As we put the fourth week of the college season to bed, here are three things I took away from the action:
1: Michigan State looks like a potential NCAA host team.
Suzy Merchant’s Spartans are off to a fast 6-1 start that includes a win over Notre Dame. They’re being paced by a dynamic backcourt of Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon. Together, the two combine for just over 27 points per contest. Defensively, the Spartans have had opposing offenses on lockdown mode. They’ve only given up more than 60 points once and that still resulted in the win over the Fighting Irish. If they can maintain this level of defensive intensity, East Lansing might just be a hosting pod for the first weekend of the tourney next March.
2: TCU is handling their business.
Coming into a big stretch versus two SEC opponents, the Horned Frogs are sitting pretty at 6-0. Much like the aforementioned Spartans, Raegan Pebley’s group is making it happen on the defensive end not giving up more than 65 points in any game this season. With three Horned Frogs averaging double digits per game offensively, there is definitely a pick your poison feel to the production on a nightly basis for opposing defenses. Eight players are averaging double digits minutes as well on arguably Pebley’s most well rounded roster to date.
3: Texas Tech has a legitimate chance to walk into Big 12 play undefeated.
On the western side of the Lone Star State, Marlene Stollings has the Red Raiders moving on up. They are currently 6-0 after a big win over SEC foe Ole Miss this week. They’ll be favored in their next five games before seeing Iowa State to start the new year. The offense has gotten off to a roaring start with five players averaging double figures. Two of those, Brittany Brewer and Alexis Tucker, are also averaging a double double in points, rebounds. Brewer’s early numbers, 18.5 points and 11.7 rebounds per, are usually good enough to warrant First-Team All Big XII consideration if she can maintain this level of production. The Red Raiders will welcome another potential double figure scoring option in Lexi Gordon for the remainder of the season starting with their next game. Gordon has been ineligible after transferring from UConn.
Brandon Clay serves as the WNBA Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The JumpOffPlus.com International Report, which is picked up by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Men’s / Women’s College Player of the Year Academy and is chairman of the HS Boys / Girls Board of Selectors and is on the McDonald’s All-American Selection Committee. He also is the publisher of BrandonClayStyle.com.
