Cream of the Crop
1. Kansas Jayhawks-Living Loud & Proud in Lawrence ''freaking'' Kansas. Fresh off ending Baylor’s 23-game win streak in Waco, the Jayhawks (nearly unanimously) come in as the best team in the country. Powered by Udoka Azubuike’s best collegiate game (23 points, 19 rebounds, 3 blocks), Kansas bested Baylor 64-61. The Jayhawks (through vicious defensive performances (by Marcus Garrett, Ochai Ogbaji, Isaiah Moss) held the Baylor guards to 32% shooting. The win moves coach Bill Self to 20-7 overall against Top Five teams. Next up, Rock Chalk takes on Oklahoma State in Lawrence and the Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan against K-State.
2. Baylor Bears-The old adage says, “All good things must come to an end,” and so they did. The Bears incredible 23-game win streak ended in Waco last Saturday with a tough 64-61 loss against Kansas. While Baylor’s defensive (9 steals, 5 blocks, 23% shooting allowed behind the arc) was still elite the Bears offense crumbled particularly at the free throw line (53% shooting) and overall shooting (39%). Baylor’s Macio Teague (coming off his wrist injury)and Davion Mitchell shoot 5-19; still the Bears are 24-2 and can rebound this week when they play K-State at home and at Fort Worth versus TCU.
3. Gonzaga Bulldogs-Spo-can’t: The Bulldogs 19-game win streak was abruptly halted in Provo as BYU outshoot Gonzaga, 91-78. Mark Few’s squad just couldn’t buy a shot beyond the arc, shooting 5-for-25 (20%) in the loss. Serbian Sophomore Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie combined for 32 points off 50% shooting and will have a chance to continue their frontcourt dominance when they play San Diego back in Spokane and rival Saint Mary’s.
4. Dayton Flyers-Just win, baby. Dayton’s last loss was Dec. 21st to Colorado. December 21st!! 16 wins and counting for the Flyers, their latest a 80-70 victory over Duquesne. Guards Trey Landers and Jalen Crutcher combined for 29 as Dayton’s dominance over the A10 has continued. Obi Toppin is the runaway player in the conference and can continue his amazing play when Dayton takes on George Mason and Davidson this week.
5. San Diego State Aztec-Closing time for the undefeated. The Aztecs are undefeated no more as the elated UNLV Runnin’ Rebels beat SDSU 66-63 last Saturday Night. It was a battle of attrition and unfortunately the Aztecs fell a few shots and a few questionable calls (by the refs) short. SDSU’s defense was incredible holding the Runnin’ Rebels to 42% shooting (30% behind the arc) but their bench was outscored 26 to 4 and shot a season-worse 39% from the field. Junior stud Malachi Flynn balled out with 24 points, 9 boards and 6 assists and his team will have a chance to rebound when they play Colorado State at home and Nevada in Reno to finish the season.
The Next Tier
6. Florida State Seminoles-Three it be for the Seminoles: Florida State won its third straight (seven of their last eight) besting NC-State, 67-61 last Saturday in Raleigh. The Seminoles defense (particularly Trent Forrest and Devin Wassell) was phenomenal holding guards C.J Bryce and Markell Johnson to 5-22 (2-11) shooting. FSU’s leader M.J Walker scored all 12 of his points after halftime in the dub. The Seminoles have a primetime match against No. 11 Louisville in Tallahassee and then Clemson on the road this week.
7. Duke Blue Devils-It’s always darkest before the dawn: Dark days loomed over Duke after their NC-State 88-66 loss (worst of the season and maybe under Coach K) and what did the Blue Devils do to respond?; eradicate V-Tech 88-64 at home behind monster bounce-back performances by Freshman Carter Stanley (21 points, 7 boards) and Vernon Carey Jr. (16 points, 9 boards). Coach K’s Dukies will look to stay winning when they take on Wake Forest and Virginia on the road this week.
8. Kentucky Wildcats-Six straight for the Big Blue place. Thanks to Immanuel Quickley’s career-high 26 points, Kentucky earned another tough SEC victory over Florida. The 65-59 dub over the Gators was the Wildcats sixth straight and their defense during that stretch has been nothing short of spectacular. Kentucky held Florida to just 26% shooting from three and will look to continue to lock down opponents when they face Texas A&M on the road and No. 15 Auburn Tigers for the SEC crown Saturday.
9. Maryland Terrapins-Mary-end: A nine straight win-streak was snapped in Columbus as Ohio State edged the Terrapins 79-72 in a Big Ten heavyweight. Foul trouble (24 team fouls), turnovers (10) and poor performances by their leaders, Anthony Cowan Jr. (one field goal made, fouled out and Jalen Smith (8 points, half of his average) doomed Maryland. One silver lining was Sophomore Aaron Wiggins. Wiggins. scored a season-high, 20 points (six three’s) in the defeat. Maryland will look to rebound against Minnesota and Michigan State at home.
10. Creighton Blue Jays-Shoot the Jay: that Creighton did in a 81-59 route of #21 Butler in Omaha last Saturday. The Blue Jays connected on 15 three’s and their biggest marksman was Marcus Zegarowski. The sophomore hit a season-high 7 three’s finishing with 25 points in the home dub. Creighton will go for sixth straight when they play St John’s in New York and Georgetown at home this week.
Up-And-Comers
11. Louisville Cardinals-Play those wins back-to-back. Junior NBA lottery pick, Jordan Nwora has had his struggles on the offensive end but those ended last Saturday during a 72-55 win over the short-handed Tar Heels of North Carolina. Nwora (18 points, 11 boards) and Junior Malik Williams (season-high 17 points, 9 boards) powered the Cardinals in the dub. Chris Mack’s squad will contend for the ACC title against Florida State in Tallahassee on Big Monday and Virginia Tech at home this week.
12. Villanova Wildcats-Four straight man, ‘Nova is great. Jay Wright’s squad just finds ways to win and exhibited this ability during their 64-55 victory over Xavier this weekend. Wing duo Jermaine Samuels and Saddiq Bey combined for 39 points and 11 boards in the dub. The Wildcats will try to continue to find ways to win when they play St. Johns and Providence in their homestand this week.
13. Seton Hall Pirates-Rocking the Rock: that, Seton Hall has over the past two games, hounding St Johns, 81-65 over the weekend. Fresh off his thrilling game-winner over Butler, Sandro Mamukelashvili’s encore was a dominant 16-point, 9 board performance in the Pirates dub. The junior combined with Superstar Myles Powell’s 18 overwhelmed the Redman into shooting 5-20 from beyond the arc (25%). Next up, the Hall faces Marquette in Milwaukee and a big match against Villonova at the Rock.
14. Oregon Ducks-Big Play Pritchard. Oregon’s Payton Pritchard had one the best games of his college career, hitting big three-after-big three to silence Arizona’s crowd in an impressive 73-72 overtime thriller over the Wildcats. Senior Shakur Juiston scored all 14 of his points in overtime ensuring a Ducks victory for their 21st win. Oregon will look to make that back-to-back victories against (Civil rival) Oregon State in Eugene and Cal (Berkely) Saturday.
15. Auburn Tigers-Claw their way back. Auburn proved that resiliency does pay off overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat Tennessee 73-65. With their backs against the wall, Samir Doughty came through with 22 points and three steals. The Tigers bench packed a punch too outscoring the Vols 26-11. Auburn will attempt to keep winning as they face Ole Miss and Kentucky in an SEC Title heavyweight this week.
On the Horizon
16. Penn State Nittany Lions-Back-to-back losses have the Nittany Lions reeling a bit. The good was PSU showed flashes of grit overcoming a 19-point deficit to take a six-point lead. The bad was they then allowed the Hoisers to rally for a 68-60 win Saturday. The Nittany Lions were awful beyond the arc only connecting on 2-14 shots. Penn State desperately needs their floor general Myreon Jones (14 ppg) (out four 4-5 games with an illness) to return especially this week when the Nittany Lions take on Rutgers at home and Iowa in Des Moines Saturday.
17. BYU Cougars-Brigham Won (Young) got it done. The Cougars imposed their will on offense and defense in their biggest win of the season, a 91-78 win over second-ranked Gonzaga on Saturday. Behind Yoeli Child’s dominant double double (28 and 10) paired with Jake Toolson’s five three’s powered BYU to its eight straight win. This team could be a surprise team to be reckoned with in March but this week the Cougars will look to win their ninth straight against Pepperdine on the road.
18. Iowa Hawkeyes-Flying the storm out. Iowa’s Fueled behind their bench the Hawkeyes edged out Ohio State, 85-76 last Saturday afternoon. Senior Bakari Evelyn and junior Cordell Pemsl combined for 26 points and 8 boards. This, combined with Luka Garza’s impressive 24 and 6 the Hawkeyes have strung together back-to-back wins. Iowa will look to make that three straight when the Hawkeyes face No. 24 Michigan State in East Lansing and No. 16 Penn State at home.
19. Michigan Wolverines-Five straight for the U of M. It hasn’t always been pretty but Michigan has found ways to win. The Wolverines powered by Franz Wagner’s season-high 22 points bested Purdue, 71-63. Junior Isiah Livers also added 19 points in the road dub. Michigan will try to play their way into March as they take on Wisconsin at home this Thursday.
20. West Virginia Mountaineers-It’s been a rocky road for the Mountaineers this season. The road has been unforgiving for WVU losing to TCU in Fort Worth, 67-60 in overtime. The loss moves the Mountaineers to 3-7 on the road and a big reason for these road woes has been a lack of perimeter shooting. Shooting just 12% from three is not a recipe for success. Sophomore Derek Culver had a double-double in the loss (18 and 12). WVU will need Culver along with a few others will need to step up as the Mountaineers take on Texas in Austin and Oklahoma at home this week.
Peaking
21. Colorado Buffaloes-Colorado-no. Surrendering a nine-point deficit, UCLA defeated the Buffs 70-63 last Saturday Night. With the win, the Bruins tied the Buffs atop the Pac-12 standings. Colorado was outscored 28-16 and were stagnant defensively (particularly in the second half) allowing a 20-3 run and 49% overall shooting (40% beyond the arc). The Buffs gave stellar performances from their leaders McKinley Wright IV (20 points, 7 boards) and Tyler Bey (13 points, 6 boards) but Colorado struggled beyond the arc shooting just 26%. The Buffaloes will look to finish the season strong when they take on California (Berkely) this week.
22. Texas Tech Red Raiders-WreckEm Raiders: Texas Tech spent their weekend obliterating Iowa State, 87-57 behind two monster performances. Freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey and Sophomore Kyler Edwards combined for 44 in the route earning Ramsey Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week. The freshman has been special for the Red Raiders averaging 16-a game and shooting 45% from three. He and Texas Tech will face Oklahoma in Norman and Texas this week.
23. Ohio State Buckeyes-The Buckeyes had their cake and ate it too as they “home cooked,” the Maryland Terrapins, 79-72 last Saturday. Sophomore Luther Muhammad was the difference pouring in a season-high 22 points and four threes in the victory. OSU will try to string back-to-back victories when they take on Nebraska in Lincoln this week.
24. Michigan State Spartans-Three straight for Sparty after MSU rolled Nebraska 86-65 in Lincoln last Saturday. Senior Spartan stud Cassius Winston balled out finishing with 23 points and six assists; and he had help too from guys like Sophomore Gabe Brown (season-high 17 points off the bench) and Senior Kyle Ahern (season-high 14 points off the bench). Still, the turnovers (22) have coach Tom Izzo concerned. Nevertheless, they will have a chance for 20 wins when they take on No. 18 Iowa at home and No. 9 Maryland on the road.
25. Houston Cougars-Houston, we have a problem. With Quentin Grimes sidelined (hip pointer injury), the Cougars struggled to score in a 60-59 loss to Memphis. Houston shot an atrocious 34% from the field despite impressive performances by their freshman guard duo (Marcus Sasser-18 points, 6 boards) (Caleb Mills-21 points off the bench). The Cougars will hope to get Grimes back as they face Cincy and UConn this week.
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