I am going by conference/division this time, in order of their divisional rank, just like the standings. I will go more in depth after week 11, the pre-playoff look.
Wooden Conference
Haskins Division
NOTE:
IMHO, the Haskins Division remains not only the toughest in the NCAA league, but the toughest division in all of our leagues.
The Ghosts of Pauley Pavilion
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They got better. They added Matt Cross. They now have 4 studs instead of 3. Jaylon Tyson has established himself as a prime player. Brandon Johnson has re-emerged as a good fantasy option. That’s a great 6-man lineup. They have two good frosh options. Oh, and B.J. Freeman has returned from the injury list.
Analysis: They have “big hitters.” They have quality freshmen. They have quality depth. In other words, as they are constructed, being exceptionally conservative, it would take an upset for them to not make at least the Final Four.
South Austin Horns
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They added Tamin Lipsey, who was averaging 25+ fppg when they picked him up. He was the best FA (free agent) guard available but I did have a concern about him. Iowa State had played a very, very weak schedule. Now, you don’t average 25+ fppg just because of scheduling, and he is a stat-stuffer. But, he’s not the world’s greatest shooter and I have concerns about his consistency once he gets into Big 12 conference play. Their guard room was not the best, so, this was the move but I’m not sure how much it will really help them. Lassina Traore may be “waking up.” He’s been woefully up and down, and, greatly down in production from last year but there have been signs of late.
Analysis: They have a good team. In addition to my Lipsey concerns I have Kevin Cross concerns as well, also due to conference play being tougher. I think Cross will continue to have strong games, but will also have more so-so games. But, even if Lipsey and Cross were to maintain their current averages they would have to catch the Ghosts on a bad day to beat them.
T-N-T Youngsters
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They added their 2nd best guard on the roster in Igor Milicic-but they are out of moves. They have a good lineup but are simply out-manned. In this division, having just one stud (25+fppg) is not enough unless you have a ton of support behind him and they fall a little short in that department.
Analysis: They can be a team you don’t look forward to facing.
Fore Sons & A Doctor
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They added guard Shahada Wells. That brought them some much-needed punch at the position. If Zeke Mayo becomes the 2022-2023 Zeke Mayo instead of the fat-free mayo he has been so far, well, who knows? I say that because they have the “Dickinson factor,” same as the “Edey factor.” He counts for 1.5 players, scoring-wise.
Analysis: They have a good 4-man lineup. Their next 3 non-freshmen are okay. It’s just that okay isn’t going to cut it this year.
Knight Division
The Prodigal Son
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: Payton, Pegues, and, frosh Kwame Evans. What does that actually mean? It means that they have added two of their top 4 scorers and a promising freshman to the lineup. That’s huge, but, too little, too late. 8 dudes on this roster are averaging under 20 fppg. The center position is still a mess.
Analysis: All together, their best lineup doesn’t look that bad-and, it’s not-but it’s also not very good if that makes sense. See ya’, don’t wanna’ be ya’ as the saying goes.
Hog Wild
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: Not much although they did add Batcho at forward. Their lineup is stronger than the Prodigal Son. Their issue going forward is going to be consistency…any sort of consistency.
Analysis: Crews hasn’t played as advertised of late and that’s not a good trend. His fga’s are down and so is his rebounding-but there is time for him to rebound. Tyler Thomas will take 20+ shots a game and is capable of making or missing about 15 of them. Who knows? For a gunner he’s actually been pretty good most of the time but it’s something to be concerned about during playoff time. As a result of the above and more, this team is a spoiler type of team.
Leathernecks
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They added rebounding superstar Cisse to solidify the frontline and they red-shirted “the Clingan” to get David Jones. Love both those adds as Jones seems to be getting back to what he was when he played for DePaul.
Analysis: The Leathernecks have the best roster in the Knight Division. They are thin at guard, so adding Wells would have worked there. Having Buchanan as their freshman is an “x” factor looking at how his minutes & usage have gone up. They are a strong dark horse.
Yoder Dame Fighting Amish
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They added the top scorer to their team in Mark Sears-which tells you how weak they were since he’s not a stud (under 25+ fppg) yet he’s their best player (still a nice add, just saying’).
Analysis: I don’t understand why they have been sitting on their hands since adding Sears. They have two moves left. They have sat there and let Xavier Johnson, Drew Cisse, Jaylon Tyson, Shahada Wells, and, Matt Cross walk out the free agent door. They got four players. May as well head south for the rest of the winter.
Valvano Conference
Rupp Division
Albuquerque Chickenhawks
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: KABOOM! They added Xavier Johnson, who is in the running for top fantasy guard of the year. They also upgraded at the frosh position.
Analysis: Off the top of my head, they probably have the best starting guards and a good center, although despite Filipowski’s fppg average, he’s been inconsistent. My concern is at the forward position, which is not in bad shape but it’s likely that Coleman will take a dip, and Jyare Davis is a scorer who is often undermined by his lack of concern regarding rebounding. It would be nice to see Enaruna step his game up. They have a shot.
Boeheim’s Army
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: Jonathan Mogbo joined the roster.
Analysis: Adding Mogbo was great. Problem is he’s the only player averaging over 22+fppg. They also have Keyshawn Hall, added Kyrese Mullen, and have freshman Braden Huff, so, they have a nice nucleus to build upon for the 2024-2025 season because they are toast this year.
Independent George
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: Nothing, and, that’s strange. Has relationship George usurped independent George?
Analysis: They have Dillon Jones and perhaps this year’s top frosh in Toppin. After that they have a nice bunch of support guys. In other words, too much beefarino. Did this all somehow stem back to the problems caused by the marble rye? One can only wonder.
Cal Bears
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They got busy. They added Dubar (good), McDaniel (meh), and, Javonte Brown (sigh). McDaniel has good real-world stats but not so wonderful
Analysis: They just waited too dang long to make any moves and by then all the smart GMs had made theirs. Dubar is their best player-but not at a stud level. Brown could be good next year. The problem is his college coach. Brown is the best player on his team but the coach brings him off the bench and gives him somewhere between 16-20 minutes a game. So, the coach is a moron and that’s a big problem in fantasy basketball. Ware, Kalkbrenner, Garcia round out the rest of the best. Simply not enough firepower to do any damage. Oh well, there’s always next year.
Valvano Conference
Smith Division
The Walk Ons
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: They strengthened the frosh room by adding Yves Missi.
Analysis: Omier & Post give them two studs-although there are some signs of slippage from Post. They have three more than serviceable guards, and center depth along with good frosh. There is nothing not to really like. In other words, this is a good team. But whoever the starters are in the playoffs will have to really come as close to possible as hitting their max, plus, at least two players will need to exceed their max without any players having one of those dreaded single digit games. Like I said, they’re good, but not great. Most of their top players are consistent and that’s something they have going for them.
Pirate’s Raiders
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: Nothing. The GM must really love the roster because they have been sitting on two moves.
Analysis: P.J. Hall has been having a career year. But if you are looking at his games since conference play started, you would have serious cause for worry. Hall is not a rebounder and his fantasy numbers are not good of late. “late,” as in the past few games prior to 1-13-24. Saint Thomas is a stud and although he’s under the 25 number, so is Aimaq. They have two pretty good frosh. Stevens is a good guard and Brooks is a good player. They have a good roster and a better lineup than The Walk Ons. Why they didn’t drop Burton for somebody better is beyond me. If they had gotten a stud, and, a few were available, then we would be talking about them being one of the premier teams. They have a good team, solidly good, and, similar to above, if their players all peak at the right time they could do it. But, on paper, they are a dark horse team at the moment.
Tribe
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: Malik Dia and Efton Reid. They also got Tolu Smith back from injury.
Analysis: They are dead in the water. Pretty much nothing but season-long disappointment from Shumate, Jones, Richmond, Edwards & Cook doomed this team. It’s a collection of a bunch of nice, average guys.
Gators
What’s changed since the 4-week mark: The GM awakened from his coma in time for the Xmas holiday! And, showed that if he could stay awake, he could make some good moves like adding Freeman, Ojiako, Samuel, and, Carter. Of course, that left Jones, Wells, and, Cross on the board, but this GM was very rusty. They also got Tolu Smith back from injury.
Analysis: Going forward, this means that the team that had been probably (I haven’t researched it) the lowest scoring team in the history of the MML, won’t be such an easy out any more. They can trot out a decent lineup. Maybe they get lucky and Freeman and Mack return next year as something they can build on.