Ranking the Top 10 Men's CBB Performances of the Season So Far

When the college basketball season hits February, nearly every result is scrutinized based on how it potentially affects the NCAA tournament. For good reason, the national focus is almost exclusively on the teams and the postseason.

But let's step back, even if only for a moment, before we return to the lovable chaos of bracket talk.

Through three months of the 2021-22 men's college basketball campaign, we have watched a ton of spectacular individual performances. We've narrowed that collection of games—and at least several dozen have a good argument—to 10 of our favorites.

As the choices are subjective, total production is the key factor. Competition level is also a consideration.

10. Darius McGhee, Liberty vs. FGCU

Days before Christmas, Darius McGhee dropped 41 points in a loss to Stanford. Three weeks later, he scorched Florida Gulf Coast for 48 in a Liberty win.

To date, nobody has topped his 48 points this season. He buried eight triples and shot 16-of-25 overall while making all eight free-throw attempts. 

While the numbers are impressive enough, how McGhee accumulated them is even better.

At the midway point, Liberty trailed 40-31. But he netted 13 straight points out of the break and totaled an incredible 37 in the half, carrying the Flames to a 78-75 win. McGhee chipped in two rebounds and two assists and committed only two turnovers.

9. Bryce Hamilton, UNLV vs. Colorado State

Colorado State is soundly on the proper side of the bubble right now, per BracketMatrix, but Bryce Hamilton and UNLV handed the Rams a tough loss in January.

The guard poured in a career-best 45 points, shooting 8-of-14 from deep and propelling UNLV to an 88-74 upset. Hamilton drained six of those triples in the opening half, then scored or assisted on 14 of UNLV's last 18 points to seal the victory.

Hamilton also grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists, recording the first 45-5-5 game in Division I since Oklahoma's Trae Young in 2018.

8. Armando Bacot, North Carolina vs. Virginia

Armando Bacot has quite a selection of options.

Maybe you prefer his 19 points, 22 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists in a triumph over Louisville. Early in the season, he amassed 24 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and three assists during as UNC defeated the College of Charleston.

Our choice, however, is Bacot's prolific night opposite Virginia when he registered 29 points and 22 rebounds. The junior finished 12-of-18 from the floor, adding two assists and a block in the 74-58 win.

During a nine-minute span in the second half, Bacot supplied 13 points to help the Heels turn a nine-point advantage into a 19-point margin and cruise to a valuable ACC victory.

7. Johnny Davis, Wisconsin vs. Houston

Not only is Johnny Davis a breakout star, he's among the front-runners for National Player of the Year. And it was precisely on November 23 that we realized Wisconsin had someone special.

Taking on then-12th-ranked Houston, the sophomore scored eight points and blocked two shots during the Badgers' 13-0 run to open the contest. He chipped in 10 more points before halftime as Wisconsin built an eye-opening 40-20 lead at the break.

Houston fought back in the second half, but Davis scored 10 of the Badgers' last 12 points to preserve the 65-63 victory.

In total, he finished with a career-high 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting (including 4-of-7 from deep) to go with four rebounds, four steals, two blocks and an assist.

6. Kofi Cockburn, Illinois vs. Wisconsin

In early February, though, Davis and the Badgers had no answer for Illinois star Kofi Cockburn.

While tearing apart Wisconsin's front line for 37 points, he basically attempted only one shot outside of about 10 feet. Cockburn shot 16-of-19 from the field while grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking a shot to drive the Illini's 80-67 victory.

Cockburn, a second-team Associated Press All-American last season, ended the game on a hot streak as well.

During the last 10 minutes of the second half, he accounted for 15 of Illinois' last 19 points. Cockburn prevented the Badgers from trimming the deficit below six points down the stretch.

5. Walker Kessler, Auburn vs. Ole Miss

Similar to Bacot, this is a take-your-pick conversation with Walker Kessler. And there's another performance from him anyway.

After transferring from North Carolina, the 7'1" center has found a spectacular home at Auburn. Playing alongside coveted NBA prospect Jabari Smith, Kessler has emerged as a rim-defending extraordinaire who regularly stuffs the box score.

During an 80-71 win at Ole Miss in mid-January, he piled up 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals. He went 9-of-11 from the floor and created eight second-chance points on five offensive boards.

"Kessler was dominant. We don't win without him," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl told reporters after the game.

4. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga vs. BYU

In a season full of preposterous stat lines, Chet Holmgren made his greatest impact when Gonzaga steamrolled BYU 90-57 in early February.

He scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including two threes. Holmgren also snared a career-high 17 rebounds and tied a personal best of six assists.

On defense, the 7-foot freshman blocked five shots and grabbed a steal.

"Chet is one of one," teammate Julian Strawther said to reporters afterward. "There's literally zero players in the country who can do what he does. He amazes me every time."

3. Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State vs. Loyola-Chicago

Two facts help illustrate the absurdity of this performance.

Exactly five days following this matchup, Loyola-Chicago surrendered 39 points to Southern Illinois. Total. And when the Ramblers headed to Missouri State for the second regular-season clash, they limited Isiaih Mosley to only 12 points.

But they could not stop him in January.

Mosley overpowered Loyola for 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including a 3-of-7 night from three-point range. He added eight rebounds, two assists and a steal to spearhead Missouri State's 79-69 upset.

2. Walker Kessler, Auburn vs. LSU

Approximately two weeks before he dominated Ole Miss, Kessler registered a jaw-dropping triple-double against LSU.

The sophomore buried 6-of-8 shots for 16 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and swatted 11 shots, including eight in the second half alone. Kessler propelled Auburn to a 70-55 victory and handed then-undefeated LSU is first loss of the campaign.

In the last decade, a Division I player has recorded a triple-double with 10-plus blocks only 18 times. Kessler, who also did it again opposite Texas A&M in February, has two of them.

"Walker just cleans everything up," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said, per Callie Stanford of the Auburn Plainsman. "If there's a better defender, shot-blocker, rim-protector in the country, I haven't seen him."

1. Johnny Davis, Wisconsin vs. Purdue

"He's a fabulous player. He's got a bright future. I'd like to be his agent."

That's what the opposing coach, Purdue's Matt Painter, said of Johnny Davis following the Badgers' upset in West Lafeyette. Davis shredded the No. 3 Boilermakers for 37 points and 14 rebounds, guiding Wisconsin to an impressive 74-69 triumph.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Davis became only the fourth player in the last 25 seasons to reach 35 points and 10 rebounds in a victory over an AP Top Five opponent.

Davis also chipped in three assists, two steals and two blocks, and he netted nine critical points in the final four minutes to shift Wisconsin from a 62-60 deficit to a five-point win.

            

Statistics courtesy of KenPom.com or Sports Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.