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5 takeaways from 1st month of college basketball season

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The first month of the 2021-22 college basketball campaign has provided plenty of food for thought.

Purdue is ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history, Gonzaga has more losses than it did at the end of last season, and Memphis is already in trouble.

Here are five early-season takeaways with conference play approaching.

Duke can send Coach K out on top

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Duke's loss to Ohio State last week doesn't diminish its status as a national championship contender. The Blue Devils already have two top-10 wins and are one of three teams ranked in KenPom's top 15 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. Mike Krzyzewski's squad is also giving up the third-fewest free-throw attempts per game.

Freshman phenom Paolo Banchero has lived up to the hype, Trevor Keels and Mark Williams have been solid defensively, and junior Wendell Moore has finally made the leap. While Duke's outside shooting needs improvement, the Blue Devils have the talent to send Coach K into retirement with a sixth NCAA Division I title.

Top-ranked Purdue using familiar formula

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Purdue's best season under head coach Matt Painter came in 2018. That team - a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament - was powered by an athletic scoring guard, two dominant paint scorers, and the nation's second-best 3-point percentage.

This year's 8-0 Boilermakers squad is led by an athletic scoring guard in Jaden Ivey, two dominant paint scorers in Zach Edey and Trevion Williams ... and the nation's second-best 3-point percentage.

Top-ranked Purdue is deep, talented, versatile, and the likely favorite for the March Madness crown if the tournament began today. On top of that, the sheer amount of star power on this roster makes the Boilermakers one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in all of college basketball.

Gonzaga is vulnerable

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Gonzaga remains a formidable contender with dominant wins over Texas and UCLA under its belt. But losses to Duke and Alabama may have provided a blueprint for opposing teams.

The Bulldogs struggled against athleticism in both games, specifically at the 5. Blue Devils center Williams and Crimson Tide big man Charles Bediako each registered six blocks and got easy buckets off lobs in their respective matchups against Gonzaga. The Zags' frontcourt tandem of Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme also had trouble when switched onto perimeter players.

Taking care of the ball was another point of emphasis for Duke and Alabama, as their lack of turnovers neutralized Gonzaga's lethal transition attack. Nobody will be surprised if Mark Few and Co. cut down the nets in New Orleans, but this season's team is certainly more vulnerable than last year's juggernaut.

Memphis' early struggles

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Memphis' star-studded roster seemed set to give head coach Penny Hardaway his best season with the program after a 5-0 start. Just over a week later, three straight losses to average opponents are putting everything in doubt once again.

As has been the case every year under Hardaway, Memphis has struggled mightily with turnovers; it ranks dead last in the country, allowing 10.9 steals per contest. Alarmingly, the Tigers have coughed up 53 giveaways during their losing streak.

It's clear the inexperience of highly touted recruits Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren has masked their talent, and the rest of the roster hasn't done enough to conceal their mistakes. While this group remains strong defensively, its potential will continue to depend on taking care of the basketball.

Is SEC the best conference in college hoops?

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The SEC has always been known as a football conference, but its basketball reputation is at an all-time high with an NCAA-leading seven teams in the AP Poll.

Alabama and Kentucky were expected to lead the way this season and have been as good as advertised, especially after the Crimson Tide's upset victory over Gonzaga. Tennessee, Auburn, and Arkansas were also ranked in the preseason poll and have two losses between them.

The biggest surprises are LSU and Florida, two programs that lost a lot of last year's production but have a combined 14-2 record to start the campaign. The overall records won't be as strong once these teams start playing each other, but the SEC will certainly be well-represented in the NCAA Tournament in March.

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