Myron Medcalf, ESPN staff writer
The transfer portal has created a sustained movement in men’s college basketball in recent years. This reality has robbed the game of the continuity it once enjoyed, so it’s not surprising to turn on the TV today and see players who once wore the jersey for your favorite team now competing for another team. But all transfers – including finding a new coach – are not created equal, and this season is proof of that.
There are teams across the country that are fundamentally different, if not better, than they were a year ago because new players or coaches have changed their respective identities, and two of those teams happen to be facing each other on Saturday.
It’s a big day for college basketball — 18 of the top teams will play, including a tough road matchup for No. 1 Tennessee and No. 8 Gonzaga and No. 18 matchup between the University of Connecticut. Let’s take a look at eight game-changers who are already leaving an undeniable mark on their new projects just one month into the season. All times are Eastern Time.
Igor Milicic Jr. (Tennessee Volunteers)
Illinois, 5:30 p.m. (Fox)
The Tennessee star, transferred from Charlotte, fired a lob to teammate Cade Phillips during the second half of his team’s 75-62 win over Miami on Tuesday. Phillips then completed a dunk that mesmerized the Jimmy V Classic crowd at Madison Square Garden. It was a gorgeous assist for Milicic, a 6-foot-10 forward. But it also showcases the problems Milicic poses for opposing teams.
Miami’s Brandon Johnson faces a choice in this game: Guard Milicic (12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game) or try to stop Phillips. He chose Milicic, who had already scored multiple times at the basket and shot from the outside. The Hurricanes realized in that moment the threat he posed with the ball in his hands. But their only answer was to force Milicic to show off his passing ability – like when he set up Phillips.
Milicic plays a guard role in Rick Barnes’ offense, although he’s technically a forward or center when necessary. Although the Vols use him in a lot of pick-and-roll situations, he’s also comfortable as a player who can create his own shot. Barnes may have the most balanced team of his tenure at Tennessee — the Vols rank 10th in adjusted offensive rating and KenPom ranks second in adjusted offensive rating — while Millisi The arrival of Qi was a key factor in this surge.
Kasparas Jakousionis (Illinois Fighting Illini)
vs. No. 1 Tennessee, 5:30 p.m. (Fox)
It didn’t take long for Jakousionis, a 6-foot-6 point guard, to make his mark in the team’s 70-66 overtime loss to Northwestern last week. Early in the game, he sprinted between two defenders, and then he entered the lane in European style for a layup. It’s a nice transition, and it’s the type of play that makes the Lithuanian phenom a projected first-round pick in ESPN’s latest 2025 NBA mock draft. In the team’s 86-80 victory on Tuesday, he scored 24 points, shot 50% from three-point range, and dished out 5 assists.
He’s an elite three-point shooter and one of the fastest guards of his size in the country, which enhances his ability to create shots in the paint. That talent has made Illinois one of the fastest teams in the country, with Brad Underwood’s team playing at a top-30 pace for the first time in his tenure. The arrival of Jakousionis gives Illinois a high-tempo program led by one of the most dynamic point guards in the country.
Mark Pope (Kentucky Wildcats)
vs. Louisville, 5:15 p.m. (ESPN)
On Saturday, Pope’s team posted an 18-point comeback in Seattle’s 90-89 overtime victory over Gonzaga, leaving his mark on the program and officially dispelling any concerns that he was a contributor to the program. One of the most important jobs in the sport is to be prepared for any lingering remarks. Pope may not have an NBA first-round draft pick on his roster — a stark contrast to John Calipari’s dominance — but he has a group of unselfish players and a group of big men willing to share the ball.
Under Calipari, the Wildcats relied on one or two guards to run the offense — Pope, the center on Kentucky’s 1995-96 national championship team, taught all his players defensive skills and through them Run his offense. Pope has three players, including Andrew Carr, who are 6-foot-9 or taller with an assist rate (which measures a player’s assists combined with the number of times his team scores while he’s on the floor) at 14 percent this season. or higher (according to KenPom). Why is this important? In Calipari’s 15 seasons with the program, no player 6-foot-9 or taller has matched that mark. Pope has changed Kentucky’s identity.
Dusty May (Michigan Wolverines)
May had similar concerns when he told Danny Wolfe (7-foot) and Vladislav Goldin (7-foot-1) that he wanted both of them in Michigan’s starting lineup this season. “At first, I was kind of in disbelief, it seemed like there were more question marks than there were things that made sense,” Wolfe recently told ESPN. Won seven straight games before a thrilling 89-87 loss to Arkansas in the Jimmie V Classic.
It’s rare to see two 7-foot-tall players together in college basketball, as college basketball has largely embraced the NBA’s small-ball style. What’s even more special is seeing a head coach develop a plan around these big men just months after taking the job. But it’s working.
Michigan enters the game against Arkansas, which is ranked No. 14 in the country. Although the Wolverines blew a 15-point lead in the first half against Calipari’s team, the duo proved they could help the Wolverines contend in their first season in Ann Arbor. Big Ten title, May led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four. 2023. Wolfe (12.3 ppg, 9.9 ppg, 1.6 ppg) and Golding (12.5 ppg, 5.5 ppg, 1.9 ppg, BPG) create matchup headaches for opponents while also defending a top-20 team. Main force. Few teams can control the tempo of a game as well as they can against two 7-footers. Although the two had legitimate questions about May’s plans before the season, both players realized their potential and Michigan State enjoyed its most successful stretch in years with May at the helm.
Cooper Flagg (Duke Blue Devils)
Flagg (15.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.3 apg, 1.6 apg) rushed the court in transition during Duke’s 84-78 victory over the Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. ) immediately spotted Wooden Award contender Johni Broome and tracked him until Carman Marouach was able to track him down. Flagg then waits in the center of the court like a freeback ready to pounce. As Denver Jones defended on the perimeter, Flagg watched him, too, until Flagg sprinted to the top of the key to counter Chad Baker Mazzara’s 3-pointer. Baker-Mazzara missed.
While rumors surrounding Flagg have emphasized the 6-foot-9 NBA rookie’s offensive talents, his defensive versatility has undoubtedly had a greater impact on the Blue Devils entering this week, per KenPom Adjustments Ranked first in defensive efficiency. That number is certified against teams that have played Kentucky, Kansas State, Arizona State, Louisville and Auburn. Flagg can cover any opposing player on the field. According to EvanMiya.com’s personal defensive metrics, Flagg is currently scoring higher than Zion Williamson did during his stellar 2018-19 season — that’s how Flagg is currently performing on Duke’s defense.
Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State Cyclones)
vs. Omaha, Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBSSN)
Last week, in Iowa State’s 81-70 victory over Marquette, Jefferson, a 6-foot-9 forward who transferred from St. Mary’s, led a quick break with 4:42 remaining. , made a spin move on a defensive player in the paint and scored with his left hand, while drawing a foul. It was a beautiful transition game, and he was rated “Excellent” according to Synergy Sports. Overall, Iowa State is averaging 132 points per 100 possessions when the team is in transition, compared to 114 points per 100 possessions in the same games last season.
Not only does Jefferson help the program on the fast break, but his versatility also speeds up the tempo of this season’s team compared to last season’s — Iowa State was in First time in the top 90 on KenPom.
Derek Quinn (Maryland Terrapins)
Quinn, a 6-foot-10 big man, caught a pass in the Buckeyes’ end zone during the first half of his team’s 83-59 win over Ohio State last week. If you freeze the screen, you can see three players converging on the queen. As a result, three Maryland players were suddenly open. Quinn could have decided to pass, but instead dribbled to his right, pivoted inside and landed a left hook. With Queen, the Terps have an offensive balance they lacked a season ago.
Maryland went 16-17 last season and missed the playoffs, but they shot only 48.8% from three-point range. With the addition of Quinn this season, the Terps have shot 58.7% from the field.
Brandon Angel (Oregon Ducks)
vs. Stephen F. Austin, Sunday, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Led by Dana Altman, Oregon State retains a group of athletic forwards and centers on its roster in Eugene. But Angel — a 6-foot-9 transfer from Stanford — became a key component of the Ducks’ offense because of his shooting ability. He is a strong player who excels in the low post. But the Ducks also run a lot of pick-and-pop action with Angel, who is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range this season.
Few teams have a perimeter threat of Angel’s size. Creates more room for teammates to operate. The addition helped Altman reach the top 20 in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Ducks haven’t finished a season ranked this high since 2018-19. Angel’s shooting ability is a big reason why they’ve been able to do as well as they have this season.
