CINCINNATI — The death of the big man in college basketball is greatly overstated.
Following the trend set in the NBA, fewer college teams are recruiting and using their big-man prospects in traditional, back-to-the-basket roles. Coaches are finding more and more big men who are more adept at knocking down 3-point shots than executing power moves in the post.
Nate Watson’s progress flies in the face of such change. The 6-foot-10 sophomore has become a dependable low-post scorer and easily one of the more powerful low-post players in the Big East. He’s been very productive of late with 21 points at Georgetown and then again at Marquette.