Welcome to Glass Slipper! Get well soon, Mr. Wembanyama; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways through 15 weeks of the men’s college basketball season.

1. Big man on campus.

Sheesh. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen an individual player get literally whatever they wanted for an entire half against a UCLA defense. It’s hard not to feel happy for Dawson Garcia, though. The Minnesota native transferred close to home because of a family emergency, and he’s now making a case for a first-team All-Big Ten spot.

By the way, don’t bother predicting a Cinderella run if my precious Bruins somehow sneak into the field. Those guys just went 5-15 from the free throw line in the second half, and blew a 17-point lead at Pauley Pavilion; Mick Cronin then plopped down in front of a microphone and blamed it on the fans. Oh, really? It’s our fault? Come on, dude. This is not a serious team.

2. Alex Karaban’s draft stock.

Consider me downright bewildered here. I’m seeing Karaban pop up at the back end of the first round on mock drafts. Um… why?

It was a coin toss on whether or not he would even be selected had he come out in 2024. What’s changed from then to now? Well, his shooting splits have all plummeted, UConn is significantly worse, and he’s a year older. Oh, he also melted down with the game hanging in the balance at Villanova earlier in the season. He needs to be bumped down several tiers.

3. Red Raiders rising.

Here’s Texas Tech over its last eight campaigns, next to North Carolina in that same time frame.

The boys from Lubbock have gone stride-for-stride with a certified blue blood for the better part of a decade. That program deserves our respect.

4. Jack Johnson’s biggest hit.

A couple of months ago, I wrote about how stupid it was that Terrence Shannon - who made zero Final Fours at Illinois - was getting his jersey sent to the rafters.

Which one of my dastardly readers snuck into the State Farm Center to try and sabotage his ceremony on my behalf?

5. Rock bottom.

I think Bill Self is the best coach in America, but even I can’t defend what’s happening right now. The No. 1 squad in the preseason AP poll is now 10-9 in its last 19, and just got laughed out of the gym in Provo. Quite frankly, this is what Bill gets for trying to build a contender around Hunter Dickinson; the Jayhawks are quietly sinking towards the bubble.

6. A match made in heaven.

The Charlotte Hornets desperately need VJ Edgecombe. A special defender, who possesses an infinite vertical and brings competitive juice every night? You could not build a more perfect long-term backcourt mate for LaMelo Ball.

While we’re looking ahead towards Charlotte’s summer, let’s package Miles Bridges, Josh Green, and two first-rounders for Zion Williamson. All of the sudden, I’m closing games with Ball, Edgecombe, Brandon Miller, Zion, and Mark Williams? Hey, at least I’m creating some traffic at the ticket counter.

7. The John Tonje resurgence.

He began the year ripping-hot, then missed at least half of his shots in 11 straight games. The cold stretch culminated with a scoreless performance against USC on January 18. Since walking off the floor at the Galen Center that afternoon, no one in the country has been better.

Wisconsin is tiptoeing towards the 2-line, and the offense looks legitimately elite. Look out.

8. Wait, what?

Labaron Philon is appearing in the top 20 of mock drafts. Someone explain it to me like I’m five. Philon weighs 177 pounds; he isn’t a freak athlete, and he can’t shoot threes. I like the kid, but he should be nowhere near lottery conversations.

9. Fool’s gold.

Texas A&M’s top five guards all shoot under 40% from the floor (yuck). That is not a winning formula in March. For those of you that are itching to pick a first-round shocker in your bracket, I think these Aggies are highly susceptible.

10. My updated National Player of the Year ladder.

1) Cooper Flagg, Duke

2) Johni Broome, Auburn

3) John Tonje, Wisconsin

4) Walter Clayton, Florida

5) JT Toppin, Texas Tech

6) Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue

7) Kam Jones, Marquette

8) Braden Smith, Purdue

9) PJ Haggerty, Memphis

10) Chucky Hepburn, Louisville

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