Injuries and Returns

Isn't it weird how three guys who we all expected to be staples of their respective teams are now gone for the season? I'm talking about Maurice Watson Jr from Creighton, Myles Davis at Xavier, and OG Anunoby at Indiana. While Myles Davis, was dealing with off-the-court issues during the year, Anunoby and Watson were both tearing it up this season. Watson was leading the NCAA in assists per game and making Creighton a national contender in the process and Anunoby was soaring up draft boards. 

Creighton just lost to Marquette at home. I hate to say it, but this Creighton team is finished. Watson did so much for them on offense that I don't think they can recover. I still think they are a tournament team, but I don't see them getting to the second weekend. 

The Anunoby loss is slightly less crucial. Indiana has plenty of firepower on offense, and Anunoby was more of a project in that area. His defense will be missed, but Indiana's defense was atrocious even with him in. 

Myles Davis isn't that big of a loss. I thought he would have more of an impact when he came back earlier this year, but he hasn't doesn't much. Xavier is used to playing without him this year, so I'm not expecting a step back from a team that is borderline top 25.  

The week wasn't all bad in terms of injuries and retirements. Arizona's Allonzo Trier is currently playing  in his first game of the year as I write this. Trier failed a drug test, but he took it unknowingly, so he wasn't punished by the NCAA and was allowed to play after it cleared his system. Well, about a day after Trier released that statement, it cleared his system. This makes Arizona a Final Four contender. The Wildcats were on the rise, and Trier's return only makes this team more dangerous.