The buzz around Nebrasketball for a breakout this season had been building all summer. As head coach Fred Hoiberg added solid veteran after solid via the transfer portal to augment an improving core, expectations rose. After some big, resumé-building wins to start the year, the Cornhuskers are beginning to validate the hype. Leading the way every bit as much as their sweet-shooting star guard, veteran bigs Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast are having big breakout seasons to help lead the way.
Gary and Mast are two of the many young players in the Big Ten Conference who are enjoying more of the spotlight than ever before due to their excellent play to start this new season. Now that we’re a month into the festivities, it’s time to take a look at the players who have spent the past few weeks breaking out. Whether they’re new to their teams, new to a significant role, or newly-come to true stardom, these are some names you really ought to know!
Juwan Gary & Rienk Mast – Nebraska
Gary: 14.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.4 spg, 0.8 bpg – 54.8% FG / Mast: 13.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.0 apg – 46.0% FG
With Mast brought in to play the pivot and Gary back from injury, the Huskers are strong and skilled up front. While Gary has largely been used as this group’s 6th man, he’s also leading Nebraska in scoring average to start the year. Once a Top 100 recruit who played a couple of seasons for Alabama, Gary had begun to see a larger and more visible role in Lincoln due to his energy, athleticism, and versatility. Unfortunately, he only played the first half of the Huskers’ campaign last year, as Gary suffered a serious shoulder injury which required surgery. Now that he’s back and feeling good, Gary’s dynamic style and physical approach around the lane and on the glass are proving him to be a highly productive option. Though he’s always been fond of a deep shot, Gary is making his triples at a higher rate (35.7%) than ever before, and using that threat to open up lots of opportunities closer to the basket. While he’s been productive from mid-range, and is showing that opponents must respect him from all over the floor, Gary has been ultra-productive around the rim. As a lob threat and great finisher of good looks in close, Gary is shooting an outstanding 83.3% near the hoop so far. His bounce and explosiveness are also noticeable defensively, as Gary can cover a variety of other forwards. He’s tough-minded and makes his opponents earn their looks, and Gary is leading the Huskers in steals and is tied for the team lead in blocks per game. In Nebraska’s last game, a win against Michigan State, Gary racked up 18 rebounds – including 11 reloads after a miss. He now ranks tenth in the conference in offensive boards – just a few spots behind his new teammate, Mast.
A Dutch post player who starred for Bradley the last couple of years, Mast was well-known as an impact player prior to his arrival in Lincoln. Questions remained, though, about the patient, savvy big man’s ability to translate his high level of production from Peoria up to the Big Ten. Turns out, Mast has been very much up to the new challenge. A slick passer and floor-spacing shooter, Mast is a clever offensive player who provides the Huskers with all sorts of versatility. Being that marksman Keisei Tominaga is not a big-time playmaker, Hoiberg surrounded him with guys who can create in the halfcourt, and Mast has been a wonderful fit. He’s currently leading Nebraska in helpers per game, and Mast is doing so with a clean 33:18 assist to turnover ratio. A threat to face up and shoot the ball well out to the three point arc, Mast can invert the Huskers’ offense and then find cutters like Gary or shooters like Tominaga and Brice Williams, another transfer who has made a big impact already. Mast has also been terrific at cleaning up the boards; after ranking first and then second in the Missouri Valley the last two seasons, Mast sits second in his new league – and 16th among all Division I players – in rebounding average with Nebraska. Williams has translated his steady offense and great shooting splits (he’s currently slashing 45.0/39.5/85.4%) from Charlotte, and provided the Huskers with a fourth solid scorer to rely upon. Add it all up, and the veterans Hoiberg has brought in the past couple of seasons are delivering for Nebraska fans and giving real hope for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
Brooks Barnhizer – Northwestern
13.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.0 spg – 40.5% FG
Last year, as Northwestern was defying all expectations, the Wildcats were led by Boo Buie and Chase Audige. With Buie back but Audige gone to the pro’s, low-scoring Northwestern was left to wonder: would a genuine #2 threat emerge from among a cast of young veterans? After a solid showing last year, Brooks Barnhizer has stepped up to be a great and multi-skilled sidekick for NU’s all-conference star. Barnhizer, a junior from Lafayette, IN, ranks first, second or third on the Wildcats in every meaningful statistic there is, and his size allows the Wildcats to feature some different looks than last year. For instance; with Barnhizer working the boards and capable of defending bigger wings, head coach Chris Collins has been able to put other ballhandlers on the floor to help Buie with his considerable tasks. As a result, Buie is averaging career highs in both scoring and assists – and Northwestern ranks among the nation’s top 50 teams with 17 assists per game combined. Barnhizer can create setups for his teammates or get his own looks, and has been getting to the free throw line almost five times per contest. He is developing into a three-level scorer as well. Though not yet a consistent three-point threat, Barnhizer is a great mid-range shooter, and this year has gotten to the rim more than ever before. He leads the Wildcats in steals and uses both good positioning and a willingness to make good situational gambles in denying the ball to his man or jumping a pass. As conference play ramps up, Barnhizer will see a greater variety of defenders than ever before. As a slick passer, impactful scorer, and overall smart player, Barnhizer has the tools to remain a highly valuable compliment to Buie.
Bruce Thornton & Roddy Gayle – Ohio State
Thornton: 18.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.5 spg – 38.3% FG / Gayle: 14.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 0.7 spg – 43.3% 3FG
Ohio State had a bad season last year, but things started looking up for the Buckeyes late, as they ripped off a trio of wins in the Big Ten Tournament. It wasn’t fully understood at the time what a spark that late run – led by a pair of rookie guards – was for Ohio State, but this year, those young guards are leading a resurgent effort. Big, bad, point guard Bruce Thornton and his multi-tool co-pilot Roddy Gayle, Jr, are playing like all-league stars to begin their second campaign.
A physically strong, hard-charging playmaker, Thornton seized a starting role immediately last season and has improved steadily since that debut. He’s been as efficient as just about any guard in America so far. Thornton is slashing 44.5/38.3/85.9% on two’s, three’s, and freebies, and he’s been taking nearly seven trips to the charity stripe per contest. What’s more, the former Top 50 national recruit has quickly matured into an extremely reliable decision-maker. He drops off clever passes after drawing defenders, has great anticipation of where his guys are moving, and has coughed up a miniscule 10 turnovers in 11 games despite playing 31.7 minutes as the Buckeyes’ point man. Thornton’s current 47:10 assist to turnover ratio ranks sixth among all Division I players. As he’s proven to be a genuine deep threat, Thornton’s drive game has blossomed, and he’s ensuring a steady flow of production by ending Ohio State’s possessions in consistently high-percentage situations. After the scoring struggles of last year, Thornton’s emergence has been a breath of fresh air.
The Buckeyes’ Big Ten tourney run was Gayle’s coming-out party. Over the four games that Ohio State played, Gayle averaged 12 points on a ridiculous 81.8% shooting from the land of trey. Though he hasn’t quite sustained that figure, Gayle is proving that he’s grown his game across the board. He doesn’t shoot from deep at the same high volume as Thornton, but Gayle carries a sparkling 43.0% rate on the 34 treys that he’s knocked down across the first 46 games of his career. From mid-range and in, though, Gayle is proving just as dangerous as his buddy. At a long 6’4″, Gayle has improved his handle and can attack defenders with footwork near the lane or an explosive couple of steps to his spot. The most obvious way that he has improved his skill level is as a facilitator. Playing off of Thornton smoothly, Gayle has handed out four or more assists in five different games last year. His poise and vision have become better than the prep prospect evaluators had imagined, and Gayle’s symbiosis with Thornton is driving a much-improved crew towards success in Columbus.
Dug McDaniel – Michigan
17.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.2 spg – 37.9% 3FG
Though he started much of last season as a rookie for Michigan, it was not generally assumed that Dug McDaniel was ‘the guy’ that the Wolverines should build around going forward. Turns out, McDaniel is that dude. After spending last year as a secondary scorer as he acclimated to running the show in Ann Arbor alongside some departed pro’s, McDaniel is showing off his full repertoire as a sophomore. Currently, he ranks seventh in the B1G in scoring average, third in assists and total points produced per game, and he’s played more minutes than anyone in the league.
The young lead guard is truly exciting to watch, as he possesses terrific speed, dangerous quickness and superb change-of-direction agility. McDaniel loves to get defender into a backpedal before choosing his spot, and increasingly, he’s become lethal from about 8-15 feet away from the cup. With his 51.9% rate on mid-range shot attempts, McDaniel is leading a Maize & Blue assault from the in-between spots: the Wolverines are shooting 50.3% on such attempts as a team, per Bart Torvik. McDaniel is electric in transition and just as effective pulling up once he’s attacked off the bounce. As his three-point shot becomes a consistent threat, McDaniel has shown all the abilities needed to be a genuine star, and the fact that he gets his teammates involved naturally is a tremendous asset. Just ask fellow breakout newcomer Olivier Nkamhoua. A transfer from Tennessee, Nkamhoua has been terrific working the pick-and-roll with McDaniel and popping for jumpers of his own. Between them, McDaniel and his veteran counterpart from Rocky Top are providing the Wolverines with 34.4 points, 10.8 boards, and 7.9 assists per game on 50.5% from the floor and 37.6% from deep, and they’re giving Michigan hope for a return to the Madness.
Kel’el Ware & Malik Reneau – Indiana
Ware: 16.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 0.9 spg – 56.3% FG / Reneau: 14.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.0 bpg – 55.9% FG
It’s been a bit of a wobbly start to a much-anticipated season in Bloomington, but the youngsters in head coach Mike Woodson’s frontcourt have been consistently impressive. After playing a support role last season as a rookie, Malik Reneau has stepped smoothly into Indiana’s starting lineup. The 6’9″ forward has been showing off significant improvements as a post scorer, which was hoped for given his nose for the hoop and quickness inside. What’s been a pleasant surprise is Reneau’s ballhandling and passing. He’s brought the ball up court after a rebound on occasion, has provided his buddies with some great feeds in transition or early offense as well as out of the paint, and Reneau’s overall feel on offense seems much-improved. He can face up to knock down shots, and Reneau has also focused on doing consistent damage close to the basket. He’s shooting 68.4% on such attempts, and Reneau’s footwork and patience have noticeably improved over his rookie year.
During his own freshman season in Oregon, the word ‘lazy’ got tossed about in speaking of Ware. Since he’s come to Bloomington for his second campaign, though, Ware has given the NBA scouts plenty more to talk about than his motor. A prototype modern pivot, Ware’s natural athleticism and range of skills are at seven feet tall are shining through. With face-up shooting talent, great mobility and bounce, and a more assertive approach, Ware is leading the Hoosiers in scoring. He’s got the type of three-level scoring potential that few other true post players boast, and Ware’s improved effort level is making him into a genuine go-to option. He can pull defenders out of the paint with the threat of a deep ball and then drive in for a shorter attempt or get all the way to the rack. As a pick-and-pop threat, Ware is knocking down a terrific 47.9% of his mid-range shots, while he’s already thrown down 17 dunks in ten games by rolling and positioning himself well to flush a well-thrown lob. A rangy shot-blocker whose awareness and timing to send attempts back without fouling have improved, Ware is an elite talent whose desire and production are catching up to his outstanding potential in highly entertaining ways.
Braden Smith – Purdue
14.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 6.7 apg, 1.7 spg – 49.6% FG
There have been some words written and things said about Purdue’s guards over the past year-plus. They have heard the noise and taken note. From breaking out as an immediate freshman starter, to struggling with turnovers down the stretch of a too-short March, to hearing all about the ways that he needed to improve over the summer, Braden Smith – and his classmate Fletcher Loyer – have had more than a couple of microscopes placed upon their performance. While Purdue won’t be able to evaluate the success or lack thereof as a team until the final nets are cut down in March, something has become clear: Smith is becoming one of the best guards in the Big Ten. A stat-sheet-stuffing dynamo despite his 6’0″ height, Smith is fearless, feisty and can do just about anything on the floor. He’s already proven to be an excellent rebounder who can get the Boilermakers chugging towards an easy opportunity after picking up a loose ball, and Smith is a serious threat to pull up and splash a triple if the defense sprints back expecting him to make a play going towards the rim. He’s shooting 47.5% from the land of trey, and Smith was sensational in a huge Top 5 matchup this past weekend against Arizona, potting four triples among his 26 points, four assists, and three steals. This, one game after he went for 27 and 8 assists against Alabama in the Boilers’ previous game. The Westfield, IN, native currently sits at second in the conference in assists and third in steals per game. After hearing all about his issues handling pressure defenses last year, Smith is showing increased poise and presence with the ball in his hands all over the floor. Loyer and former Southern Illinois transfer Lance Jones are combining their efforts with his to give Purdue a versatile, shot-making trio who are happy to stick their nose in on any defensive assignments. It’s a group which knows the situation game by game, and also has long goals in mind as Purdue looks to take the steps necessary to challenge for a natty this winter. With Smith running the show and doing everything with tremendous passion, the #1-ranked Boilers are on the right track.
Guys to keep on keeping an eye on
Julian Reese – Maryland
AJ Storr & John Blackwell – Wisconsin
Payton Sandfort – Iowa
Kanye Clary – Penn State
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