This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
Monday's college basketball DFS slate features four matchups on DraftKings and five on FanDuel. Ohio State has the highest expected score of any team on Monday's DraftKings slate, but the team is also a heavy favorite (-15.5) against Bowling Green, meaning that there's some risk since the team could lean on its bench players if the score gets out of hand early.
Top Players
Daeqwon Plowden, G, Bowling Green ($6,700 DK)
Ohio State and Bowling Green are two programs that are efficient on the defensive side of the ball, but the Falcons have the fastest pace of any team on Monday's slate. Plowden has been consistently productive to begin the year and will attempt to continue his success against Big Ten competition. After posting a double-double in Tuesday's opener, he posted 14 points and six rebounds in Friday's blowout win over Ohio Wesleyan despite playing just 23 minutes. The Buckeyes struggle defensively against three-point shooting, so Plowden has plenty of potential Monday if he can improve his 18.2-percent rate from beyond the arc to begin the year.
Coleman Hawkins, F, Illinois ($6,500 DK, $7,800 FD)
Hawkins averaged just 6.2 minutes per game while playing exclusively off the bench last year, but he's taken on a starting role to begin the year while Kofi Cockburn has been suspended. Cockburn will remain sidelined through Monday's matchup, so Hawkins should have increased playing time once again. The forward has been a consistent performer for the Illini across the first two games of the season. He posted his first collegiate double-double in Friday's blowout win over Arkansas State and has averaged 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in 28.0 minutes per game across his first two appearances in 2021-22. While Marquette is relatively proficient on the defensive side of the ball, the Illini will attempt to drive the pace in what could be a competitive matchup.
Middle Tier
Justin Lewis, F, Marquette ($5,900 DK, $8,200 FD)
Lewis started just one game during his freshman season last year, but he's taken on a starting role in each of the first two contests in the 2021-22 campaign. The sophomore has been incredibly consistent to begin the year, as he's posted 17-point, 11-rebound double-doubles in each of his first two appearances. Although the Illini have the highest adjusted defensive efficiency in the nation, per KenPom, Lewis could have some opportunities in the frontcourt since Kofi Cockburn will be unavailable for Monday's contest due to his suspension.
Darryl Morsell, G, Marquette ($5,800 DK, $8,000 FD)
Morsell been heavily involved to begin his time at Marquette, and the transfer from Maryland will be facing a familiar opponent in the Illini on Monday. He had somewhat inconsistent results at Maryland last year but has been dominant to begin his time with the Golden Eagles. After averaging just 9.0 points last year, the guard has scored 20-plus points in each of his first two appearances in the 2021-22 campaign. His 19 points against Illinois last year represented his highest total of the season, and he'll attempt to replicate his success with his new program Monday.
Values
Steven Crowl, C, Wisconsin ($5,100 DK, $5,600 FD)
Crowl has had limited playing time early in the season since the Badgers have had blowout wins in each of their first two games, but he's still been effective as part of the starting five. The sophomore has shot 55.0 percent from the floor across his first two appearances in the 2021-22 campaign and has scored in double figures while hauling in at least seven boards in each outing. Although Wisconsin and Providence have the two slowest paces of any team on Monday's slate, Crowl should remain involved in what should be a relatively competitive matchup.
Zed Key, F, Ohio State ($4,000 DK)
Key has a low DFS salary Monday but is a strong candidate to provide 4x or 5x value as long as he sees enough playing time in what could be a lopsided matchup against Bowling Green. After starting just one game last year, the forward has taken on a starting role in each of the first two games in the 2021-22 campaign and has scored in double figures in each appearance while shooting 66.7 percent from the floor. The sophomore has had a consistent role in a pair of relatively close matchups to begin the year, and he's a solid DFS value at his current salary.
