Dozens of high-major teams tipped off their first exhibition games last week, with more right around the corner. After a trying offseason filled with injunctions, temporary restraining orders and appeals, it's refreshing to have actual basketball, not court cases, to talk about again. The takes were sure flying in this week after Florida, likely the No. 1 team in Monday's preseason AP Top 25 poll, lost 82-76 to Baylor in overtime on Sunday.
North Carolina got destroyed by Indiana in Michael Malone's second exhibition game. Oregon was in the news because Dana Altman abruptly retired right before Big Ten Media Days last week. The Ducks promptly went out and got handled by Seattle U in a 71-65 loss in Thursday's first exhibition game.
I didn't like Oregon's roster already, and now you remove a potential Hall of Fame coach? All the concerns about the Ducks are totally valid at this point. But do these exhibition games actually matter?
Here are some of my favorite exhibition scores in college basketball from last year at this time: You get the point. Some exhibition takeaways do matter. Some are totally irrelevant.
Context matters more than ever to decipher what's real, what's probably not real and what is totally pointless before the real games start in less than two weeks. Let's dive in to some notable results and takeaways from recent exhibition games What might be real: Baylor's point guard play is way better this year. Penn State transfer Kayden Mingo was absolutely frying against a Florida defense that played all five starters at least 33+ minutes and projects to be one of the best defenses in the sport.
Mingo deposited 31 points and four assists, including some tough late-clock buckets over elite defenders. Mingo was in total control. Baylor nailed that portal coup.
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