Excluding ocean-deep teams such as Arizona, Kentucky and Florida, most college programs today feature one signature player for whom the school is known.
For example, the nation’s hottest team, Louisville, boasts Reece Gaines. At 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, Gaines is a playmaking point guard in a small forward’s body. He averages 18.0 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor. Gaines has scored at least 20 points six times during the Cardinals’ 17-game winning streak, but Louisville is hardly a one-man show.
Power forward Marvin Stone has provided plenty of support for Gaines, especially during the initial stages of Louisville’s run. Lately, however, swingman Francisco Garcia has emerged as the unheralded "two" in the Cardinals’ one-two punch.
Garcia, a 6-7 freshman, led Louisville in scoring with 24 and 23 points in recent victories against Indiana and Cincinnati. In the win over the Bearcats, Garcia went 8-of-11 from 3-point range and led the Cardinals in scoring.
Gaines will continue to make the headlines, but Louisville would not have won 17 straight without Garcia’s help.
Other examples of key complementary players include:
Syracuse Orangemen
Star Player
Carmelo Anthony
Frosh
21.1 ppg., 9.5 rpg., 47% FG
Complement
Hakim Warrick
Soph.
16.2 ppg., 8.9 rpg., 57% FG
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Star Player
Josh Howard
Senior
19.3 ppg., 8.5 rpg., 48% FG
Complement
Vytas Danelius
Soph.
12.9 ppg., 7.6 rpg., 56% FG
Michigan Wolverines
Star Player
LaVell Blanchard
Senior
16.4 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 42% FG
Complement
Daniel Horton
Frosh
15.7 ppg., 4.4 apg., 38% FG
Marquette Golden Eagles
Star Player
Dwyane Wade
Junior
21.9 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 53% FG
Complement
Robert Jackson
Soph.
15.7 ppg., 7.3 rpg., 57% FG
Illinois Fighting Illini
Star Player
Brian Cook
Senior
20.6 ppg., 7.5 rpg., 53% FG
Complement
Dee Brown
Frosh
11.9 ppg., 5.0 apg., 46% FG
The top five players in the country based on the last week's performances.
• GUARD: Kirk Hinrich, Kansas. Finally showing the consistency of an All-American, Hinrich averaged 26 points in Kansas wins against Missouri and K-State last week. He made 6-of-11 3-pointers and shot 76 percent from the floor (22-of-29) for the week.
• GUARD: Chris Thomas, Notre Dame. Forget, for a moment, that Thomas outscored opposing point guard Brandin Knight 24-4. Thomas’ thread-the-needle setting up Torin Francis for the game-winning basket against No. 4 Pitt was amazing. It made for Notre Dame’s fourth victory against a top-10 team this season.
• GUARD: Chris Williams, Ball State The skinny senior guard from Oak Park, Ill., busted up Miami (Ohio) for 39 points Sunday and it wasn’t even close to his season high. Williams put up 48 points against Akron on Jan. 4.
• FORWARD: David West, Xavier. Memo to Dayton and the rest of Xavier’s opponents this season: You absolutely must double-team West. If not, he’ll score 47 points like he did Saturday against the Flyers. West also grabbed 18 rebounds in the Xavier victory.
• FORWARD: Ron Slay, Tennessee. Why doesn’t this guy get more attention? The only player in the SEC averaging more than 20 points, Slay put 33 on Georgia on Saturday. What impresses us most about the big man (he’s 6-8, 240 pounds) is his shooting touch. He missed only one 3-pointer Saturday in five attempts.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS: At this point, we’re not expecting much argument against Kentucky being the nation’s best defensive team. Players such as Keith Bogans, Gerald Fitch, Marquis Estill, Chuck Hayes and the rest certainly have turned up the intensity without the basketball -- see Florida’s 34-percent shooting (17-of-50) and 19 forced turnovers in the last week’s victory for proof, if you must -- but much of the credit belongs to someone who doesn’t even wear a uniform. Tubby Smith, amid loud rumblings in Lexington suggesting the Wildcats return to the Rick Pitino-like full-court press, decided he knew his team best and opted to focus on his favored trapping, half-court pressure defense. The decision has led to Kentucky holding opponents to just a smidge better than 20 percent shooting in first halves this season.
DUNK: Brian Cook
Continuing to push for First-Team All-America honors, Cook scored 22 points in a breezy victory against Ohio State on Saturday. Twenty-two seems to be a magic number for Cook and the Illini: The team is 8-0 when he scores at least 22 points.
AIR BALL: Christian Drejer hype
Yeah, he’s coming off a painful ankle injury. So what? He’s been good enough in practice for Florida coach Billy Donovan to call him “the best player he’s ever coached.” Hello? Mike Miller, anyone? So far in seven games, Drejer’s career high is four points -- four points! -- and he hasn’t scored more than a single field goal in a contest. Maybe Drejer will become as good as advertised, but if so, we haven't even seen a glimpse of it yet.
DUNK: Georgia Tech at home
The Yellow Jackets haven’t lost a home game all year. Georgia Tech is 11-0 in Alexander Memorial Coliseum, but here comes the problem … Paul Hewitt’s squad is 0-7 on the road. (Tech is 0-1 on a nuetral site -- a loss to Tennessee at Philips Arena in Atlanta.)
AIR BALL: Chris Marcus’ college career
A truly sad story. A broken bone in his left foot has caused the WKU big man to officially end his college career. The 7-foot-1 Marcus suffered the injury prior to last season and played just 15 games in 2001-02. This year, he played four game before pain forced him to the bench. Once thought of as a slam-dunk NBA lottery pick, you have to wonder what his chances of playing in the league are now.
DUNK: Bobby Knight
Love him or love to hate him, no one can deny that Knight is one of the most successful coaches college basketball as ever produced. Congratulations on win No. 800.
AIR BALL: Duke streaker
So this is what it’s come to? A moron Duke fan, naked with a painted Nike swoosh on his back, ran on to the court during the UNC game on Wednesday. Excessive storming the court is one thing … but this is just stupid. He was charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.
Oklahoma at Texas, Monday, 9 p.m., ESPN
This is just the beginning of a brutal five-game stretch for the Sooners. As the top of the Big 12 standings bunch up -- Oklahoma State, OU and Kansas are 7-1; Texas is 6-2 -- Kelvin Sampson’s team must play this game, they it is at Texas Tech, home against Oklahoma State and Kansas, then back on the road for Missouri. The good news for Oklahoma is that the Sooners have won their last three meetings against Texas, including a 67-51 victory in the Big 12 tournament semifinals in the last meeting last season.
Georgia at Kentucky, Tuesday, 9 p.m., ESPN
Kentucky handled its business against Florida last week -– and then some. Can Keith Bogans and the Wildcats do it again? One of the nation’s most athletic teams, Georgia is scary good when Ezra Williams and Jarvis Hayes are shooting in rhythm. If the Wildcats play defense Tuesday as they did a week ago against Florida, we’ll see if the Bulldogs can win without many open looks for their shooters.
Duke at Wake Forest, Thursday , 7 p.m. ESPN2
Sunday’s loss to Marquette aside, Wake Forest is turning out to be much better than we thought. Josh Howard (19.3 ppg., 8.5 rpg.) is proving to be one of the nation’s most versatile players. The Blue Devils ran away from the Demon Deacons in the second half of their first meeting, but this one could be different. Duke is not nearly as strong as it appeared earlier this year, especially on the road. Mike Krzyzewski’s boys have dropped three straight against away from Cameron.
"We were kind of surprised. We thought they had more firepower." -- Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes on Florida after the Wildcats routed the Gators 70-55 on Tuesday.
"[I] was trying to be like the guy on the Nike commercial who was running around naked on the soccer field.” -- Idiot Duke fan to police after being arrested for streaking at the UNC game Wednesday.
"That was the first time since my freshman year that I didn't get double-teamed. I was waiting for it, but it never came, so coach kept calling my number. That's probably the last time I'll see it this year." -- David West after he put 47 points on Dayton on Saturday.
"They always chant 'One more year,' but I've got two more years left." -- Marquette’s Dwyane Wade on the home crowd after the Golden Eagles defeated the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest on Sunday.
We asked for the best rivalries in the nation. Here's what you said:
It’s Louisville vs. Kentucky, uncontested. Kentucky with 100 years of basketball and the winningest team ever against Louisville. Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino at Louisville, former Rick Pitino assistant Tubby Smith at UK. Anyone who’s in the Bluegrass State knows this matchup is a civil war ... brother against brother. Go, Cats!
Daniel Googe, Louisville, Ky.
The Kansas vs. Missouri Border War! The hatred dates back to the Civil War when Quantrill burned down Lawrence. These two schools go at it twice a year and the fans battle year round. Over the last 12 years, the total score has been Missouri 937, Kansas 935 (KU has a sizable overall advantage, fortunately). The actual hatred between the two schools fuel this intense rivalry. Chris Craig, Roeland Park, Kan.
Much as I hate to say it, the best rivalry is probably Kentucky-Louisville right now. Both teams are among the elite (sorry, Duke-UNC), and Kentucky fans genuinely dislike Pitino ... a lot, as near as I can tell. Sandy Cash, Durham, N.C.
It’s Georgetown-Syracuse. This series defines the Big East. While the teams are no longer as dominant as in the past, the rivalry hasn't lost steam. Who can forget John Thompson's glower, the emotional crowds and unforgettable finishes. If you think the rivalry is over: watch a replay of the last game this past week in Syracuse, and watch Gerry McNamara get knocked off the court by a Hoya.
Rick Stuhler, Rochester, N.Y.
For next week: Who deserves consideration for Player of the Year this season?
Mark Button covers college basketball for CNNSI.com.
