College Hoops Barometer: Risers & Fallers

Buckle up, hoops aficionados.  We could be in store for a wild ride in the polls this season.  The top of the rankings has already been in flux thanks to some huge early clashes between elite schools.  In this edition of Six Degrees of College Basketball, Villanova has two losses to top-5 teams (Purdue and UCLA).  The Bruins beat the Wildcats but then got pummeled by Gonzaga.  The 'Zags then drop a thriller to Duke.  The Blue Devils take Gonzaga's place at No. 1, only to lose their subsequent game against Ohio State.  Purdue remains undefeated, as does Baylor; the Bears play Villanova next week.  How's that for coming full circle?

Once conference play begins in earnest, we should get a better sense of the pretenders and contenders.  For now, though, let's enjoy a little holiday madness.

Let's profile some movers and shakers in this week's College Hoops Barometer.

UPGRADE

 Wendell Moore, G/F, Duke – Though the Blue Devils dropped their matchup with Ohio State on Tuesday following a riveting win over Gonzaga, Moore has taken his game to new heights as a junior.  His playmaking skills have been particularly impressive.  Moore is averaging 5.6 assists per contest, more than double his mark from a season ago.  He has also been getting into the lane and hitting a standout 56.1 percent of his shots from the field en route to an average of 17.9 points per tilt.  By contrast, he did not average double figures in points as a sophomore and shot under 42 percent from the floor.  Moore is no slouch on the glass either, ripping down 6.3 boards per tilt.  Moore can really fill up the box score for Duke, and his ascension has been a tad surprising given the presence of freshman sensation Paolo Banchero.

 Kobe Brown, F, Missouri – Brown put up a simply massive stat line in Monday's thrashing of the little-known Paul Quinn Tigers.  Brown racked up 20 points, 23 rebounds, six assists two steals and a block in the 91-59 triumph.  This production bumps up Brown's overall figures through seven games, though his stock was still trending upwards before this outing.  Brown accumulated 13 points, 13 rebounds, six dimes and four blocks against NIU earlier this season and had two other 20-point performances on his resume.  Mizzou had six players enter the transfer portal following last season, so the development of Brown has been an extremely welcome event.

 Hyunjung Lee, G, Davidson – Lee has been on a tear of late for the Wildcats.  No longer playing in the shadow of Kellan Grady, the 6-7 Lee is set to take the Atlantic 10 by storm.  He poured in 32 points while grabbing 14 rebounds in a dominant win over Charlotte.  Lee notched another double-double the week prior against East Carolina with 23 points and 10 boards.  He has hit 13 treys over the last three games, all wins for Davidson.  A Preseason First-Team All-Conference selection, Lee is a matchup nightmare and yet another in a long line of shooters to play for coach Bob McKillop, who is in his 33rd season at the helm.

 Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee – Chandler has not gotten as much pub as some of the other freshmen in his class, but he was a top-10 prospect and has done nothing to dispel that notion.  Chandler is averaging 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.2 dimes and 2.7 thefts per contest.  He is third in assists and tied for third in steals in the SEC thus far.  Chandler's contributions have been particularly important due to the recent rash of injuries and illnesses that have befallen some of the other Tennessee players, most notably Justin Powell and Josiah-Jordan James.  Chandler has already become the catalyst for the Vols.

CHECK STATUS

 Gabe Kalscheur, G, Iowa State – The Minnesota transfer tormented Memphis in the Cyclones' last game, pouring in 30 points in the stunning 78-59 rout of the Tigers.  Kalscheur did more than just score, though, as he compiled eight rebounds, two assists and five steals in what may have been the best game of his collegiate career.  Kalscheur failed to score in double-digits in two of Iowa State's six contests this season and is averaging fewer than three rebounds and three assists per tilt, so it has not been all sunshine and rainbows for the senior.  While last Friday's mammoth performance showcases Kalscheur's upside, the consistency in his production has not yet been apparent.  However, that could be a scary thought considering the Cyclones are 6-0 to start the season with the three-headed guard monster of Kalscheur, Penn State transfer Izaiah Brockington and freshman Tyrese Hunter.

 Kimani Lawrence, F, Arizona State – Lawrence began the season on a roll for the Sun Devils, posting double-doubles in three of the first four games.  He has come back down to earth over his last three contests, though, averaging just 5.7 points and 7.3 rebounds.  Lawrence has struggled shooting the ball against tougher competition, hitting just 33.3 percent of his shots during the most recent three-game span.  With Pac-12 play ready to start, it will be interesting to see how Lawrence performs as the competition remains stiff.

 Efton Reid, C, LSU – The freshman big man and five-star recruit has been up and down for the Tigers to begin this year's campaign.  Starting every game thus far this season, Reid is averaging 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds.  Certainly the presence of senior Darius Days may have something to do with Reid's inconsistency, as Days takes over 12 shots per game while also grabbing seven rebounds per contest.  Reid has yet to record a double-double, though came close against Belmont with 12 points and nine rebounds.  Reid should only get better from here on out, though there has been some adjustment to the college game.

DOWNGRADE

 Prentiss Hubb, G, Notre Dame – This past week has not been kind to Notre Dame Athletics.   Head football coach Brian Kelly bolted for greener pastures at LSU after 12 years at the helm earlier this week.  The hoops team has dropped its last two contests, and Hubb has not looked like himself.  Last year, Hubb averaged 14.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.8 dimes in 28 contests.  By contrast, he is managing just 6.0 points, 2.5 boards and 3.2 dimes through six games this season.  He is shooting a putrid 22.4 percent from the field; his three-point shooting has been even worse.  Hubb failed to score in 28 minutes during a loss Monday at Illinois.  In the previous game for the Irish, Hubb did manage 11 points but turned the ball over a staggering eight times in the 73-67 defeat to Texas A&M.  Freshman Blake Wesley may be stealing some of Hubb's scoring mojo, but the numbers for Hubb are down across the board.  It appears he is letting his poor shooting affect the other parts of his game.

 Jermaine Couisnard, G, South Carolina – The sophomore suffered a groin injury Sunday in the win over Rider, and the severity of the injury is currently not clear.  The junior is second in scoring and dishing on the squad.  The timing of the injury is especially poor since the Gamecocks just got back their star forward Keyshawn Bryant from suspension.  Erik Stevenson and James Reese will be tasked with additional responsibilities if Couisnard misses any significant time.

Adama Sanogo, F/C, Connecticut – The sophomore from Mali has been an impact player in the frontcourt for the Huskies, averaging 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest.  He has seen an expanded role in his second season at UConn.  Unfortunately, Sanogo left Tuesday's win over Maryland Eastern Shore with a lower abdominal strain, and his status in the short term is unknown.  With Tyrese Martin also sidelined due to a wrist injury, the Huskies suddenly find themselves fairly thin in terms of size up front.  Isaiah Whaley seems to be fine after a scary fainting incident and would stand to benefit if Sanogo misses any action.