No preseason No. 1 staff within the AP Top 25 has ever missed the NCAA Tournament, however North Carolina is definitely pushing to make the fallacious form of historical past. The reigning nationwide runner-up returned 4 of 5 starters and a number of other bench items, added a big piece within the switch portal and introduced in a top-20 recruiting class, but it surely hasn’t all come collectively.
The largest situation is 3-point capturing. The Tar Heels are connecting on simply 30.6% of their photographs from deep, outdoors the highest 300 nationally and on tempo to be the second-worst mark in program historical past. Caleb Love is down from 36% final yr to 31.2% this yr. Pete Nance, who was introduced in to change Brady Manek, is down from 45.2% final yr at Northwestern to 29.3% this yr. That leads to awkward spacing and, nicely, an underwhelming 16-11 file that features an 0-8 mark in Quad 1 contests.
The query now, 20 days from Selection Sunday, is whether or not final yr’s NCAA Tournament run from bubble staff to runner-up was an aberration or a repeatable accomplishment. This week, already the second-to-last of the common season, might go a great distance in figuring out that.
This week’s prime games
No. 3 Kansas at No. 24 TCU (Monday, 9 p.m. on ESPN) — The glass half-full have a look at the Jayhawks is that the reigning champions have a star in Jalen Wilson and a supporting forged that features each expertise (Dajuan Harris Jr., Okay.J. Adams) and a possible lottery choose freshman star (Gradey Dick). The glass half-empty strategy is that Bill Self’s staff merely would not have sufficient offensively round Wilson. We noticed the previous over the weekend when the Jayhawks rallied previous after which dominated Baylor. We noticed the latter virtually precisely one month in the past when TCU got here to Allen Fieldhouse and gained 83-60 regardless of Wilson scoring 30. Conveniently, the Horned Frogs and the Jayhawks meet once more Monday night time.
TCU did nearly every little thing proper within the first assembly, making 8 of their 15 3-pointers, forcing 17 turnovers and getting a season-high 17 factors off the bench from Shahada Wells. The Horned Frogs then blew out Oklahoma earlier than Mike Miles Jr. acquired harm and TCU misplaced 5 of six. Miles returned Saturday, and TCU promptly put up 100 factors on Oklahoma State, one of many convention’s prime defenses.
TCU has by no means gained consecutive games towards Kansas, but when Jamie Dixon’s membership can get out in transition prefer it did within the first assembly (19 transition factors), which may lastly change.
No. 9 Baylor at No. 14 Kansas State (Tuesday, 7 p.m. on ESPN2) — We noticed one of the best and the worst of Baylor towards Kansas. At their greatest — the primary half — the Bears have guards that few groups can defend and wings and bigs who’re energetic on each ends. In the primary half, Baylor’s three-headed backcourt monster of Adam Flagler, Keyonte George and LJ Cryer scored 42 of their staff’s 45 factors.
In the second half, although, the Bears went 1 for 11 from three and had no solutions on protection the place they have been up-and-down all yr. For a staff that shoots 3-pointers on the highest charge within the Big 12, that is a significant situation. The outcome? A 55-26 thrashing over the ultimate 20 minutes.
Now, the Bears get an opportunity at redemption towards the “other” Big 12 staff from the Sunflower State. Kansas State can be no straightforward activity. The Wildcats permit the bottom 3-point share in Big 12 play (28.1%) and have loads of explosiveness offensively, led by Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson. They mixed for 56 factors within the first matchup, a 97-95 extra time Wildcats win.
No. 10 Marquette at No. 19 Creighton (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. on FS1) — When Marquette cruised to an 11-point win over Creighton in mid-December, nobody would have predicted the rematch can be for a spot atop the Big East. Creighton, in any case, had misplaced six straight at that time. Since then, the Bluejays have gained 12 of 15. They do it with the Big East’s greatest protection and an excellent beginning 5 that performs over 80% of accessible minutes, eighth-most in Division I. Marquette, in the meantime, has the Big East’s greatest offense, virtually by no means turns the ball over and is terrific contained in the arc. Expect an awesome big-man battle between Ryan Kalkbrenner and Oso Ighodaro, however a big key would be the 3-pointer. Both groups shoot it proper round 36% in league play.
No. 20 Providence at No. 18 UConn (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. on FS1) — This can be a throwback, bodily Big East battle. In the primary assembly, a 73-61 Providence win, Bryce Hopkins made 15 journeys to the free throw line as a part of a 27-point efficiency, and Ed Croswell and Devin Carter mixed to shoot 18 extra freebies. That’s the Friars’ sport plan: They rank first in Big East play in free throw charge and second in offensive rebounding charge. They assault and assault and assault.
That’s a problem for UConn, which ranks 335th nationally in foul charge. The Huskies offense runs principally by means of big males Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan, however they common 4.3 and 5.8 fouls per 40 minutes, respectively. Keeping them on the ground is a should. The identical goes for making some photographs from deep. The Huskies are capturing 36.7% from 3 in wins and 31.4% in losses. Keep a watch on Jordan Hawkins, a sharpshooter who’s up to 19.9 factors per sport over his final 9 contests.
No. 21 Northwestern at Illinois (Thursday, 9 p.m. on BTN) — The hottest staff within the Big Ten and one of many largest surprises in the whole nation, Northwestern has gained 5 straight, crept into the AP Top 25 and all however assured itself an NCAA Tournament berth. The Wildcats have been picked thirteenth within the preseason Big Ten media ballot, solely forward of Nebraska. Right now, they’re second within the convention, behind solely No. 5 Purdue.
The largest causes are a much-improved protection (twentieth in Kenpom’s adjusted effectivity after ending 73rd final yr) and the regular play of senior Boo Buie, whose 17 factors per sport ranks sixth within the convention. Buie’s 3-point share is definitely down, however he is greater than making up for it by capturing over 48% contained in the arc; he had by no means been over 45% beforehand in his profession. While the Wildcats offense can get a bit isolation-heavy, Buie has been terrific in these settings. His 61 isolation factors are most by any Big Ten participant this season.
No. 8 Texas at No. 9 Baylor (Saturday, 2 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2) — Baylor’s brutal closing stretch continues with a go to from Texas on Saturday, the fifth of seven consecutive games towards Kenpom top-35 groups. In the primary matchup, Sir’Jabari Rice scored a game-high 21 factors in simply 24 minutes. Defending Rice and Timmy Allen (18 factors) might current a problem for the Bears, whose three-guard lineups depart them susceptible defensively towards wings and larger guards. Texas boasts nice depth and two proficient guards of its personal in Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter. This must be a extremely enjoyable one. Of course, you possibly can say that about virtually each Big 12 sport.
No. 6 Virginia at North Carolina (Saturday, 6 p.m. on ESPN) — Given how North Carolina has performed this season, we most likely should not overlook anybody, but when the Tar Heels can get previous Notre Dame on Wednesday, they’re going to get one more alternative for a Quad 1 win Saturday towards Virginia.
The Cavaliers have gained 11 of 12, but it surely hasn’t been particularly fairly just lately. They escaped towards Duke in extra time after a referee error after which beat Notre Dame and Louisville — the 2 groups on the backside of the convention — by a mixed 5 factors. Another factor working in North Carolina’s favor? The Cavaliers had no reply for Armando Bacot final yr when he posted a 29-point, 22-rebound effort within the common season and a 10-point, 11-rebound effort within the ACC Tournament, each blowout wins for the Tar Heels. Bacot performed just one minute earlier than injuring his ankle within the first assembly this yr, a 65-58 Virginia win, so his presence might assist flip the tide. If it would not, an already-dire NCAA Tournament resume gets even worse.
No. 15 Saint Mary’s at No. 12 Gonzaga (Saturday, 10 p.m. on ESPN) — Aidan Mahaney could be one of the best freshman guard you have by no means heard of. The 134th-ranked recruit within the 2022 class, Mahaney led Saint Mary’s with 18 factors within the Gaels’ win over Gonzaga earlier this month and is averaging 15.1 factors per sport, a exceptional quantity contemplating his staff performs on the fourth-slowest tempo in Division I. The Gaels rank seventh nationally in defensive effectivity.
Gonzaga, then again, performs at a top-40 tempo nationally and has reclaimed the nation’s No. 1 offensive effectivity. Even if this is not Mark Few’s greatest staff, Drew Timme stays practically unimaginable to cease within the submit, and Julian Strawther is averaging 28 factors over his final three games. This can be an interesting battle of kinds because the Gaels search for the season sweep.
Three NBA prospects to watch
Check out the 2023 CBS Sports NBA Draft Prospect Rankings.
- Baylor’s Keyonte George placed on a mercurial present at Kansas. He had 4 turnovers earlier than the sport was barely 4 minutes outdated however then completely caught fireplace with 15 factors within the first half. Then got here a sluggish second half through which he scored 5 factors and had as many made photographs (two) as turnovers. Baylor will solely go so far as its explosive backcourt will take it, and the Bears might use a gradual George forward of an enormous week. He has the overwhelming expertise to step up. George is sixth in our rankings.
- I already talked about UConn’s Jordan Hawkins above, so why not have him right here as nicely? Hawkins has been actually good as of late, however his house/highway splits are vital: 19.4 PPG on 45% capturing at house in contrast to 13.4 PPG on 37% capturing on the highway. The Huskies are at house for Providence however are at St. Johns — a staff they already misplaced to — over the weekend. Hawkins is thirty first in our participant rankings.
- Don’t look now, however as Kentucky appears to be placing issues collectively, so, too, is Chris Livingston. The freshman ahead has scored double-digit factors in consecutive games for the primary time, and he was glorious (12 factors, 10 rebounds) within the Wildcats’ win over Tennessee. Kentucky visits Florida on Wednesday after which hosts Auburn on Saturday. Livingston is thirty ninth in our prospect rankings.
submit credit score to Source link