Image Courtesy: Chicago Tribune
March 9
14.Kansas (22-8) @ 1.Houston (27-3)
4 PM ET, ESPN
Since beating Houston 78-65 on February 3, Kansas has gone 4-4 in their last eight games. However, the Cougars have not lost since they fell to the Jayhawks in Lawrence and have ascended to number one in the AP poll for consecutive weeks. Off ball guard LJ Cryer (15.5 points and 1.1 steals a game) and point guard Jamal Shead (13.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game) have been at the forefront for Kelvin Sampson’s team while fellow guard Emanuel Sharp (12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game) and forward J’Wan Roberts (10 points, 7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1 block per game) have anchored their incredible defense. In Kansas’ back to back losses over their last two games, starting guard Kevin McCullar (19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.6 steals a game) has been dealing with a lingering injury. Bill Self has had to rely on the offense of big man Hunter Dickinson (18.2 points, 11 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1 steal per game), forward KJ Adams (12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game), and guard Johnny Furphy (9 points and 4.6 rebounds a game). The decision and play making of junior guard Dajuan Harris (8.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game) is important for Self’s team as well. Kansas must win this game to keep themselves in contention for a spot atop of the two seed line with the Big 12 tournament coming up next week. Houston can put an exclamation on their Big 12 title in just their first season in the conference if they tie the season series against the Jayhawks. Projected Score: Houston 76, Kansas 70
15.Kentucky (22-8) @ 4.Tennessee (24-6)
4 PM ET, CBS
The second showdown between Kentucky and Tennessee, this time in Knoxville, will be huge for the Wildcats, who want to clinch their two seed in the SEC Tournament to join the Volunteers with atop the league in next week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville. Kentucky’s offense has put up 90 or more points in their last four games, winning each game by scoring 117 against Alabama, 91 against Mississippi State, 111 against Arkansas, and 93 against Vanderbilt. John Calipari’s team starts out every game with guard DJ Wagner (10.6 points and 3.3 assists a game), combo guard Antonio Reeves (20 points and 4.1 rebounds a game), combo guard Justin Edwards (8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game), combo guard Adou Thiero (8 points and 5.1 rebounds a game), and forward Ugonna Onyenso (3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks a game). The Wildcats bring two terrific players off the bench in guards Rob Dillingham (14.8 points and 3.8 assists per game) and Reed Sheppard (12.4 points, 4.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game). In addition, forwards Tre Mitchell (11.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game) and Zvonimir Ivisic (6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a game) help power the offense and give consistent defense, too. Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht (20.6 points and 5 rebounds per game) should win the SEC Player of the Year this year with his terrific offensive performances and underrated defensive game. Forward Jonas Aidoo (12.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game) and guard Zakai Ziegler (11.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.7 steals per game) have been great supporting pieces for Knecht with the help of veterans Santiago Vescovi (7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds a game) and Josiah-Jordan James (8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals a game). This is a huge game in the SEC with Alabama losing on Tuesday night to Florida, giving Kentucky a chance to move up the top four in the league with a win. Tennessee can put an exclamation point on their SEC regular season title with a win over the Wildcats. Projected Score: Tennessee 88, Kentucky 84
11.Baylor (22-8) @ Texas Tech (21-9)
6 PM ET, ESPN2
Positioning in the Big 12 tournament next week is at the forefront in Lubbock for this end of regular season match up between the Bears and the Red Raiders. Outside of losing to Houston and BYU back to back, Baylor has an impressive resumé of wins over Kansas, Iowa State, and this Texas Tech team over the last month. Texas Tech (10-7) has been up and down since losing to the Bears in Waco, but are just a game back of Baylor (11-6) in conference play. The Red Raiders lost to UCF in Orlando, lost to Texas at home, defeated Texas Tech in Morgantown, and beat Oklahoma State in Stillwater before hosting the Bears for senior day tonight. The offense of guard Pop Isaacs (16 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game) and guard Joe Toussaint (12.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals a game) for Texas Tech will be vastly important in this game as they face Scott Drew’s balanced offense that includes guard Ja’Kobe Walter (14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game), guard RayJ Dennis (13.5 points, 6.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game), center Yves Missi (11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game), forward Jalen Bridges (12 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals a game), and guard Langston Love (11.1 points per game), who is expected to return from an injury sooner than later. A win for Grant McCasland’s team would vastly help their seed in the NCAA Tournament. Projected Score: Baylor 79, Texas Tech 72
7.North Carolina (24-6) @ 9.Duke (24-6)
6:30 PM ET, ESPN
North Carolina and Duke meet for the second time this season to determine who will be the number one seed at next week’s ACC Tournament in Washington DC. Both teams are in play for two seeds as March Madness nears. The Tar Heels (16-3 conference record) clinched at least a share of the ACC title after their dominant win over Notre Dame on Tuesday. They could only clinch a share because Duke (15-4 conference record) beat NC State on Monday. If the Blue Devils even the season series with the Tar Heels on Saturday evening, it will depend on results outside of the Research Triangle that will determine who will be the top seed in the ACC. North Carolina beat Duke in Chapel Hill, 93-84, a month ago because of the play of forwards Armando Bacot (25 points and 10 rebounds) and Harrison Ingram (21 points and 13 rebounds) in their high scoring win. Likely ACC player of the year RJ Davis only scored 17 points in that game so they will need more from him on the road at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham to secure the entire ACC regular season championship. The Blue Devils have lost just once (8-1 record) since they played the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. They are playing their best basketball of the season because of the five players that average over 10 points a game for them; Kyle Filipowski (16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1 steal), Jeremy Roach (14.3 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals), Jared McCain (13.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals), and Mark Mitchell (12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds). North Carolina must show their top of the ACC defense against this terrific offensive team for Duke. Projected Score: Duke 87, North Carolina 86
March 10
Wisconsin (19-11) @ 3.Purdue (27-3)
12:30 PM ET, FOX
Wisconsin was ranked number 6 in the AP poll when they welcomed Purdue to the Kohl Center the first time a month ago. Including that loss, the Badgers have lost six of their last nine games. They did beat Rutgers at home on Thursday on senior night but the challenge that awaits them on Sunday afternoon is one they have not had since they faced Purdue in February. They need consistent scoring from guard AJ Storr (16.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game), forward Tyler Wahl (11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a game), and forward Steven Crowl (11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game) to win this game. For Purdue, it is up to reigning national player of the year Zach Edey (24.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks a game), guard Braden Smith (13.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals a game), guard Lance Jones (12.4 points and 1.7 steals per game), and guard Fletcher Loyer (10.5 points per game) to put an exclamation point on their Big Ten regular season title entering the conference tournament in Minneapolis next week. A win for the Badgers keeps them in play for a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament in just under two weeks. Projected Score: Purdue 83, Wisconsin 75
