Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Basketball: Can Bonzie Colson win the Irish a title?

By Noah Strackbein

Feb 11, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) pauses in the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 84-72. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) pauses in the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 84-72. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Notre Dame basketball can go head-to-head with some of the best in the country, and Bonzie Colson is the man leading the charge.

ESPN’s Myron Medcalf recently released an article on who he believes can carry a team to the title “all by themselves.” Fourth on that list of NCAA superstars is Notre Dame’s stud forward, Bonzie Colson.

Must Read: Looking ahead to Notre Dame's final four games

Averaging 16.9 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and shooting 52% from the field, Colson has led the Fighting Irish one game out of first place in the ACC. With the team’s new small ball lineup, it only seems that Colson has become more dangerous as the Irish’s only big man.

Can the 6’5 big man actually lead Notre Dame to a National Championship, though? With 16 double-doubles and his domination of front courts across the country, the Irish aren’t going to find many teams, if any, that slowdown Colson.

Against some of the best front courts in the NCAA, North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson, Purdue, and others, Colson has put up double-digit stat lines in both scoring and rebounding. Come the NCAA Tournament; the Irish aren’t going to run into many post games like these.

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, Notre Dame is the sixth seed in South. Facing potential opponents like Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, UCLA, Creighton, Miami, Baylor, or possible upset teams, it appears as though there isn’t much challenge for Colson. Outside of UNC’s frontcourt, the only trouble Colson may run into is UCLA’s TJ Leaf (16.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG) and Baylor’s Johnathan Motley (16.7 PPG, 95 RPG).

Even these forwards, none of which are averaging a double-double, are much of a threat to the Irish’s big man. The Tar Heel’s Kennedy Meeks and Isiah Hicks were a concern for Notre Dame the first time around, but by spacing the floor and spreading these bigs out, the Irish give Colson the chance to battle one at a time in the paint. One-on-one is a matchup he has one all season.

With four games left in the year and a lot of moving in the ACC standing still yet to happen, Notre Dame may be even higher come tournament time. Heading into March with an ACC title would push the Irish much farther up than a six seed. Giving them a chance to play even less frontcourt talent.

Next: Notre Dame the favorite to win ACC title

As a top 20 candidate for the for the National Player of the Year Award, who should have much higher odds than 16/1, Colson has proven to reign superior amongst bigs in the NCAA. He’s already faced some of the best players in the country and won. Squaring off with a few throughout the tournament won’t be an issue and hands, Notre Dame, a significant advantage come March.

So, yes. Bonzie Colson could lead Notre Dame to a National Championship. Maybe even all by himself.