Egor Demin, BYU
Realistic expectation: Starting wing

Burning college question: So, uh, what about the defense?

The Big 12 was one of the oldest, high-major leagues in the country last year. Just six freshmen played more than 20 minutes per game. The league is changing, but paying up for vets sure has not. BYU and Arizona State are the lone programs in the league with multiple freshmen positioned to start. Demin, a 6-9, Russian star, is expected to shoulder a bunch of the on-ball work for new BYU coach Kevin Young, but how ready is he defensively?

Johnny Furphy could be an example to watch. Furphy came to Kansas from Australia and worked his way into the starting lineup, but he was put into the spotlight repeatedly by opposing offensive coordinators who hunted him out defensively from the jump. If they did it to Furphy, they'll do it to Demin, too. The 190-pound wing is probably best suited using his length to bother shooters on the perimeter, but the Big 12 is filled with outstanding guards who will try to find a weak link in the defense. Is Demin up to snuff defensively?