Throughout the season in college basketball, it was Gonzaga, Baylor and everyone else. They were No. 1 and No. 2 in the pre-season. They were the only undefeated teams that remained standing in the hoops of the college (until Baylor stumbled on February 27). And now, they are the only teams left on the NCAA Tournament field.
You could point to a number of different reasons why these two are now competing for a national championship on Monday night – the training, the schemes, the experience, maybe some luck breaks – but Charles Barkley summed it up on Saturday , CBS day.
“Many teams have Jims and Jims. And many teams have Joes,” he said, referring to the quote about the importance of valuing good players above all else. “Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two teams in the tournament with Jims and Joes.”
Barkley, as always, is right. Gonzaga and Baylor have professionals all over the court. The title game on Monday night may feature eight NBA Draft choices in the 2021 cycle alone, and there are, by my count, entering Monday, five of them with a realistic lead in the first round. This means that 16.7% of this year’s first round may consist of players from Monday’s game. That would be more talent in the title game than the last time the Zags were in the championship in 2017 and as much talent as the famous Wisconsin-Duke title game in 2015, which was responsible for producing the first five rounds. This does not even include future drafts, which, given the composition of both teams, is likely to increase that number.
Now, inevitably there will be a large audience for the game on Monday, despite the talent race – it’s the smelly national championship – but this game has the eyes of NBA fans and scouts for a reason. So, here is your root guide to follow accordingly, with an estimate of where we have each player projected in the draft, if they declare this spring.
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Hitting the buzzer-beater against UCLA in the Final Four to send his number 1, Gonzaga Bulldogs, to his second appearance in the game for the title was a highlight for all ages. But, for Suggs, the winner of the chance was not the play that best highlighted his professional prospects in that game. No, that move came at the end of the second half. With the game tied at 70, Suggs recovered for an incredible chase lock on the rim, recovered the rebound from a run and then, at full speed, handed a dime away with one hand to a Drew Timme who in money … and it was.
“He is a great player,” said Gonzaga coach Mark Few. “He’s electric, especially when you take him out of the transition. To make that pass to Timme – when I saw him assessing, I wasn’t thinking it would be one of the biggest decisions he’s ever made. But he got a knack for fitting things together. in tight windows. “
Suggs’ competitive momentum and courage really impressed scouts throughout the season. And although he is not the top scorer for Gonzaga’s undefeated team, he did very well as one of the top five candidates because of his passes, vision, kicks and – as cliché as it may seem – “it” factor. The teams will be looking forward to making you their franchise owner in the coming months.
“He has a magical aura about him,” few said of Suggs.
A year ago, at this time, Corey Kispert was barely on the NBA Draft radar. But the six-foot senior showed all the skill and kick you want from a scoring expert at the next level. He ranks in the 97th percentile as a great sniper in the season and is hitting 44.5% in the 3-point range of the year. With a quick launch and a reliable and repeatable move, Kispert will have a spot in the NBA squad for a long time.
There is no one in the title game on Monday night whose NBA Draft shares have risen faster than those of Davion Mitchell. He became Baylor’s most important player last month. And it’s not just because of your defense, but to be clear: win Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors certainly don’t hurt. It is your attack that has also been nails. He has the electric explosion of a poisoned Tesla and the ability to blow the defenders out of the jump and skillfully finish around the edge in ways that are special.
Against UCLA in the Final Four, Mitchell posted 11 assists and zero turnovers, becoming the first player in a Final Four since 1987 to reach double digits in assists without committing any turns.
“He is a two-way player,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said on Saturday. “He really started at the end of time. That’s what makes him so good. Defensive player of the year. But on the offensive side, he can score and create for others.”
Baylor’s top scorer in the regular season and in the postseason, Jared Butler is an experienced point guard who can do a little bit of everything. Excellent handling, great feeling and, ah: he is reaching a career record of 41.5% with a 3 point range in a Bears team that leads the country in the 3 point shot. Butler does not have the lottery potential that his defense mate has, but he still has solid prospects for a professional and is solidly on the radar of the first round. For winning teams in the second half of the first round, he could be an interesting second-unit guard because of his experience and kicking skills.
When Gonzaga starts slowly or goes through periods of cold, Joel Ayayi was a spark plug during the course of the season, draining 3 points when necessary and making plays in the defense with his length. Although his role is not an important option, but more like an off-ball guard who shoots when he opens, it shouldn’t take the shine off his potential in the NBA; in fact, it should highlight your ability to play and affect the game outside the ball. A talented 6 to 5 point guard who has a lot of skill with the ball in his hands, he has made incremental improvements every season as a pitcher and as a junior he is making the best of his career at 39.4% in the 3-point range.
“We didn’t have the pace we normally did, and [Ayayi] did a great job of stepping up and just making great plays, “Few said on Saturday about Gonzaga’s slow start.” I could see that he was feeling good about the stroke and was looking for him a little. “
- CBS Sports draft track projection: 51-70
There is a very real intrigue around Matthew Mayer with mulleted and, based on my information, it is not just fascination around his hairstyle. First, a big reason is because he is 6-9 and has a soft shot to kick on defenders. The second reason is because he is hitting 40% of his 3-point shots this season. The third reason is because Mayer showed some special things besides just being a sniper. He reads defenses well and is a smart cutter, but he can also cut it with the ball in his hands. He can be a long-term prospect – part of the potential came only in flashes because Baylor is so loaded and his role is not as big as some of his teammates – but his size and ability make him someone to watch. He is a potential NBA Draft choice if he declares this offseason.
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
- CBS Sports draft track projection: 51-70
During Gonzaga’s march to the national title game, Timme was by far the most important and productive player on the team. He is a tour de force within the arc that leads his much-vaunted 2-point attack, which is on its way to being the best since Princeton in 1977. Timme has a nimble footwork and a bit of old-school style in his game that is accentuated by his incredible mustache and the accompanying celebration the look. But it has been amazing how he managed to be so productive against great defensive players. Timme went for 23 points, five rebounds and three steals against the USC and potential No. 1 choice Evan Mobley in the Elite Eight, then followed up with 25 points on Saturday against Bruins big man Cody Riley.
- CBS Sports draft track projection: 60-75
Over the past month, in big situations, it was Soft Teague – not Davion Mitchell or Jared Butler – who had the greatest performance for Baylor. There was a 35-point performance against Texas Tech on February 7. There was his 24 point game against Kansas State in the next game. Then there were 22-point displays against Hartford and Arkansas at the NCAA Tournament. A former UNC Asheville standout, Teague in recent years has flourished as a prospect because of his firm kick, his high-level feeling for the game and the potential of an RPG player at the NBA level.