Rothstein Files: Five Observations From The Legends Classic
By Jon Rothstein
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1. PARITY RULES
Indiana is better than they showed in their 66-53 win over Georgia on Monday — but if the Hoosiers are the number one team in college basketball then the parity in the sport is going to be at an extremely high level this season. For over 30 minutes on Monday, Indiana was in a one possession game with a well coached but undermanned Georgia team that lost last week at home to Youngstown State and Southern Miss. We're in for a crazy year folks --- buckle up.
2. ABELL IS ABLE
Indiana sophomore guard Remy Abell isn't the first player people will bring up when discussing the Hoosiers roster but he's an extremely valuable piece. The 6-4 guard brought a real spark on both sides of the floor in the win over Georgia and should be one of the better reserves in the Big Ten. To win championships, you need guys who are willing to blend with others and that's just what Abell does well.
3. LENGTH PERSONIFIED
Georgetown's overall team length is downright scary when you see it in person. The Hoyas start four players 6-8 or taller and are physically similar in style to West Virginia's 2010 team that reached the Final Four. For large portions of Georgetown's 78-70 win over UCLA, Hoyas coach John Thompson III used a zone defense that frustrated the Bruins and led to several turnovers. Look for that trend to continue throughout the season.
4. MARKEL'S MAGIC
Often inconsistent during the first two years of his career, Georgetown junior point guard Markel Starks took Brooklyn by storm on Monday night, scoring 23 points and converting on 9-of-14 field goal attempts. Starks ran the Hoyas offense efficiently and knifed his way through the lane at will. For a team that entered the season searching for a leader, it appears Georgetown finally found one.
5. JORDAN'S JOLT
On a night where people flocked to the Barclays Center to be mesmerized by UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad, no player on the Bruins roster stood taller than first-year guard Jordan Adams. The 6-4 Adams has been the Bruins steadiest player so far this season and on a big time stage, he again delivered. In 29 minutes, Adams scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds while clearly standing out as UCLA's best player on the floor against Georgetown. Muhammad scored 15 points in 25 minutes in his college debut.
BY THE NUMBERS:
18,11,5,5,3
The number of points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals for Georgetown sophomore forward Otto Porter.
THEY SAID IT:
"He's Andrew Luck. When it's his time to go to the NBA, he'll go," - Indiana coach Tom Crean on Hoosiers sophomore center Cody Zeller.
Your thoughts from the Legends Classic? Be heard in the comments below...
