The countdown to Selection Sunday for the 2023 NCAA Tournament will hit seven weeks on Sunday, and convention races throughout the nation are beginning to take form. But the game’s hierarchy on the high stays a muddy image, and that was evident once more Saturday as a pair of top-five groups suffered defeats early within the day.
No. 5 UCLA took its first Pac-12 loss on the street towards No. 11 Arizona because the Bruins went chilly offensively in a 58-52 loss to the Wildcats, and No. 2 Kansas acquired a gorgeous beatdown at house from No. 14 TCU. Kansas’ 83-60 loss to the Horned Frogs continued a horrible week for the Jayhawks that has coincided with a superb week for Kansas State.
The No. 13 Wildcats beat Kansas 83-82 in extra time on Tuesday and adopted up with a 68-58 win at Texas Tech on Saturday that has led to a seismic shift on the No. 1 seed line in CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm’s projected NCAA Tournament discipline.
Despite the loss at Kansas State earlier within the week, the Jayhawks entered the day as a projected No. 1 seed. But after shedding at house to TCU for the primary time in program historical past, the Jayhawks will drop to a projected No. 2 seed, based on Palm.Â
Replacing them on the No. 1 line? You guessed it. Kansas State. The Wildcats are set to hitch Purdue, Houston and Alabama as No. 1 seeds in Monday’s up to date NCAA Tournament projected bracket, based on Palm. There is a lengthy option to go within the 2022-23 season, however Saturday confirmed how consequential the on-court outcomes are at this level within the season. Let’s take a take a look at a number of the greatest winners and greatest losers from the day’s motion.
Winner: Kentucky retains enhancing
Don’t look now, however subsequent Saturday’s sport between Kentucky and No. 2 Kansas might transform a compelling matchup after all. After their gorgeous house loss to South Carolina on Jan. 10, the Wildcats have now strung collectively three straight wins following Saturday’s 76-67 victory over Texas A&M. The Aggies (13-6, 5-1 SEC) entered on a seven-game successful streak however had been pummeled on the offensive glass by UK (13-6, 4-3), which outscored A&M 16-2 in second-chance factors. Antonio Reeves led the Wildcats with 23 factors as coach John Calipari continued to deploy lineups that reduce the utilization of level guard Sahvir Wheeler.
With the Jayhawks out of the blue on a rare two-game losing streak following a blowout house loss to No. 14 TCU on Saturday, subsequent weekend’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge sport between UK and KU is shaping up as a compelling matchup. The reigning nationwide champion Jayhawks look unexpectedly susceptible, and Kentucky has formally returned to life.
Loser: Kansas falls flat at Phog Allen Fieldhouse
No. 2 Kansas has its third shedding streak in convention play of the final decade (!) after falling Saturday at home 83-60 to No. 14 TCU. The loss to the Horned Frogs was its second this week after falling on the street at No. 13 Kansas State. Kansas this season twice fell behind by double figures at house in league play earlier than twice digging its means out of the outlet and into the lead and finally to a win. But TCU stepped on the pedal early with a double-digit lead midway into the primary half and it by no means dropped to single digits after that.
“The way they chewed gum, the way they tied their shoes. Everything they did was perfect today,” stated KU coach Bill Self. “They played great. They’re so fast, they’re so athletic off the bench. We got a ton of good looks in the first half, but over the course of time, you have to be able to defend someone and stop someone. We couldn’t do that today. It was a beatdown.”
Winner: Kansas State takes high spot in Big 12 standings
Texas Tech gave Kansas State a good combat contained in the Octagon of Doom however the No. 13 Wildcats’ massive week that began with a house win over rival Kansas culminated with a 68-58 win over the Red Raiders to enhance to 6-1 in Big 12 play. With KU falling to TCU and Iowa State blowing a lead late on the street at Oklahoma State, it moved Ok-State into a one-game lead within the league standings and in sole possession of the No. 1 spot. After being picked to complete final within the league within the preseason, first-year coach Jerome Tang has his Wildcats in a place nearly nobody thought they’d be in weeks into January with a practical shot at touchdown a No. 1 seed.Â
Loser: Texas Tech is a wreck
After blowing an eight-point lead within the second half and shedding 68-58 at Kansas State, Texas Tech is 10-9 (0-7 Big 12). The Red Raiders’ solely wins towards energy convention groups are towards Georgetown and Louisville, who’re a mixed 7-34. The Red Raiders have but to notch a Quad 1 or Quad 2 victory and have established themselves because the clear backside feeders within the Big 12. Kansas State held the Red Raiders to a season-worst 32.4% taking pictures. That determine was simply 27.5% within the second half because the Wildcats outscored TTU 31-13 over the sport’s ultimate 13 minutes.
Loser: UCLA goes ice chilly on the street
No. 11 UCLA entered Saturday’s sport at No. 5 Arizona with a two-game lead within the Pac-12 standings and the prospect to take a stranglehold on the convention race. But the Bruins went ice chilly in a 58-52 loss to the Wildcats as they shot a season-worst 31.3% from the ground. UCLA’s scoring output additionally marked its lowest of the season because the Bruins (17-3, 8-1 Pac-12) suffered their first loss since Nov. 20. The Bruins’ 4 of 20 mark from 3-point vary was notably tough to beat. Though UCLA beat Arizona 18-8 on the offensive glass, the Bruins turned these second probabilities into simply 9 factors. Arizona couldn’t afford a loss if it wished to remain afloat within the league title race, and the Wildcats overcame 17 turnovers and a near-collapse within the ultimate minutes to choose up a large win.
Winner:Â Xavier deploys nuclear offense
If not for a 52.9% free-throw taking pictures mark, No. 8 Xavier would have reached triple digits in a 95-82 win over Georgetown as Zach Freemantle tied a career-high with 30 factors. Colby Jones added 20 for the Musketeers, who shot higher from 3-point vary (8 of 14) than they did on the charity stripe (9 of 17). Ultimately, it was an offensively dominant exhibiting from a Xavier squad that improved to 16-4 (8-1 Big East) whereas remaining atop the league standings. As for Georgetown? Well, this marked the Hoyas’ twenty ninth straight Big East loss. Even a career-high 37 factors from Primo Spears wasn’t sufficient for embattled coach Patrick Ewing’s squad. Of Georgetown’s 9 Big East losses, seven have now come by double digits.
Winner: Arkansas rights the ship
On the heels of back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Arkansas began this season 11-1 and rose into the top-10 of the AP ballot. It appeared the Razorbacks had been destined to make one other deep run in March. But the arrival of SEC play has been unkind to the No. 25 Hogs, who entered Saturday’s sport towards Ole Miss having misplaced 4 straight and 5 of their final six. As it turned out, a go to from the lowly Rebels is precisely what Arkansas wanted. Four gamers scored between 13 and 17 factors, and the Hogs compelled 17 turnovers in a 69-57 win. Injuries to five-star freshman guard Nick Smith and sophomore massive man Trevon Brazile have altered the calculus for Arkansas’ success. But the Razorbacks are nonetheless proficient, and Saturday’s double-digit league victory urged this season could also be salvageable.
Loser: UCF suffers brutal bubble loss
UCF entered the day as one of many “First 4 Out” of the projected NCAA Tournament discipline, based on CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm. That’s prone to change after the Knights suffered an 85-72 loss at South Florida. The Bulls entered simply 8-11 (1-5 AAC) however acquired a career-high 33 factors from 5-foot-9 guard Tyler Harris to choose up their greatest win of the season. Harris hit 6 of 14 makes an attempt from 3-point vary and made all 13 of his free throws whereas additionally shelling out seven assists and grabbing six rebounds. It goes down as UCF’s first Quadrant 3 lack of the season and places some strain on the Knights to tug an upset when No. 1 Houston involves city Wednesday. Good luck with that, UCF.
Roach returned to the lineup as Duke’s start line guard after lacking three video games as a consequence of a toe damage, and he performed a pivotal position within the Blue Devils’ 68-66 win over No. 17 Miami. Roach completed with 14 factors and 4 assists whereas making 6 of 10 pictures. The damage has been plaguing Roach for many of the season, and he was notably ineffective within the two video games earlier than his absence. Against the ‘Canes, he seemed extra like himself as Duke improved to 14-5 (5-3 ACC). With a wholesome Roach, the Blue Devils may have a shot at hanging round within the ACC title race.
Winner: Charleston extends successful streak to twenty
No. 18 Charleston prolonged its successful streak to twenty video games with an 87-61 dismantling of Northeastern. The Cougars (21-1, 9-0 CAA) are the primary staff within the nation to achieve 21 victories and haven’t misplaced since a 102-86 defeat at North Carolina on Nov. 11. Ten completely different gamers scored for Charleston on Saturday because the Cougars racked up 47 bench factors.
Loser: Iowa State blows massive lead
It’s exhausting to blow a 16-point lead in a sport that solely options a mixed 120 factors, however that is what No. 12 Iowa State did in its 61-59 loss at Oklahoma State. The Cyclones led 27-11 with 8:05 left within the first half and nonetheless held a 12-point lead three minutes into the second half. But it was all Cowboys from there as OSU shot 61.1% from the ground within the second half. Avery Anderson scored 14 of his game-high 18 factors after the break to key the rally. Oklahoma State didn’t declare its first lead till 3:09 remained. But it isn’t about who leads for longer. It’s about who leads on the finish, and that was the Cowboys.
Loser: Boise State has beef with New Mexico baseball staff
Circle Feb. 22 in your calendars, as a result of that is when New Mexico and Boise State will meet subsequent following the Lobos’ dramatic 81-79 extra time win towards the Broncos on Friday. If the Broncos’ fan base has a good reminiscence, they may possible prove in drive following the halftime debacle that Broncos coach Leon Rice described right here. From Rice’s account, it seems like a minor miracle that a combat didn’t escape between the New Mexico baseball staff and the Boise State basketball staff because the Broncos navigated the world at halftime.
Winner: Sensabaugh ignites Ohio State
NBA scouts absolutely had an curiosity in a showdown between Iowa and Ohio State as NBA Draft prospects Kris Murray and Brice Sensabaugh met for the primary time in a battle of two offensively gifted wings. Sensabaugh and the Buckeyes gained the matchup because the 6-foot-6 freshman tank poured in 27 factors on 10 of 12 taking pictures to steer Ohio State to a 93-77 win. The win was desperately wanted for coach Chris Holtmann’s squad, which entered on a five-game shedding streak. All 5 of these losses got here by single digits, three of them had been by a single possession and one among them got here in extra time. Ultimately, the Buckeyes had a lot of frustration to work out, and they appeared to do exactly that whereas placing an finish to the Hawkeyes’ four-game successful streak. Murray scored 22 factors on 9 of 19 taking pictures to steer Iowa, however Sensabaugh stole the present with a excellent 6-of-6 taking pictures efficiency within the second half, which included a pair of 3-point makes.
Loser: LSU retains getting curb-stomped in SEC play
The punching bag of the SEC this season acquired smacked round as soon as once more Saturday evening as No. 9 Tennessee did to LSU what nearly everybody in SEC play the final month has performed to LSU: win, and win massive. The Vols gained 67-49 at hand the Tigers their fifth straight convention loss as they fell to 1-5 in league play. Those 5 losses have come by a mean of 17 factors per sport, which if extrapolated out for en whole season would rank 358th within the nation. (For reference: there are 363 Div. I groups.)
Winner: Auburn doubles up on double-doubles
South Carolina freshman GG Jackson went for 30 factors and eight rebounds at house Saturday, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to take down No. 16 Auburn because the visiting Tigers and their balanced inside-out weight-reduction plan of scoring led them to an 81-66 street victory. Auburn acquired 27 factors and 11 rebounds from Morehead State switch Johni Broome and guard Wendell Green Jr. additionally produced a double-double with 16 factors and 12 assists.
Loser: NC State has tough night
NC State misplaced 80-69 at North Carolina, however the end result turned a secondary concern when the Wolfpack’s star guard, Terquavion Smith, was taken from the court docket on a stretcher in the second half after a scary fall. Smith landed exhausting after he was fouled by UNC’s Leaky Black whereas making an attempt a left-handed runner. Black was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for the play and ejected. Smith remained on the ground for minutes as his staff huddled round him in prayer. Smith has been key to a sturdy begin for the Wolfpack (15-4, 5-4 ACC). But other than the basketball implications, the second was unsettling, even for the opposing followers inside UNC’s Smith Center, who fell silent as Smith was evaluated and then gave him a standing ovation as he was carted off the court docket.
Winner: Tyson and Hall get it performed for Clemson
No. 19 Clemson’s 51-50 win over Virginia Tech was a clunker through which each groups shot beneath 40% from the ground whereas combining to make simply 9 of 40 pictures from 3-point vary. But when it mattered most, Clemson ahead Hunter Tyson got here by way of with a silky jumper. Tyson drained a go-ahead 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing with 10 seconds left, and the Tigers acquired a cease from there to remain atop the ACC standings. While Tyson was the crunch-time hero, Clemson additionally acquired one other sturdy efficiency from PJ Hall. The junior middle led the Tigers in scoring final season however has ceded that title to Tyson in 2022-23 whereas working his means again from offseason knee surgical procedure. But after scoring a game-high 20 factors towards the Hokies, Hall has now reached the 20-point threshold in three straight video games. Clemson was nice earlier than, however its candidacy for an ACC title has solely been additional legitimized by Hall’s return to type.
Winner: Big season continues for Texas’ Carr
Marcus Carr, a Texas guard, has at all times been productive — he averaged double figures in 4 seasons with three completely different colleges previous to 2022-23 — however the sixth-year senior has taken his sport to new heights in his ultimate 12 months of eligibility. Carr led the Longhorns with 23 factors in a 69-61 win at West Virginia on Saturday and scored 19 of them within the second half. The former Pitt and Minnesota star joined Texas final season began 32 video games however by no means seemed able to shouldering the staff’s lead scoring position. This 12 months, he is doing it with excellence. Carr entered taking pictures career-best percentages of 45.1% from the ground and 40.9% from 3-point vary. He hit 8 of 14 makes an attempt towards the Mountaineers whereas making 5 of 6 free-throw makes an attempt over the ultimate 4 minutes. The No. 7 Longhorns are actually 16-3 (5-2 Big 12) and staying afloat fairly properly amid the firing of coach Chris Beard. Carr is far of the rationale.
Loser: The remainder of the SEC
With Texas A&M’s loss to Kentucky and No. 4 Alabama’s 85-64 win at Missouri, the Crimson Tide are formally the final unbeaten staff in SEC play at 7-0 (17-2 total). While the chance of Alabama going unbeaten in league play is minimal, it is changing into more and more evident that it’s going to take an unbelievable effort to knock off the Tide. Alabama has gained all seven of its league tilts by double figures and dispatched Missouri by 21 even whereas taking pictures simply 36.8% from the ground. Defense had a lot to do with it because the Tigers hit simply 32.9% of their pictures. Still it is exceptional that Alabama can win a sport by greater than 20 factors on the street towards a high quality opponent whereas taking pictures at a comparatively poor clip. A Feb. 15 sport at No. 9 Tennessee could mark the one SEC sport that Alabama is not favored to win this season, and even that one is not a assure. If the Crimson Tide maintain dominating opponents like this, they might be favored towards the Volunteers as properly.
Winner: Long Beach State wins in miraculous vogue
Up 110-107 vs. Long Beach State, UC San Diego dedicated a foul with 9 seconds left within the third extra time. LBSU’s Tone Hunter made the primary and missed the second. However, teammate AJ George corralled the rebound and tied the sport with seven seconds left. Then, UC San Diego dedicated a turnover after the following inbounds cross, resulting in a go-ahead dunk from George with 2.6 seconds left. To summarize: Long Beach State gained the sport due to a 5-point swing in a span of lower than seven seconds within the closing stretch of a triple-overtime sport. If you might be confused, simply watch it.
(*1*)
submit credit score to Source link