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We're truly in the craziest time in college hoops.
Players are joining teams less than a week before the season, and lawsuits are hitting courts throughout America in relation to player eligibility (five-for-five rule and more).
Because college basketball player eligibility is one of the biggest storylines entering the season (and likely will be an ongoing storyline), I'm going to touch on players who, if they're able to suit up, could make the greatest impact on their teams and the sport from a betting perspective.
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Texas Tech: Darrion Williams, Donovan Atwell & Jamichael Stillwell
The Red Raiders might have the biggest rise-and-fall depending on who can play.
Bringing back Darrion Williams is huge; he averaged 15 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game with them two seasons ago. He'd be an All-Big 12 player if eligible, which he's, as of now, a part of the Texas lawsuit.
Donovan Atwell is equally as important. With Tech having guard questions, Atwell provides a huge presence with his 40% shooting from deep. He shot a blistering 45% from 3 last year and is part of an individual lawsuit in Lubbock.
Now, here's where it gets tricky: All of the players from the Georgia lawsuit withdrew and will pursue other lawsuits. That includes UCF transfer Jamichael Stillwell, who averaged 11.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season.
Stillwell is a ball of energy who defends at a high level and eats glass. He's a real needle-mover right now with JT Toppin still recovering from his torn ACL.
If Stillwell can't play, I'd be more hesitant to back the Red Raiders against teams with a more established frontline.
In all, this is likely a top-20 team without Stillwell and Toppin, but it's a top-10 team with both and a top-15 team with Stillwell. Their first big game is against Illinois on Nov. 10, and they currently are +840 to win the Big 12 regular-season title on DraftKings, which could offer upside.
Oklahoma: B.J. Edwards, Duke Brennan & Tae Davis
I'm very bullish on the Sooners as a top-25 level squad if all three players suit up.
B.J. Edwards was an invaluable cog for SMU last year as an elite defensive guard who can play make.
Duke Brennan, a transfer from Villanova, averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game in the Big East, and Tae Davis averaged 13 points for the Sooners last season.
The only one eligible right now is Brennan, which is fine for now since Porter Moser stacked the schedule with cupcakes until Nov. 24 against Pitt.
Without Edwards and Davis, the Sooners likely trot out Xzayvier Brown, Pop Isaacs, Derrion Reid, Khani Rooths and Brennan. That frontline should be elite on the defensive end, and both guards can score and shoot.
KenPom has the Sooners 29th, but I'd fade that until at least Edwards plays.
Cincinnati: MJ Collins Jr., Amani Lyles & Javontae Campbell
Another team with lots at stake is Cincinnati, which has MJ Collins Jr., Amani Lyles and Javontae Campbell all eligible in the Ohio case.
Collins is probably the Bearcats' best scorer. He averaged 17 points per game for a Utah State squad that won 30+ games last year and joined Jerrod Calhoun at Cincy.
Campbell is a jack-of-all-trades guard who averaged 18-4-5 for Bowling Green. He gives Cincy another ball-handler and stout on-ball defender.
Lastly, Cincy felt a bit light on the frontline, so Calhoun brought in Lyles. He's done plenty of winning, playing a key role at Akron over the past four seasons. He isn't the name that Collins is, but he'll be hugely valuable.
The Bearcats have a deep rotation that'll make up for their lack of true star power, and that's why I'm looking to back them if these three remain in the lineup.
Iowa State: Tamin Lipsey
No single five-for-five player is more important to a team than Tamin Lipsey at Iowa State.
Lipsey is Mr. Ames. He's a native of Ames and a four-year starter with the Cyclones. The fact that he's eligible right now is huge.
With Killyan Toure out until at least January, Lipsey gives an even bigger boost to the Cyclones.
However, without Toure and even with Lipsey, I don't view Iowa State as the No. 6 best team in the country, which KenPom has it as. Any T.J. Otzelberger team will defend, but I think this team is closer to 15-20 than five.
LSU: Donovan Dent & Skyy Clark
Will Wade went with an unorthodox roster build. He brought in a bunch of not currently eligible players, but most have become eligible.
That includes Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, a pair of guards from UCLA.
The Tigers have a needle-mover in Dent. He averaged 13.3 points and 7.6 assists per game last year at UCLA and previously was a stud at New Mexico.
Clark came into his own as one of the sport's premier 3-and-D guards. He shot a lights-out 42% from 3 and averaged 11.5 points per game last season.
Without these two, LSU is likely near the bottom of the SEC. With them, LSU has a squad that should be in the NCAA Tournament.
