Category: College Basketball

For the first time in awhile, I am going to be doing an Arkansas sports news post. So here we go.

First, Arkansas swept the 2021 State Farm College Baseball showdown with wins over Texas Tech, Texas, and TCU. The Razorbacks beat the Red Raiders 13-9 on Saturday, the Longhorns 4-0 Sunday, and the Horned Frogs 4-1 on Monday. They will return home to Baum-Walker Stadium for a four game series beginning Thursday and end on Sunday.

After Texas A&M postponed one of the two Arkansas games for the second time this season due to COVID-19 protocols, Arkansas was reportedly in contact with Arkansas State about a game between the two schools this previous Saturday. Arkansas State had two games, set for Friday February 19 and Saturday February 20 against Texas State, which were postponed due to inclement weather at both schools. It led to the opening the Red Wolves had on Saturday for a game. Arkansas State then scheduled the make up game versus Texas State on Monday. Arkansas State head coach Mike Balado said last week that “It’s not very smart for our team when we’re in the hunt of playing for a No. 1 seed,”. “I’m not quite sure if they’re (Arkansas) in the hunt for the No. 1 seed. I don’t really pay attention to their record, but we’re in the hunt, so we have to worry about our players and our health and safety about the conference season, so it’s about us, not about them.” Arkansas also tried to get another non conference game when Tulsa had to postpone. They contacted Arkansas State then, as well. When asked about Arkansas State’s decline to play Arkansas back in December Balado said, “When you play games, they have to benefit both teams,” Balado said. “We’re not going to get bullied into playing a game just because it benefits one team. We don’t do that. We’re not nobody’s little brother. We’re going to play basketball when it’s a benefit to us and the other team.” Looking to the future, Balado said he has reached out to Arkansas about scheduling a non-conference game on Nov. 13 next season. Both teams have the date open, so it is likely the two will meet next season.

6.Alabama at. 20.Arkansas
Bud Walton Arena (Fayetteville,AR)
Wednesday February 24, 9 PM ET
ESPN2

On Saturday January 16, Arkansas lost to Alabama 90-59 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The school known for dominating football had put an exclamation point on their then 13-2 and an unbeaten record in conference play. Arkansas fell to 12-4, their fourth loss in conference play.

Things seem a little different now. For Arkansas especially, who have won its last seven SEC games and in most mock brackets are being seeded as a six or seven seed. Alabama is still en route to their first SEC regular season title in awhile, being seen mostly as a two or three seed.

Alabama is led by senior wing John Petty Jr., who is putting up 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Joining him on the perimeter in Tuscaloosa, is talented Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly. The Hackensack, New Jersey native averages almost 12 points and 3 assists per game. But it is sophomore guard Jaden Shackelford (14.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists per game) that leads the Tide in scoring. On the other side is a group of talented newcomers. Most notably freshman Moses Moody and Indiana grad transfer Justin Smith stand out. Wing Moses Moody is averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds and is a favorite for the SEC freshman of the year. On the interior for the hogs is Justin Smith, who is averaging almost 12 points and six and a half rebounds a game. The problems for Arkansas have come when they have been without Smith, where they lost games that they could’ve won with him such as a close loss to big man heavy Tennessee back in January.

This coaching match up is elite. Recently, due to the success of the program, second year Alabama head coach Nate Oats got a new extension last Thursday. According to HawgBeat.com, fellow second year head coach Eric Musselman should be next in line for an extension. Both coaches have teams who are hot and in great positions to play in March. The coach that has his team better conditioned will win this game. Basketball is a game of runs and whichever team is more conditioned to make that run will win this game.

Projected Score: Alabama 72, Arkansas 67

It was announced on Friday morning that the NCAA “will allow a limited number of fans at every round of this year’s men’s NCAA tournament,” according to ESPN and multiple other sources. The article also confirmed that the tournament will have up 25% attendance and required social distancing and mask wearing. NCAA president Mark Emmert reassured worried fans on the NCAA’s announcement, saying “We continue to use the knowledge we have gained over the season on how to conducts games in a safe environment.”

The University of Alabama announced on Thursday that men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats agreed to an extension through the 2026-2027 season in the midst of Alabama’s awesome season, in which they’ve gone 17-5 (12-1) in the SEC. The extension also increases his salary to $3.225 million annually.

The McDonald’s All American Game has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic. McDonald’s announced over 700 girls and boys nominees for the 2021 games on Thursday. It will announce a full 48-player roster, 24 girls and 24 boys, in a few weeks and will honor the class with a virtual celebration.

The number three overall recruit in the 2022 class according to 247sports, Amari Bailey, has committed to UCLA for the second time during his recruitment. Bailey committed to DePaul before the start of his high school career, but quickly decommitted after transferring to southern California power Sierra Canyon. Then, he made his original commitment to Steve Alford’s bruins. When Alford was fired, Bailey backed off to reconsider things. Then, this week he announced he had committed to UCLA, this time with Mick Cronin as their head coach, likely ending his recruitment.

Annually, the NCAA Selection Committee announces their top sixteen overall seeds (the top four seeds) four weeks ahead of “Selection Sunday” (set for March 14) in the NCAA March Madness Bracket Preview. It will be televised just an hour after this post is published, at 12:30 PM ET time on CBS. Anyway, here’s what I think the committee will announce in an hour.

Top questions:

Will Gonzaga or Baylor be the number one seed? Everyone knows that the only two unbeatens left in Division 1 college basketball are the best in the sport. But where does the committee stand on the matter? Does Gonzaga play a strong enough schedule to be considered a top overall seed? In my opinion, Gonzaga went out and scheduled a great non conference schedule for November and December, beating the likes of Kansas, Virginia, and more. Likewise, Baylor has competed in a tough Big 12 and its record remains unblemished.

Who is the final team on the top line? Ohio State is the favorite with 5 quadrant 1 wins. But Alabama, despite losses to Oklahoma and Missouri in the last two weeks, remains a strong contender with just a single SEC loss. Ohio State should get the spot not only because of their quad 1 wins but because of its standing in the Big Ten, with just four losses in a conference many consider the best in the country.

How many can the Big Ten get in the top 16? Like I mentioned in the paragraph above, the Big Ten has been the premiere college basketball conference this season with seven teams in top thirty of the NCAA Evaluation tool. The tool, more commonly known as the “NET”, replaced the Basketball Power Index (more commonly known as the “BPI”) as the main metric used for the bracket reveal come “Selection Sunday”.

Reminder: Due to the COVID-19, the entire 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is being played in Indiana, which is why the NCAA is dropping the regional brackets and instead naming them in the numbers.

My projected top 16 seeds:

()= Overall seed

Region 1:

1.Gonzaga (1)

2.Houston (8)

3.West Virginia (9)

4.Tennessee (16)

Region 4:

1.Ohio State (4)

2.Villanova (5)

3.Oklahoma (12)

4.Iowa (13)

Region 2:

1.Baylor (2)

2.Alabama (7)

3.Texas Tech (10)

4.Missouri (15)

Region 3:

1.Michigan (3)

2.Illinois (6)

3.Virginia (11)

4.Texas (14)

AP Top 10 entering weekend

1.Gonzaga 18-0 Next: PPD

2.Baylor 17-0 Next: PPD

3.Villanova 11-2 Next: PPD

4.Michigan 13-1 Next: PPD

5. Houston 15-2 Next: at.South Florida (2/10)

6. Texas 11-4 Next: at.Oklahoma State (2/6)

7. Ohio State 15-4 Next: at.Maryland (2/8)

8.Iowa 13-4 Next: at.Indiana (2/7)

9.Oklahoma 12-4 Next: Iowa State (2/6)

10.Alabama 14-4 Next: at.12.Missouri

Key games this weekend

Iowa State at. 9.Oklahoma (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN2)

Red hot Oklahoma should pick up an easy win. Not much to say here. Projected Score: Oklahoma 70, Iowa State 51

10.Alabama at. 12.Missouri (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)

Alabama comes in at 10-0 in the SEC, and a projected number one seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology. Missouri, their best wins over Tennessee and Arkansas, looks to notch a win over a legitimate top ten team at home. Missouri Head Coach Cuonzo Martin has done a fantastic job but another loss in this game would give them four SEC losses. Alabama can take a loss here and be just fine, but I don’t see it happening after they defeated LSU for a second time this season. Projected Score: Alabama 67, Missouri 59

23.Kansas at. 17.West Virginia (Saturday, 2 PM ET, CBS)

The second of three Big 12 games with a ranked team on Saturday includes two ranked teams instead of just one. West Virginia and Kansas have not been nearly as good as I thought either would be. Marcus Garrett, last season’s Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, is the X-Factor in this game. If he can get a few quick buckets for the Jayhawks as the game goes on, Kansas should get a much needed win in Morgantown. Projected Score: Kansas 68, West Virginia 65

6.Texas at. Oklahoma State (Saturday, 3 PM ET, ABC/LHN)

Both Texas and Oklahoma State have struggled a little bit, dealing with COVID-19 issues and were without many of their players the last few weeks. Oklahoma State beat Arkansas last Saturday but lost in Fort Worth versus TCU this week. Texas comes into the game losers of two straight, both of their losses coming to top ten teams in Oklahoma and Baylor. So, even as someone who has watched college basketball religiously this season, it is hard to pick this game because of how each team has played of late. Projected Score: Texas 81, Oklahoma State 72

North Carolina at. Duke (Saturday, 6 PM ET, ESPN)

I previewed the North Carolina-Duke game in a full post if you want to check it out. Projected Score: Duke 77, North Carolina 74

18.Tennessee at. Kentucky (Saturday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)

Tennessee has been on and off this season but got a key win in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge with a win over Kansas. Kentucky had its game a week ago versus Texas cancelled but had been playing better versus Alabama even in a loss a week ago. Projected Score: Tennessee 68, Kentucky 62

8.Iowa at. Indiana (Sunday, 12 PM ET, FOX)

Iowa comes into this game after losing a highly competitive game to Ohio State. If Iowa gets good defensive play in addition to their best offense in the country led by player of the year favorite Luka Garza (big man), they can not only win this game but should be a favorite to win the national championship. Indiana, led by Sophomore big man Trayce Jackson-Davis, is a team that could upset Iowa. This will be a fun game on a Sunday afternoon. Projected Score: Iowa 79, Indiana 74

Even though this blog is one that is focused on Arkansas sports and the SEC, I take the liberty as a lifelong North Carolina fan (my mom graduated from there) to preview a unique battle between North Carolina and the school less than ten miles down the road.

If you don’t know who I am talking about, look at the title of this post. The Duke-North Carolina rivalry has been one of if not the best rivalry in college sports since its inception in 1920. North Carolina leads the rivalry by just 25 wins, 139-114. Usually the two split the regular season series but in 2018-2019 North Carolina swept and a year later Duke did the same thing in 2019-2020. Alright, enough with the history, let’s get to the game set for February 6, 2021.

North Carolina at. Duke
Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham,NC)
Saturday February 6, 6 PM ET
ESPN

In Chapel Hill and Durham, we are used to seeing elite match ups at every position. This season, maybe not so much. Although, us fans do get North Carolina big man Garrison Brooks (10.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG), who was the Pre-Season Player of the Year in the ACC, matching up with Duke big Matthew Hurt (18.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG). Fellow North Carolina big man Armando Bacot (11.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG) has played well the last few games scoring 21, 17, and 18 points three of the last four games. Another big man in Tar Heel blue is Day’Ron Sharpe (9.6 PPG, 7.8 RPG) who gives Roy Williams an excellent option to score in the paint, having not developed much of an outside shot yet. North Carolina does have veterans on the perimeter, but I agree with most of the media when they say that is North Carolina’s major weakness this season is guard play. That is one area in the game where the 7-6 Blue Devils have the advantage. Duke Freshman Forward Jalen Johnson, a projected lottery pick, is averaging 12.1 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game. Many think he will be the difference in the game. If Duke plays through Matthew Hurt and gets good starting minutes from starting guards Jordan Goldwire (6.8 PPG, 3.7 APG) and Jeremy Roach (8.8 PPG, 2.6 APG), they should be in good hands. For North Carolina to come out of Durham with a win, they need guard Caleb Love (10.3 PPG, 3.1 APG) to play like he has been playing and continue to get good big man play from Bacot, Brooks, and Sharpe.

Projected Score: Duke 77, North Carolina 74

AP Top 10 entering weekend

1.Gonzaga 16-0 Next: at.Pepperdine (1/30)

2.Baylor 16-0 Next: Auburn (1/30)

3.Villanova 11-1 Next: at.Seton Hall (1/30)

4.Michigan 13-1 Next: PPD

5.Texas 11-3 Next: 2.Baylor (2/2)

6.Houston 14-1 Next: SMU (1/30)

7.Iowa Next: Michigan State (2/2)

8.Virginia Next: at.20.Virginia Tech (1/30)

9.Alabama Next: at.24.Oklahoma (1/30)

10.Texas Tech Next: at.LSU (1/30)

Key games this weekend

9.Alabama at. 24.Oklahoma (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)

Red-hot Alabama’s winning streak was almost gone at the hands of Kentucky. But again, perimeter defense is what proved to be the difference. Oklahoma is coming off wins over top ten Kansas and top ten Texas in their past two games so this one is hard to pick. But with the way both teams have been playing it is bound to be a fantastic game. Projected Score: Alabama 75, Oklahoma 71

10.Texas Tech at. LSU (Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN2)

Texas Tech picked up a win over top ten Texas two weeks ago and have a chance to get a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament come March. A loss to a struggling LSU team, who has lost two of its last three games, would not be good for their chances. Mac McClung, the Georgetown transfer is the difference for this Texas Tech team but watch out for Javonte Smart, Trendon Watford, and the co. Projected Score: LSU 91, Texas Tech 90

Florida at. 11.West Virginia (Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN)
I do not know much about either team but both are at the top of their conferences, with Florida standing at (6-3) in the SEC and West Virginia at (4-3) in the Big 12). Projected Score: West Virginia 77, Florida 65

3.Villanova at. Seton Hall (Saturday, 3 PM ET, FOX)

Jay Wright’s team’s only loss came on November 28 to Virginia Tech. Villanova’s Collin Gillespie and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl lead the Wildcats, looking for a third national championship in six seasons (2016, 2018). The Pirates, in my opinion don’t have much of a shot in this one. Projected Score: Villanova 88, Seton Hall 71

Arkansas at. Oklahoma State (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ESPN2)

Former high school teammates Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State guard) and Moses Moody (Arkansas guard/forward) will go head to head in Stillwater on Saturday. Cunningham and Moody played on one of the best and most dominant teams in high school basketball history at Montverde Academy near Orlando, Florida in 2019-2020. But, the two will be in different jerseys on Saturday. To me, this game is going to be won by the supporting cast of either team. If Moody is not playing well, will it be his team that steps up, or if Cunningham is being contained, will it be his team that steps up? Projected Score: Oklahoma State 85, Arkansas 80

Auburn at. 2.Baylor (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ESPN)

Auburn point guard Sharife Cooper is averaging 22 points and almost 9 assists and has led his team to a 4-2 record since returning to play. Baylor is a top two team in the country and are led by a star of their own, shooting guard Jared Butler. He is averaging almost 17 points and 5 and a half assists. Either way it goes, this should be fun. Projected Score: Baylor 87, Auburn 83

8.Virginia at. 20.Virginia Tech (Saturday, 6 PM ET, ACCN)

Since struggling to begin the season, Tony Bennett’s team has gotten back to winning games. Led by guard Kihei Clark and big man Jay Huff, this Virginia team should be considered one of if not the best team in the ACC. Virginia Tech, having a win over 3.Villanova should not be taken lightly by the Cavaliers. Forward Keven Alumna leads the Hokies in scoring and is an inside threat all game long. Projected score: Virginia 72, Virginia Tech 68

15.Kansas at. 18.Tennessee (Saturday, 6 PM ET, ESPN)

Tennessee has been on and off this season but need a win here to bounce back from losses to Alabama, Florida, and Missouri in conference. Kansas lost to Oklahoma six days ago but rebounded with a low scoring win yesterday over TCU. The match up of emphasis is going to be (senior) Kansas Guard Marcus Garrett (reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year) and freshman guard Jaden Springer who came in as a prized recruit during the 2020 cycle. Projected Score: Tennessee 78, Kansas 76

1.Gonzaga at. Pepperdine (Saturday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)

This is the best Gonzaga team Mark Few has ever coached. Thus, I think Gonzaga should blow this Pepperdine team out. Projected Score: Gonzaga 95, Pepperdine 77

5.Texas at. Kentucky (Saturday, 8 PM ET, PPD)

For some reason, this BJ Boston led Kentucky team has not been nearly as good many thought it would be at the beginning of the season. Texas, however has exceeded expectations even after losses in the last two weeks to ranked Texas Tech and ranked Oklahoma. Standout guard Andrew Jones should have a phenomenal game and that is why the Longhorns should win it. Projected Score: Texas 79, Kentucky 72 (Game has since been PPD)

Gonzaga center Filip Petrusev is leaving Spokane and will sign a deal with Serbian club Mega Bemax. For now, Petrusev does not plan on withdrawing from the NBA Draft, he has until October 6 to do so. Petrusev’s reason for moving on from Gonzaga is “There’s a lot of uncertainty with the NCAA season” said Petrusev in an ESPN story . Petrusev won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year averaging 17.5 points and almost 8 rebounds a game in 2019-2020.

2021 ESPN 100 SF Kendall Brown committed to Baylor on Monday. Brown chose the Bears over Marquette and Ohio State per ESPN. Brown’s commitment is Scott Drew’s third of July for the bears. Brown follows ESPN 100 talent Langston Love and European talent Jeremy Sochan.

Arizona State guard Alonzo Verge Jr. is coming back Tempe for his senior season. Verge Jr. originally declared for the 2020 NBA Draft in April. According to ESPN, Verge Jr. transferred in from Moberly Area Community College in Missouri before the 2019-2020 campaign. Verge averaged 14.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for the Sun Devils in 2019-2020.

Michigan forward Isaiah Livers says he is taking his name from out of the 2020-2021 NBA draft and will return to Ann Arbor for his final season of play. The talented forward averaged almost 13 points and 4 rebounds per game last season for the wolverines. ESPN says Michigan will be a borderline top 25 team with Livers back in the mix for the 2020-2021 season.

The NCAA Committee of Infractions placed Oklahoma State’s men’s basketball team on three years of probation and banned the Cowboys from postseason tournaments next March and April. It will be interesting to see if 2020 ESPN 100 Point Guard Cade Cunningham decommits from Oklahoma State and goes with the new G-League route. Oklahoma State will appeal the probation.

The NCAA announced that its deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft and maintain college eligibility will either by August 3 or 10 days after the NBA Combine, whichever comes first.

A Florida appeals court has temporarily granted New Orleans Pelicans rookie Forward Zion Williamson’s attempt to block his former marketing agent’s effort to have the former Duke star answer questions about whether he received improper benefits before playing in Durham.

Georgetown guard transfer Mac McClung has committed to play his final two years of eligibility at Texas Tech. McClung chose the Red Raiders over a final group headlined by Arkansas, Auburn, Memphis, and USC. McClung averaged 15.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game during his sophomore season.

Former Kentucky guard/forward Johnny Juzang has received a waiver to play immediately at home state school UCLA. Juzang played minimally in Lexington.

Ranked number eight in the 2021 ESPN 60, five-Star center Moussa Cisse has decided to reclassify into the 2020 class. Cisse will make his college decision next week between Florida State, Georgia, Georgetown, Kentucky, LSU, and Memphis.

The Pac-12 has announced that voluntary, in-person workouts for all sports can begin on June 15, as long as local governments and universities permit it.