What And Who Stood Out Most At The 2021 Jimmy V Classic

On Tuesday night, men's college basketball was center stage at Madison Square Garden at the 26th annual Jimmy V Classic. The ESPN-organized event, named after late head coach and former ESPN analyst Jim Valvano, has become an early-season staple for primetime college basketball while also serving as an excellent way to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

The 2021 Jimmy V Classic witnessed sixth-ranked Villanova and thirteen-ranked Tennessee go against a pair of unranked yet tough teams in Syracuse and Texas Tech. Down below are our three biggest takeaways from Tuesday night!

As arenas and stadiums across the country continue their return of having crowds at total capacity, there will be moments where the energy in those buildings is reminiscent of the past. During the two games that occurred at this year's Jimmy V Classic, the MSG crowd was loud and supportive the entire night.

In particular, the introductions for Villanova's and Syracuse's starting lineups provoked goosebumps. The crowd was on its feet and showered each player with thunderous applause, especially Collin Gillespie and Jimmy Boheim.

On a night filled with top-level talent, no player made a bigger impression than Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech's talismanic junior guard. The Texas Tech guard, who returned to school after withdrawing his name from last year's Draft, put up 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 57-52 overtime victory against No. 13 Tennessee.

Whenever the Red Raiders needed a basket, Shannon Jr provided one, showcasing the combination of athleticism and touch at the basket that makes him such an intriguing NBA prospect.

Any team that has competed against Syracuse head coach Jim Boheim and his stifling 2-3 zone defense knows how difficult it is to gain a rhythm on offense. Sixth-ranked Villanova, though, was able to put together an effective—albeit ugly—offensive performance against their former Big East rival, pulling away from the Orange in the second half en route to a 67-53 win.

Despite attempting 50 three-pointers, and only making 13, the sixth-ranked Wildcats outscored their opponent in second-chance points (25-7) and won the battle on the glass (57-36).