Category: College Basketball

Image Courtesy: Hartford Courant

Round of 64

Brooklyn (March 22)
1.Connecticut 31-3 (18-2) Big East
16.Stetson 22-12 (11-5) ASUN
The Huskies have been the best team in the country all season. They should not be the third one seed ever to lose to a sixteen seed.

8.Florida Atlantic 25-8 (14-4) American
9.Northwestern 21-11 (12-8) Big Ten
FAU was surprisingly picked as an eight seed despite three quadrant 4 losses in the NET. The Owls gained respect from their Final Four run a season ago. Star guard Johnell Davis leads the Owls versus star guard Boo Buie of Northwestern. This game should be back and forth between two great coaches, Dusty May and Chris Collins. FAU wins but it is very close.

Spokane (March 22)
5.San Diego State 24-10 (11-7) Mountain West
12.UAB 23-11 (12-6) American
San Diego State, another 2023 Final Four participant makes its way to the east region. Andy Kennedy’s Blazers had to win the American conference tournament to make it to the Big Dance. That being said, San Diego State must use their veterans and terrific defense to win this game and I believe they well.

4.Auburn 27-7 (13-5) SEC
13.Yale 22-9 (11-3) Ivy League
Auburn’s last SEC tournament title resulted in a Final Four appearance in 2019. The tigers did it again in 2024 so could they do it again? Yale beat Brown in the Ivy League title game at the buzzer. Auburn’s depth must take advantage of Yale’s short bench and advance to the round of 32.

Omaha (March 21)
6.BYU 23-10 (10-8) Big 12
11.Duquesne 24-11 (10-8) Atlantic-10
Duquesne seems overseeded as an eleven seed after winning the A-10 tournament as the six seed. The Dukes are a solid team defensively but rely on making three pointers to score. Funny enough, the team on the other bench is the game relies on very similar things. BYU finished in the top half of the Big 12 in their first season in the conference. The Cougars should win this game fairly easily if they make shots consistently.

3.Illinois 26-8 (14-6) Big Ten
14.Morehead State 26-8 (14-4) Ohio Valley
Illinois’ run to the Big Ten tournament championship vaulted them to a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. Terrence Shannon’s scoring run included scoring 31, 34, and 40 points over three games. Shannon versus OVC player of the year Riley Minix should be great TV in Omaha. If the Illini defend Minix well, they should coast and win this game with their high scoring outputs in Minneapolis in this past week.

Omaha (March 21)
7.Washington State 24-9 (14-6) Pac-12
10.Drake 28-6 (16-4) Missouri Valley
I have not picked any upsets yet in this bracket so give me the Drake Bulldogs to beat Kyle Smith’s Washington State Cougars, ending their run at the Pac-12 media days. The bulldogs were a popular upset pick in 2023 but ran into Miami in the round of 64, who advanced to the Final Four.

2.Iowa State 27-7 (13-5) Big 12
15.South Dakota State 22-12 (12-4) Summit League
Many people thought Iowa State may be the last number one seed after dominating Houston in the Big 12 tournament championship. The Cyclones should roll as they face TJ Otzelberger’s old team South Dakota State.

Round of 32

Brooklyn (March 24)
1.Connecticut
8.Florida Atlantic
If the Huskies’ let Johnell Davis get going, they may be in trouble. But, if Danny Hurley’s team does not make the Sweet 16 after such a dominant regular season, their season would be a failure.

Spokane (March 24)
4.Auburn
5.San Diego State
I will ride with Auburn to make it to Boston. The tigers will dominate the Aztecs inside with Johni Broome and Jaylin Williams.

Omaha (March 21)
3.Illinois
6.BYU
This game should be up and down with great offense. Both teams have a lot of experience in these types of games. The Big Ten has struggled in the Round of 32 of late, but this season’s Illini team is more complete than the Cougars.

Omaha (March 21)
2.Iowa State
10.Drake
Give me the Bulldogs to move to the Sweet 16 with an upset of the Cyclones in Omaha. Iowa State’s season ends in weekend one of the NCAA Tournament.

Sweet 16

Boston (March 28)
1.Connecticut
4.Auburn
The Huskies and Tigers will go blow for blow but it will be UConn winning this game in the last minute, led by freshman guard Stephon Castle. Castle has been clutch this season and it will help his team move closer to the Final Four.

3.Illinois
10.Drake
The Illini will finally make the Elite 8 under Brad Underwood after beating Drake. Terrence Shannon will lead the way and set up a match up with UConn in the next round.

Elite 8

Boston (March 30)
1.Connecticut
3.Illinois
The Huskies will return to the Final Four for the second straight year following a great defensive performance. UConn’s amount of talented defensive wings, like Cam Spencer, Alex Karaban, and the aforementioned Castle makes them hard to beat even with Shannon on the other side.

2024 East Regional Champion: 1.Connecticut

Image Courtesy: The Athletic

Please click each of the six links, titled “Game by game predictions” for each conference to find out who I have winning each conference tournament that will commence this week to clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Selection Sunday is next Sunday, March 17th. The show will begin at 5 PM CT on CBS.

ACC (Washington DC)
Bracket
Game by game predictions

Bubble Watch
Locks: North Carolina, Duke, Clemson
Should Be In: N/A
Work to do: Virginia, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Syracuse

The ACC will be a three bid league in March Madness next week unless Virginia and Wake Forest make deep runs in Washington DC. Pittsburgh and Syracuse have outside shots without strong nonconference resumés. After starting out conference play well, Florida State struggled to the finish. After a Final Four appearance last April, Miami failed to have success without Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller, who went to the pros. North Carolina (likely one or two seed), Duke (potential two or three seed), and Clemson (likely five or seed) will be among the top thirty overall seeds in the tournament no matter what happens in the ACC Tournament. With how weak the league is compared to 2019, when it had three number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament, I expect top seeds North Carolina and Duke to make it to the ACC Tournament final to match up for a third time this season. It is hard to beat the same team three times in the same season, but these Tar Heels have a toughness about them that no one else in the conference has.

Projected Conference Tournament Winner: 1.North Carolina

Big 12 (Kansas City)
Bracket
Game by game predictions

Bubble Watch
Locks: Houston, Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, BYU, TCU, Texas Tech, Texas
Should Be In: Oklahoma
Work to do: Kansas State

The Big 12 is great again this season with Houston, Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, BYU, TCU, Texas Tech, and Texas all already being for sure locks. Oklahoma will be in with just a singular win in Kansas City while Kansas State has some work to do to make it in. Houston came in from the American Athletic and dominated the Big 12 in their first season, going 28-3 during the regular season. Iowa State was very consistent in January and February to finish second followed by Baylor, Texas Tech, BYU, and Kansas. The Jayhawks have wins over likely one seeds UConn, Houston, and Tennessee but have lost nine games overall, the most in the Bill Self era. On the other end of the spectrum, Oklahoma was a top ten team in the AP poll for much of December but failed to establish success in Big 12 play with 12 overall losses. I do not see any of the lower seeds pushing through to win the Big 12 tournament but you never know what will happen in Kansas City.

Projected Conference Tournament Winner: 2.Iowa State

Big East (New York City)
Bracket
Game by game predictions

Bubble Watch
Locks: Connecticut, Marquette, Creighton
Should Be In: N/A
Work to do: Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence, St. John’s

The Big East runs through UConn until some other team takes it from them. The reigning national champions and 2024 Big East regular season champions ran through the league with only two losses. Creighton and Marquette are the only other locks to make the Big Dance from the conference but with just a single win at Madison Square Garden this week, Seton Hall should be in. Providence needs a few wins to beef up their resumé Villanova cannot lose another game with 14 losses already on the season. Anyone other than UConn or Creighton winning this conference tournament would be surprising with Marquette’s point guard Tyler Kolek’s injury concerns.

Projected Conference Tournament Winner: 1.Connecticut

Big Ten (Minneapolis)
Bracket
Game by game predictions

Bubble Watch
Locks: Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin
Should Be In: Michigan State, Northwestern, Nebraska
Work to do: Iowa

Like UConn, Purdue has control over their conference, the Big Ten. The Boilermakers three losses may be more concerning than the Huskies or the Cougars but they are the favorites to win back to back Big Ten tournaments. Illinois and Wisconsin are the only other locks in the conference but Michigan State, Northwestern, and Nebraska should be in with a few wins each in Minneapolis this week. Iowa needs to either win the Big Ten tournament title or at least make the title game. The Boilermakers should win this tournament again but watch out for Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Northwestern to make some noise.

Projected Conference Tournament Winner: 1.Purdue

Pac-12 (Las Vegas)
Bracket
Game by game predictions

Bubble Watch
Locks: Arizona and Washington State
Should Be In: Colorado
Work to do: Utah

Any team in this final Pac-12 tournament ever could win it. That is why I picked Utah to make a run to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Top seed Arizona was upset by USC on Saturday night, hurting their chances at a number one seed. Washington State could have been the one seed in the Pac-12 tournament but they failed to do so after losing to instate rival Washington. Arizona, Washington State, and Colorado, and Oregon could very well also make runs and win the Pac-12 tournament but I believe in the Utes this week. They could lose in their first game, or they could make it all the way. The Pac-12 is very unpredictable this year.

Projected Conference Tournament Winner: 6.Utah

SEC (Nashville)
Bracket
Game by game predictions

Bubble Watch
Locks: Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, Auburn, Florida
Should Be In: Mississippi State
Work to do: Texas A&M

The depth of the SEC this season has made it comparable to the Big 12. Tennessee won the league with 14 victories after Alabama faltered late to fall to the three seed. Kentucky’s terrific offense makes other coaches and fans think how they will stop it. The Wildcats’ defense has been up and down but if their offense keeps on going, they will be hard to stop. South Carolina has won its most games ever in the regular season (25) under Lamont Paris while Auburn and Florida round out the locks. Mississippi State must beat LSU in the first round of the SEC Tournament to make it to the madness while Texas A&M needs multiple wins to make it in. Alabama will bounce back after a rough last two weeks of conference play to become the conference’s auto bid this March.

Projected Conference Tournament Winner: 3.Alabama

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

Image Courtesy: San Diego-Union Tribune

*Because WordPress recently glitched, this preview will only include a short preview and a projected final score for each game.*

March 2
24.Florida (20-8) @ 18.South Carolina (23-5)
12 PM ET, ESPN/SECN
Florida outscores South Carolina in a shoot out in Columbia.
Projected Score: Florida 84, South Carolina 80

7.Kansas (21-7) @ 15.Baylor (20-8)
1 PM ET, ABC
Baylor avenges their loss to Kansas from two weeks ago.
Projected Score: Baylor 76, Kansas 75

5.Marquette (22-6) @ 12.Creighton (20-9)
2:30 PM ET, FOX
Another shootout results in Creighton getting their second win over an AP top 5 team in a week and a half.
Projected Score: Creighton 86, Marquette 84

Virginia (21-7) @ 10.Duke (22-6)
6 PM ET, ESPN
Duke gets through Virginia’s tough defense and beats the Hoos at home.
Projected Score: Duke 62, Virginia 49

4.Tennessee (22-6) @ 14.Alabama (20-8)
8 PM ET, ESPN
In a battle between the two leaders in the SEC, Alabama evens the season series against Tennessee in a very close game.
Projected Score: Alabama 95, Tennessee 92

23.Gonzaga (23-6) @ 17.Saint Mary’s (24-6)
10 PM ET, ESPN
Saint Mary’s sweeps the season series against Gonzaga putting the Bulldogs in a must win situation at the West Coast Conference tournament next week to make the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Score: Saint Mary’s 78, Gonzaga 74

Image Courtesy: San Diego Union-Tribune

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee will share who their top four seed lines (top 16 seeds) are this afternoon at 12:30 PM ET on CBS just a month away from Selection Sunday. Here is who what I think the top sixteen will look like:

1 Seeds
1.Purdue Boilermakers 23-2 (12-2) Big Ten
2.Connecticut Huskies 23-2 (13-1) Big East
3.Houston Cougars 21-3 (8-3) Big 12
4.Arizona Wildcats 19-5 (10-3) Pac-12

Purdue and UConn are clear and away the top two teams in the country. We will see how the committee ranks them. The Huskies have looked better than the Boilermakers as of late but both teams deserve the top overall seed at this point. Whoever is better over the next month will be the top overall seed in March Madness. Houston has solidified themselves as the third overall seed entering the weekend, just a game back of the two leaders with their overall record of 21-3. A loss to Kansas is the lone set back over the last few games since losing back to back games to Iowa State and TCU on the road. Arizona’s five quad one wins have them clinging onto the overall four seed and the Pac-12 with a showdown coming up on Saturday against instate rival Arizona State.

2 Seeds
5.Marquette Golden Eagles 19-5 (10-3) Big East
6.North Carolina Tar Heels 19-6 (10-3) ACC
7.Tennessee Volunteers 18-6 (8-3) SEC
8.Alabama Crimson Tide 17-7 (9-2) SEC

The two seed line has changed so much over the last two weeks Marquette has ascended with the play of Tyler Kolek getting better and better every game. The Golden Eagles will be tested on Saturday when they face 1.UConn on the road. North Carolina’s head to head win over Tennessee the first annual ACC/SEC Challenge should put them over the Volunteers in this early reveal. That said, North Carolina’s struggles since beating Duke (and even on the Tuesday before when they fell to Georgia Tech) are real. The Tar Heels have lost three of their last five games including the game against the Yellow Jackets, at home to Clemson, and Syracuse on the road just this past Tuesday. North Carolina must bounce back at home on Saturday against Virginia Tech to continue their pursuit of a one seed and an ACC title. Tennessee must sweep the season series against Vanderbilt on Saturday to move up the two line if North Carolina loses. Alabama has quickly risen after falling in nonconference opportunities against Purdue, Arizona, Ohio State, and Creighton by splitting the season series with Auburn and beating South Carolina.

3 Seeds
9.Iowa State Cyclones 19-5 (8-3) Big 12
10.Kansas Jayhawks 19-6 (7-5) Big 12
11.Duke Blue Devils 19-5 (10-3) ACC
12.Baylor Bears 18-6 (7-4) Big 12

Iowa State has consistently been one of the best teams in the Big 12, being tied with Houston atop the league standings. The Cyclones beat Houston and Kansas earlier in conference play so TJ Otzelberger’s team is primed to be on the three line. Behind them are the Jayhawks, who have a complicated resumé up to this point. The Jayhawks have beaten UConn, Houston, and Baylor at home. But, they have lost to Kansas State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Central Florida. That is not the norm for Bill Self’s team. Since Duke’s lost to North Carolina, they have quietly gone undefeated since with wins over Notre Dame, Boston College, and Wake Forest. Those may not be the best wins for their NCAA Tournament resumé but they have gotten themselves just a half game back of North Carolina in the ACC standings. Losses against Arizona, Arkansas, and Georgia Tech earlier in the season are holding them back from moving up the seed list. Duke’s head to head win over Baylor puts them over the Bears on the three line.The Bears have beaten Auburn, Iowa State, BYU, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma have them as the final three seed.

4 Seeds
13.Auburn Tigers 20-5 (9-3) SEC
14.Illinois Fighting Illini 18-6 (9-4) Big Ten
15.Creighton Blue Jays 18-7 (9-5) Big East
16.Dayton Flyers 20-4 (10-2) Atlantic-10

Auburn tying the season series against Alabama last week and their forty point win over South Carolina at home on Wednesday has given them a chance to move back up to the three line with a win over a struggling Kentucky team on Saturday. Illinois is the only team in the Big Ten with a real shot to catch Purdue. The Illini’s only signature win is against Florida Atlantic so they will be hunting for one against the Boilermakers in two and a half weeks on March 5. Creighton (best win is against Providence) and Dayton (best win is against Louisville) cling onto spots fifteen and sixteen with Wisconsin, Clemson, BYU, and South Carolina right behind them with major conference resumés.

Next Up: Wisconsin, Clemson, BYU, South Carolina

So, this afternoon’s bracket reveal should something like this:

Midwest (Detroit)
1.Purdue
2.Marquette
3.Iowa State
4.Dayton

West (Los Angeles)
1.Arizona
2.Alabama
3.Kansas
4.Creighton

East (Boston)
1.Connecticut
2.North Carolina
3.Baylor
4.Auburn

South (Dallas)
1.Houston
2.Tennessee
3.Duke
4.Illinois

Image Courtesy: Spectrum News 13

February 10
TCU (16-6) @ 14.Iowa State (17-5)
2 PM ET, ESPN2
Iowa State had a setback last weekend after their last second shot against Baylor was not counted on the scoreboard. The Cyclones host a good TCU team where they must protect home court to stay in the race to reach the top of the Big 12 standings. They bounced back against Texas in midweek action and will look for a Texas sweep on Saturday afternoon. Milan Momcilovic, who scored 13 points to lead the team in the win over the Longhorns, will look to do the same against the Horned Frogs. The trio of Emanuel Miller (16.4 points), Micah Peavy (11.5 points), and Jameer Nelson Jr. (11 points) pace the offense. It will be up to their defense to stop any long runs by Iowa State to get the home crowd into game. The Cyclones are a win and a Houston loss away from taking the conference lead while the Horned Frogs need some help to move that way with a few wins in a row. Projected Score: Iowa State 77, TCU 74

10.Illinois (17-5) @ Michigan State (14-9)
2 PM ET, CBS
With Wisconsin losing back to back contests, Illinois can challenge Purdue in the Big Ten if they continue to win games ahead of their showdown on the last week of the regular season. A trip to the Breslin Center in East Lansing to face what has been an underachieving Michigan State team will prove how good the Fighting Illini really are. Terrance Shannon Jr., Marcus Domask, and Coleman Hawkins must be calm, cool, and collected if they do not want to get upset. A 6-6 Big Ten record hangs over Michigan State’s head as they enter a huge last month of the season. They too play Purdue later in the season, but Tom Izzo’s team must be focused on the present with games to win to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Tyson Walker guard has been as advertised, scoring 19 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game. It will be up to the supporting trio of Malik Hall, AJ Hoggard, and Jaden Akins to win a big time conference game and help themselves for the postseason. Projected Score: Illinois 81, Michigan State 79

12.Auburn (19-4) @ Florida (15-7)
3:30 PM ET, SECN
Auburn evened the season series against arch rival Alabama while Florida comes off their midweek bye entering Saturday’s showdown. The two longtime SEC opponents are in the top half of the conference standings as they look to bolster their tournament resumés. The Gators have experienced a bounce back, promising season in Todd Golden’s second season as head coach. The play of guards Walter Clayton Jr. (15.9 points per game) and Zyon Pullin (15.4 points a game) have made Golden’s job so much easier as the season has gone on. It will be up to their defense and the home environment in Gainesville to handle a great Auburn offense. The combination of forwards Johni Broome (15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks a game) and Jaylin Williams (12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game) makes Bruce Pearl’s team hard to defeat even when they play on the road. A win on Saturday would help the tigers keep pace with South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee atop the SEC. Projected Score: Auburn 87, Florida 84

Gonzaga (17-6) @ 17.Kentucky (16-6)
4 PM ET, CBS
A rare mid-February nonconference game is the afternoon headliner on CBS. The showdown between the Bulldogs and Wildcats may not have been the AP top ten match up many thought it might be in the pre-season but it is a battle between two of the top head coaches in the country, Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Kentucky’s John Calipari. Gonzaga faltered in nonconference action, not giving them a strong enough resumé to support their third place showing right now in the West Coast Conference. On the other hand, Kentucky’s offense makes them tough to beat at home. But, their defense has truly held them back, especially in a loss in a top ten battle last weekend against Tennessee. The offensive firepower of wing Antonio Reeves (almost 20 points a game) and guard Rob Dillingham (15.5 points per game) makes that side of the ball look so good. It will be up to the Kentucky frontcourt, led by Tre Mitchell (12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game) and Aaron Bradshaw (6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game) to handle the tremendous trio of Graham Ike (15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game), Anton Watson (14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game), and Braden Huff (10.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game). The point guard match up of veteran Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard (12.5 points and 5.8 assists a game) for the Zags and freshman standout DJ Wagner (12 points and 3.7 assists per game) will make this must watch TV. A must win game for Gonzaga if they want to get back up the seed lines. A win for Kentucky helps them get into a tough week of SEC action against Ole Miss and Auburn. Projected Score: Kentucky 96, Gonzaga 88

13.Baylor (17-5) @ 4.Kansas (18-5)
6 PM ET, ESPN
The game of the day in college basketball nationally comes as Kansas must protect home court for the second consecutive Saturday against an AP top fifteen ranked opponent, this time against Baylor. The Jayhawks come off of a disappointing loss to instate rival Kansas State and must beat the Bears to avoid falling to 6-5 in Big 12 play. The Bears are on a three game winning streak (UCF, 12.Iowa State, 23.Texas Tech) following a three game losing streak in conference play. When Houston lost to Kansas in their first appearance in Lawrence as a Big 12 member, they learned they could not rely on just a few top scorers. With the Jayhawks coming off a loss, they will be hungry to win this game. So, freshman Ja’Kobe Wolter (14.2 points a game) and senior RayJ Dennis (13.8 points and 6.4 assists per game) must be huge and get help from their teammates Langston Love, Jalen Bridges, and Yves Missi in this matchup. A win for Baylor, who is 6-3 in the Big 12, could put them at first in the conference with a win. Kansas got production from freshman Johnny Furphy in last Saturday’s win over the Cougars and will need this again to support their best four players, Kevin McCullar (19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game), Hunter Dickinson (18.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game), KJ Adams Jr. (12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds a game), and Dajuan Harris (7.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game). A huge game in the best conference in the country Projected Score: Kansas 85, Baylor 81

6.Tennessee (17-5) @ Texas A&M (14-8)
8 PM ET, ESPN
A win for Tennessee in College Station over Texas A&M on Saturday would put them in contention for a one seed (currently 7-2 in the SEC). A loss means moving themselves a full game back from first place in the SEC. A win for the Aggies moves them up to be in position to put themselves in third place in the league (currently 5-4 in the SEC). Dalton Knecht (20.2 points a game) and Jonas Aidoo (11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game) must continue to give them production if they want to leave Aggieland with a win. Wade Taylor, who scores almost 20 points a game like Knecht, will be impossible to defend as well. If Taylor’s counterparts, Tyrece Radford (14.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game) and Henry Coleman (10.3 points and 7 rebounds per game) support him offensively, the tough Tennessee defense will be challenged on the road. A huge SEC Saturday night showdown will determine if the Aggies can get back in the tournament chase as February rolls on. Projected Score: Tennessee 84, Texas A&M 80

Image Courtesy: The Fayetteville Observer

February 3
17.Utah State (19-2) @ San Diego State (16-5)
3:30 PM ET, FOX
The Mountain West is a gauntlet this season with five or six potential NCAA Tournament teams. The conference leading Utah State Aggies possess a 19-2 record and just a single conference loss. They head to San Diego to face the reigning national-runner up San Diego State Aztecs. They are two games back in conference but boast wins over Saint Mary’s, Washington, Stanford, and Gonzaga outside of the league. Utah State runs their offense through forward Great Osobor and guard Ian Martinez, who both average north of fourteen points a game. After San Diego State lost players to the pros and the transfer portal after their 2023 tournament run, forward Jaedon LeDee (20.5 points per game) stepped up his game. A huge battle in the Mountain West will determine a lot as the month of February begins. Projected Score: San Diego State 78, Utah State 77

4.Houston (19-2) @ 8.Kansas (17-4)
4 PM ET, ESPN
A huge battle in college basketball’s best conference takes center stage ahead of the rivalry battle between Duke and North Carolina. The new Big 12 member Houston leads the league with just two league losses on the road to 12.Iowa State and 25.TCU in back to back games. For most programs, a 17-4 overall record and 5-3 conference record would be acceptable through January. But, Bill Self-coached Jayhawks teams normally dominate the Big 12, which is normally loaded. With the help of a great crowd at Allen Fieldhouse, veterans Hunter Dickinson (18.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game), Kevin McCullar (19.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game), and Dajuan Harris (7.4 points and 6.9 assists per game) must lead Kansas to a win to stay in the conference title race. Baylor transfer LJ Cryer (15.1 points per game) is very familiar playing Kansas, where he had success with the Bears. Now at Houston, he will look to continue that success with the help of fellow guards Jamal Shead (12.3 points and 5.8 assists per game) and Emanuel Sharp (12.2 points per game). A loss for the Cougars would not hurt Kelvin Sampson’s team that much but a win over the Jayhawks in their first Big 12 game in Lawrence would send a loud message to the rest of the college basketball world. Projected Score: Houston 84, Kansas 81

7.Duke (16-4) @ 3.North Carolina (17-4)
6:30 PM ET, ESPN
Since their 2022 Final Four matchup, this North Carolina-Duke game is the most important in the rivalry series. With both teams in the AP Top 10 for the first time since their 2019 ACC Semifinal matchup when the two ended up being one seeds in the NCAA Tournament that season. Since losing to an underachieving Arkansas team in the first annual ACC/SEC Challenge at the end of November and beginning ACC play with a loss to Georgia Tech, Duke’s group of freshmen have matured and helped the Blue Devils beat a hard-nosed Baylor team in New York City. They are now just a game and a half back of the Tar Heels in the ACC. After a 9-0 start in conference play for Hubert Davis’ club, they fell to Georgia Tech, a team that entered the game at 9-11 overall. Davis’ group this season is full of veterans and he expects them to bounce back quickly with Duke coming to town. Tar Heel guard RJ Davis was the only bright spot in their loss to Georgia Tech on Tuesday, scoring 28 points. He has played like an All-American and potential national player of the year. Davis’ running mate, Armando Bacot has not been as great in his fifth season as he was in his previous two seasons. Bacot is only averaging north of 13 points and nearly ten rebounds a game. For most bigs in the country, those would be great stats. But, fans are used to seeing Bacot score 17-20 points and grab 15 or more rebounds a game. He has been huge in games against Duke, so expect him to step up yet again. Duke’s Kyle Filipowski (17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game), Bacot’s match up inside, will have to be ready to face him and his back up Jalen Washington, who will also get looks against Filipowski. Also averaging over ten points for Duke is senior guard Jeremy Roach, sophomore forward Mark Mitchell, sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor, and freshman guard Jared McCain. They will pose problems for North Carolina’s Harrison Ingram, Elliot Cadeau, and Cormac Ryan. Ingram’s clutch plays, Cadeau’s playmaking, and Ryan’s shooting will be something Duke coach Jon Scheyer to watch out for on Saturday evening. The winner of Carolina-Duke 1 will control the ACC as the month of February opens. Projected Score: North Carolina 85, Duke 79

12.Iowa State (16-4) @ 18.Baylor (15-5)
8 PM ET, ESPN2
Iowa State has quietly creeped up the rankings with wins over top five Houston, top ten Kansas, and top twenty five TCU t0 put themselves a half game back of the Cougars in the Big 12 standings with a month or so of basketball left in the regular season. Opposite of the Cyclones, Baylor lost three straight games before to Kansas State, Texas, and TCU before beating UCF in the midweek slate. Despite those three losses, the Bears are just a game and a half back of first place. Freshman guard Ja’Kobe Walter (14.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game) and senior guard RayJ Dennis (13.2 points and 6.7 assists per game) make Scott Drew’s team go and will be important in defending home court against a great defensive team, Iowa State. TJ Otzleberger relies on a balanced offensive attack, led by guards Tamin Lipsey (13.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game), guard Keshon Gilbert (13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game), and forward Milan Momcilovic (13.3 points per game). A win for the Cyclones could put them in the AP Top 10 and rising up seed lists. Projected Score: Iowa State 77, Baylor 76

5.Tennessee (15-5) @ 10.Kentucky (15-5)
8:30 PM ET, ESPN
Following North Carolina-Duke, a top ten SEC battle takes center stage in ESPN primetime. Both Tennessee and Kentucky lost in midweek action to South Carolina and Florida respectively. To bounce back, the Volunteers must rely on their SEC Player of the Year frontrunner Dalton Knecht, who has averaged over 28 points in SEC contests this season. Around Knecht, big man Jonas Aidoo, guard Santiago Vescovi, guard Zakai Ziegler, and forward Josiah-Jordan James will have to play the tough defense Rick Barned-coached teams are known for against one of the best offensive teams in the country, the Kentucky Wildcats. Their combination of freshmen Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw and Justin Edwards in addition to leading scorer Antonio Reeves and big man Tre Mitchell make this team impossible to stop. The Wildcats’ problem is stopping the other team. So, Tennessee will push John Calipari’s defense as much as possible to get a win. Projected Score: Tennessee 95, Kentucky 92

Saint Mary’s (17-6) @ Gonzaga (16-5)
10:30 PM ET, ESPN
At the beginning of the season, both Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s were in the AP Top 25. They were the West Coast Conference favorites. Both squads may have fallen out of the rankings but the Gaels and Bulldogs are still at the top of their league. The winner of this game, a series that has turned into a heated rivalry, on Saturday night in Spokane will take lead of the West Coast. Sophomore guard Aidan Mahaney (14.1 points) leads Saint Mary’s in scoring per game with help from junior guard Augustas Marciulionis (11.9 points) and Mitchell Saxen (11.2 points), who has had big games against the Zags. For Mark Few’s team, former Wyoming forward Graham Ike (15.5 points a game), longtime Zag forward Anton Watson (14.5 points per game), guard Nolan Hickman (13.3 points a game) and Creighton guard Ryan Nembhard (12.2 points per game) make their engine go. The winner of this game will do more than just put themselves in good position for the West Coast regular season title but at moving up seed lines for March. Projected Score: Gonzaga 81, Saint Mary’s 79

February 4
2.Purdue (20-2) @ 6.Wisconsin (16-5)
1 PM ET, CBS
A battle for the Big Ten lead comes to center stage on Sunday to viewers. The Boilermakers and Badgers battle for the top spot in the conference and a spot among the top few seed lines in the NCAA tournament. Purdue has dominated Big Ten play outside of getting upset by Northwestern and Nebraska, who also look like tournament teams. Similar to Purdue,Wisconsin comes off a loss at Nebraska in Pinnacle Arena, which is one of the best home environments in the country. Entering the game, they were ahead of Purdue in the conference race, but since they have played a conference game less than the Boilermakers, they are a half game back entering Sunday’s battle. They return home where they have been successful this season. The trio of guard AJ Storr (15.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game), forward Steven Crowl (11.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game), and forward Tyler Wahl (11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game) make Greg Gard’s team go. Crowl and Wahl will be important in defending reigning national player of the year Zach Edey (23.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks a game), who looks on pace to accomplish same feat this season. The addition of transfer Lance Jones (12.7 points per game) and the development of sophomore games Braden Smith (12.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game), and Fletcher Loyer (11.2 points a game) has been crucial to their success. The winner of this huge battle will be in control of the Big Ten with Illinois pacing right behind them. Projected Score: Purdue 84, Wisconsin 80

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

Image Courtesy: Spectrum News

December 15
5.Connecticut (9-1) vs. 10.Gonzaga (8-2) (Seattle; Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off)
10 PM ET, ESPN2
A top ten match up comes in the Seattle Tip-Off between the red hot Connecticut Huskies and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are coming off of a loss to instate foe Washington. UConn big man Donavan Clingan will have to deal with a talented group up front for the Bulldogs, led by Anton Watson (14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds a game), Graham Ike (13.4 points and 8 rebounds per game), and Braden Huff (11.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game). The guard position is more even between these two teams as the Huskies’ Tristen Newton (17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game) and Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard (13.3 points and 5.6 assists per game) and Nolan Hickman (13 points per game) battle it out for the win. This huge nonconference battle will have a lot of meaning come March as Gonzaga looks for its first meaningful win since its time in Honolulu for the Maui Invitational. Projected Score: Connecticut 85, Gonzaga 81

December 16
2.Kansas (9-1) @ Indiana (7-2)
12:30 PM ET, CBS
The match up that will determine the winner of Kansas’ return trip to Indiana will be in the paint. The Jayhawks’ Hunter Dickinson (20.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game) matches up with Oregon transfer Ke’el Ware (17.7 points and 9.6 rebounds a game), who has improved vastly this season after having a disappointing first and only campaign with the Ducks. If Indiana wants to protect Assembly Hall and win this game, they must rely on other players to score frequently. Ware’s fellow forward Malik Reneau (14.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game), veteran guard Xavier Johnson (10.5 points and 2.3 assists per game), freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako (8 points and 4 rebounds a game) must step up if they want to beat the Jayhawks. Outside of Dickinson, talented two-way guard Kevin McCullar and point guard Dajuan Harris make the Kansas engine go. A Hoosier win gives them a resumé definer but a Jayhawk victory gives them their third quality win of the season (Kentucky, Tennessee, UConn). Either way it goes, it should be a fantastic environment in Bloomington on Saturday. Projected Score: Kansas 78, Indiana 69

6.Baylor (9-0) vs. Michigan State (4-5) (Detroit)
2 PM ET, FOX
Michigan State has struggled to begin the season because of their lack of success shooting the ball from deep. They come in to the Baylor game with back to back losses to Wisconsin and Nebraska to open Big Ten play. Veteran guards Tyson Walker (20.5 points per game) and AJ Hoggard (9.6 points and 4.1 assists a game) must be efficient against Scott Drew’s ferocious defense. Drew’s offense has also been awesome to this point in the season. The Bears’ balanced attack is led by freshman guard Ja’Kobe Wolter (14.9 points and 4 rebounds per game) and former Toledo guard RayJ Dennis (13.9 points and 6.5 assists a game). With the game in Detroit, the Bears will play in a pro-Michigan State environment. But, they are experienced in NCAA tournament atmospheres, so it should not make them shy away from the moment. Projected Score: Baylor 81, Michigan State 72

Texas A&M (7-3) vs. 4.Houston (10-0) (Houston; Toyota Center; The Halal Guys Showcase)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Undefeated Houston faces Texas A&M, a team that just took a tough loss to Memphis at home. Texas A&M has struggled more than many people thought they would through ten games. Their great defense has not been as good as expected but pre-season SEC player of the year Wade Taylor IV has been up to par, scoring 17 points a game. To beat a tough, hard-nosed Kelvin Sampson-coached Houston team, the Aggies cannot rely on just Taylor. Forward Henry Coleman III (13 points and 9 rebounds per game) and Tyrece Radford (12 points and 4 rebounds per game) must give them a boost. Coming off of a one seed and another Sweet 16 appearance under Sampson, Houston must lead his team to another win before their first season of Big 12 play, which will be tough no matter what with the depth of the league. Baylor transfer LJ Cryer has been fantastic this season, scoring almost 18 points per game in addition to fellow guards Emanuel Sharp (12.9 points per game) and Jamal Shead (9.1 points and 6.2 assists a game). Stopping Henry Coleman III will be difficult, so forward J’Wan Roberts, who will need to outperform his 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block per game to keep him off the boards and scoring second chance points. A huge Texas battle ahead of Christmas at the Houston Rockets’ Arena should be a great one.
Projected Score: Houston 77, Texas A&M 68

Ohio State (8-2) vs. UCLA (5-3) (Atlanta; CBS Sports Classic)
3 PM ET, CBS
The Buckeyes and the Bruins will look to bounce back from losses to Penn State and Villanova respectively in the first of two games in Atlanta at the annual CBS Sports Classic. Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton (18.7 points and 4.2 assists per game) and Roddy Gayle (14.7 points and 5.2 rebounds a game) look to match UCLA’s Sebastian Mack (14.7 points and 4.7 rebounds a game) and Adem Bona (13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game). This game will be determined by the Thornton-Mack guard match up and the Jamison Battle (13.9 points and 4.4 rebound per game)-Bona match up inside the paint. The Bruins have been tested more as they played in the Maui Invitational and placed fifth in a loaded field but something tells me this offensively minded Ohio State team, who has beaten Alabama, can cause this tough UCLA defense some problems. Projected Score: UCLA 77, Ohio State 72

1.Arizona (8-0) vs. 3.Purdue (9-1) (Indianapolis; Indy Classic)
4:30 PM ET, Peacock
Maybe the best nonconference game of the season based on AP ranking, the top ranked Arizona Wildcats and third ranked Purdue Boilermakers have looked like potential one seeds in the NCAA Tournament early on in the season. The Wildcats possess incredible depth with Caleb Love (13.3 points), Keshad Johnson (12.9 points), Kylan Boswell (12.7 points), Oumar Ballo (12.1 points), and Pella Larsson (11 points) all averaging over 10 points per game. The Wildcats went into Durham and beat a then top five ranked Duke team, who has stumbled since. Reigning national player of the year Zach Edey has been dominant if not almost as dominant as he was last season for the Boilermakers, leading the way with almost 24 points and just over 11 rebounds per game. Playing in Indianapolis, it will be important for guards Braden Smith (11.7 points and 6 assists per game), Lance Jones (11 points and 2.6 rebounds per game), and Fletcher Loyer (10.9 points and 2.7 rebounds a game) to get the pro-Purdue crowd into the game to effect Arizona’s rhythm. A huge game for seeding in March should be great battle. Projected Score: Purdue 81, Arizona 79

14.Kentucky (7-2) vs. 9.North Carolina (7-2) (Atlanta; CBS Sports Classic)
5:30 PM ET, CBS
Kentucky and North Carolina come into Atlanta with matching 7-2 records. The two blue bloods are very familiar with each other as the Kentucky beat North Carolina in the 2021 CBS Sports Classic in dominant fashion just five years after the two squads met in December in this event just months the Tar Heels beat the Wildcats in the Elite Eight to go to the Final Four with a Luke Maye midrange shot in the final seconds of that classic game.The Wildcats boast a lineup of veterans Antonio Reeves (18.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) and Tre Mitchell (14.4 points and 6 rebounds a game) in addition to a group of freshmen, namely Reed Sheppard (13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds a game), DJ Wagner (13.1 points and 3.3 assists per game), Justin Edwards (10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game), and Aaron Bradshaw (3 points and 2 rebounds per game). Bradshaw will look to be a bigger scoring threat as he gets his speed back after returning from injury. They will look to defeat a North Carolina team that has played well up to this point in the season. Guard RJ Davis has played like an All-American this season scoring 21 points and passing out almost 3 assists per game. Star big man Armando Bacot (15.9 points and 11.9 rebounds a game), Harrison Ingram (15.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game), and Cormac Ryan (10.4 points a game) have been the supporting cast to Davis in what has been a much better start to the year than they had last season when they entered the season ranked number one in the AP poll. The winner of this match upwill have a good amount of momentum entering conference play in a few weeks. Projected Score: North Carolina 88, Kentucky 85

Alabama (6-3) @ 8.Creighton (8-2)
8 PM ET, FOX
Creighton must make up for their two losses, to Colorado State and UNLV on Wednesday. The Rams are number seventeen in the AP Top 25 while the Rebels are 4-4. The Blue Jays will look to bounce back with a win at home over offensive minded Alabama. The Crimson Tide can score and do it quickly. They must bounce back from a loss to a quality Clemson team in the ACC/SEC Challenge by going into Omaha and attempting to get a win with a game against Arizona in Phoenix coming up. Their terrific offense is led by guard Mark Sears (20.7 points and 4.1 assists a game) and forward Grant Nelson (14.3 points and 7 rebounds per game). The Blue Jays must counter the Tide’s scorching offense with talented center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who puts averages 2 blocks in addition to over 15 points and 7 rebounds a game. Kalkbrenner is helped out by the team’s leading scorer Baylor Scheierman (19.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game) and guard Trey Alexander (16 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game). Creighton will look to protect their home court against the Tide as their home stand continues with their Big East opener against Villanova coming up. Projected Score: Creighton 87, Alabama 85

December 20
6.Baylor (9-0) vs. 21.Duke (7-3) (New York City)
7 PM ET, ESPN
Baylor has out-performed pre-season expectations with wins over Auburn, Oregon State, Florida, and Seton Hall and faces Duke, who has not lived up to them. The Blue Devils lost back to back games to Arkansas and Georgia Tech on the road before bouncing back against Charlotte and Hofstra. They cannot let Bears freshman guard Ja’Kobe Walter (14.9 points and 4 rebounds per game) get in the paint and score with ease. Playing with a smaller center, star big man Kyle Filipowski (17.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game), it will be tougher to defend Walter, guards RayJ Dennis (14.2 points and 6.6 assists a game), and Langston Love (12 points and 2 rebounds per game). It will be up to the interior defense of forward Jalen Bridges (11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game). With losses to power conference teams Arizona, Arkansas, and Georgia Tech the Blue Devils must win this one as they head into the main part of ACC play. Projected Score: Baylor 76, Duke 70

11.Oklahoma (9-0) vs. 9.North Carolina (7-2) (Charlotte; Jumpman Invitational)
9 PM ET, ESPN
Oklahoma has raced out to an 9-0 record with a new, athletic roster put together by head coach Porter Moser. The Sooners must build on their wins over Iowa, USC, and Arkansas in their toughest match up of the season against North Carolina, another squad who has faced multiple tough tests through a month and a half. In last Saturday’s win over the Razorbacks in Tulsa, guards Javian McCollum (20 points) and Otega Oweh (14 points) forced turnovers to create open shots for themselves and their teammates in a great offensive performance. The Sooners must continue to play tight defense on RJ Davis (21 points a game), Armando Bacot (15.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game), Harrison Ingram (15.1 points a game), and Cormac Ryan (10.4 points per game) in an essential road game for them against the Tar Heels. A pro-Tar Heel environment must help the them get the win if they are unable to beat Kentucky in Atlanta this upcoming Saturday. An Oklahoma win puts them in great position to start Big 12 play on a high note. Projected Score: North Carolina 85, Oklahoma 83

Alabama (6-3) vs. 1.Arizona (8-0) (Phoenix; Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series)
11 PM ET, ESPN
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (5 points and 2 rebounds per game) faces his former team in an essential home game for the Wildcats. Both teams are challenging themselves in the lead up to Christmas, with Arizona facing Purdue, the Crimson Tide, and Florida State on Christmas Eve Eve. The Crimson Tide competed well but lost to Purdue, head to face Creighton in Omaha, and then this showdown with Arizona. The impressive Arizona defense will match up with Alabama’s great offense, led by Mark Sears (21.4 points a game) and Aaron Estrada (15.1 points per game). The Tide must be tough up front facing forward Keshad Johnson (12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game) and center Oumar Ballo (12.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game) something they have struggled with since Charles Bediako left Tuscaloosa for the NBA. If Arizona can avoid a track meet in this game, they can continue their tough stretch playing well. Projected Score: Arizona 81, Alabama 75

December 23
15.Florida Atlantic (8-2) vs. 1.Arizona (8-0) (Las Vegas)
3 PM ET, FOX
Arizona’s final pre-Christmas battle is against a terrific Florida Atlantic team. The 2023 Final Four Owls lost to Bryant in November but quickly bounced back by winning the ESPN Events Invitational in Florida. They did lose to Illinois in the Jimmy V Classic but will look to upset the Wildcats with big games from big man Vladislav Goldin (16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game), guards Johnell Davis (14.2 points and 7 rebounds per game), and Alijah Martin (14.2 points and 4.7 rebounds a game). Davis and Martin will have to defend Arizona guards Caleb Love (14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game), Kylan Boswell (12.4 points and 4.8 assists per game), and Pelle Larsson (12.3 points and 3.9 rebounds a game). With the game in Las Vegas, the Owls will also have to overcome a pro-Arizona crowd. FAU can prove they are a sure fire national contender with a win in this one. Projected Score: Arizona 87, Florida Atlantic 80

Image Courtesy: UConn Athletics

December 1
6.Houston (7-0) @ Xavier (4-3) (Big 12/Big East Battle)
6:30 PM ET, FS1
Houston and Xavier must build up their nonconference resumés with wins before they play tough league schedules in the Big 12 and Big East, respectively. Baylor transfer LJ Cryer (15.8 points per game) has shined for Houston since transferring from the Bears. For Xavier, Desmond Claude leads the way averaging over 16 points and 3 assists. The Musketeers fell to Oakland in a buy game, 78-76, so they will be looking to bounce back from a loss. In what should be a great defensive battle, coaching decisions in game by Houston’s Kelvin Sampson and Xavier’s Sean Miller should play a huge part in this game. Projected Score: Houston 72, Xavier 63

4.Connecticut (6-0) @ 5.Kansas (5-1) (Big 12/Big East Battle)
9 PM ET, ESPN2
A battle of the last two national championship comes in the annual Big 12/Big East Battle between the reigning champs UConn and the 2022 champs Kansas. Both teams are putting themselves in great position for high seeds in the NCAA Tournament with difficult schedules. The Huskies won the Empire Classic with relative ease after wins over Indiana and Texas while Kansas has been battle tested and finished third in the Maui Invitational after wins over Chaminade and Tennessee but a loss to Marquette in the semifinals. If the Jayhawks can get star big man Hunter Dickinson (21.2 points, 12.7 rebounds a game) and two way star Kevin McCullar (18.2 points and 8 rebounds a game) going they will be hard to beat. However, they will be challenged by UConn, a team looking to win back to back national titles. Alex Karaban (16.8 points a game) and Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer (15.8 points a game) continue to lead the Huskies through a great season so far. They will be tested like they have not been this season against the Jayhawks on the road in Lawrence. Projected Score: Kansas 77, Connecticut 76

December 2
11.Gonzaga (5-1) vs. USC (4-2) (Las Vegas)
10 PM ET, ESPN
Both Gonzaga and USC need to get on a roll as they enter December with the Bulldogs’ fifth place finish in Maui and USC falling to Oklahoma in the finals in San Diego. USC must make up for their weaknesses inside against a strong Gonzaga front court with backcourt duo of senior Boogie Ellis (21.3 points and 3.6 assists per game) and freshman Isaiah Collier (18.2 points and 4 assists a game). Gonzaga forward Anton Watson has broken out this season, scoring almost 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. In addition to Watson, Creighton transfer guard Ryan Nembhard has been fantastic this season, scoring 11.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. A win for Gonzaga over the Trojans can vault them back into the AP top 10. Projected Score: Gonzaga 84, USC 77

December 5
13.Florida Atlantic (5-1) vs. 24.Illinois (5-1) (New York City) (Jimmy V Classic)
6:30 PM ET, ESPN
Florida Atlantic bounced back from their loss to mid-major Bryant with three wins in the ESPN Events Invitational. Russian native Vladislav Goldin (14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game) has led the Owls inside. Last season’s March Madness stars Johnell Davis (14.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game) and Alijah Martin (11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) have helped the Owls’ balanced attack offensively. Defensively, FAU gets stops when they need to get them. This will be very necessary when they have to deal with Terrence Shannon Jr. (19.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game) Illinois’ star. The Owls must rotate defensive match ups on him to make the Illini give the ball to others offensively, namely forward Dain Dainja (10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game) and guard Luke Goode (8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game). Having beaten Rutgers to open Big Ten play and with games against Tennessee and Missouri coming up, Illinois could use a win over the Owls. Projected Score: Florida Atlantic 73, Illinois 71

16.Texas (5-1) @ 3.Marquette (5-1) (Big 12/Big East Battle)
8 PM ET, FS1
Marquette can add to its great resumé that already has wins over Illinois, UCLA, Kansas with a loss to Purdue against Texas. The Golden Eagles’ trio of guards Kai Jones (16.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game), Tyler Kolek (13.5 points and 5.5 assists per game), and forward Oso Ighodaro (15 points and 7.3 rebounds a game) powers them to wins. It will be up Texas’ Kadin Shedrick (14.3 points and 4.8 rebounds a game) and Max Abmas (13.6 points and 3.8 assists per game) to counter the toughness of the Golden Eagles. It would be huge for the Longhorns to win this game after losing to Marquette’s Big East foe UConn in the Empire Classic final to strengthen themselves for March with a month until Big 12 play. Projected Score: Marquette 83, Texas 73

17.North Carolina (5-1) vs. 4.Connecticut (6-0) (New York City) (Jimmy V Classic)
9 PM ET, ESPN
The offense of North Carolina looks so much more balanced than it did a season ago when the Tar Heels were picked number one in the pre-season AP poll. Veteran guard RJ Davis, Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram, and injured Notre Dame transfer Cormac Ryan have supported star big man Armando Bacot, who struggled at times in games at the Battle 4 Atlantis. To continue to limit Bacot, center Husky guards Alex Karaban and Cam Spencer will look to match Tar Heel perimeter players while sophomore big man Donavan Clingan (12.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game) will look to play big. A win for the Tar Heels will continue their quality play with Kentucky coming up in the CBS Sports Classic before Christmas while UConn will look to either get their second straight win over an AP Top 25 team or bounce back after a loss to Kansas depending on that result. Projected Score: Connecticut 84, North Carolina 80

Image Courtesy: Rocky Top Insider

November 28
8.Miami (5-0) @ 12.Kentucky (5-1) (ACC/SEC Challenge)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
A big ticket match up comes to your TV screens on Tuesday to help begin the first ever ACC/SEC Challenge. After guard Isaiah Wong left the program, the Hurricanes have picked up the slack at the position by Wooga Poplar (18 points per game), Florida State transfer, Matthew Cleveland (16.8 points per game), and Nijel Pack (16.3 points per game). They will be matched by a tremendous freshmen class for Kentucky, headlined by Rob Dillingham (16 points per game), DJ Wagner (11.8 points per game), and Justin Edwards (10 points per game). However, the Wildcats are led in scoring by veteran Antonio Reeves (18.2 points per game). Both squads are looking for a season defining win to give them momentum into their December schedules. Projected Score: Kentucky 75, Miami 71

NC State (4-1) @ Ole Miss (5-0) (ACC/SEC Challenge)
9 PM ET, ESPN2
Former Texas coach Chris Beard has put together Ole Miss’ best roster in recent memory. Auburn transfer Allen Flanigan has exploded during his COVID senior season, averaging over 20 points and 7 rebounds per game. Returner Matthew Morrell (14.4 points and 5 rebounds) joins Flanigan as the leaders on the Rebels. Their opponent in the inaugural ACC-SEC Challenge is NC State, an always improving program under head coach Kevin Keatts. Senior forward DJ Burns has been terrific during his career, continuing his rise this season by averaging over 14 points and 5 rebounds a game. Burns must continue his great play if NC State wants to continue its unbeaten season. Projected Score: NC State 78, Ole Miss 72

Clemson (5-0) @ 23.Alabama (5-1) (ACC/SEC Challenge)
9:30 PM ET, ESPN
A huge get back game for Alabama comes as they host Clemson to bounce back from their loss to Ohio State. It will be up to guard Mark Sears (19.5 points per game) and Grant Nelson (13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game) to get the Crimson Tide going again. On the other side, Clemson’s forward PJ Hall, who also scores 19.5 points a game, and guard Joe Girard (12.3 points and 3.5 assists per game) will be instrumental in getting their team the win. A win for the Tigers would set them up well as they head into the final part of nonconference play and a few ACC games in December. Projected Score: Alabama 83, Clemson 76

November 29
14.Texas A&M (6-1) @ Virginia (5-1) (ACC/SEC Challenge)
7:15 PM ET, ESPN2
Both Texas A&M and Virginia are known for their tough offensive play and quality defense. The question must be asked: Can Virginia upend a good Texas A&M team? Cavalier guard Reece Beekman must outperform his average of almost 12 points a game if he wants to outduel terrific Aggie guard Wade Taylor IV (18.2 points, 4.4 assists, 2.8 steals a game). Without many talented big men, Virginia must match up well with talented Aggie forward Henry Coleman III (15.4 points and 10 rebounds per game). After losing to Florida Atlantic in the ESPN Events Invitational, they are looking for a win to boost their resumé as they get into their December slate. Projected Score: Texas A&M 68, Virginia 62

10.Tennessee (4-2) @ 17.North Carolina (5-1) (ACC/SEC Challenge)
7:15 PM ET, ESPN
Tennessee got fourth place in a terrific Maui Invitational field while North Carolina finished third in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Outside of transfer guards Dalton Knecht (17.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game) and Jordan Gainey (11.7 points per game), the Volunteers have to find consistent offensive options out of veteran guards Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Ziegler. North Carolina has been great offensively this season, relying on guards RJ Davis, Cormac Ryan, and forward Harrison Ingram. Star big man Armando Bacot must play better to protect the paint against Tennessee’s Jonas Aidoo (8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game). North Carolina has a tough schedule ahead with the Vols, Connecticut, and Kentucky coming up so a win would do wonders for their resumé. Projected Score: North Carolina 79, Tennessee 75

7.Duke (5-1) @ Arkansas (4-3) (ACC/SEC Challenge)
9:15 PM ET, ESPN
A rematch of the 1994 National Championship and the 2022 west regional final. The Razorbacks won the title against the Blue Devils while Duke took care of the Razorbacks to move on to the 2022 Final Four. Last week, Arkansas has struggled to find an offensive identity and got fourth place in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, falling to North Carolina by fifteen points in the third place game. The Razorbacks must also improve defensively, as they gave up a big offensive game to Tar Heel point guard RJ Davis. It has been Razorback guard Tramon Mark leading the charge, putting up 25 points against Stanford and 34 against North Carolina. Razorback guards Khalif Battle, Davonte Davis, and forward Trevon Brazile must play better if they want to beat Duke. Duke’s Kyle Filipowski has played great this season, averaging over 18 points and almost 7 rebounds a game. The hogs will also have to deal with fellow Blue Devil forward Mark Mitchell who averages almost 14 points and 7 rebounds a game. This is an important game for Duke to win as they fell to Arizona and did not play in a multiple team event last week. Arkansas must avoid a loss if they do not want to fall to .500 on the season. Projected Score: Duke 89, Arkansas 70

Image Courtesy: Clarksvilleonline.com

Here is my preview of 2023 Feast Week:

Empire Classic (New York, NY)
November 19-20 (Picks were made before event began today)
Teams Participating: Indiana, Louisville, Texas, Connecticut

Semifinals
5.Connecticut (3-0) vs. Indiana (3-0)
1 PM ET, ESPN
Sophomore Alex Karaban has paced UConn in scoring so far, leading them with 17 points per game in dominant wins over Northern Arizona, Stonehill, and Mississippi Valley State. The level of competition gets much harder when they face Indiana to open things in New York City. The Hoosiers have struggled to fend off FGCU, Army, and Wright State but have figured out how to win all three of those games. Oregon transfer big man Kel’el Ware has shined averaging a double double with over 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. They must get consistent guard play from Xavier Johnson (14 points per game) and Trey Galloway (12 points per game) to contend with the Huskies’ trio of Tristen Newton (15 points per game), Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer (15 points for game), and star freshman Stephon Castle (14.5 points per game).
Projected Score: Connecticut 78, Indiana 70

Louisville (2-1) vs. 19.Texas (3-0)
3 PM ET, ESPN
Kenny Payne has struggled as head coach of the Cardinals. Texas uses a trio of guards, Max Abmas, Ithiel Horton, and Tyrese Hunter (all average almost 15 points per game) to lead their team. It should be pretty easy for the Longhorns against Louisville, who have lost to Chattanooga. Guard Mike James (18 points per game) must play big for the Cardinals if they want to take down Texas. Projected Score: Texas 88, Louisville 72

Third Place Game
Indiana vs. Louisville
4:30 PM ET, ESPNU
The Louisville Cardinals should struggle with Indiana similar to the way they will against Texas. Mike James, Tre White, and Skyy Clark must be able to defend the talented guards on Indiana’s roster, Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway. Indiana wins but it will be closer than many might think.
Projected Score: Indiana 72, Louisville 63

Final
5.Connecticut vs. 19.Texas
7 PM ET, ESPNU
In what would be a great match up in the opening month of the season, Texas must be able to defend inside because Donavan Clingan (15 points and 7 rebounds per game) will kill them. So, it will be up to the defense forwards Kadin Shedrick (10 points and 4 rebounds per game) and Dillon Mitchell (9 points and 10 points per game). If they don’t stop Clingan, UConn should win this game. Projected Score: Connecticut 80, Texas 75

Maui Jim Maui Invitational (Lahaina, HI)
November 20-22
Teams Participating: Chaminade, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA

Quarterfinals
7.Tennessee (3-0) vs. Syracuse (3-0)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN
Tennessee has not had to rely on All-SEC guard duo Zakai Ziegler (6 points and 2 assists per game) and Santiago Vescovi (6 points per game) like they have had to do the past two seasons. Instead, Dalton Knecht (nearly 20 points per game) and Jordan Gainey (13 points per game) turn Tennessee into an offensive force they have not been under Rick Barnes of late. Syracuse is in a new era under Adrian Autrey. The Orange will not run the famous Jim Boeheim zone defense any more. The man defense Autrey is running has worked through the first three games, with his team undefeated. Judah Mintz looks terrific so far this season, averaging 23 points per game in addition to JJ Starling, the Notre Dame transfer, who puts up nearly 14 points a contest. They will both need to be impactful against the tremendous Volunteer defense. Projected Score: Tennessee 70, Syracuse 62

2.Purdue (3-0) vs. 11.Gonzaga (2-0)
5 PM ET, ESPN2
In what is maybe the best Maui Invitational Field ever, this definitely the best of the four quarterfinal match ups. Purdue has looked great in an undefeated start to the season, highlighted by a win over Xavier in the Gavitt Games at home in West Lafayette. Zach Edey leads his team in points (20.7) and rebounds (10) like you would expect but the impact of transfer Lance Jones (10 points per game) in addition to returning guard Braden Smith (12 points per game) has made Purdue tough to beat. The Boilermakers have not experienced a game in the regular season outside of their building yet so this battle with Gonzaga will be very interesting. Mark Few’s Bulldogs do not have Drew Timme, Jalen Suggs, or Chet Holmgren but he has retooled with a group of freshmen, returners, and transfers. Freshman forward Braden Huff has looked terrific so far this season, scoring 21 points and adding 7.5 rebounds per game. Wyoming transfer Graham Ike (18 points and 7 rebounds per game) and Anton Watson (15.5 points and 9 rebounds per game) also help Huff out in the front court. Those three players will have to step up and rotate in and out to stop Zach Edey’s terrific play.
Projected Score: Purdue 83, Gonzaga 80

1.Kansas (3-0) vs. Chaminade (1-2)
9 PM ET, ESPNU
Kansas won the Maui Invitational Championship back in 2019. They will presumably get an easy opener against host squad Chaminade. The Jayhawks overcame a big deficit to beat Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. The big name for the Jayhawks is Michigan transfer center Hunter Dickinson, who put up an incredible double double with 27 points and 21 rebounds. Chaminade will also have to worry about Kansas’ terrific point guard, Dajuan Harris, who paces the Jayhawks as a playmaker with over 7 assists per game. If Kansas do not overlook this game, they should coast to the semifinals. Projected Score: Kansas 88, Chaminade 70

UCLA (3-0) vs. 4.Marquette (3-0)
11:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Mick Cronin had to retool his UCLA roster after losing Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez. One of his returners, Adem Bona (18 points and 8.7 rebounds per game) has been terrific. On the other side, Marquette’s Tyler Kolek (14.7 points and 4.7 assists per game) and Kam Jones (19.3 points and 3 assists per game) make the Golden Eagles go. This game should be back and forth between two of the best coaches in the country Cronin and Shaka Smart. Projected Score: Marquette 77, UCLA 70

Semifinals
7.Tennessee vs. 2.Purdue
8 PM ET, ESPN
Tennessee poses similar threats to Purdue that Arkansas did when the Boilermakers lost an exhibition to the Razorbacks back in October. Like previously mentioned, Dalton Knecht and Jordan Gainey pose threats offensively, Purdue has not seen yet this season. Purdue must continue to rely on Zach Edey, even against Tennessee’s talented front line.
Projected Score: Tennessee 75, Purdue 70

1.Kansas vs. 4.Marquette
10:30 PM ET, ESPN
In what will be a great game, Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris will help Kansas outlast Tyler Kolek and Marquette.
Projected Score: Kansas 82, Marquette 81

Third Place Game
2.Purdue vs. 4.Marquette
Purdue will rebound and give Marquette their second consecutive loss led by Zach Edey and Braden Smith.
2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Purdue 78, Marquette 76

Final
1.Kansas vs. 7.Tennessee
In what would be a rematch of the 2022 Battle 4 Atlantis final, Tennessee would upset Kansas again headed by a great performance by veteran guard Santiago Vescovi.
5 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Tennessee 77, Kansas 73

Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, BS)
November 22-24
Teams Participating: Arkansas, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Stanford, Stanford, Texas Tech, Villanova

Quarterfinals
20.North Carolina (3-0) vs. Northern Iowa (1-1)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: North Carolina 76, Northern Iowa 65

Texas Tech (3-0) vs. 21.Villanova (3-1)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN/2
Projected Score: Villanova 76, Texas Tech 73

Memphis (3-0) vs. Michigan (3-1)
5 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Michigan 82, Memphis 78

14.Arkansas (2-1) vs. Stanford (3-1)
7:30 PM ET, ESPNU
Projected Score: Arkansas 80, Stanford 72

Semifinals
20.North Carolina vs. 21.Villanova
12 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: North Carolina 85, Villanova 79

14.Arkansas vs. Michigan
2:30 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Arkansas 79, Michigan 75

Third Place Game
21.Villanova vs. Michigan
1 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Michigan 80, Villanova 76

Final
14.Arkansas vs. 20.North Carolina
3:30 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Arkansas 78, North Carolina 75

ESPN Events Invitational (Kissimmee, FL)
November 23, 24, 26
Teams Participating: Boise State, Butler, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State, Penn State, Texas A&M, VCU, Virginia Tech

Quarterfinals
Penn State (4-0) vs. 13.Texas A&M (4-0)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Texas A&M 77, Penn State 60

Butler (3-1) vs. 10.Florida Atlantic (3-0)
2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Florida Atlantic 78, Butler 65

Iowa State (4-0) vs. VCU (3-1)
5:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Projected Score: Iowa State 68, VCU 64

Boise State (3-0) vs. Virginia Tech (3-1)
8 PM ET, ESPN/2
Projected Score: Virginia Tech 69, Boise State 68

Semifinals
13.Texas A&M vs. 10.Florida Atlantic
11 AM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Texas A&M 75, Florida Atlantic 68

Virginia Tech vs. Iowa State
5:30 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Iowa State 74, Virginia Tech 68

Third Place Game
10.Florida Atlantic vs. Virginia Tech
6 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Florida Atlantic 82, Virginia Tech 70

Final
13.Texas A&M vs. Iowa State
1 PM ET, ESPN
Projected Score: Texas A&M 75, Iowa State 68

Emerald Coast Classic (Niceville, FL)
November 24-25
Teams Participating: Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Santa Clara

Semifinals
22.Alabama (4-0) vs. Ohio State (3-1)
7 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Alabama 77, Ohio State 70

Oregon (4-0) vs. Santa Clara (4-0)
9:30 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Oregon 72, Santa Clara 68

Third Place Game
Ohio State vs. Santa Clara
4 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Santa Clara 78, Ohio State 74

Final
Alabama vs. Oregon
7 PM ET, CBSSN
Projected Score: Alabama 79, Oregon 72

Single Games

November 23
18.Michigan State (2-2) vs. 3.Arizona (4-0) (Palm Springs; Acrisure Classic)
4 PM ET, FOX
Projected Score: Arizona 84, Michigan State 78

Image Courtesy: Spartans Wire

November 10
Florida (1-0) vs. Virginia (1-0) (Charlotte)
7 PM ET, ACCN
Can Florida be an NCAA Tournament team in year 2 under Todd Golden? What about Virginia under Tony Bennett? Pre-season first team All-SEC guard Riley Kugel and Florida take on talented Cavalier guard Reece Beekman and Virginia. The Cavaliers’ fierce defense under Bennett will have to continue in this game and as the season continues if they want to have success this season. For Florida, it will be about being consistent offensively against Virginia’s terrific defense in a neutral environment if they want to win this game. The game should come down to the last few minutes. In what should be a pro-Virginia crowd, the Cavaliers handle business over the Gators. Projected Score: Virginia 61, Florida 60

15.Texas A&M (1-0) @ Ohio State (1-0)
7 PM ET, Peacock
Texas A&M is a hot pick to be a contender in the SEC again this season and have a chance to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament in March. The Aggies could not get out of the first weekend of the tournament this past season but the Aggies return many integral pieces from their team last season. Guard Wade Taylor IV (leader in points and assists last season for the Aggies), forward Henry Coleman (leader in rebounds), guard Tyrece Radford, and forward Julius Marble should give the Aggies a great season. On the other side, Ohio State missed the NCAA Tournament back in March. There is always hope from Buckeyes fans that they can contend in the Big Ten. This showdown with the Aggies will be a great early season for the Buckeyes. Ohio State lost leading scorer and rebounder Brice Sensabaugh to the NBA. Forward Zed Key does return for the Buckeyes this season. He will need to show out if Ohio State wants to beat Texas A&M. Projected Score: Texas A&M 72, Ohio State 67

12.Arizona (1-0) @ 2.Duke (1-0)
7 PM ET, ESPN2
The most high profile opening week game of the college basketball season with the Champions Classic’s permanent move to the second Tuesday of the regular season is between Arizona and Duke, a team that will head to Chicago for the Champions Classic next Tuesday. Pre-season ACC Player of the Year Kyle Filipowski and terrific sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor make this Duke team go while North Carolina transfer Caleb Love headlines a retooled Arizona roster. Love’s familiarity with the Blue Devils is obvious to see, as he hit a game-winning three to beat Duke in the 2022 Final Four in addition to the many regular season battles he shined in college basketball’s best rivalry game. In addition to Love, Alabama transfer Jaden Bradley, San Diego State Keshad Johnson, and returners Pelle Larsson, Kylan Boswell, and Oumar Ballo make up Tommy Lloyd’s roster who is the favorite to win the Pac-12 in the conference’s final season as we know it. The Duke-Arizona battle should come down to who can get the ball to their big time players in the closing moments of the game. Duke should win but it will be close.
Projected Score: Duke 78, Arizona 76

9.Tennessee (1-0) @ Wisconsin
9 PM ET, Peacock
Tennessee upset fourth ranked Michigan State in an exhibition game almost two weeks ago. New Vol Dalton Knecht encouraged fans with his performance in a win over Michigan State in an exhibition game. Star guards Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Ziegler were inactive in the win over the Spartans. The two joined Knecht, who scored 17 points in a win over Tennessee Tech, to open the season. Wisconsin failed to make it to March Madness in 2023 but will look to change their fates for 2024 as they take on Tennessee. Junior guard Chucky Hepburn returns as the leading scorer for the Badgers. It will take a full team effort and a great crowd for the Badgers to win over a tough Tennessee team on Friday night. Projected Score: Tennessee 65, Wisconsin 62

Memphis (1-0) @ Missouri (1-0)
9 PM ET, SECN
In a return game for Memphis of their home and home series with Missouri, this game should be neck and neck. Penny Hardaway’s team added multiple transfers to its roster, with Jahvon Quinerly, the former Alabama point guard, headlining the list. Quinerly’s familiarity with Missouri will be important in this game after a few years with the Crimson Tide. On the other side for Missouri, it will take awhile to get used to this team without star forward Kobe Brown. 7-foot center Connor Vanover returns to the SEC after a year at Oral Roberts but many believe former Clemson guard Nick Honor will be what makes this team go. The winner of this game will have some great momentum as they enter the second week of the season. Projected Score: Missouri 67, Memphis 60

November 13
Xavier (1-0) @ 3.Purdue (1-0) (Gavitt Tipoff Games)
8:30 PM ET, FS1
Purdue looked dominant in a season-opening win over Samford, scoring 98 points and giving up only 45. Reigning national player of the year Zach Edey, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, and Mason Gillis returned as last year’s cogs. Forward Camden Heide and guard Myles Colvin look like good pieces that the Boilermakers can use this season. But, the challenge gets tougher when they face Xavier in this year’s Gavitt Games. The Musketeers’ duo of Desmon Claude and Quincy Olivare make this Xavier team very good. Sean Miller’s teams in Cleveland are always tough and this will not be an easy win for Purdue. Projected Score: Purdue 74, Xavier 68

November 14
4.Michigan State (0-1) vs. 2.Duke (1-0) (Chicago; Champions Classic)
7 PM ET, ESPN
Since I talked about Duke above, let’s focus on Michigan State. The Spartans fell 79-76 on opening night to James Madison. That does not mean they are not the team many thought they were entering the season. Consistency must be the Spartans’ friend offensively because they went 1-20 shooting from 3 against the Dukes. That number is bound to improve but it will be difficult against a talented Duke squad. Star guard Tyson Walker exploded for 35 points against James Madison. He must play well in addition to Malik Hall, AJ Hoggard, and Coen Carr being pieces that step up for Michigan State against a great Duke team, led by Kyle Filipowski. Projected Score: Duke 79, Michigan State 75

5.Marquette (1-0) @ 25.Illinois (1-0) (Gavitt Tipoff Games)
8 PM ET, FS1
Marquette has not been tested as much as Illinois as the season has begun. The Fighting Illini defeated top ranked Kansas in an exhibition game almost two weeks ago. Terrence Shannon, Dra Gibbs-Longhorn, and Coleman Hawkins must step up and lead this Illinois team against a tremendous Marquette squad coming into Champagne on Tuesday night. The Golden Eagles return Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones. If everything goes right for Marquette, they will be competing for back to back Big East regular season and tournament titles and getting a top two or three seed in March Madness. At home, Marquette would be an easy pick to win but on the road, I believe Illinois pulls its second upset over a top five team in its house. Projected Score: Illinois 72, Marquette 69

16.Kentucky (1-0) vs. 1.Kansas (1-0) (Chicago; Champions Classic)
9:30 PM ET, ESPN
Kentucky and Kansas ride hype into the season most off-seasons under John Calipari and Bill Self, as two of college basketball’s best coaches. Calipari has returned to his roots, landing five top freshmen; DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, and Aaron Bradshaw. For Kansas, Self added the top transfer in the country, former Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson joined a roster that returned starting point guard Dajuan Harris and wing Kevin McCullar. Both squads were dominant in their openers and they definitely won’t see a better team before they face each other on Tuesday night. Similar to the 2018 Champions Classic, I could see a coming out party on the national stage for a great group of freshmen for Kentucky (like 2018-2019 Duke with RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Tre Jones) or Kansas will dominate with what Bill Self teams are so good at, inside with Dickinson. Projected Score: Kansas 84, Kentucky 81

Iowa (1-0) @ 8.Creighton (1-0) (Gavitt Tipoff Games)
10 PM ET, FS1
Creighton lost tremendous point guard Ryan Nembhard to Gonzaga in the off-season. It will be up to Utah State transfer Steven Ashworth (17 points in opener) and Trey Alexander (20 points in opener) to replace his production. In addition, starting center Ryan Kalkbrenner and wing Baylor Scheierman continue to be great as starting pieces for Greg McDermott’s team. Iowa has not been great since center Luka Garza exited the program following the 2021-2022 season. Without Garza, Iowa lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Auburn. So, forward Payton Sandfort (21 points in opener) must continue his quality play if the Hawkeyes want to continue to succeed. Creighton should take care of Iowa but this will be a close game in the first half.
Projected Score: Creighton 85, Iowa 70

November 17
Maryland (1-0) @ 22.Villanova (1-0) (Gavitt Tipoff Games)
8:30 PM ET, FS1
Kevin Willard’s team is here to compete for a Big Ten title and get an NCAA Tournament berth in 2024. Forward Julian Reese (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in opener) and guard Jahmir Young (12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks). The Terrapins will be tested on the road versus Villanova, who should be a top team in this season’s Big East. Forward Eric Dixon (15 points), forward Tyler Burton (15 points), guard TJ Bamba (13 points), guard Hakim Hart (11 points), and Justin Moore (10 points) contributed in a team effort in Villanova’s opening win against over American. This game looks like a NCAA Tournament game in the second weekend of the season. Villanova should win at home but Maryland will keep it very close. Projected Score: Maryland 75, Villanova 70