Mailbag: Anthony Davis vs. Nerlens Noel, tourney talk

Nicole Auerbach and Eric Prisbell | USATODAY

After a bunch of court-storms and even more upsets of ranked teams, we're back for our weekly college basketball mailbag. We know you missed us.

Before we get into questions, here's a reminder to send questions for next week's mailbag to USA TODAY Sports' Nicole Auerbach and Eric Prisbell via Twitter.

Let's dive into this week's 'bag:

@afeld8912: Can you remember a college hoops season that lacked a "face" for the game like this one?

Prisbell: This question, frankly, is the defining theme of this unusual season. And, no, I cannot remember a season quite like this in recent history. Some seasons have been defined by great teams, be it 2009 UNC, 2007 Florida, 2005 UNC, 2004 UConn. Some seasons have had great players – Kevin Durant/Greg Oden – or story lines with the players – Adam Morrison/J.J. Redick. This season, we don't have a great team, don't have a great player and I'm hesitant to steer fans too hard in one direction or another because you don't know what turn this particular season will take next. Maybe we wake up to a Gonzaga-Butler final in early April and we say, "OK, this was the season, finally, of the breakthrough for one of these elite programs." Or maybe (what I am leaning toward) we see an under-the-radar team from a power league (Minnesota, Oregon, Cincinnati) finding itself still playing in early April. Or maybe Kentucky's kids mature and shock everyone. It will be a fascinating finish, and we are all in the dark about which way it will go.

Auerbach: I do agree with Eric about the lack of a great team, but I'm going to take this question to literally talk about the face/player for the game. I have been having this conversation for a few months now. At first, it was like, 'Oh, wow, no real dominant freshman like Anthony Davis.' Then it became, 'What happened to Cody Zeller?' And now, it's the lack of anyone stepping up. Think about the player of the year candidates: Michigan's Trey Burke, Creighton's Doug McDermott and Duke's Mason Plumlee. None of them is super flashy, and as fun as all three are to watch, I'm not even sure there's as much hype around all three combined as Davis got last year. He was a must-see player. I enjoy watching those three guys (and Indiana's Victor Oladipo needs to be in that group, too, methinks) but I don't think they are the face of the game. I'm not sure why that is. Could be the parity and all the teams shuffling in and out of the No. 1 spot in the polls. Or Kansas and Florida players flying under the radar. I'm not sure, but it's definitely odd. I think that's why so many people were fascinated by Marshall Henderson of Ole Miss this past week or so. He had energy, emotion and, well, a personality unlike anyone else's this season. Fans like players who stand out like that.



@afeld8912: Better defender: AD or Flat-top? I'm personally going with Noel.

Prisbell: Well, it's a good, intriguing question. Mr. Flat-top is an excellent shot blocker. But I look at Anthony Davis as a once-in-a-generation shot blocker. I sat courtside for UK's final nine games last season and, in the SEC tourney, wrote about one play that I remember clear as day. Florida's Erving Walker drove and had a clear path to the basket against Kentucky. He had a layup in the bank. But he did not know where Davis and his 7-4 wing span lurked. So instead of attempting the layup, Walker flipped the ball back out for what turned out to be an errant three-point shot. Afterward, Florida's Billy Donovan simply said, "There has never been a shot blocker like him." Davis made much of last year's NCAA tournament a bore because Kentucky's eventual title seemed inevitable. He is my choice.

Auerbach: I know Nerlens Noel's shot-blocking numbers are ahead of Anthony Davis' at this point in the season and Noel was incredible the other night playing with four fouls against Ole Miss, BUT I'm leaning Davis anyway. Davis was in his opponents' heads all the time. He told me last season, "A lot of guys don't drive to the lane as much as they would against a normal team. ... A lot of teams do approach us differently knowing that I'm back there." And we saw that a lot last season. I'm sure opponents game plan for Noel and he's in their minds, too, but because Kentucky's defense on the whole is weaker, it's not the same impact. You knew, watching Kentucky play last season, that the 'Cats would probably win the game. You knew they'd march through the NCAA tournament and either win the title or lose in the title game. While lots of people pointed to their offense or how unselfish Davis was offensively, coaches always pointed to that team's defense. And Davis was the critical piece of the defense.

@ArunDas: Who's in your updated Final Four? How many Big Ten teams need to make it to the F4 to back up all the talk?

Prisbell: My problem right now is that I have five Final Four teams. I have loved Arizona since I went out there and talked to them and saw the composition of their team. I think Florida is poised for a very deep run, very deep. I think Jeff Withey gives Kansas an X-factor, and I know they are hell-bent on erasing the memory of losing last year's final. I think Gonzaga is better positioned to finally bust through that glass ceiling. And I am hesitant to break up with everyone's preseason crush, Indiana, just yet. Won't do it. As for the Big Ten in the Final Four, the over-under is 1.5 in my mind. I'm actually looking at the Elite Eight. Can the Big Ten get three teams into the Elite Eight? I think it will. I would be shocked if there's not two Big Ten teams in the Elite Eight. It is the nation's best league, and by a large margin.

Auerbach: I asked myself these questions the other day, and I looked back on my preseason Final Four picks: Indiana, Michigan State, Kansas and Louisville. All of those teams are still talented and well-coached and could make runs, so at least I don't feel like I completely missed the boat. But I will add Michigan, Butler and Gonzaga to the list of Final Four threats. The Wolverines are so talented this season, and Trey Burke is a masterful point guard. Talent and a floor general can carry teams deep in March. Butler is well-coached and tough, and Gonzaga might have its best team under Mark Few. Keep an eye on all these teams. When I posed the question about the # of Big Ten teams in the Final Four on Twitter, I got interesting responses. Some people think a Big Ten team needs to win the title to back up the conference's hype; others say one Final Four team will do. I think most of the Big Ten teams need to get through the first weekend, and we need to see at least two in the Elite Eight to back up the claims about it being the best conference. Before the season started, Jim Delany reminded everyone that a conference is measured by how it does in non-conference and postseason play. Non-conference went pretty well (minus some of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge and that Indiana loss to Butler), and it's almost time to see the Big Ten face its postseason test.

@BroncosItaly: Steve Alford has broached this topic already, but how can there by only one Mountain West team ranked?

Prisbell: I have a few thoughts on this Mountain West issue. First off, I wouldn't worry about polls. They are as subjective and, at times, illogical as anything. In my mind, the Mountain West will get a solid four teams into the NCAAs. And the league is no worse than the third-best league in the nation. Can they get two, maybe even three teams in the Sweet 16? Possible. But the one weakness with the MWC is that I don't know if there's a national title contender. There is no Kansas, no Florida, no Arizona, no fully healthy Duke. So while it's stronger than the SEC, Mike Slive may be the one celebrating another title (in something other than football) in early April. But I wouldn't worry about the polls. Those four MWC teams are high-quality teams.

Auerbach: I'll echo Eric with the "don't worry too much about the polls" idea. Rankings won't matter for tournament selection and seeding; only rèsumès do. To be honest, I think the lack of hype around the MWC teams could be due to the fact that not everyone sees them on TV a lot. The later start times (Mountain time zone!) and not playing on ESPN at 7p.m. or whatever a 'prime-time' game would be ... that contributes to people overlooking teams and also forgetting to put teams on their ballots. Don't worry, though. The teams are good and will get attention, especially in the tournament.



@shaneboydcrowdr: Why is everyone terrible?

Prisbell: It kind of goes both ways. If there are no great teams, it means more balance and more excitement in the tournament. One the other hand, I think quality of play is down in most corners of the country. Why? The best players are still the best, but there is no transcendent player this season. And the best players nowadays are the youngest and prone to erratic play. So youth plays a role. The much talked about AAU basketball mentality — where not everyone values winning or playing defense or fundamentals — plays a role but not nearly as big as many others believe. I just think we're now all watching a different age group. We used to watch 21- and 22-year-olds play college basketball. We're now watching a lot of 18- and 19-year-olds play college basketball. Miami is one team from a power conference that is the exception because so many of its key players are seniors. I don't think most teams are terrible, but there are more mediocre teams than years ago.

Auerbach: I suppose this question gets to the point that some friends have made to me this season about low scoring/perceived lack of talent in college basketball this year. A lot has to do with early departures to the NBA. Less star power because guys leave sooner and aren't building up a fan base/getting better as a player over four years (think Draymond Green). Fewer polished players. Younger players don't spend as much time learning from the game's best coaches. Etc. Etc. There are lot of reasons why play might feel sloppier this season. The good thing, though, is there's so much parity. Anyone can beat anyone on a given night. Nobody's undefeated, and most of the top teams have had fans rush the court on them after losses this season already. So at least it's an exciting season, even if it's not as high-scoring as you'd like to see. I think this bodes well for a thrilling NCAA tournament.