We’re one month into the men’s college basketball season, and plenty has already evolved since preseason expectations. We’ve seen a changing of the guard at No. 1, we’ve seen upsets and buzzer beaters and we’ve seen disastrous starts for proud programs. Three of Sports Illustrated’s college basketball writers joined up virtually to discuss the sport’s top story lines and what stood out to them.
What’s surprised you the most through the first month?
Kevin Sweeney: North Carolina going from No. 1 in my rankings to unranked in December’s first AP poll is rather stunning, especially because the issues the Tar Heels have faced haven’t been the ones you might have expected. Pete Nance has been productive at the four replacing Brady Manek, and the defense, while not great, has been better than it was at times last season. The fact that a team with this much experience seems to play with so little cohesiveness is noteworthy, and the struggles of Caleb Love and RJ Davis (who most pegged as two of the nation’s best guards) have plagued the Heels.
