Ranking the Best 'Glue Guys' in College Basketball in 2014-15 Season
There are a number of different ways college basketball commentators describe players, from “diaper dandies” as star freshmen to the classic All-American.
One of those phrases is “glue guy,” and they always seem vitally important to winning a national or conference championship or contending for a Final Four appearance. Every good team seems to have them, although the exact definition is unclear.
For the purposes of this slideshow, we will define a glue guy as someone who does a little bit of everything, even if it doesn’t always show up in the box score. He provides points, rebounds, defense and other tangible contributions, but also the intangible things like leadership.
Rarely is the glue guy the best player on the team, but that does not diminish his overall value to the win-loss record.
With that in mind, here is a look at the best glue guys in college basketball this season.
Alex Poythress of Kentucky is an honorable mention because he would have certainly been on this list if not for his season-ending injury.
No. 10: Dustin Hogue, Iowa State
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There may not be a more balanced offensive attack in the entire country than Iowa State’s considering six different players average double-figure scoring.
However, Dustin Hogue is the glue guy who flies under the radar and contributes in the scoring department (11.3 points per night) and on the boards (4.7 rebounds a night).
Hogue’s willingness to simply do what the team needs him to do is another reason he is on this list. He can hit from three-point range when defenders collapse on Georges Niang or Bryce Dejean-Jones, or even play some on the blocks or high elbow if necessary.
If the Cyclones are going to finally challenge Kansas for a Big 12 crown, Hogue’s ability to quietly stuff the stat sheet while defenses focus on Niang and Dejean-Jones will be critical.
No. 9: Sam Thompson, Ohio State
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Sam Thompson is a self-described glue guy, as he told Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch: “But I knew I would have to be a leader. I knew I would have to be a steadying force and a guy that sort of keeps everything together. I guess glue guy would be the best term to use for that.”
Thompson is a steadying force on a team that is full of important youngsters. Yes, Ohio State starts three seniors, but it also has a freshman or sophomore as five of the top eight guys in terms of minutes played. That means Thompson’s on-court leadership is invaluable as the new faces get ready for Big Ten play.
He is also scoring 10.4 points a game and grabbing 3.9 rebounds a game to go along with his 53.6 percent shooting clip from the field.
Thompson is also one of the best individual defenders on the team, which will be critical as the Buckeyes transition into a man-to-man defense after primarily playing zone in the nonconference schedule.
No. 8: Demarcus Holland, Texas
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Texas is loaded this year with a number of potentially elite scorers, including Isaiah Taylor and Myles Turner. It is no coincidence that four different Longhorns are averaging in double figures scoringwise with so much talent, but Demarcus Holland has flown under the radar as the guard who helps set it all up.
Holland is averaging a solid 7.9 points per game to go along with his 2.4 assists per night, but it is his ability to defend the opposing team’s best player that makes him so valuable to Texas.
Chris Hummer of The Dallas Morning News highlighted Holland’s value to the Longhorns:
"On a team full of glue guys, Holland may have been the stickiest. Well, to defenders that is, Holland blanketed the opposing team’s best scorer all season.
Despite being undersized at the 3, Holland started for Texas because of his defense. He would guard the opponent’s best player nearly every night, frustrating everyone from Andrew Wiggins to Juwan Staten, both of whom he held under 10 points on one occasion.
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Holland is a solid slasher and can get out in transition, but his willingness to lead as a defender on a team full of offensive weapons makes him a critical glue guy to Texas’ Big 12 title hopes.
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No. 7: Josh Gasser, Wisconsin
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Wisconsin received plenty of well-deserved press heading into the season as a potential national title contender after returning stars like Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker and key contributors like Nigel Hayes.
One critical component that gets overlooked far too often is sharpshooter Josh Gasser.
Gasser isn’t going to wow with his statistics (7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per night), but his presence on the floor is essential to getting Kaminsky and Co. open looks on the offensive end. It is no secret that the Badgers are patient on the offensive side of the ball, and Gasser’s ability to stretch the defense with his three-point shooting creates openings for others.
Defenders can’t double down on Kaminsky and leave Gasser open, which helps the Wisconsin big man put up the All-American numbers he does on almost a nightly basis.
No. 6: Tekele Cotton, Wichita State
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Tekele Cotton was on Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis’ All-Glue Team a season ago, so this slideshow would be remiss not to include the Wichita State player.
Like so many other players on this list, Cotton’s calling card is his defense. He is averaging 1.5 steals per game and gives the Shockers an athletic presence on the wing who can stay in front of almost any ball-handler with his lateral quickness and nose for getting to the right spot.
He is also a solid foil to guard Ron Baker because Cotton is more of a slasher than a shooter. If defenders commit to stopping Baker’s perimeter shot, Cotton can sneak backdoor and unleash a patented slam dunk at the basket.
No. 5: Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
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Denzel Valentine has been an important piece of Michigan State’s rotation his entire career in East Lansing, but he has taken on an expanded role after Adreian Payne, Gary Harris and Keith Appling all left after last season.
Valentine is still stuffing the stat sheet as arguably the Spartans’ top overall player and one of their better defenders. He leads the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game and is averaging 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per night. Throw in his ability to hit from deep and close games on the free-throw line, and Valentine is invaluable to Tom Izzo’s squad.
His leadership as an upperclassman who has been a major part of the rotation in the past is also key to his role as a glue guy.
No. 4: Justise Winslow, Duke
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Let Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook get all the headlines for Duke. They certainly deserve them as some of the most talented players on arguably the nation’s top team this side of Lexington.
However, it is Justise Winslow who could be the key to the entire season for the Blue Devils. He is a walking answer to almost all the problems that hampered Mike Krzyzewski’s squad last season, and his versatility alone allows the Duke coach to mix and match a number of different lineup changes.
Winslow’s defense is invaluable to the Blue Devils, especially after the squad lost in the round of 64 last season because it was unable to keep ball-handlers out of the lane. He also rebounds (4.9 per game) and can hit from three-point range when defenders collapse on the post on Okafor.
Winslow does a little bit of everything for Duke, but his true value comes as a shutdown defender.
No. 3: J.P. Tokoto, North Carolina
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North Carolina and Duke fans may not want to hear any comparisons between the two teams, but J.P. Tokoto is to the Tar Heels what Winslow is to the Blue Devils.
Tokoto is a lockdown defender on the wing and versatile enough to guard anyone from a point guard to a taller forward. He also has impressive shooting touch from deep (40 percent) and is arguably North Carolina’s top passer (he leads the team at 4.1 assists per game). Throw in 5.2 rebounds per night, and Tokoto can do a little bit of everything.
Marcus Paige gets most of the headlines for the Tar Heels, but if they are going to overcome some of their early losses and compete in the ACC, they are going to need Tokoto’s versatility and ability to stuff the stat sheet from the wing.
No. 2: Wayne Blackshear, Louisville
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Louisville is one of the best teams in the country because of its defense and overall team approach to basketball, but Wayne Blackshear is often overshadowed by Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier.
That hasn’t prevented Blackshear from contributing across the stat sheets as the Cardinals’ main glue guy. He is averaging 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game for Rick Pitino and is shooting a deadly 73.3 percent from the free-throw line.
His overall athleticism helps him on the defensive side, which is the most important aspect of anyone’s game in the Louisville system. He has been invaluable in the full-court press and is more than willing to bang around down low for rebounds from the small forward position.
The senior leader is often overlooked as part of the Louisville rotation, but the Cardinals are going to need him if they hope to reach the Final Four.
No. 1: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
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Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports highlighted why Arizona’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is such a critical component to the Wildcats’ success as one of the best glue guys in the country. It is important to note that this was before the 2013 campaign, but the same principles still apply:
"He may only be a freshman, but after watching the Wildcats in Tucson a few weeks ago, I'm convinced Hollis-Jefferson is one of the keys to Arizona's season. The 6-7 forward can guard four different positions and may be the most physically imposing player on the Wildcats' roster. Think another Stacey Augmon.
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As we have discussed, the versatility to play different positions, especially on the defensive end, is almost a mandatory part of being a glue guy. Hollis-Jefferson does exactly that while also scoring (11.4 points a game) and banging around for rebounds (6.4 boards a night).
He is the rare freshman glue guy who could lead Arizona to a Final Four berth.
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