College Hoops are so much fun because they are so unpredictable. These kids play so hard, especially in front of their home fans. That leads to big upsets and unlikely scenarios – makes it really hard to bet, actually. We are only about 6 weeks from the Big Dance. All of these games matter.
Key Match Ups – Thursday, February 7-Sunday, February 10th
WCC
San Francisco at #3 Gonzaga, Thursday, 2/7 at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central – The Dons are having a nice year at 17-5 and had the Zags on the ropes in their building earlier this year. The Zags are completely rolling at full strength with Killian Tillie back in the line up. The Dons need a key win to strengthen their bubble resume. Can they do it?
Big Ten
#19 Wisconsin at #7 Michigan, Saturday, 2/9 at 12 Noon/11 AM Central on FOX- The Badgers got Michigan in Madison a couple weeks ago, but this time they will have to do it in Crisler Center. The Wolverines are the top defensive team in the country, but they need to score enough to beat these pesky Badgers and leading scorer F Ethan Happ.
Big East
#14 Villanova at #10 Marquette, Saturday, 2/9 at 2:30 Eastern/1:30 Central on FOX – Marquette has been the talk of the AP all year, but don’t forget about the Champs who are straight ballin’ in the Big East, 9-0. This may be the best game of the day in a potential changing of the guard in conference. Marquette got caught looking ahead losing to St. Johns Tuesday.
ACC
#2 Duke at #3 UVA, Saturday, 2/9 at 6 PM Eastern/5 PM Central on ESPN – The Clash of the Titans 2, these teams battled toe to toe a couple weeks ago in Cameron. The Wahoos want revenge in Charlottesville. Duke does have stellar PG Tre Jones back, so I give Duke the edge. Should be another great one.
AAC
#25 Cincinnati at #12 Houston, Sunday, 2/10 at 4 PM Eastern/3 PM Central on ESPN – Another battle for first place here, with the Cougars playing great all year. However, the Bearcats have been on top of this conference since its inception. I expect a total slugfest here with the winner primed to take the regular season crown.
Mid-Major Focus
SoCon – Southern Conference
Wofford at East Tennessee State, Thursday, 2/7 at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central on ESPN+ – Wofford is a legit team and undefeated at 11-0 in the SoCon. East Tennessee State is always tough and were a Tourney team in 2017 and lost in the 2018 SoCon title game. The Terriers better be ready for the Bucs and that hostile crowd.
Bracketology
I took a week off there, so we are catching up. Always a lot of movement. Just to refresh. Here are the 2 big dogs brackets.
Joe Lunardi (ESPN)
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
Jerry Palm (CBS)
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/bracketology/
Differences in Teams: Texas – In (JL)/Out (JP), Florida – In (JL)/Out (JP), Seton Hall – Out (JL)/In (JP) and Temple – Out (JL)/In (JP)
Big Seed Differences: No major seed differences, but some – St. Johns – 11 (JL)/9 (JP), Purdue – 3 (JL)/5 (JP), Minnesota – 9 (JL)/7 (JP), Auburn – 7 (JL)/9 (JP) and Oklahoma – 10 (JL)/8 (JP)
Ken Pom Review
Top 5 Teams in Ken Pom
- UVA (3 AP)
- Duke (2 AP)
- Zags (4 AP)
- Michigan State (9 AP)
- Tennessee (1 AP)
Top Over-Rated Teams in the AP – Marquette 26th KP (10 AP), Florida State 28th KP (22 AP) and Cincinnati 29th KP (25 AP)
Top Under-Rated Teams in the AP – Auburn 13th KP (28 AP), Baylor 25th KP (30 AP) and Mississippi State 23rd KP (27 AP)
Teams on the Rise: Kentucky with a bullet – 9th in KP and 5th in the AP, Baylor is rising fast as noted above, Wofford is 31st in KP and AP, Washington is 34th KP and 26th AP, and finally Lipscomb is now 36th KP and 32 AP.
So, with the NFL in the rearview, it’s time to focus on the Tournament to win your Bracket this year.
Wegs