The season is really heating up, and last weekend gave us several marquee games to watch. Hopefully, you are turning in and seeing some great ball.
Match Ups to Watch This Weekend
Big 12
#23 Iowa State at #18 Kansas State, Saturday, 2/16 at 4 PM Eastern/3 PM Central on ESPN2 – This contrast of styles should be fun to watch, as the Cyclones bring their position-less approach to Manhattan to take on the bump and grind Wildcats. K State took out the Cyclones in Ames 58-57 earlier this year, but the Wildcats have won 9 straight.
SEC
#1 Tennessee at #5 Kentucky, Saturday, 2/16 at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central on ESPN – The Game of the Year in the SEC, as the Vols still at #1 take on the surging Cats who were the pre-season #1 team. Kentucky is playing well, but after losing on a questionable call on Tuesday against LSU, the Cats need to play big. Vols try to stay perfect in the SEC and flex those orange muscles in Lexington.
Mid Major Focus
Horizon League
Northern Kentucky at Wright State, Friday, 2/15 at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central on ESPNU – This first place battle a top the Horizon League pits the Norse against the Raiders (who knocked off a good Murray State game early in the year). Check out these squads.
SoCon – Southern Conference
UNC Greensboro at Wofford, Saturday, 2/16 at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central on ESPN+ – Wofford is for real, and if you haven’t seen them play yet, you better before March. UNC Greensboro is no slouch with a 22-3 record, but the Terriers are on a mission to dance deep into March. Check this one out!
Bracketology
Joe Lunardi (JL) at ESPN vs. Jerry Palm (JP) at CBS
Teams In or Out: Both JL and JP have the exact same teams in the Field this week. So, that is a first.
Seed Differences: Where they differ are by seeds for several teams:
- NC State – JL 9 vs. JP 12 – that’s a big discrepancy
- Clemson – JL 10 vs JP 12 (Last In)
- Texas – JL 9 vs JP 11
- Auburn – JL 7 vs JP 9
- St. Johns – JL 10 vs JP 8
- Ohio State – JL 9 vs JP 7
- Iowa – JL 6 vs JP 4 – that’s big putting Iowa in Top 16
- Minnesota – JL 11 vs JP 9
- Hofstra – JL 12 vs JP 14 – a 5 seed or 3 seed opponents is a really big difference
KenPom Review
Top 5 in KenPom
- Duke – With big win at UVA should stay at 1 and crazy comeback at Louisville – Team of Destiny?
- UVA – Tough loss Saturday and swept by Duke, but took out UNC
- Zags – Killian Tillie is out for the year, but the Zags are destroying the WCC
- Sparty – Izzo’s squad got a win at Wisconsin to stop their 3 game skid
- Tennessee – The Vols will see what they are made of at Kentucky (KP 7) Saturday
Over-Rated Teams in AP: Marquette 10th in AP (26th in KP) – got close win over Nova at home and Iowa 21st in AP (28th in KP) really good offensive team, but 115 on D.
Under-Rated Teams: Auburn 27th in AP (17th in KP) will keep saying it until it changes and Mississippi State a total up and down team, but not on the AP list, but 23rd in KP.
With football over and the NBA All Star Break upon us, watch some hoops. March Madness is almost here.
Wegs