Freshman phenoms dominate the conversation in college basketball, but recent results demonstrate the value of experience.

With an abundance of veteran stars, the field at this season’s U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam may be poised to interject into the discussion. 

Watch the Paradise Jam LIVE on FloHoops, Nov. 16-19!

No. 12-ranked Kansas State is no secret in this early portion of the 2018-19 season. A corps of sophomores and juniors a season ago exceeded expectations simply by reaching the NCAA Tournament, finishing fourth in the Big 12 Conference despite an eighth-place preseason projection. 

The Wildcats took it a step further in March, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010. Back for 2018-19 are the core contributors from coach Bruce Weber’s 2018-19 squad: guards Barry Brown, Kamau Stokes, and Cartier Diarra; swingman Xavier Sneed; and preseason Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, big man Dean Wade. 

Aside from Diarra, a freshman last season, the rest of K-State’s 2017-18 key lineup contributed in the 2016-17 campaign – and Diarra still gained experience as a redshirt. Some of the veteran-heavy rosters joining the Wildcats at the Paradise Jam can look at their progress for a blueprint to make the leap this year. 

Oregon State is one such example. The Beavers endured plenty of heartache en route to a 16-16 finish last season. Returning top scorers Tres Tinkle and Stephen Thompson Jr. this campaign, however, can turn the experience of missteps into positive moves forward. 

“We feel like we could have been 20-12 easily,” said Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle at last month’s Pac-12 media day. “A year ago, we got into a lot of situations where it was time to shut the door, didn't have the confidence, maybe, to do it.”

Eight of Oregon State’s losses came down to seven points or fewer; two decided by a bucket came on the road to NCAA Tournament participant Arizona State, and preseason top-25 pick Washington. Although tabbed to finish 10th in the preseason Pac-12 media poll, last year’s results suggest the Beavers aren’t far from outshooting projections — especially with 33.4 points per game-worth of production back from Tinkle and Thompson. 

The early part of last season set the tone for Oregon State’s run of close losses: The Beavers dropped a pair of Thanksgiving weekend games to St. John’s and Long Beach State by five points each. In that vein, the Paradise Jam is an important stepping stone to them reversing the trend. 

Up first is an Old Dominion team returning leaders from a lineup that ended last season with a compelling case for the postseason.

The Monarchs finished 25-7, marking the third time in four seasons they reached at least 25 wins. Old Dominion swept the series with Conference USA Tournament champion and NCAA Tournament Cinderella story Marshall, deploying the nation’s 34th-best defense per KenPom.com adjusted efficiency. 

Jeff Jones-coached teams have long flourished with aggressive defense on the perimeter, but this Old Dominion bunch can score from the outside, too. Guards B.J. Stith (son of former Jones player at Virginia and current Old Dominion assistant coach Bryant Stith) and Ahmad Caver paced the Monarchs at 14.2 points per game each in 2017-18. 

The duo opened 2018-19 with a rout of Navy with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists; and 24 points, five rebounds and three assists, respectively. 

“The other players are more confident when Ahmad is out there running the show,” Jones said of Caver in the postgame press conference.

While the Paradise Jam can provide a building block for veteran-laden squads like Oregon State and Old Dominion, it has the potential to be a bridge between Tournament runs for Penn on the other side of the bracket. 

Like K-State, Penn exceeded expectations in 2017-18 when it made the field of 68. The Quakers were picked to finish fourth in the Ivy League, yet shared the regular-season championship with favored Harvard, then won just the second conference tournament in League history. 

Back from a team that was within seven points of top-ranked Kansas with 5:30 to go in their 1st Round matchup is forward A.J. Brodeur, who averaged 13.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game a season ago. The Quakers also have back guard Antonio Woods, who will need to take a big step forward, starting at the Paradise Jam, with the loss of Ryan Betley. 

Betley sustained a season-ending patella injury in Penn’s season-opening win over George Mason. 

Paradise Jam: How To Watch

PARADISE JAM SNAPSHOTS 

EASTERN KENTUCKY

Conference: Ohio Valley

2017-18 Record: 11-20 

Coach: A.W. Hamilton 

Names to know: F Nick Mayo; G Dujuanta Weaver; G Kelvin Robinson

Overview: This season marks the beginning of a new era for Eastern Kentucky basketball. The Colonels have a first-year head coach in A.W. Hamilton, and after the transfers of DeAndre Dishman to Middle Tennessee and Dedric Boyd to Illinois State, a new-look starting lineup surrounds post player Nick Mayo. Two of the Colonels’ opening night starters – JUCO transfer Jordan Oakley and Appalachian State import Kelvin Robinson — are newcomers to the program. 

While Eastern Kentucky features an abundance of new faces, the Colonels do have one proven commodity: The 6-foot-10 Mayo earned All-OVC first-team last year for averaging 18 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, both team-highs. 

KANSAS STATE

Conference: Big 12

2017-18 Record: 25-12 

Coach: Bruce Weber 

Names to know: F Dean Wade; G Barry Brown; F Xavier Sneed; G Kamau Stokes; G Cartier Diarra 

Overview: An NCAA Tournament run that included smashing UMBC’s glass slipper and knocking off a talented Kentucky bunch sets the stage for lofty expectations at K-State in 2018-19. The Wildcats feature a balanced roster with harassing defense from Barry Brown; perimeter scoring from Brown and Xavier Sneed; and the dependable post presence of Dean Wade. 

KENNESAW STATE

Conference: Atlantic Sun 

2017-18 Record: 10-20 

Coach: Al Skinner 

Names to know: G Tyler Hooker; F Kosta Jankovic; F Ugo Obineke 

Overview: Longtime Boston College head man Al Skinner left the Northeast for the first time in his coaching career and ended a five-year head-coaching hiatus to help build Kennesaw State into a thriving, Division I program. 

The Owls won the DII national championship in 2004, but have not finished above .500 since transitioning up in 2009. This season’s team aims to change that behind point guard Tyler Hooker, who takes over primary scoring duties from James Scott. Scott transferred to Temple in the offseason. 

MISSOURI

Conference: SEC 

2017-18 Record: 20-13

Coach: Cuonzo Martin 

Names to know: G Mark Smith; G Jordan Geist; F Mitchell Smith; F Jeremiah Tilmon 

Overview: Misfortune befell Missouri early into the season for a second straight year. After losing highly touted Michael Porter Jr. to injury last season, standout 2017 recruit Jontay Porter tore his ACL and MCL last month. He will miss the season. 

The loss of 6-11 Porter puts a damper on what could have been one of the most formidable collections of frontcourt length in the country. The Tigers still have 6-foot-10 Jeremiah Tilmon, a top-50 class of 2017 signee, as well as 6-foot-10 Mitchell Smith and Reed Nikko. Missouri’s size will aid in defensive-minded coach Cuonzo Martin implementing the kind of oppressive defense that’s been his hallmark. 

NORTHERN IOWA

Conference: Missouri Valley

2017-18 Record: 16-16

Coach: Ben Jacobson 

Names to know: G Isaiah Brown; G Tywhon Pickford; G Wyatt Lohaus; G A.J. Green 

Overview: Perennial Missouri Valley contender Northern Iowa suffered a disappointing 2017-18. The Panthers have some new names poised to step up this season, as they look to quell Loyola-mania in the Valley. 

Coach Ben Jacobson has a perimeter-oriented lineup, after last year leaning on since-graduated forward Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson. Now, the Panthers feature a variety of young playmakers in the backcourt, including Wyatt Lohaus and Tywhon Pickford. Pickford is returning ahead of the Paradise Jam off a stress fracture that sidelined him in the weeks leading up to the season opener. 

OLD DOMINION

Conference: Conference USA 

2017-18 Record: 25-7 

Coach: Jeff Jones

Names to know: G B.J. Stith; G Ahmad Caver; G Xavier Green; G Marquis Godwin; C Dajour Dickens 

Overview: Old Dominion was one of three Conference USA teams to finish the 2018 season ranked in the top 64 of the KenPom.com overall rankings, but did not receive a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. Thus, the Paradise Jam marks the Monarchs’ first tournament action since losing a defensive slugfest to Western Kentucky in last March’s C-USA semis. 

The Monarchs push the issue on the defensive end, last year ranking in the top 25 nationally of KenPom.com metrics for opponent turnover percentage (21.6 percent of possessions; No. 19); blocked shots (13.6 percent of possessions; No. 21); and steals (11.1 percent of possessions; No. 15). 

OREGON STATE

Conference: Pac-12 

2017-18 Record: 16-16 

Coach: Wayne Tinkle 

Names to know: F Tres Tinkle; G Stephen Thompson Jr.; F Alfred Hollins; G Ethan Thompson; C Gligorije Rakocevic 

Overview: Oregon State snapped a 26-year NCAA Tournament in 2016, the culmination of coach Wayne Tinkle’s efforts to rebuild the moribund program. The 2016-17 Beavers backslid badly after two straight winning records, but last year’s .500 finish marked an 11-game improvement. 

The versatile duo of Tres Tinkle and Stephen Thompson are effective slashing scorers, last season shooting 55.4 percent from the floor apiece. 

PENN

Conference: Ivy League

2017-18 Record: 24-9 

Coach: Steve Donahue

Names to know: G Antonio Woods; F Michael Wang; F A.J. Brodeur; G Devon Goodman 

Overview: Steve Donahue knows how to win the in the Ivy League. The coach led three Cornell teams to the NCAA Tournament last decade, and last year stunned the conference with regular-season and tournament champions en route to the Dance. 

The Quakers’ frontcourt features a proven leader in A.J. Broduer, as well as an intriguing newcomer in 6-10 Michael Wang. Wang debuted knocking down four 3-pointers in Penn’s opening-night win.

Don't forget to catch all of the 2018 Paradise Jam right here on FloHoops.

Kyle Kensing is a freelance sports journalist in southern California. Follow him on Twitter @kensing45.