7 takeaways from the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic

The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic is in the books; thus, the DII men's basketball season is officially underway. Ten teams converged on Lakeland, Florida for the two-day tournament and when the final whistle blew, 10 exciting games of basketball were played.

Every team at the tournament was either ranked or receiving votes so there was well-coached basketball and star-powered players abound. There was an overtime thriller and Day 2 saw upset after upset after upset. Though it was only two games, there were plenty of positives from the weekend. 

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The Great Lake(r)s

Perhaps it was appropriate Lake Superior State opened its season in Lakeland. There is a lake pretty much everywhere you turn in this town, but perhaps none was bigger than LSSU. Yes, it was just two games. But I’m going to go ahead and say it, right now, on Nov. 5. Lake Superior State is winning the Midwest Region this year.

The Lakers were the sixth seed in the Midwest Region last year and made it to the Midwest Region final. They return a core of that team including Tyson Edmondson, Kingsley Perkins, Devin Womack and Hunter Soper, who scored 49.5 points per game last year. Edmondson had a big weekend, scoring 50 points at the Classic and earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Also back is sophomore 6-foot-1 Nino Carter-Smith. Carter-Smith, who head coach Steve Hettinga described as a change of pace and a huge spark, played sparingly last year but was instrumental in directing the tempo with a balanced performance with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists in Game 1 of the Classic.

Tyler Edmondson is not afraid to shoot. He fired off three 3s in the first half and shows he can go to the hole for

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

Last year, the Lakers had no pressure on them but come into this season with lofty expectations — picked to win the conference and receiving votes in the NABC poll. They play their style of basketball and have a toughness about them, and it looks like they won’t shy away from a challenge and are ready for action. “Coach gave us a great game plan,” said Edmondson after Game 1. “That’s a really good team. We had to execute our plans. We know the expectations are high, but we’re staying humble, level-headed and not getting too high on ourselves and just listen to coach and do what we got to do.”

A Shark attack in Lakeland

While many other teams at the Classic were feeling out new rosters, coaches and rotations, Nova Southeastern was in midseason form. Nova Southeastern scored 238 points in two days and is the clear No. 1 in DII right now. 

And are on the board. Gannon may look new, but they are flying and up early 9-5

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

The experience they return is very deep and it starts on the bench. Not only is head coach Jim Crutchfield back with his high-tempo offense, but so is former player and long-time assistant Nick Smith, and new assistant coach RJ Sunahara — you know, the 2023 Bevo Francis Award winner for the undefeated national champions. Then you look at the scoring attack and MJ Iraldi and Ryker Cisarik lead the way — Iraldi made the all-tourney team, and Cisarik brought a lot of energy, averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds over the weekend. 

Newcomer Ross Reeves, who played last year at Chaminade, fit right in, and if he hits 150 3-pointers this season, I wouldn't be one bit surprised. He is not afraid to fire away, going 11-for-22 over the weekend, averaging 26.5 points over the two games and making the all-tourney team. And then there is Dallas Graziani. Graziani was the point guard for the Sharks' championship team and left last year only to return for one more run with the Sharks in 2024-25. 

"He's the guy that makes us go," Crutchfield said. "He has a competitive nature about him... He's got great basketball skills. But I just really feel like he has a heart and competitive nature that's more valuable than that. You can just bank on him keeping that going all year long."

Graziani played almost every minute over the weekend, which is not easy in the Sharks' style of play. He was the most outstanding player of the Classic and did it all, whether orchestrating the high-paced offensive attack or forcing pressure in the full-court press. He racked up 30 assists over the weekend, and I'll predict it right now: The DII men's basketball record of 400 assists in a season is in a lot of trouble.

Two games... let's all panic!

If you didn't watch the Classic this weekend, you can look at the end results and see that two DII Men's Elite Eight teams started the season 0-2. The national champs, Minnesota State, lost two very close, intense battles and Gannon was on the wrong side of two of the highest-scoring affairs of the weekend. 

But if you actually watched these games, you know that both should be just fine. 

This game has just been fun. Both teams are giving it all they have. Another pretty finish from here.

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

Gannon lost its head coach and the majority of its roster. What it didn’t lose was its intensity and full-court run. With as many question marks as new faces, the Golden Knights hung with Nova Southeastern leading for much of the first half and keep up with the high-octane attack of the Sharks. Key returners Ernest Shelton and Mike Montano played well — in fact, Shelton looked like he could be one of the better scorers in the PSAC this year, scoring 21 and 15, respectively. New head coach Easton Bazzoli and assistant Mike Chalas (who was on Crutchfield's coaching staff) seem like the right fit to keep this team competitive in a tricky PSAC.

Minnesota State played in arguably the best game of the weekend (pat on the back, I called this in my preseason predictions on Oct. 8). The Mavericks ran all night, right into overtime as a matter of fact, against Florida Southern, which is going to be one of the best teams in DII this season. The second game was a defensive slugfest, one that the Mavericks were in the entire time but lost in the lowest-scoring affair of the weekend. They did that all with a relatively new-look roster and one of their star returners, Justin Eagins, out of action. And the entire ;team stepped up, with five players going for 13 points or more, including the impressive freshman Will Opsahl, who scored a team-high 15 points and ripped down five rebounds.

Tough take to the hole for Kyreese Willingham. What a battle.

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

"Five guys in double figures," Mavericks' head coach Matt Margenthaler said after Game 1 on his team's impressive balance. "It would be really nice to have Justin Eagins out there. But that's the game. This tournament is going to help us later in the year, it's going to help us when we get to conference. That's why we're here."

North Georgia, Point Loma are real regional contenders

I know, going out on a limb projecting the reigning Southeast Region champions are going to be good. But they really showed that this weekend, taking down St. Thomas Aquinas and Minnesota State in gritty battles. The Nighthawks have a way of slowing you down to their tempo — something that was imperative against the STAC quick, aggressive attack — and toughing out victories. Even though A.J. White and Cayden Charles are back — both of which made the all-tournament team — don't expect high-scoring affairs against the Nighthawks this year. If they are going to win, they are going to wear you down and dictate the game while taking what they are given.

The like to get out and run, and every player can run the floor. Every Sea Lion that has played has scored at least 6 points. And they have plenty of highlight-reel plays.

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

Point Loma didn't even make the tournament last year, but that wasn't because they weren't good. The Sea Lions were decimated by injuries and were still a 21-win team. Unless injury strikes again like it did a year ago, I promise you that missing the tournament won't happen again. There is a slew of returners who are stepping into more prominent roles. Luke Haupt is back after missing last year with an injury and turned in an all-tournament-team performance over the weekend. If you like high-flying action, Pierce Davis can get to the rim and finish. Jaden Matingou is going to be one of the best sixth men in DII, able to score, dish it out and rebound finishing the weekend with 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

The Sea Lions left Lakeland with two upset victories over nationally ranked teams and five players averaging double digits all with Haupt not even playing his best basketball yet as he works back from injury. This team will battle Cal State San Bernardino in the West, and I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't a top 10 team sooner than later.

Florida Southern plays to mixed results

The Mocs played in the most exciting game, taking down No. 1 Minnesota State on opening night, and lost another exciting game to close the tournament, falling by five to Point Loma. Talk about a mixed bag. But the second game wasn't a total loss: Jadin Booth looked much more Jadin Booth-like and that is a good thing for the Mocs. 

Breakaway dunk on the steal by Alex Steen up 9.

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

I had the Mocs ranked higher than the NABC rankings and that's primarily because of Alex Steen and Booth. They may be the most talented one-two punch in DII men's basketball and can take over a game together or alone if they have to. In Game 1 as Booth got comfortable, it was Steen that led the Mocs to victory, scoring 27 points, pulling down five rebounds and blocking five shots. In Game 2, Booth erupted for 37 points — his third-straight 30-point performance at the Classic and fifth time scoring 25 points or more at the event.

It leaves room for guys like Dominick Denny and Joe Moon IV to get comfortable. I am interested in what Amare Miller can bring to the team. The UNC Pembroke transfer had a solid Game 1 shooting 4-for-5 from the floor with nine rebounds before leaving hurt and played only 16 minutes in Game 2. If the Mocs have another experienced spark off the bench, watch out.

Carson-Newman’s experience will be trouble

In a field where there were so many new faces on these rosters, the Eagles benefit from an abundance of returning veterans. It is almost unfair what they return. Back for another run are guards John Zhao, Jack Browder, Nick Brenegan and Trey Hubbard. The four combined for 70.8 of the Eagles 91.2 points per game last year.

Trey Hubbard (3) of may be the best all-around player on the floor in this first matchup. He explodes to the whole and can pop it from 3. 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in the first half.

We got a good one. LSSU up 49-48.

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

Browder and Hubbard were back at it, earning a spot on the all-tournament team as the Eagles took a tight loss to Lake Superior State in an all-out battle and then blew out No. 22 Fort Lewis by 19 points. Hubbard looked like one of the better inside-outside players in the tournament, able to get to the hole and pop it from behind the arc time and time again. Junior forward Braden Ilic could be a difference-maker. He was huge in the first game, ripping off a double-double 13 points and 12 boards. I'd expect the Eagles to challenge North Georgia in that Southeast Region.

Players to watch

There were plenty of strong performances throughout the weekend. Here are the numbers of the all-tournament team.

Some other players stood out as well. Fort Lewis forward Chuol Deng is going to be a handful for DII defenses. The Oakland transfer is listed at 6-foot-7, but with his length, it feels like he's 7 feet tall. He double-doubled in both games averaging 19.5 points and 11 rebounds over both games and maybe the scarier part is he can hit the 3. He has the range from outside, the athleticism to drive and the body to control down low. 

The numbers may not have been there, but St. Thomas Aquinas guard Derrick James will fit very well into head coach Matt Cappell's high-energy system. He brings that full-court intensity from Gannon and was having a terrific first game (15 points, 5 assists) before exiting with leg stiffness. There were not a lot of returners on the Spartans, so James will be instrumental in keeping them competitive in the East Region. One returner that is back is sophomore Shaun Arnold, who also looked good this weekend, especially in his 23-point, 11-rebound performance against Nova Southeastern. Is there work to be done at St. Thomas Aquinas? Yes, but the pieces are there to make it work. And Hartnel Haye was an absolute beast recording two double-doubles to start his season. The Spartans aren't going to be playing top-25 teams night in and night out like they did in this tournament. Once they gel, they will be a power in the East because they clearly have the pieces in place.