Welcome to Glass Slipper! Greg Anthony does not watch basketball; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways through 17 weeks of the men’s college basketball season.

1. Pretenders.

It’s been 54 days since Michigan won a game by at least five points. That stretch includes 10 unranked opponents, by the way. Roddy Gayle Jr. didn’t betray Ohio State after all; he’s actually working as a double agent, and sabotaging the Wolverines from the inside.

Meanwhile, Tom Izzo and company just locked up the Big Ten title outright. It’s been quite a rough two months for U-M sports fans.

2. A Collin Murray-Boyles conversation.

South Carolina is 2-15 in conference play. I would not be discussing one of their players unless they were truly special.

This kid qualifies. I’m legitimately blown away by the defensive instincts and the playmaking feel. There are obvious outside shooting concerns, and I don’t particularly care about any of them. Murray-Boyles tends to linger around the back of the lottery in mock drafts. I’d honestly consider taking him as high as No. 3.

3. A Utah nightmare.

If your favorite team draws BYU in the tournament, I apologize in advance. A veteran group that bombs threes is not what you want to deal with in a single-elimination setting.

Head coach Kevin Young has to be rubbing his hands together. If Richie Saunders sticks around for his senior campaign to pair with AJ Dybantsa, this is a real 2026 national championship threat.

4. PAW Patrol.

I’m not sure I could ever bring myself to root for a university that employs Dabo Swinney, but this Clemson squad is undeniably fun. No one in America is playing better right now.

Stylistically, the Tigers are giving me some 2017-18 Villanova vibes. Everyone is efficient, there are no egos, and they can turn it up defensively when necessary. These dudes could absolutely get to San Antonio.

5. Checking boxes.

Here’s Cooper Flagg and Jayson Tatum, with their Duke stats lined up next to each other.

Flagg was the better than Tatum in high school, and he’s clearly been a level above as a Blue Devil. If the trend continues, we really are looking at a rare NBA superstar.

6. Green light.

Did Tommy Lloyd secure Caleb Love in the transfer portal by promising him that he’d turn a blind eye to his shot selection, no matter what? Dating back to last season, the dude has taken at least five threes in 52(!!) consecutive contests.

Love is at 32% from behind the arc for his career. He got hot twice during North Carolina’s Final Four run in 2022, and he’s been coasting off that reputation ever since. Literally just tell him to stop firing, Tommy. You know that you’re the one in charge, right?

7. No flinching.

Kelvin Sampson built a machine at Houston, and people said he was just feasting on that weak AAC competition. Well, what now? The Cougars are unseating Kansas as the Big 12’s premier program, and should claim their third consecutive No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.

This is not the year to doubt Houston. Resist the urge. Lockdown defensive teams that shoot almost 40% from deep don’t come around very often; Kelvin’s crew has won 22 of 23 for a reason.

8. Bubble Buckeyes.

Come on, boys. Let’s grab one in Assembly Hall, win a couple in the conference tournament, and earn a bid to the dance. Bruce Thornton deserves it.

9. The big one.

Tomorrow. Duke and North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where Cooper Flagg will undoubtedly receive some of the loudest boos a collegiate athlete has gotten since the JJ Redick era. I literally started hyping this game in the fifth Glass Slipper that I ever wrote, way back in July. Even if you don’t like college basketball (definitely fix that), make sure to tune in to this one.

10. My updated National Player of the Year ladder.

1) Cooper Flagg, Duke

2) Johni Broome, Auburn

3) JT Toppin, Texas Tech

4) PJ Haggerty, Memphis

5) Chucky Hepburn, Louisville

6) John Tonje, Wisconsin

7) Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue

8) Walter Clayton, Florida

9) Braden Smith, Purdue

10) Kam Jones, Marquette

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