College Hoops Today

Serving College Basketball 365 Days a Year

The Top 10 Glue Guys in College Basketball

This is March!

Check out our list below of the Top 10 Glue Guys in college basketball during the 20-21 season.

In no particular order:

Mark Vital, Baylor: Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell may be the lifeblood of Baylor’s basketball engine, but Vital is the veins and arteries. One of the best defenders in college basketball, Vital only stands 6-5, but plays much bigger. His presence is a major reason why the Bears are in position to be a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. 

Justin Gorham, Houston: Kelvin Sampson calls Gorham his team’s “identity guy”. It’s hard to argue with that description. The rugged power forward has had 11 games this season with double figure rebounds and goes after every missed shot like a flock of seagulls going after a ham sandwich. Simply put, Gorham is relentless. 

Da’Monte Williams, Illinois: One of the reasons why the Illini are having their best season in nearly two decades is because of role allocation. That’s directly related to Williams. The 6-3 senior is a capable defender and passer all while exuding intangibles on each and every play. He can also make timely three-point shots and always takes care of the ball. Williams is currently averaging less than one turnover each time he takes the floor. 

Gabe Osabuohien, West Virginia: Can a player be on this list and average just 1.6 points? Yes, if that player is Osabuohien. The 6-7 forward is an elite defender with magical feet that allows him to cover ground all over the court. There are no 50-50 plays with Osabuohien on the floor — they’re 90/10 in favor of West Virginia. 

Marcus Garrett, Kansas: Bill Self said last season that Garrett was the best defender that he’s ever coached. Grizzled, tough, and well rounded, Garrett has done whatever has been needed to win during his career with the Jayhawks. He’s had six games this season with at least four points, four rebounds, and four assists. 

Isaiah Whaley, UConn: UConn fans affectionately call Whaley “The Wrench” and that’s for good reason. He’s fixed a lot of different things for the Huskies this season. The 6-9 senior has improved offensively and been consistent defensively. Whaley is only consumed with is one thing — winning. 

Jaime Jaquez, UCLA: The Bruins’ season changed a year ago when Mick Cronin made Jaquez part of his starting lineup. One year later, he’s still one of the most reliable players in the country. The 6-6 wing is good at what he knows and knows what he’s good at. The game simply never gets too fast for Jaquez, who plays with a maturity that extends well beyond his years. 

Connor McCaffery, Iowa: On a team full of great offensive players, McCaffery impacts each and every game by not demanding shots. A tremendous utility player and ball mover, this steady lefty has just 25 turnovers this season in 26 games. Nobody “blends” into a quality nucleus of offensive talent quite like McCaffery.

Kyle Young, Ohio State: The Buckeyes don’t get enough credit for the “edge” that they play with. That edge begins and ends with Young. The 6-8 veteran doesn’t dominate the box score or wow opponents with his skill level, but stands out each time he plays because of the biggest weapon that he has — his heart. 

Brad Davison, Wisconsin: Just like guys who preceded him in Madison like Josh Gasser and Zak Showalter, Davison is the player who Greg Gard says “fills the mortar between the bricks”. The Badgers’ offense has come and gone this season, but this team will have a chance to win games in the NCAA Tournament because of its tenacity and grit. No one epitomizes those things more than Davison.

Leftovers: