Handicapping (way too early) the national scoring leader race

Points are the way teams win games. You can argue defense, you can argue rebounding. But if you don’t put the ball in the basket, you don’t win.

I know, that’s expert analysis.

Now that we’re a few weeks into the season some players are starting to show how good they are at putting said ball into said basket. With that in mind, let’s check out the leaders among points per game in Division I basketball, and their odds for ending the season as the nation’s top scorer, with a few dark horses at the end.

Leaders

C.J. McCollum, Lehigh (25.8 ppg)

Why?: Scored 20-or-more in six of eight games, including three 30-point outings so far. He’s the main focus on a good team and can do it all. That means that teams will have to guard him for the pass and box him out, not just play him for the shot.

Future outlook: Games against VCU and Bucknell loom, but the rest of the seasonal competition within the Patriot League will be sub-par (outside of the Bison) compared to McCollum. He’s also averaged at least 19 points in his four seasons. There’s something to be said about that.

Odds: 5-to-2

Kyle Vinales, Central Connecticut State (25.6 ppg)

Why?: This guy is a name not a ton of people know, but should. Only a sophomore, Vinales led all freshman in scoring in Division I last season at 17.9 points per game, albeit for a pretty bad team. Through six games, Vinales has played a ridiculous 40.8 minutes per game and has eclipsed the 20-point mark in the last five. He’s hit 45.6-percent of his shots overall and 39.5-percent from three.

Future outlook: A game at Indiana on Saturday will be the true test. In-conference, games against Wagner, Quinnipiac and Long Island loom. Those will be the proving ground.

Odds: 8-to-1

Isaiah Canaan, Murray State (22.5 ppg)

Why?: He’s everybody’s All-American and it’s mainly because he’s one of the best scorers in the country. The senior is connecting on 49.5-percent from the field and a crazy good 42.6-percent from three  in 33.6 minutes per game through six games. He’s the main perimeter scoring option and has the tools around him to fend off double teams.

Future outlook: Games at Dayton and at home against Valparaiso loom, but it’s the Ohio Valley Conference slate that worries anyone thinking Canaan can top the scoring charts. Belmont, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State know how to defend, especially the latter two, who have seen Canaan over the past four years.

Odds: 15-to-1

Doug McDermott, Creighton (21.2 ppg)

Why?: Because he’s D-Mac. Because he’s one of the top contenders for National Player of the Year. He’s got the outside game (46.9-percent), hits his free throws (87.8-percent) and the post game (53.8-percent overall) to be the efficient scorer that everyone expects, and do it well. He’s got Grant Gibbs and Greg Enchenique to taper the double teams, too. So that helps.

Future outlook: A game at Nebraska on Thursday, with games at California and at home against Tulsa will be challenging. But the Missouri Valley Conference brings the contest of Illinois State (Jackie Carmichael), Northern Iowa (Seth Tuttle) and Wichita State (Cleanthony Early). It’s going to be tough.

Odds: 18-to-1

Stan Okoye, VMI (20.8 ppg)

Why?: Because Okoye plays for VMI and VMI always has someone who contends for that title every season in Duggar Baucom’s system. They run, they score. The 6-6 senior is hitting 48.1-percent of his shots overall in 31.2 minutes per game through eight games.

Future outlook: Outside of Wright State and George Washington, the rest of the Keydet’s non-conference slate is Charmin soft. In the Southern Conference, the biggest defensive threats to Okoye are Winthrop, Coastal Carolina and UNC-Asheville.

Odds: 25-to-1

Other potential candidates

Lamont “Momo” Jones, Iona (23 ppg); Erick Green, Virginia Tech (24.8); James Kinney, San Jose State (22.8); Kevin Foster, Santa Clara (22.5); Ray McCallum, Detroit (21.1).