Andy Katz

College Basketball Analyst & Writer

 

John Fanta

College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

 

A little more than a month into the college basketball season, it’s time to take stock of how things have gone to this point.

Who have been big surprises? Who has disappointed? And how have our preseason projections — Final Four picks, All-Americans, etc. — stood up?

[Related: Preseason Final Four picks, All-Americans and more]

Let’s take a look at the landscape around the sport with an early-season report card.

Is UConn the best team in college basketball?

Mark Titus and Tate Frazier discuss UConn’s impressive run to start the season.

What are your updated Final Four picks? 

Fanta:

Arizona: The Wildcats, who are No. 1 in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, possess the most dangerous frontcourt duo in the country with Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo. Combine that elite size in the paint with Kerr Kriisa, Pelle Larsson and Texas transfer Courtney Ramey in the backcourt, and Arizona has such great scoring balance. It’s a formula that will keep opposing coaches up at night.

UConn: The first part of this Final Four sure does seem “vintage,” wouldn’t you say? There’s a buzz back in Storrs, Connecticut, and for good reason. Fifth-year head coach Dan Hurley has the best squad of his UConn tenure and perhaps the best depth in the country with two outstanding centers. It’s an embarrassment of riches at the five spot for Connecticut, with Adama Sanogo and 7-foot-2 freshman Donovan Clingan. Andre Jackson epitomizes what it means to be a captain, and Jordan Hawkins is the best pure shooter Connecticut has had in years.

Houston: I’m not going to jump ship on the Cougars because they ran into a red-hot Alabama team this past weekend. Marcus Sasser had a tough shooting performance and the Crimson Tide rode a red-hot second half to the upset win. That being said, the trio of Sasser, Tramon Mark and Jamal Shead in the backcourt is so difficult to handle, and…