By R.L. Bynum

Cade Tyson continues to shine against overmatched nonconference foes, while Tyler Nickel is off to a strong start and Ian Jackson posted solid numbers in a marquee matchup.

Meanwhile, centers Jalen Washington and Ven-Allen Lubin are still trying to make an impact at their new schools.

An intriguing showdown looms Tuesday in Detroit: Elliot Cadeau’s No. 7 Michigan squad, which hasn’t played since a 121–78 opening-game rout Monday of Oakland, faces Wake Forest (2–0) at 6:30 p.m. on FS1.

Tyson followed his 30-point outburst in Minnesota’s 87–69 opener against Gardner-Webb (320 in KenPom) with 21 points in 29 minutes during Saturday’s 95–50 demolition of Alcorn State (339). The 2–0 Gophers get their first real test Wednesday at Missouri (38).

At Madison Square Garden on Saturday, No. 15 Alabama edged Jackson’s No. 5 St. John’s team 103–96 in a high-level clash.

After starting and scoring 15 points in the Red Storm’s 108–74 opener against Quinnipiac, Jackson came off the bench to tally 14 points in 23 minutes with four rebounds, three assists and a block.

A late turnover proved costly: Alabama’s Latrell Wrightsell Jr. stole the ball from Jackson with 2:35 left and the Tide up five. Jackson answered with a driving layup at 1:22, but St. John’s never got closer than six.

Nickel stayed hot for Vanderbilt, following his 20-point performance in a 105–91 opening-game win over Lipscomb with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists in Saturday’s 105–93 victory at UCF.

Washington, his Commodores teammate, has come off the bench in both games, with nine points and two rebounds in the opener, then six points and six rebounds before fouling out Saturday.

N.C. State rolled past N.C. Central (114–66) and UAB (94–70). Lubin started both games, posting 10 points and six rebounds in the opener and eight points with three rebounds Friday while battling foul trouble.

Kentucky senior Teonni Key bounced back from only scoring five points in the opener with two strong games. Thursday, she collected 14 points and three rebounds in Thursday’s 104–46 rout of Coppin State. In Sunday’s 81–47 home win over Buffalo, she had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Elsewhere among former UNC players:
— Tray Crisp had six points in Mississippi State’s 68–62 Friday win over Georgia State.
— RyLee Grays chipped in two points and three rebounds off the bench in Tulsa’s 77–60 win over New Orleans.
— In two weekend games, Mississippi State guard Tray Crisp started and combined for nine points and nine assists.
— Paulina Paris struggled in SMU’s 46–44 loss to Kansas State, shooting 2 of 12 (0 for 6 from 3-point range) for four points.
— Will Shaver had three points and three rebounds in Samford’s 82–72 Friday win over South Carolina State.

Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)

Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Last season statistics (UNC) — 37 games, 37 starts, 27.8 minutes, 9.4 points, 44.5 FG%, 33.7 3P%, 67 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.1 steals
Opener: Michigan 121, Oakland 78 — Started; 25 minutes, 5 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, +20
Next game — 6:30 Tuesday vs. Wake Forest at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, FS1

Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starter
Last season statistics (UNC) — 28 games, 1 start, 13.9 minutes, 5.6 points, 37.8 FG%, 25.5 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 of a steal
Opener: Mississippi State 66, Davidson 57 — Started; 22 minutes, 3 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers, +3
Friday: Mississippi State 68, Georgia State 62 — Started; 29 minutes, 6 points, 2–6 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
Sunday: Mississippi State 107, Mississippi Valley State 43 — Started; 17minutes, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +30
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Jackson State

Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Last season statistics (Virginia) — 23 games, 1 start, 11.7 minutes, 2.0 points, 31.8 FG%, 64.3 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 of a steal
Wednesday opener: Tulsa 77, New Orleans 60 — 9 minutes, 2 points ,1–1 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, +5
Next game — 7:30 Sunday vs. Prairie View A&M, ESPN+

Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starter at the 2 spot ahead of senior Oziya Sellers
Last season statistics (UNC) — 36 games, 12 starts, 23.8 minutes, 11.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 0.6 of a steal
Opener: No. 5 St. John’s 108, Quinnipiac 74 — Started; 31 minutes, 15 points, 6–6 FG, 3–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, +31
Saturday: No. 15 Alabama 103, No. 5 St. John’s 96 — Didn’t start; 23 minutes, 14 points, 6–14 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 1 block, -7
Next game — 6 p.m. Saturday vs. William & Mary, truTV

Roster situation — Starting forward
Last season statistics (first at Kentucky) — 31 games, 31 starts, 28.1 minutes, 11.4 points, 50.4 FG%, 24.4 3P%, 77.4 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 of an assist, 1.7 blocks
Opener: Kentucky 75, Morehead State 59 — Started; 18 minutes, 5 points, 1–7 FG, 3–8 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 4 blocks, 1 steal, -5
Thursday: Kentucky 104, Monmouth 46 — Started; 31 minutes, 14 points, 6–9 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 blocks, 1 steal, +31
Sunday: Kentucky 81, Buffalo 47 — Started; 32 minutes, 17 points, 8–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 12 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assist, 1 turnover, 1 steal, +22
Next game — 6:30 Wednesday vs. USC Upstate

Roster situation — Starting forward
Last season statistics (first at Vanderbilt) — 33 games, 33 starts, 25.0 minutes, 10.4 points, 42.0 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 84.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Opener: Vanderbilt 105, Lipscomb 61 — Started; 24 minutes, 20 points, 7–12 FG, 6–9 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 steal, team-high +42
Saturday: Vanderbilt 105, UCF 93 — Started; 32 minutes, 17 points, 6–10 FG, 4–8 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, +16
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Western Kentucky

Roster situation — Likely starting guard
Last season statistics (Arizona) — 33 games, 24 starts, 24.9 minutes, 8.3 points, 39.8 FG%, 30.6 3P%, 59.6 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals
Opener: SMU 96, Grambling 70 — Started; 17 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–4 FT, 1 rebound, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers
Saturday: Kansas State 46, SMU 44 — Started; 25 minutes, 4 points, 2–12 FG, 0–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 steal, team-low -7
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at Texas Tech, ESPN+
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN

Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Last season statistics (UAB) — 9 games, 0 starts, 41 minutes, 2 points 1–2 FG, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block
Monday opener: Tulane 85, Samford 72 — Didn’t start; 10 minutes, 5 points, 2–2 FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers, -4
Friday: Samford 82, South Carolina State 72 — Didn’t start; 6 minutes, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 block
Next game — Wednesday at Texas Southern

Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starter
Last season statistics (UNC) — 31 games, 0 starts, 7.9 minutes, 2.6 points, 40.3 FG%, 29.2 3P%, 56.3 FT%, 1.1 rebounds
Opener: Minnesota 87, Gardner-Webb 69 — Started; 28 minutes, 30 points, 8–12 FG, 4–8 3FG, 10–12 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 steal, +23
Saturday: Minnesota 95, Alcorn State 50 — Started; 29 minutes, 21 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 10–11 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 steals, team-high +44
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Missouri

Roster situation — Starter
Last season statistics (UNC) — 37 games, 20 starts, 19.6 minutes, 8.7 points, 68.4 FG%, 71.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 0.4 of a steal, 0.9 of a block
Monday opener: N.C. State 114, N.C. Central 66 — Started; 19 minutes, 10 points, 4–4 FG, 2–3 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, +29
Friday opener: N.C. State 94, UAB 70 — Started; 17 minutes, 8 points, 4–5 FG, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 3 turnovers, 1 steal
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. UNCG
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2

Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)

Roster situation — Reserve center
Last season statistics (UNC) — 36 games, 16 starts, 15.9 minutes, 5.7 points, 59.4 FG%, 27.8 3P%, 63.8 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 0.8 of a block
Opener: Vanderbilt 105, Lipscomb 61 — Didn’t start; 17 minutes, 9 points, 3–4 FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 1 block, +13
Saturday: Vanderbilt 105, UCF 93 — Didn’t start; 19 minutes, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 fouls, 1 turnover, +5
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Western Kentucky

Photo via @GopherMBB