Opening Night MVP's: Top Performances In College Hoops
Night one of college basketball kicked off on Monday night with some big-time teams on the schedule and some big-time performances that took place.
We saw several top programs in action. The defending champions played, along with several other members of the Top 25, including Michigan State who was on the losing end of the first major upset of the season in losing to James Madison.
With that being said, let’s take a look at three of my MVP’s of the night.
Terrence Edwards Jr., James Madison
The James Madison Dukes went into Breslin Center in East Lansing with one goal in mind, which was getting a win. Not many expected the No. 4 team in the nation to go down on the first night of the season but as we’ve learned in this great sport, anything can happen.
Terrence Edwards Jr. was a vital member of the Dukes roster last year and had a season where he averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and had shooting splits of 52% from the field and 45% from three-point range.
He was JMU’s leading scorer last season and was the Sun Belt’s Sixth Man Of The Year, and will be a vital piece of a JMU squad this season that’s expected to be atop the Sun Belt Conference.
The Performance: 24 Points, 5-13 from the field, 12-13 on free throws, five rebounds, three assists, and played 41 minutes.
He had some huge baskets throughout the game, but not many as big as the ones he had in the overtime period (7 points) which ultimately helped lead the Dukes with an upset victory to begin the season.
Alex Karaban, UConn
On Monday night, the defending national champions played against Northern Arizona and would end up defeating them by 33 points. A huge factor in the Huskies' victory was a sophomore forward who arrived at UConn during the second semester of the 2021-22 season as an early enrollee and never looked back.
Alex Karaban had a phenomenal performance on Monday night and it’s a surprise to nobody, as Karaban already showed flashes during the national title season last year and had major expectations coming into this year as a returning starter, but also a potential draft prospect who will be a major contributor.
The Performance: 22 points, 8-12 shooting, 3-6 from downtown, seven rebounds, one block, zero turnovers, and played 27 minutes.
Karaban started in the second game of the season for UConn last year, his first-ever start, and would end up starting every game remaining after that and was a starter on a national championship-winning team. He looks to get even better this season and started strong.
Quinten Post, Boston College
Two seasons ago, Post burst onto the scene in the ACC tournament for BC and was named an All-ACC tournament selection. From there, Post would just continue to be one of the conference’s top guys, but also one of the best centers in America.
Post would go on the following season and be named the ACC’s most improved player and was also an honorable mention for an All-ACC team. You just knew after the season he had last year that he was going to come out strong this year.
The Performance: 31 points, 11-14 shooting, 5-6 from three-point range, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks, in just 29 minutes of game action.
Post would become just the second player at BC over the last 25 years to record 30 points, 10 boards, and connect on five made three-pointers. Could be an All-ACC season for the Boston College 7-footer out of the Netherlands.