Frank Mason Shows Experience Counts in Kansas' Thrilling Victory over Duke

The point guard class in college basketball is as deep as its been in years, and there are so many NBA prospects that they'll be pushing players out of the league in 2017.

You're going to hear a lot over the next few months about the talent of Washington's Markelle Fultz, UCLA's Lonzo Ball, NC State's Dennis Smith Jr., Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox and on and on.

But the player who hit the biggest shot thus far in this young season Tuesday night in New York is not taking anyone's job. He's barely on the NBA's radar.

Frank Mason III is that man—a bad, bad man—and chances are Kansas head coach Bill Self wouldn't trade him for any of those future lottery picks.

Mason made the Champions Classic his night when the narrative was supposed to be about the young 'uns. The 5'11" senior point guard punctuated a brilliant performance when he rose up over Matt Jones to bury a game-winner and save the Jayhawks from a 0-2 start with a 77-75 win over top-ranked Duke.

This was supposed to be a night when we saw three of the best teams college basketball has to offer in Kansas, Duke and Kentucky.

As much as the result looked impressive, the Wildcats' 69-48 win over Michigan State was sloppy on both sides, and it was hard to gather much intel on John Calipari's next one-and-done crew.

The Blue Devils were without three of their best freshmen, including surefire lottery picks Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles. The leftovers are probably good enough to be a top-10 team but not the juggernaut they figure to become at full strength.

So it was an eyesore of a Champions Classic for three halves that featured way too many whistles and disjointed basketball.

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But Mason and the Jayhawks put a nice bow on things by showing glimpses in the second half of the team that had some folks—myself included—picking them to win the national title.

Kansas also put up a crummy defensive effort in its opening overtime loss to Indiana behind it by taking Duke out of its rhythm and unleashing the slashing trio of Mason, Devonte' Graham and Josh Jackson.

Jackson scored 15 points in only 18 minutes—he fouled out—and Graham, another NBA prospect at point guard, added 13 points and got Kansas rolling in the second half.

But when the Jayhawks needed a bucket, it was clear Mason is the man Self trusts. He dropped 30 points against Indiana, willing that game into overtime, and he gave Kansas a nice cushion in the second half against Duke by continuously getting into the paint and finishing among the trees.

"We executed well on the offensive end," Mason, who finished with 21 points and five assists, said on the ESPN telecast. "I saw a lot of gaps and just drove the ball downhill and made plays."

That ability is what intrigued Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend when he discovered Mason, who originally committed to Towson. Mason played with a toughness Townsend knew Self would love, and he could shake anyone he wanted off the bounce.

"Frank has always been able to do what he wanted without much resistance on a basketball court," Ty White, his grassroots coach, told Bleacher Report nearly two years ago.

But Mason has turned into more than just a slashing bowling ball over the years, developing point guard skills along the way—he never played the position until he got to Kansas—and a feel for the game he lacked as a younger player.

Mason's bugaboo has always been overpenetrating, but this year it looks like he's been much smarter about picking his driving opportunities.

That's what four years in college will do.

Experience also gives players a sense of the moment.

Mason knew he was going to get the ball on the final possession Tuesday, and he knew he'd played a part in creating the situation.

The Jayhawks built a 12-point lead, but Duke showed some toughness by chipping away—and Mason helped generate seven of those precious comeback points. He fouled Duke freshman point guard Frank Jackson on a three-pointer that turned into a four-point play, and he left Jackson open when he over-helped, which allowed Jackson to tie the game.

That, of course, set up his chance at redemption.

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The Blue Devils smartly put Jones, who is 6'5", on Mason, and it was clear his assignment was to not let Mason turn the corner. Mason was smart enough to realize he wasn't going to get into the lane. A younger player might have tried anyway. But the Petersburg, Virginia, native created just enough space that he could get up a rhythm jumper, despite near-perfect defense from the Duke guard.

It was exactly what Self would have chosen if he had the joystick.

The win is big for KU's confidence but isn't going to have that much impact on the season. Duke and Kansas are far from finished products, and it's hard to judge the Blue Devils without seeing those three freshmen on the floor.

But don't write off the Jayhawks as potential champions just because they barely won Tuesday against a short-handed team. This is going to be a squad that can run with Duke once it's stacked.

Jackson is figuring out his role and is going to stop fouling. Udoka Azubuike looks like a promising big body off the bench, which Kansas desperately needs. Graham is really good. Carlton Bragg is coming along.

And the Jayhawks will always have the baddest dude on the floor.

He's not a lottery pick. But he's damn good...and clutch.

C.J. Moore covers college basketball and football for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.