Title: Big Men Dominate Preseason All-America Teams, Reflecting Evolving Style of Play in College Basketball
Guam News Factor – In the ever-evolving landscape of professional basketball, traditional big men are encountering challenges in solidifying themselves as coveted NBA prospects. The changing style of play at the highest level of the sport has resulted in numerous big men choosing to stay in college. Consequently, the preseason All-America teams have overwhelmingly been dominated by frontcourt players, highlighting the shift in the game.
Leading the pack of preseason All-Americans are Purdue’s Zach Edey, North Carolina’s Armando Bacot, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, and Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, all of whom were voted CBS Sports Preseason First Team All-Americans. Edey, towering at 7-4, currently holds the title of CBS Sports National Player of the Year and is widely favored to repeat as the Wooden Award winner.
The First Team lineup is noticeably frontcourt-heavy, with Marquette guard, Tyler Kolek, being the sole representative of the backcourt players. This trend further emphasizes the prominence of big men in college basketball.
Comprising 15 players from six different leagues, the All-America teams were selected by a panel consisting of college basketball writers, broadcasters, and representatives from CBS Sports and 247Sports. These experts collectively recognized the growing impact of frontcourt players and their significance for the upcoming season.
The Second Team features talent such as Ryan Kalkbrenner from Creighton and Terrence Shannon from Illinois. Kalkbrenner’s prowess on the court and Shannon’s exceptional skills underscore the enduring influence of big men and their crucial role in shaping the game.
Meanwhile, the Third Team showcases standout performers including Donovan Clingan from UConn and Max Abmas, who transferred to a new school following an impressive stint at Oral Roberts. Clingan and Abmas exemplify the ongoing reliance on big men and their potential to make significant contributions to their respective teams.
With an overall emphasis on big men dominating the preseason All-America teams, it becomes evident that college basketball places high expectations on these towering athletes. Their ability to adapt to the evolving style of play and demonstrate their skills on both ends of the court will undoubtedly shape the narrative of the upcoming season.
As the college basketball season unfolds, fans and analysts alike will have their eyes fixed on these exceptional players. The evolving style of play only serves to highlight the growing importance of big men in the sport, and the preseason All-America teams reflect this sentiment.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”