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ST. JOHN'S RED STORM (3-0)
The Red Storm have jumped out to a 3-0 start thanks in large part to guard Federico Mussini. Mussini, a young freshman from Italy, is averaging 16.3 points per game, and he's been doing it from the perimeter. Mussini is taking just under seven three-pointers per game and is shooting almost 35 percent.
The offense isn't always pretty for the Red Storm. They average just 67.3 points and 13 assists per game — both ranking in the bottom 200 in the nation — but they have made up for it with a stingy defense. They allow just 56.3 points per game, which is 15th in the nation. At 6-foot-11, freshman Yankuba Simba has used his length and athleticism to total 12 blocks this season and anchor the team down low.
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NO. 17 VANDERBILT COMMODORES (3-0)
Although the Commodores have a balanced attack, sophomore guard Wade Baldwin has been their best player so far this season. He's averaging 14.7 points per game, and he has needed just 10.3 shots per game to do so because he's shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Maui Invitationa
At No. 17 in the AP poll, the Commodores are expected to challenge for the championship crown in Maui. They won their first three games by an average of 27.4 points per game, and they feature five players averaging double figures in points. Their defense has been impressive as well, holding opponents to just 22.6 percent shooting from three.
WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS (2-1)
Senior forward Devin Thomas has recorded a double-double with points and rebounds every game this season and has been the Demon Deacons' most consistent player. Thomas is averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds per game, and he's been a force on defense with two blocks per game. The one flaw in his game is at the free throw line, where he's shooting just 57.7 percent.
Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell is one of the few examples of a senior playing major minutes for a major college basketball program in 2015. He's averaged double figure points per game in the last two seasons, but this season, the other aspects of his game have improved. He's averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game on 52.8 percent shooting. With nobody else on the team averaging more than 3.3 assists per game, Ferrell's playmaking ability is crucial for the Hoosiers' offense.
Coached by former Jayhawk legend Danny Manning, the Demon Deacons are still in rebuilding mode, coming off a 13-19 season. Wake Forest has been successful on the glass this season, posting 47.7 rebounds per game, which ranks 25th in the country. With freshman guard Bryant Crawford (17 points and five assists per game) complementing Thomas, Wake Forest has an effective inside-out combination on offense. The team's issues have been on the defensive end, where they have given up 82 points per game.
NO.14 INDIANA HOOSIERS (3-0)
At No. 14 in the AP poll, Indiana is the second highest ranked team in the Maui field behind Kansas. The Hoosiers haven't been tested yet this season, winning by an average margin of 29.7 points per game while ranking in the top 50 in the NCAA in points scored, points allowed and assists per game. With sophomore James Blackmon Jr., who is averaging 18.7 points per game, playing alongside Ferrell, the Hoosiers have a difficult backcourt to deal with.
NO. 4 KANSAS JAYHAWKS (1-1)
Through two games, the Jayhawks have four players averaging double figures. However, the offense runs through senior forward Perry Ellis, who leads the team with 18.5 points per contest. Ellis is shooting 56 percent from the floor thus far and shows no signs of letting up. If Ellis can continue to play this well, Kansas should have no problem winning the tournament.
The Jayhawks are coming off a disappointing loss to the Michigan State Spartans in the Champions Classic. Despite leading for a majority of the contest, they were unable to finish down the stretch. Kansas will be without junior guard Brannen Greene, who aids the team's average of nine three-pointers a game. Still, the Jayhawks have plenty of depth and should play very well in Maui even without Greene.
CHAMINADE SILVERSWORDS (0-2)
Chaminade's current leading scorer is senior guard Pedroso Oscar. Even with an average of 19 minutes per game, Oscar leads the team with 20 points per contest. He has started in one of the two games thus far, and he is shooting 53 percent from downtown. Chaminade has five players averaging double figures in scoring.
Chaminade is 0-2 after dropping games to Alaska and Alaska Anchorage. The Silverswords are averaging 96 points per game, but they're also giving up 102 points per contest on the defensive end. Chaminade likes the long ball, as the team is averaging 14 made three-pointers a game thus far. If the Silverswords are hitting their shots from deep, they might be able to steal a game in Maui.
UCLA BRUINS (2-1)
UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS (3-0)
Through three games, four players are averaging double figures for the Bruins. UCLA is led by junior guard Bryce Alford, who is averaging 19.7 points per game, although it is worth noting his high production is coupled with the fact that he is on the floor a lot, leading the team with an average of 37.7 minutes per game. He also has a team-high 18 assists.
The Rebels are led by sophomore guard Patrick McCaw, who is averaging 16.7 points per game. He has started two of the three games, but still leads the team in minutes per contest with 28.3. He is even better on the defensive end with a team-leading eight steals; as a team. UNLV has 27.
UCLA is 2-1 entering the tournament with an overtime loss to Monmouth and wins over Cal Poly and Pepperdine. The Bruins don't have as much depth as some of the other teams in this tournament, with four players averaging more than 30 minutes per game. The Bruins are holding opponents to 78 points a game, while teams are shooting just 40 percent from the floor against them.
UNLV is the lone undefeated team in the top half of the bracket with wins over Cal Poly, New Mexico Highlands and Southern Utah. The Rebels are averaging 88.3 points per game, but their defense has been even more impressive, holding opponents to 60.3 points per contest. Unlike UCLA, UNLV has a lot of depth, as not a single player is averaging more than 30 minutes per game.
- Edited by Derek Skillett
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