On Saturday, San Jose State men’s basketball wrapped up the non-conference schedule loudly, with an 89-65 demolishing of Kennesaw State.

At 7-6 on three-game winning streak, San Jose State resumes conference play December 28 vs. Boise State in dominant fashion, having won six of the last seven games.

This point of the season was not reached easily. With a heavily retooled roster, San Jose State began 1-5, before a change to the starting lineup that flipped the results.

Last season, San Jose State also began the season 7-6—but ended up winning only two conference games and finishing 9-23. 

In 2022-23, San Jose State began 9-4 prior to conference play, then finished the season 21-14.

So the old saying that looks can deceive must be heeded when examining a team’s pre-conference start. An examination of on-court play and statistics will show fans what to expect moving forward.

For reference, the final non-conference stats for 2022-23 are in the pregame notes of December 28, 2022; the final non-conference stats for 2023-24 are from the Jan. 2, 2024, pregame notes; and the current non-conference stats are on the San Jose State website.

As college basketball teams gear up for conference play, let’s take a look at some key statistics for men’s basketball teams across the country:

1. Scoring leaders: Keep an eye on top scorers like Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State, Luka Garza from Iowa, and Corey Kispert from Gonzaga as they light up the scoreboard for their respective teams.

2. Three-point shooting: Teams like Baylor, Villanova, and Michigan are dominating from beyond the arc, with sharpshooters like Jared Butler, Collin Gillespie, and Isaiah Livers leading the way.

3. Rebounding machines: Big men like Evan Mobley from USC, Drew Timme from Gonzaga, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl from Villanova are crashing the boards and giving their teams second-chance opportunities.

4. Defensive stalwarts: Teams like Virginia, Tennessee, and Houston are holding opponents to low shooting percentages, with lockdown defenders like Jay Huff, Yves Pons, and Quentin Grimes leading the way.

5. Free throw efficiency: Close games often come down to free throw shooting, so keep an eye on players like Marcus Carr from Minnesota, Ayo Dosunmu from Illinois, and Quentin Grimes from Houston as they knock down clutch free throws.

As teams enter conference play, these statistics will be crucial in determining which teams rise to the top and make a run in the NCAA tournament. Stay tuned for exciting matchups and high-stakes games as the season heats up.

Tags:

• Men’s basketball
• NCAA basketball
• Conference play
• College basketball statistics
• Player analysis
• Team rankings
• Conference standings
• March Madness predictions
• Basketball analytics
• NCAA tournament prospects

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