NBA scouts sauntered into the United Center for the Champions Classic. Bouncy Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine and the Klutch entourage made an appearance. The basketball world was watching. The lights were bright. Sure, it's just one night in November, and March is a long time away. But it feels like more.
It was the moment last year when Kyle Filipowski showcased that he was going to be Duke's alpha. Kansas has a new go-to dude emerge seemingly every year. Two years ago, it was Ochai Agbaji who had his signature moment with a 29-point eruption against Michigan State. Last year, it was Jalen Wilson's turn to be the man. He delivered 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in KU's win over Duke.
This night matters. It sets the tone.
Here are four stock risers from Tuesday's doubleheader clash:
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Jayhawks: Turns out, the No. 1 player in the transfer portal is pretty darn good! Dickinson delivered 27 points, 21 rebounds, three steals and his signature, patented PG-13 celebration. Kevin McCullar put his name in the history books with a triple-double. Dajuan Harris was the best player on the floor in closing time. But Dickinson runs this team. The villain. The defector. He breathes confidence into the rest of Kansas' squad. He'll be here all year long, putting up video game-like numbers.
Adou Thiero, Kentucky Wildcats: There was plenty to like from John Calipari's club, but the development of Thiero is a real shot in the arm. Kansas opted to stick KJ Adams on Tre Mitchell while Dickinson took the Thiero assignment. That might continue more and more while Kentucky's 7-footers are on the mend. Thiero was not scared of KU's All-American. He drove right at him repeatedly. He hunted offensive rebounds. Thiero's 16-point, 13-rebound showing was dynamic. Kentucky's barrage of 3-pointers was the story of the night, but Thiero's drives are so encouraging and so vital.
Caleb Foster, Duke Blue Devils: What else is there to say? Foster was the story of the night for Duke. The cold-blooded, five-star freshman delivered four enormous 3-pointers. But he also showed an ability to get off the bounce and get to his pull-up jumper which has to stay in his arsenal as he gets higher up opposing team's scouting reports. Foster's minutes will fluctuate all year long as Jon Scheyer finds ways to get his four talented guards into a flow, but Foster ain't going anywhere. A well-deserved boost in the mock drafts is likely on the way.
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Carson Cooper, Michigan State Spartans: Tom Izzo might need to use all of his centers right now, but Carson Cooper is ready to earn an even bigger role. He was Michigan State's best center on Tuesday. He's been the best center this season. Even on a night when he finished -9 in the plus-minus (which is flawed a bit), MSU has been a far better defensive team with Cooper on the floor. Michigan State has an 83.3 adjusted defensive rating with Cooper on the floor. It slips to 100.5 when he sits on the bench. He helped force Kyle Filipowski into a 5-for-13 night, and Cooper chipped in four points, eight rebounds, one block and a steal in 21 minutes. The foul issues are real (he fouled out against Duke), but the imposing sophomore center has given Izzo more than current starter Mady Sissoko. So far this season, Michigan State has a +13.95 net rating with Cooper on the floor in 93 possessions. The Spartans have just a +1 net rating in Sissoko's 94 possessions, per Pivot Analysis. That 50-50 split might have to be closer to 55-45 moving forward.