If you want more Action Network content, be sure to add us as a preferred source on Google.
The college basketball season tipped off yesterday in Italy and continued into the morning with Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. However, opening night for much of the country is tonight as the march to the Final Four begins.
Florida is the preseason No. 1 team entering this season and the Gators will take on Shelton Henderson and the in-state rival Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje will make his collegiate debut for Duke. Sticking in the ACC, Jackson Shelstad will debut at Louisville.
Read on for my college basketball player props for opening night on Monday, November 2.
Be sure to download the Action Network app for more expert picks and analysis!
College Basketball Player Props – Monday, Nov. 2
- Shelton Henderson Over 2.5 Assists (+200)
- Joaquim Boumjte Boumjte Over 15.5 Points + Rebounds (-125)
- Jackson Shelstad Over 13.5 Points (-120)
Parlay Odds: +890 (DraftKings)
Henderson was set to play for Duke before Jai Lucas took the head coaching job at Miami. He flipped his commitment to follow Lucas to Coral Gables, and what a boon that was for the Hurricanes.
As a true freshman, the former five-star averaged nearly 14 points, five rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 56.7% from the field.
Henderson decided to forgo the NBA draft and return for his sophomore season, and a leap figures to be in store under Lucas' tutelage.
One area of improvement may be with his passing. Henderson averaged 2.1 assists per game last season, which was tied for third on the team.
Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis will step in for Tre Donaldson at the point, but Lucas has indicated that Henderson will have more opportunities to facilitate and create for his teammates this season.
Last season's average would cover tonight's line of 1.5 assists. However, Henderson closed last season with four assists in each of his last two games.
That may become a regular occurrence with his increased responsibilities in 2026-27. Henderson had three assists 14 times last season, including in four of his last six games.
He's +200 for three assists tonight, which could prove to be far too generous.
Additionally, Henderson is also +550 for four assists and +1500 for five assists.
Pick: Shelton Henderson Over 2.5 Assists (+200, DraftKings)
Duke brought in another standout recruiting class, with three of the top 25 recruits in the country.
However, that doesn't include the player who may be its best freshman this season. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje received a five-star rating from 247Sports, but he didn't have a ranking as he played for FC Barcelona last season.
At 7-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Boumtje Boumtje is considered one of the game's future "unicorns" because of his ability to stretch the floor at his size. He already has NBA scouts drooling, but unfortunately for them, he must play two years in college because he'll begin this season at 17 years old.
Playing for the United States at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, JBB averaged 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in seven games. He also averaged 18.9 points and eight rebounds for FC Barcelona's U18 team last season.
The 17-year-old is still acclimating himself to college life, but he's already been notable in Duke's exhibitions.
In three games, JBB averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He played 20+ minutes in all three exhibitions (two against Tennessee and Kansas) and started, which he's expected to do tonight.
As a result, JBB offers some value with his PR combo at 15.5. If Duke dominates as expected tonight, he may not be needed beyond 25 minutes, but a double-double could still be in the cards considering the opponent.
He's +240 for 20 points and rebounds in his collegiate debut.
Pick: Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje Over 15.5 Points + Rebounds (-125, DraftKings)
In three seasons at Oregon, Jackson Shelstad averaged 13.6 points per game. Last season, he was averaging a career-high 15.6 points before an injury ended his campaign in December.
He may have been playing injured because he dropped in efficiency compared to his first two seasons.
Now, the Oregon native will be leaving the nest and playing cross-country, but he found a perfect fit in Louisville.
Pat Kelsey wants his teams playing fast and jacking up a lot of triples. In his first two years at Louisville, the Cardinals have basically attempted half of their field goals from behind the arc.
If Shelstad knocks down three triples tonight, he'll be 60% of the way to scoring 15 points. In his final 20 games as a Duck, he scored in double figures in 16 of them, clearing this line in 11 games.
With the green light he figures to have tonight, I expect him to score 14 points in his Cardinals' debut.
Pick: Jackson Shelstad Over 13.5 Points (-120, DraftKings)
