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The best month of the 12 months arrives this weekend, and with it an indication that Selection Sunday is simply two weeks away.
The males’s school basketball panorama is barely rising extra intense and this weekend’s slate of video games picks up proper the place final weekend’s left off. The jockeying for the No. 1 seeds continues, with the likes of Michigan, Duke and Arizona all squaring off in opposition to a few of their fiercest, in-conference rivals. Plus, the Big Ten has turn into the league to look at for the bubble with 4 completely different applications touchdown close to the cutoff line in Sports Illustrated’s newest bracket watch.
There are so many choices over the subsequent three days in relation to video games of affect, however SI picked 11 of a very powerful so that you can comply with going into the month of insanity.
The Wolverines had their 11-game win streak halted in beautiful trend in opposition to Duke final Saturday. For a group that averages practically 90 factors per recreation and is likely one of the greatest rebound groups within the nation, scoring simply 63 and getting crushed on the glass was surprising. Michigan could also be getting Illinois on the proper time, nonetheless. The Illini have misplaced three of their final 5 and the protection appears to be slipping again towards its early-season type. Keep a watch on the purpose guard battle between Elliot Cadeau and Keaton Wagler. Both gamers have been up and down of late however ought to dictate this consequence.
There was clearly no big-game hangover for the Blue Devils after the Michigan win. Cameron Boozer wanted simply 24 minutes to attain 24 factors and seize 13 rebounds in Duke’s midweek shellacking of Notre Dame. But there’s no relaxation for this week’s new No. 1, as the highest spot within the ACC is on the road. Virginia additionally smashed its Tuesday opponent, NC State, and is on the cusp of 10 straight wins. Plus, we get one other eye-popping matchup with Boozer going up in opposition to Thijs de Ridder. The winner will get the quick monitor to the No. 1 seed within the ACC event.
Kansas was the primary group to lastly crack Arizona’s invincibility earlier this month, and that was with out Darryn Peterson. The situation is the Jayhawks have the potential to go Jekyll and Hyde. One evening they’re beating the No. 1 group within the nation; the subsequent they’re shedding to Cincinnati by 16. And Peterson is being watched with a microscope and has led Kansas in scoring simply as soon as within the group’s final six video games. Arizona, having unlocked Anthony Dell’Orso for a pair of massive wins in opposition to BYU and Houston, enters this recreation with the clear benefit, regardless of having misplaced the primary time these two groups met.
Rick Pitino might want to dip into his bag of tips to seek out some type of manner for his group to neglect what occurred in Storrs, Conn., on Wednesday. The Johnnies have been run out of the fitness center in a 32-point loss to UConn, which snapped a 13-game win streak. Pitino assumed the blame for the efficiency, however one of the best ways to maneuver on can be to come back out with a totally completely different vitality on offense in opposition to Villanova. The Wildcats didn’t give main scorer Tyler Perkins a lot assist when these two groups met in mid-January, that means Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay will have to be able to step up come Saturday evening.
The Razorbacks proceed to climb their manner up the pecking order, successful 5 of their final six and displaying they’re able to outscoring nearly anyone within the nation (fifth nationally with 89.9). Darius Acuff Jr. is a must-watch participant from now till the tip of Arkansas’s NCAA event run, having prolonged his streak of scoring 20 or extra factors to 9 video games. The downside for the Razorbacks is simply how good Florida seems to be of late. The defending champs are taking part in prefer it, having gained eight straight, however Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee can have their work reduce out making an attempt to decelerate the heater Acuff is on.
This matchup delivers two instances a season for the higher a part of the previous 20 years, and there’s little motive to assume the WCC regular-season finale must be any completely different. Gonzaga rallied within the second half to win the primary assembly behind 30 factors from Graham Ike, contemporary off his return from harm. But Saint Mary’s hasn’t misplaced since and has gained seven straight by a mean of 16.9 factors per contest. Plus, this recreation is on the Gaels’ place. Both groups have secured NCAA event bids so that is only for bragging rights, however that shouldn’t end in any much less depth.
Bubble recreation of the week alert! As the Big Ten tries to steal as many spots as attainable, San Diego State (First Four Out) and New Mexico (First Four Out) will attempt to give the Mountain West a lift. The Aztecs received a significant increase with a win vs. Utah State earlier this week and the momentum may hold rolling with a Quad 1 win at New Mexico. The Aggies dug themselves a first-half gap the primary time these two groups met, so a greater begin ought to make this a extra aggressive recreation all through.
All eyes are on the Big Ten bubble groups and three of them play at dwelling in opposition to ranked opponents this weekend. The Trojans (First Four Out) are reeling and couldn’t have picked a worse time for a 19-point loss to fellow hopeful UCLA. Loads of the current ache could possibly be alleviated with a win in opposition to Nebraska.
Santa Clara (Last Four In) missed its final alternative for a Q1 win by getting blown out on the street in opposition to Saint Mary’s. So there’s only one recreation left on the schedule for the Broncos—a must-win alternative at dwelling in opposition to the fourth-place group within the WCC in Oregon State. The final time these two groups performed? Santa Clara went up 33 within the first half and gained by 38 on the street. If the Broncos shoot 64% from the ground and 56% from three once more, then likelihood is good they’ll shut the common season with a win.
Speaking of unhealthy instances for a loss within the Big Ten, the Buckeyes (Last Four In) had a possibility at Michigan State final weekend and couldn’t seal the deal within the second half. Ohio State is simply 1–10 in opposition to Q1 this season, which doesn’t bode properly for Selection Sunday. But the Buckeyes performed the Spartans simply in addition to the Boilermakers did in a detailed loss on Thursday evening, so the chance continues to be there for Ohio State to select up a significant win.
Though USC and Ohio State missed huge alternatives earlier this week, Indiana (Last Four Byes) took the worst loss, at dwelling to Northwestern. But fortunes can change shortly when the Spartans come to Assembly Hall to shut the weekend. Lamar Wilkerson went chilly within the second half in opposition to the Wildcats and will likely be searching for redemption after one among his most disappointing video games of the season.
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This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
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This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…