Image Courtesy: Creighton University Athletics
(Update rankings)
*Note: I will have the post updated and games on Saturday, January 20th previewed some time after Wednesday’s game between 1.Connecticut and 18.Creighton*
January 16
6.Tennessee (12-4) @ Florida (11-5)
5 PM ET, ESPN2
A huge game early in SEC play comes as ESPN’s Super Tuesday opener between Tennessee and Florida in Gainesville. A 35-point performance by Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht, who continues to deliver for the Volunteers. They have increased their play after getting veteran point guard Zakai Ziegler back after tearing his ACL last season. Gators guards Walter Clayton Jr., Zyon Pullin, and forward Tyrese Samuel have led a balanced attack for Todd Golden’s team. They are much improved from last season but facing a Tennessee team with the experience of the aforementioned Ziegler and Knecht in addition to fifth year guard Santiago Vescovi and forward Josiah-Jordan James will be tough to handle even at home. Projected Score: Tennessee 86, Florida 81
2.Purdue (15-2) @ Indiana (12-5)
7 PM ET, Peacock
The (second ranked) Boilermakers and Hoosiers come into Tuesday’s rivalry game with matching 4-2 conference records. Purdue’s two losses in Big Ten play came to Northwestern and Nebraska since finishing the nonconference portion of their schedule with seven Quad 1 wins. Indiana took a blowout loss to a good Auburn team before losing their lead late to top five Kansas at home in Assembly Center back in December. A win over Purdue would be a resumé changer for Indiana as they continue to build their March profile. Forward Malik Reanu and center Kel’el Ware have led the Hoosiers for most of the season but it will be up to the supporting cast of young forward Mackenzie Mgbako and guard Trey Galloway against the powerful lineup of reigning national player of the year Zach Edey and Braden Smith. It will be up to Reanu and Ware rotating defensively on Edey to stop him after he put up a 30 point, 20 rebound effort on Saturday against Penn State. Projected Score: Purdue 78, Indiana 72
January 17
18.Creighton (13-4) @ 1.Connecticut (15-2)
7 PM ET, FS1
The UConn Huskies (5-1 in the Big East), who claimed the number one spot in this week’s AP poll after a dreadful week from other AP top 5 teams, hosts an important game against Creighton (4-2 in the Big East), who is a game back of the Huskies in Big East play. A victory for the Blue Jays would give them the opportunity to win a Saturday showdown with Seton Hall (5-1 in the Big East), who has already beaten the Huskies this season and take full control of the conference. But, Dan Hurley’s Huskies have been unbeatable at home this season. The combination of guards Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton, forward Alex Karaban, and big man Donavan Clingan makes them impossible to defend consistently. The Blue Jays filled their vacant starting point guard spot in the off-season with Utah State transfer Steven Ashworth. But, it has been mainstays Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander, and Ryan Kalkbrenner leading the way. The match up in the middle between Kalkbrenner and Clingan will be must see TV on Wednesday night. The coaching match up between the Huskies’ Dan Hurley and the Blue Jays’ Greg McDermott should be fantastic as well. Projected Score: Connecticut 83, Creighton 78
January 20
18.Creighton (13-5) @ Seton Hall (13-5)
12 PM ET, FS1
Creighton took a tough loss to top ranked UConn on the road in Storrs on Wednesday. They could use a win that could help themselves in Big East play with a win over Seton Hall, who is tied with the Huskies atop the league and has the head to head tiebreaker over them. The trio of Kadary Richmond, Al-Amir Dawes, and Dre Davis all average north of 13 points per game for the Pirates. It will be up to the talented perimeter starters of Creighton Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander in addition to Utah State transfer Steven Ashworth being better than they were in a tough environment at Connecticut. A huge Saturday in the Big East begins in New Jersey with first place up for grabs. Projected Score: Creighton 83, Seton Hall 79
17.Marquette (12-5) @ St. John’s (12-6)
12 PM ET, FOX
After defeating Villanova on Monday, Marquette got back to .500 in Big East play. St. John’s can stay near the top of the conference if they can avoid a loss to the Golden Eagles. To join the Johnnies near the top of the conference, Golden Eagles’ Kam Jones, Tyler Kolek, and Oso Ighodaro must continue to give Marquette consistent play like they did back in November. Opposite of Marquette, St. John’s struggled to begin the season against Power 6 competiton, has turned it around winning four of their first six Big East games under Rick Pitino. Pitino must rely on Joel Soriano, Daniss Jenkins, RJ Luis Jr., and Jordan Dingle to beat a very good Marquette team. Projected Score: Marquette 76, St. John’s 72
24.Iowa State (13-4) @ 19.TCU (13-4)
2 PM ET, ESPNU
The Big 12 looks even better than it did last season. 11 of the 14 teams in the conference could very well make the NCAA Tournament. Two of those teams are TCU and Iowa State, who both matching 13-4 overall records and 2-2 conference records going into Saturday’s showdown. However, both the Horned Frogs and the Cyclones fell in their midweek games, TCU to Cincinnati and Iowa State to 20.BYU. Those results prove that the depth of the Big 12 is phenomenal. It will be up to Iowa State guards Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert to contend with the scoring of Horned Frogs’ Emanuel Miller and Jameer Nelson Jr. The winner of this game will have a chance to move up the conference standings with four teams with 1 conference loss and four other teams joining the Horned Frogs and Cyclones with 2 conference losses through four Big 12 games. Projected Score: TCU 77, Iowa State 75
Alabama (12-5) @ 6.Tennessee (13-4)
2 PM ET, ESPN2
A battle of two of the top teams in the SEC comes in Knoxville between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Volunteer guard Dalton Knecht has scored 28, 36, and 39 points in their last three games. Knecht’s offensive abilities has raised the profile of Rick Barnes’ Tennessee team this season because normally their offensive efficiency is not great. They normally rely on their defense and turn that into offense. Another team that has been efficient on offense so far during conference play is Alabama, who is 3-0 so far in SEC play. Tennessee’s defense takes you out of your flow easily by moving their feet, creating turnovers, and getting in the shooter’s space. Alabama guard Mark Sears, who leads the SEC in scoring per game at almost 20 points per game, will look to get teammates Aaron Estrada and Grant Nelson, who have become more consistent on offense since transferring from midmajors Hofstra and North Dakota State respectively. Projected Score: Tennessee 83, Alabama 80
20.BYU (14-3) @ 25.Texas Tech (14-3)
7 PM ET, ESPN2
Similar to 24.Iowa State-19.TCU, 20.BYU-25.Texas Tech will be vastly important in determining who will be at the top of the Big 12 standings at the end of the season. The Red Raiders took their first loss in conference play against 5.Houston, who previously dropped two of their first three games in their first season in the conference. They cannot allow BYU’s talented shooters get going if they want to win this game and move up the rankings. The perimeter defense of Pop Isaacs and Joe Toussaint, who also lead the team in scoring per game, will be vastly important in determining the game. Those BYU shooters include former Texas A&M and Arkansas guard Jaxson Robinson, Trevin Knell, and Spencer Johnson. The Cougars have not seen many environments like Lubbock yet in the Big 12 since leaving the West Coast Conference. Projected Score: Texas Tech 73, BYU 69
1.Connecticut (16-2) @ Villanova (11-6)
8 PM ET, FS1
The top ranked Huskies have another tough test this time on the road against Villanova. The Wildcats fell to Marquette on Monday, putting them a full game back of first place in the Big East. A win over the Huskies will put them in position to move back into first place in the conference. Kyle Neptune’s team must get production out of Eric Dixon, Justin Moore, and TJ Bamba to defeat a Connecticut team that boasts terrific talent including Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton, Alex Karaban, and Donavan Clingan. UConn looks like the top team in the country after destroying 18.Creighton on Wednesday night. A win and a Seton Hall lost puts the Huskies alone at first place in the Big East as the end of January nears.
Projected Score: Connecticut 81, Villanova 70
