11-12 power rankings #1

8/3/2019 11-12 Power Rankings #1

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Team #8: The Hammer (3-2)

• Naughty

o Andre Drummond: C, Connecticut… With an NBA-ready, 6’11” and 275-pound

frame, many envisioned Drummond dominating the low blocks at the collegiate

level. But a broken nose and mild concussion suffered in late October was a

major setback for the talented freshman. He’s been playing with a protective

mask and has taken a backseat to every Huskie teammate on the offensive end. The

Hammer clearly pictured things going differently for his 4th

round pick, as Drummond is

averaging less than 7 fantasy points in four starts thus far.

• Nice

o Thomas Robinson: F, Kansas… An All-American candidate, Thomas Robinson is the focal point for the Jayhawks this

year. While opening the season with six consecutive double-doubles, T-Rob brought home Player of the Week

awards in Week 1 and Week 4. And he’s not just eating up early-season cupcakes, as he blew up with a dominant

performance against Duke at the Maui Invitational. It’s hard not to envision Robinson averaging a double-double

this season, so picking his games won’t be too challenging. Fresh off back-to-back 46-point outings, the only thing

that could slow down T-Rob this week was a bye.

• Miracleo Tim Hardaway: G, Michigan… Poised for a breakout sophomore campaign, nabbing Hardaway in the 5

thround

seemed like a steal during the draft. But after failing to impress during the first two weeks, The Hammer benched

Hardaway for the next three, in favor of a variety of free agent pickups. After returning to the starting lineup in

Week 6, he responded with a 3.5-point outing against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The jury’s still out on whether The

Hammer is just failing to pick the “right game” for Hardaway, as he is averaging 15.6ppg. The real miracle here is

The Hammer’s current 3-2 record, after losing 2nd

rounder Tim Abromaitis for the season and Hardaway being a

complete non-factor thus far.

• Draft Grade

o Listen, I am not questioning The Hammer’s motivation. He was practically begging me for his draft kit weeks before

I had even thought about creating it. This was probably the only year in which The Hammer’s draft preparation

didn’t consist solely of an array of booze and a lucky cap. But I’m just not sure all of that extra time and effort paid

off on draft day. The Hammer has made five moves in free agency through the first four weeks of the season. Will

the frequent roster turnover lower team morale? Regardless, a better job in the middle and late rounds could have

saved this otherwise disaster of a draft… D+

• New Year’s Resolution

o “Spend more time with family” ... I thoroughly enjoy The Hammer’s passion as an owner, trying to improve his team

at every chance. But it might be time for a team meeting instead of constantly window shopping the free agency

market. See if your players have any tendencies or analyze their matchups with a more critical eye. That might help

you figure out why some of your players are so inconsistent from week to week. Someone needs to help your

Thomas Robinson/Marcus Denmon duo carry the scoring load. But after last year’s 2nd

place finish, I have

confidence that The Hammer can motivate this group and perhaps grab another spot in the finals.



Team #7: McDonnell’s All-Americans (2-3)

• Naughty

o JaMychal Green: F, Alabama… I don’t think a Player of the Week has ever

made the ‘Naughty’ list before. But there’s a first time for everything!

Outside of his phenomenal Week 3 performance against VCU (21 points, 14

boards), Green has averaged just 18.25 fantasy points. Now in his senior

campaign, the former McDonald’s All-American should be a consistent

contributor for the Crimson Tide. I can see Green as the catalyst for this

rookie owner’s success or failure this season. It’ll be interesting to see who

wins the battle between ‘Good JaMychal’ and ‘Bad JaMychal’ over the long

haul.

• Nice

o Jeremy Lamb: G/F, Connecticut… Returning from a national championship season, ESPN tabbed super sophomore

Jeremy Lamb as a preseason All-American. We’re six weeks into the season, and he’s clearly deserving of the hype.

While he’s not a true double-double threat, Lamb rebounds extremely well for a guard. And his coveted G/F

position listing allows him to be a versatile threat in McDonnell’s All-Americans’ lineup. In his five starts, Lamb has

averaged 26.50 fantasy points. And while he’s capable of scoring in bunches, Lamb can be counted on to produce

every week… with the occasional highlight reel play.

• Miracle

o Glen Rice: G/F, Georgia Tech… After serving a three-game suspension to start the season, Glen Rice burst onto the

scene in Week 3, helping McDonnell’s All-Americans defeat division rival Nosotros Creemos. A pair of lackluster

performances in the following weeks landed Rice back on the bench in Week 6. Given his unreliability thus far, it

might be a miracle if he can earn his spot back in McDonnell’s All-Americans’ starting lineup.

• Draft Grade

o While I can’t speak from personal experience, drafting a fantasy team via the internet is a bit of a challenge. Couple

that with popping your fantasy college hoops cherry, and you’re lucky if you don’t feel like you just got

manhandled by a bunch of pros by the end of it. I liked that McDonnell’s All-Americans wasn’t afraid to mix it up

during the draft, thanks to the league’s new and improved chat room feature. But some inexperience showed in

the middle rounds. Picking Kansas State’s Jordan Henriquez-Roberts in the 5th

round because you thought C was a

required position was a fatal, rookie mistake. And although your draft started out like a ball of fire, it seemed to

fade more and more after every round… C-


o “Make a wise investment” … One of the most pivotal elements of the fantasy college hoops experience is adding

talent to your roster. Especially in a year riddled with parity and countless unknowns. That’s why I’m baffled that

McDonnell’s All-Americans hasn’t made any moves yet. With one of the weaker drafts in the league, this first-year

owner needs to take a dip in the free agency pool. Otherwise, I see McDonnell’s All-Americans as a bubble team.



Team #6: The Iron Men (2-3)

• Naughty

o Yancy Gates: F, Cincinnati… This home-grown, former five-star recruit

has seemingly been on the verge of stardom every year. But far too

often, Gates’ emotions get the best of him. This time, it was a thrown

ball followed by a right cross at the end of the Cincinnati-Xavier game.

The Bearcats served Gates with a 6-game suspension, which will put

him out until Week 9. While his production will obviously be missed

(averaging 28.29 fantasy points with four double-doubles in five

starts) the rest of The Iron Men will be forced to tread water until

Gates returns to action.

• Nice

o Draymond Green: F, Michigan St… The Dancing Bear has been busting

a move during his senior campaign. Green has yet to score less than 20 fantasy points this year, an impressive feat.

He currently ranks #6 overall scoring while nearly averaging a double-double (16.3ppg, 9.7rpg) for Sparty so far.

The Iron Men has to like everything Green brings to the table: blue-collar work ethic, emotional leader, go-to guy,

etc. And wouldn’t you know it? While I’m typing this, Green just erupted for a career-high 34 points in a 74-67 win

at #22 Gonzaga.

• Miracle

o Positional Breakdown… Basically, The Iron Men have been putting all of their eggs in one basket until this week.

Luckily, they’ve been rolling the dice with some studs in the frontcourt. So far it appears the gamble has paid off,

as they are the second-highest scoring team in the league. But I wouldn’t push your luck too far, because the

tables can turn in the blink of an eye… otherwise known as conference play.

• Draft Grade

o After taking five forwards in the first five rounds, the most interesting draft strategy clearly goes to The Iron Men,

hands down. While I’m not a proponent of loading up on any given position, The Iron Men certainly have some

frontcourt firepower. After adding a solid backcourt option in Seton Hall’s Jordan Theodore, the disparity between

guards and forwards is not as glaring as it once was. But this is supposed to be a draft grade. And while you drafted

quite well, you basically drafted half of your team needs. So you get halfway between an ‘A’ and ‘F’… C


o “Get organized” … Now that finals week is winding down, The Iron Men will be able to focus on what’s really

important… fantasy college hoops! The month long vacation was one of the best parts of college life. Without

having to attend class (Ha!), The Iron Men can use the spare time to make improvements to his roster. Like Tony

Stark tinkering in his laboratory with a shiny, new upgrade. A little extra effort now can make the difference later,

when a potential playoff berth is as stake.



Team #5: Tom Selleck's doppelgänger (3-2)

• Naughty

o Reeves Nelson: F, UCLA… Even though the enigmatic Nelson is no

longer officially on Tom Selleck's doppelgänger’s roster, the damage

has been done by the former 2nd

round pick. He was suspended in

mid-November, before getting suspended again in early-December,

which ultimately led to his dismissal from the Bruins altogether.

Honestly, I can’t think of another player more deserving of a ‘Naughty

list nomination. Let’s just hope Tom Selleck's doppelgänger can move

on. Although I’m sure the mere thought of Nelson will conjure up “Oh,

what could have been…” as well as a variety of four-letter expletives.

• Nice

o Brad Beal: G, Florida… One of the biggest surprises this season has been the play of freshman Brad Beal. The native

from St. Louis is thriving in the talented, but crowded Gator backcourt (i.e. Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, Mike

Rosario, etc.) I didn’t think there would be enough shots to go around to make any of them relevant on the fantasy

scene. Boy was I wrong, as Beal has been ranked in the Top 10 in scoring all season, thanks to two double-doubles.

If Beal will stick around for his sophomore campaign, I can’t imagine Tom Selleck's doppelgänger wouldn’t make

him his keeper for next season. Picking Beal in the 10th

round next year would make any owner’s mouth water.

• Miracleo UK frontcourt dichotomy… The league consensus seemed like Terrence Jones was a one of the few can’t-miss

picks of the draft. Fast-forward to the 7th

round, when Tom Selleck's doppelgänger scooped up Jones’ handcuff,

Anthony Davis. Through the first five weeks of the season, Jones has failed to score 25+ fantasy points, whereas

the freshman Davis already has two 40+ point performances and ranks in the Top 25 in overall scoring. After

multiple conversations with Tom Selleck's doppelgänger, he’s expressed uncertainty starting both Wildcat

teammates, especially in the same game. Although I don’t agree with that philosophy, it appears Jones is now in

the doghouse, as he is riding the pine in Week 6.

• Draft Grade

o It seemed like every time Tom Selleck's doppelgänger made a pick, the room starting buzzing. I’m not sure how

good of a grade I can give you when your 1st

round pick (Terrence Jones) is currently benched, your 2nd

round pick

(Reeves Nelson) was booted off the team, and your 3rd

round pick (Jorge Gutierrez) is currently a free agent. But I

think a realistic goal for a rookie owner is to make more good picks than bad. Which you did, but just barely… C+


o “Reduce stress” … While you’ve made some smart moves in free agency, my only advice to you is to try and reduce

your stress levels. As a rookie owner, managing a trio of frosh in your starting lineup seems like quite an

undertaking. So your future might be anything but stress-free. But try to stay patient, and take the ups with the

downs. And they might be first-year players, but let’s be honest… these kids can play some ball.



Team #4: Gordon Bombay (3-2)

• Naughty

o Kris Joseph: F, Syracuse… The wing forward from Montreal has been a

model of consistency for the past three seasons. So when Gordon Bombay

took the senior Joseph in the second round, he likely didn’t anticipate an

explosive boost in scoring output. Aside from a double-double in Week 3,

Joseph has gotten lost in the shuffle of Syracuse’s deep roster. Bombay

needs him to play a little more selfishly, as he averaged less than 15 fantasy

points in his other four starts. Joseph is a solid teammate with a great

attitude, so he won’t force up bad shots or get too focused on his own

stats. But this is fantasy college hoops, and the only thing that matters are

the stats!

• Nice

o John Henson: F, North Carolina… Despite being 6’11” with a 7’4” wingspan, it still surprises me that Henson is such

an effective rebounder. The future lottery pick has arguably been the league’s top player thus far. With double-

doubles in three out of the last four weeks (8pts, 17reb in Week 4), Henson has been a scoring machine for Gordon

Bombay. The only knock on the lanky forward has to be his career free-throw percentage: 46%. While those misses

can be costly, his ability to block shots (3.3bpg) and knack for staying out of foul trouble will make Henson’s

double-double bonuses even more valuable. I can definitely see another Player of the Week in Henson’s future.

• Miracle

o Bill Self : HC, Kansas… While I admit being a Jayhawk homer, I was more than skeptical when Bombay elected Bill

Self as his head coach. For the first time under the Self-regime, this season had a rebuilding-type feel to it. And I

just didn’t see much success for Kansas this season. And if I wasn’t convinced of this already, I am now: no one gets

more out of his players every year than Bill Self. Now that Kansas’ brutal non-conference schedule is in the

rearview mirror, I have a feeling the Jayhawks will rise up and once again challenge for the Big XII title.

• Draft Grade

o John Henson is one of three 1st

round picks (Thomas Robinson, Jared Sullinger) to rank in the Top 20 in overall

scoring through five weeks. I’m not sure how William Buford lasted until the middle of the 4th

round, but that was

a quality pick with a professional level of game. While it’s true that drafts are won in the middle rounds, I’m not

sold on any of your picks in Rounds 5-8. Grabbing a flyer on Marquis Teague in the last round looks like a nice

move. It’s always nice to have a Calipari-coached point guard on your squad, as they tend to dominate the ball… B-


o “Get in shape” … Gordon Bombay is averaging 128 points in his three wins, against 155 points in his two losses.

Some might call that bad luck. But if Bombay wants to continue his string of fantasy college hoops success, he’ll

need to pick up the pace. Getting to play Chocolate Thunder and Sutton & Sons Saloon and Pharmacy (a combined

0-10) during the past two weeks should help build some confidence heading into a marquee matchup with The

Hammer.



Team #3: Nosotros Creemos (4-1)

• Naughty

o Jason Clark: G, Georgetown… Apparently Nosotros Creemos still hasn’t

learned his lesson with drafting Georgetown guards. After dealing with

Chris Wright last season, Jason Clark was the last name I expected to hear

when Nosotros Creemos made his 5th

round pick. With only one start in

the last five weeks, Clark has been far too inconsistent to be a regular

starter. Although “Nosotros Creemos” translates to “We Believe” , it looks

like Clark’s owner has just about given up on the senior guard.

• Nice

o Kevin Jones: F, West Virginia… As a four-star recruit out of New York, Kevin Jones barely weighed 200 pounds. All I

can say is what a difference four years of development have made. Now in his senior season, Jones is an imposing

6’8” and 260 pounds. He has transformed from a high-energy player into a dominating, combo forward. Jones has

been eating glass all season, with at least eight boards (including five double-doubles) in every game for the

Mountaineers thus far. Conference play usually brings on tougher competition, but I doubt anyone can tame this

Big East beast.

• Miracle

o Andre Roberson: G, Colorado… Speaking of rebounds! Nosotros Creemos almost apologetically drafted Andre

Roberson in the 6th

round. But it’s obvious that he found a diamond in the rough. Fantasy-wise, the backcourt inBoulder has been churning out studs: Richard Roby, then Cory Higgins, and most recently Alec Burks. So far,

Roberson appears to be next in line. Surprisingly, he has more single-digit scoring outings (3) than rebounding (1)

through Colorado’s first nine games. If he continues ripping down boards at this clip (11.8rpg), the sky is the limit

for this sophomore. Also worth noting… with a roster full of seniors, Roberson might be the only realistic keeper

option for Nosotros Creemos. I highly doubt he’d be seeing that after picking him during the draft.

• Draft Grade

o I can’t penalize Nosotros Creemos for drafting Trevor Mbakwe in the first round. It was the right choice, and just

awful luck when he was lost for the season. I think this is one of those drafts where you don’t think he has much at

first glance. But then you look at it again later and see it all coming together. Other than Roberson, this team’s

guard play is still suspect. But I think the strength of the current Nosotros Creemos frontcourt (Jeffery Taylor, Kevin

Jones, Mouphtaou Yarou) could very well carry this squad into the playoffs… B


o “Manage debt” … With three free-agent pickups in a two week span, Nosotros Creemos might need to give the ole

trigger finger a rest. This squad is still one guard away from sniffing unbeatable status, although you wouldn’t

know it from their owner’s demeanor. The most recent sneaky addition of Georgia’s Gerald Robinson could help

provide some stability. But I would avoid falling into a free agency money pit, and pick your spots from now on.



Team #2: The Phoggy Doggs (5-0)

• Naughty

o Mike Scott: F, Virginia… Coming off an injury-shortened junior season, Mike

Scott was a gamble for The Phoggy Doggs in Round 1. And while he’s still not

back to 100%, this owner won’t temper expectations. When you’re the 1st

round pick and a 5th

year senior, you’re the centerpiece of the franchise and

need to lead by example. Granted, Scott currently ranks in the Top 20 in

overall scoring. But a 6.50-point effort in Week 5 is unacceptable to a squad of

this caliber.

• Nice

o Dee Bost: G, Mississippi St… After owning Dee Bost from day one, I’ve

developed quite a bond with the senior point guard. He is an explosive scorer

for 16th

ranked Mississippi State (10-1) and will likely finish as the school’s all-time leader in assists. Bost has been

playing off the ball a little more, which should help cut down on turnovers, something that have plagued him his

entire career. I can’t say I’m surprised that Bost is currently the league’s highest scoring guard. He’s been doing his

thing for a while now, and I’m just hoping he’s hungry for another championship.

• Miracle

o Royce White: F, Iowa St… The commish always seems to find a late-round gem. By mere coincidence, it always

involves Iowa State somehow. Three years ago it was Craig Brackins and his season-long beast mode. Two yearsago, former Cyclone Wesley Johnson was the league scoring champ during his one and only season at Syracuse.

This year it is Royce White, who decided to transfer in to Iowa State last year. Undoubtedly, White will summon

some “Hilton magic” and continue the trend of productive sleepers for The Phoggy Doggs. The former Golden

Gopher is averaging 30 fantasy points in his first five starts.

• Draft Grade

o I’ll admit that I hardly prepped for this year’s draft. I didn’t think it would make a difference given the amount of

turnover from last season. But like a seasoned veteran, The Phoggy Doggs capitalized on nearly every opportunity.

The Iron Men and Ad astra per aspera were clearly frustrated with me, constantly whining when The Phoggy Doggs

took the player at the top of their draft boards in seemingly every round. Honestly, I’m not surprised. But after

dominating drafts and bombing drafts, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s all about how you adjust to the action,

deal with adversity, and maximize your team’s production. And nobody does that better than the commish… A-


o “Take a vacation” … With the power rankings nearly complete and The Phoggy Doggs’ record unblemished, it’s

been a crazy couple of weeks. It’s hard to believe the unprecedented 23-game, regular season winning streak is

still alive, dating back to January 2010. This year’s squad definitely doesn’t want it to end with them. The pieces

are certainly in place for another postseason run. So kick back and enjoy the show, everyone. Now if you’ll excuse

me, I’ll be right back… to back… to back… to back!



Team #1: Boiler Up, Hammer Down (5-0)

• Naughty

o Robbie Hummel: F, Purdue… Boiler Up, Hammer Down probably never

thought he’d see the day when his beloved Robbie Hummel made the

‘Naughty’ list. The 8th

year senior (okay, redshirt senior) needed to bounce

back from consecutive knee injuries. It’s been a long road and countless hours

of rehab for the Hummel. But it doesn’t look like he’s quite ready to silence his

critics just yet. Hummel has averaged less than 20 points over the first five weeks of

the season. His Week 5 benching I’m sure came as a surprise to the whole league.

• Nice

o Jae Crowder: F, Marquette… Crowder has been one of the most productive players in the

country so far this season. He just hasn’t been given a chance to show it until recently.

While riding the pine in Weeks 2 and 3, Crowder posted his only double-doubles on the

season. Ironically enough, they both came against Norfolk State! Even though he’s

missed on a lot of Crowder’s bigger games, I wouldn’t be too frustrated if I was

Boiler Up, Hammer Down. Crowder is a savvy upperclassman with a nose for the

ball for an upstart Marquette squad. If he continues to reward Crowder with a spot in his starting lineup, the points

will come. Which is kind of a scary thought considering he’s already 5-0.

• Miracleo Herb Pope: F, Seton Hall… The biggest gamble of the draft paid off when Boiler Up, Hammer Down chose the

human rollercoaster, Herb Pope in the 6th

round. He was the NCAA’s leading rebounder heading into his junior

season, which was marred by health issues that nearly ended his life. So when this year’s draft rolled around,

everyone seemed hesitant to pull the trigger on Pope. Since getting the starting nod in Week 2, Pope has delivered

four consecutive double-doubles. He currently ranks in the Top 5 in league scoring, averaging a shade under 40

points per game. Boiler Up, Hammer Down would have you believe Pope should be a three-time Player of the

Week by now. While that seems a bit of a stretch, you can’t argue with his production.

• Draft Grade

o Boiler Up, Hammer Down wasn’t so sure about his draft when I spoke to him about it during the first week of the

season. But looking back, I’d have to say he cleaned house with lucky pick #7. His top seven draft picks could start

for just about every other team in the league. While I’m not sure if Boiler Up, Hammer Down is quite sold on histeam yet, they’re doing everything they can to convince him otherwise… A


o “Run a marathon” … Now I know you’re thinking I’m a jackass. Yeah Ace, tell the guy fresh off crutches to go run a

marathon. But in all seriousness, it’s helpful advice because this isn’t a sprint. If you only care about the short-

term, you’ll never win it all. With a team that’s solid from top-to-bottom and the league’s #1 ranking in hand, will

this be the year Boiler Up, Hammer Down finally wins it all? Not if I have anything to say about it! I’m sure I’ll see

you in the finals again. But for now, The Phoggy Doggs are counting the days until our Week 8 showdown.

11-12 power rankings #1

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