players to be invited to the training camp.

All this experience should help Turner come right in and compete with Jordin Mayes for the job to replace Jones. Turner could very well form a young and talented backcourt with AAU teammate Nick Johnson, a bouncy incoming freshman.

"It's gonna be us two," Turner told ZagsBlog. "We know each other. We play on the same AAU team. I knew him previously before that. We're gonna get along good."

The NBA draft could end up stealing plenty of talent from the Pac-12. USC's Nikola Vucevic declared last week he was signing with an agent, as did UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt today. Several players must still make decisions, including Arizona's Derrick Williams, Washington State's Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto, and UCLA's Malcolm Lee and Reeves Nelson.

And when it all shakes out, UCLA could easily be the favorite going into next season. The Bruins lose their best athlete in Honeycutt, but won't miss his 100 turnovers and could return most of their roster to go along with transfers David and Travis Wear.

"Would we be a better team if (Honeycutt) came back? Absolutely," said coach Ben Howland, whose team was without a senior this season. "One hundred percent.

"I'm still very optimistic. I think we'll be a very, very good team."

Howland said the team could still play with three guards, using David Wear as a small forward. And the interior presence provided by the Wear twins along with freshman center Joshua Smith -- all standing 6-foot-10 -- is a nice advantage to have.

Should Nelson and Lee stay in school, UCLA would return its top two scorers along with point guard Lazeric Jones, who now has a Division I season under his belt.

UCLA will have plenty of challengers in the Pac-12. Arizona will really miss Williams should he leave for the NBA, but would still return most of a team that includes point guard Lamont Jones and bring in a top recruiting class coming off an Elite Eight appearance. Washington should still have Isaiah Thomas and an emerging star in Terrence Ross. Cal brings back freshman of the year Allen Crabbe, and Washington State would be strong with Thompson returning to school.

Losing Honeycutt isn't ideal, but it appears the Bruins will manage. And after some more draft decisions get made, they could really find themselves in a good spot.