Global Sports event a Classic

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Friday night’s games in the Global Sports Classic in the Thomas & Mack Center provided more than enough post-Thanksgiving hoops action for those looking to recover from turkey comas.

And, although the major of the 16,000-plus in attendance headed home disappointed, the capper to the even – Oregon’s 83-79 upset of host UNLV – was as entertaining a game as can be hoped for in November.

The 40 minutes of action demonstrated plenty to leave both head coaches pleased about what is in store for their clubs – even if one of them had to endure his first loss of the season.

For the host Rebels, their depth and level of skill is more than enough to push them to a Mountain West Conference title and nice NCAA tourney run.

And that will certainly prove to be true once their shot selection – they were eight of 30 from beyond the arc, and they have too many ways to score without launching 3s so frequently – and half-court defensive tighten up.

And anyone in the building or watching the broadcast who was watching Anthony Bennett for the first time had to come away understanding why he could be as impactful a freshman as there is in the country this season.

Ultimately, David Rice’s team will probably learn more from the loss than it would have if the Rebels had managed to pull out a W.

Look for Dana Altman’s team to be in the hunt for an upper-tier – possibly top thee – finish in the Pac 12.

If the Ducks prove to be that good, the play of a very good – and underrated, regionally and nationally – group of freshmen will be a part of that equation.

Three of those frosh, Dominic Artis, Ben Carter and Damyean Dotson, combined for 42 points and 14 rebounds.

And, in the other game:

*Cincinnati 78, Iowa State 70: Last March both the Bearcats and the Cyclones won a couple of NCAA Tournament games before seeing their seasons end in regional semifinal games.

Are they capable of similar spring runs this season?

Despite 4-0 starts by both going into Friday evening’s game, November, of course, is much too early to get a good handle on those kinds of projections.

But Coach Mick Cronin’s Cincinnati squad more than enough in its win over the Big 12 Conference club to indicate that the Bearcats will once again be chore to deal with in the Big East – and beyond.

And, in very large part, it’s because of the kind of backcourt he put on the Thomas & Mack Center’s Jerry Tarkanian Court Friday.

In Sean Kilpatrick (32 points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals) and Cashmere Wright (14 points, five assists and three steals) Cronin has a set of guard that could prove to be at least the equal to any in the country this season.

And the 6-foot-4 Kilpatrick (a long-armed and strong junior) was probably the best NBA prospect on display Friday – other than UNLV freshman Anthony Bennett, that is.

As for Iowa State, the Cyclones have more than enough on hand to get into the NCAA tourney again.

Even with the heroics of Kilpatrick – who might lead the Big East in scoring – the Cyclones were in position to pull the game out.

Look for them to be even sharper come conference play once newcomers such as Michigan State transfer guard Kori Lucious get more integrated into Fred Hoiberg’s system.