This week we flip the calendar from January to February, and it’s a huge month for the entire Division I team. After an entertaining weekend full of surprises — Especially in the Big 12/SEC challenge — will have the chance to claim a claim win, a resume boost win, and, well, don’t mess with that single win.
As the title of this article suggests, the Big 12 continues to lead every conference, but that’s not the only league to watch, as conference tournament time is nearly a month away. Behind Purdue, No. 1 in the Big Ten rankings, is an unlikely candidate: Northwestern, No. 13 in the preseason poll. With the 16th-ranked Xavier down over the weekend, the Big East’s top players began to gather. Even in an unusual year for the ACC, Duke North Carolina has always excelled in some way, form or form. Oh, and don’t forget the Mountain West, which sends four teams dancing if the NCAA Tournament starts tomorrow.
of course not. But it’s getting closer.
Top Games of the Week
No. 11 Baylor vs. No. 10 Texas (9 p.m. ESPN Monday) — Another Monday, another huge test for Baylor in the rugged Big 12.A week ago, the Bears Beat and then – no. 9 Kansas in Waco. This week, they head to Austin for a duel with Texas with their six-game winning streak.
Baylor’s stellar offense — second in the country in efficiency — relies on a super-talented backfield with bigs who can hit the glass hard and excellent ball safety. In league play, more than 43 percent of his field goal attempts were three-pointers, the highest in the league.Texas has its own deadly attack in transition, though, the Longhorns have nine depth. Plus, they’ve only lost once at home this season. The backcourt battle between Baylor’s Keyonte George, Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer and Langston Love and Texas’ Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter and Arterio Morris is worth the effort.
No. 8 Kansas No. 7 Kansas (Tues., 8 p.m., Big 12/ESPN+) — This one doesn’t need much explanation.The last time these two teams met, Keyontae Johnson threw the game-winning alley-oop against the Wildcats 83-82 overtime win One of the best games of the season. With a total of 67 free throws, it was a battle fit for in-state contention.
However, the last time the Wildcats swept a Sunflowers matchup was in 1991, and Jaren Wilson will play a big role in ensuring that remains the case.The teenager is as good as anyone in the sport no Zach Edey scored a career-high 38 points in his last game. Kansas will have to defend Wilson better on the perimeter. Too many times, the Wildcats have been caught falling asleep on Wilson’s off-ball runs, or closing poorly.
If Wilson is going to beat you with controversial long shots, so be it. He shot less than 35 percent from beyond the arc and was just 3 for 10 in the first encounter.But you can’t give him an open catch-and-shoot and Allows direct drive to the basket.
No. 22 San Diego State, Nevada (Tues., 11 p.m. CBS Sportsnet) — The two top teams in the Mountain West standings face off in Reno as Nevada looks to avenge an early January loss to San Diego State. The Aztecs have excellent balance, with five players averaging at least eight points per game in league play. The Aztecs have an excellent backcourt of Matt Bradley, Darien Trammell and Lamont Butler, with Adam Seko coming off the bench (he got a career win in last week’s win over Utah State). maximum 25 points). Nevada has not lost at home this season, though, and has strong wins over Boise State, Utah State and New Mexico State — three of the conference’s top four — at the Lawler Events Center. Kenan Blackshear has 68 points in those three wins and the Wolves will need another big run from him on Tuesday night.
Providence 17, Xavier 16 (Wednesday, 6:30pm FS1) — It’s going to be a lot of fun, with both teams ranking in the top 20 nationally in offensive efficiency. They’ve done it in very different ways, though: Providence leads the Big East in offensive rebound percentage and free throw percentage in league games; Xavier leads in 3-point percentage. Meanwhile, Providence has the best 3-point defense in the Big East.
Watch for an intriguing big man battle: Bryce Hopkins, who moved from Kentucky to Providence, leads the Big East in points per game in league games and can play at will. Meanwhile, Xavier has a pair of skilled big men in Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma (Wednesday, 9 p.m., ESPN 2) — Oklahoma State and Oklahoma State are the top 40 teams in the country, according to KenPom. They also ranked seventh and tied for eighth in the conference standings. That’s what makes the Big 12 great. Grant Sherfield scored 30 points in the Sooners’ win over No. 2 Alabama. Look forward to bedlam in the latest installment of the Bedlam series
VCU at Saint Louis (7 p.m. Friday, ESPN2) — Chaifetz Arena should be buzzing Friday night as the Rams face off against the Billikens between the top two teams in the competitive Atlantic 10. VCU has the best defense in the league and has the highest forced turnover rate in the A10. However, slowing down the A10’s most efficient offense is no easy task. The Billikens are one of the most experienced teams in the country, ahead of Division I assists leader Yuri Collins. Javonte Perkins is starting to find his groove after returning from a torn ACL and a nagging ankle injury. He scored in double figures in five straight games.
No. 21 Indiana No. 1 Purdue (ESPN Saturday 4 p.m. ET) — After losing four of its first five Big Ten games, Indiana has come back on a five-game winning streak, four of which are double-digit victories. Purdue, on the other hand, doesn’t have any inconsistencies. The Boilermakers lost one game this season — to Rutgers — and Zach Edey, who averaged 22.1 points and 13 rebounds, Almost locked in player of the year honors.
Edey’s development has been fantastic. He has always been big. He doesn’t always finish with both hands, create space with good footwork and timing, or have the touch to finish the game. He leads the nation in post-ups with 12 points per game, and that starts with his excellent positioning. His right-hand hook is nearly unstoppable, and if you hit it too hard there, he can go over his left shoulder. If you try to stop the ball, he’ll put you in the basket. He now faces an Indiana defense that has had one of the worst post-up defenses this season.
Duke, N.C. (6:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN) — The second of these two games (March 4) is 10 games we’re looking forward to in 2023, but this first meeting should be good too. The notable shows are split 20-20 in their last 40 meetings.
Duke freshman Kyle Filipowski has been solid despite injuries and an uneven performance. He’s on track to become just the fourth ACC freshman in the past 30 seasons to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds per game, and the first since Marvin Bagley III in 2017-18. His battle with Armando Bacot in the post will be an exciting one. Only three players have recorded more double-doubles than Bakett this season.
Plus, it’s UNC-Duke. What more can I say?
Gonzaga at No. 18 at No. 12 at St. Mary’s (10:30 p.m. ESPN Saturday) — Also featured on my early January list is a spat between the two best teams in the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs play fast and have one of the best offenses in the country. The Gaels play slow and have one of the best defenses in the country. Drew Timme is having another great season, even if this year’s Gonzaga team isn’t Mark Few’s best. St. Mary’s has four players averaging at least a dozen points per game — tied for most teams — and it’s probably coach Randy Bennett’s best group. It will be worth staying up all night.
Three NBA draft prospects to watch
Check out the 2023 CBS Sports NBA Draft prospect rankings.
- Villanova had a rough 1st year under Kyle Nepture after Jay Wright retired, but Cam Whitmore is starting to show what makes him so alluring. The athletic small forward had 21 points in a narrow weekend loss to 23rd-ranked Providence and has scored in double figures in five of his past six games, while three in the span Shoot more than 45 percent from the field. The Wildcats have a serious test this week at No. 14 Marquette and Creighton. Whitmore is No. 4 in our prospect rankings.
- Iowa State is back on the bright side of Jerry Palm’s Bracketology bubble, but the Hawkeyes have work to do to stay there. That starts this week against Northwestern and Illinois — both teams currently in the tournament. Chris Murray has been on a tear lately, scoring at least 20 points in five games in January, the most of any Big Ten player. He’s No. 15 in our prospect rankings.
- Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino scored 24 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win over Ohio State. That was after he didn’t make a single 3-pointer in his first four games. Hood Schifino leads the Indians in assists, steals and turnovers, and he can run hot and cold. Indiana will need him badly: Indiana hosts top-ranked Purdue this week in Maryland. Hood-Schifino is No. 35 in our prospect rankings.
