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On Tuesday, Dec. 17 and Wednesday, Dec. 18, the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC will host the Jumpman Invitational. It’s the event’s third year, with both the women’s and men’s teams from Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan and North Carolina participating.
On the women’s side, No. 10 Oklahoma (9-1) and No. 20 Michigan (9-1) will meet on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2), with No. 19 North Carolina (10-2) facing Florida (7-4) on Wednesday (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU). The games not only will be opportunities to see three ranked teams in action, but also will allow for a closer look at some of the nation’s most promising freshmen, particularly those suiting up for the Wolverines and Gators.
Can fresh-faced Michigan hold off veteran Oklahoma?
Despite starting three freshman, Michigan began the season fearlessly, taking a first quarter lead over defending national champion South Carolina at the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. Although the Gamecocks eventually would prevail, the young Wolverines refused to go away, losing by just six points, 68-62.
Leading the charge for Michigan was guard Syla Swords, who dropped 27 points and grabbed 12 boards in her collegiate debut. While she has yet to match that spectacular performance, Swords consistently has provided steady, active play for the Wolverines, averaging 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. The same goes for fellow freshman Olivia Olson. Quieter in the season opener, the forward has increased her production over the course of the season, emerging as the Wolverines’ leading scorer at 16.9 points per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field. She’s also tallying 5.6 boards and 2.3 assists per game.
Mila Holloway rounds out Michigan’s trio of impactful first years, all of whom are playing at least 28 minutes per game. The point guard leads the team with 4.4 assists per game, while also contributing 10 points.
The youngsters will need all the vigor and verve they can muster against an Oklahoma squad teeming with experience. The Sooners are led by the trio of junior center Raegan Beers, grad forward Skylar Vann and senior guard Peyton Verhulst. In a close contest, the expectation is that Oklahoma’s experience will give them the edge; however, if Michigan’s youngsters are undaunted by what they don’t know, the Wolverines, who began the season unranked and did not enter the AP poll’s top 25 until week 5, could steal a win and continue to rise up the rankings.
Will North Carolina’s experience be too much for Florida?
The second game between nearby North Carolina and Florida presents a similar, although not as extreme, dynamic, with the Gators more dependent on young players than the seasoned Tar Heels.
Although senior center Ra Shaya Kyle leads Florida in scoring (16.2) and rebounding (9.6), freshman guard Liv McGill is the engine for the Gators. Like her counterparts from Ann Arbor, McGill, who succeeded Paige Bueckers at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN, is fearless, eager to push the pace and unafraid take tough shots. Despite those offensive responsibilities for a Florida team still figuring out its identity, she’s not a high-volume, inefficient chucker. Rather, McGill’s more than 16 points per game are the product of 50 percent shooting from the field, including a stellar 45.5 percent from 3 on more than three attempts per game. Her best effort came in a loss to in-state rival Florida State, when she put up 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting.
Wing Me’Arah O’Neal has not established herself as rapidly as McGill. Playing a bit more than 15 minutes per game, O’Neal averages 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. However, she’s shown enough flashes to suggest she’ll eventually be known for her game, not for being Shaq’s daughter. One such example was 14-point and 10-rebound double-double in 20 minutes in Florida’s early December win over Hofstra.
Both players might experience growing pains against North Carolina. The Tar Heels are one of the nation’s better defensive teams, conceding just 52.2 points per game, a number that ranks 12th nationally. On top of that, they’re fresh off a disappointing home loss to Georgia Tech, suggesting UNC should be motivated to put on a show for the in-state faithful in Charlotte. Expect grad wing Alyssa Ustby to be everywhere, causing trouble for the Gators, while senior forward Maria Gakdeng controls the interior and grad guard Lexi Donarski drains more than a few 3s.
Game information
No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners (9-1) vs. No. 20 Michigan Wolverines (9-1)
When: Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC
How to watch: ESPN2
No. 19 North Carolina Tar Heels (10-2) vs. Florida Gators (7-4)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC
How to watch: ESPNU