Staff writer Jack McNally analyzes Week 13 of college basketball as March Madness approaches. Photo courtesy of Mark Cornelisn.
By Jack McNally.
- Gonzaga
- Villanova
- Kansas
- Oregon
- Louisville
- UNC
- Wisconsin
- Baylor
- Arizona
- Cincinnati
- UCLA
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- FSU
- Florida
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Duke
- Purdue
- St Mary’s
- Notre Dame
- Maryland
- Creighton
- Butler
- SMU
Summary:
This was the week for upsets. Fortunately for most of the teams at the top of the rankings, the teams below them lost too. The year has been riddled with parity and this week is no exception. 8 of the top 10 teams lost this week yet remain in the top 10. All of these upsets are foreshadowing an incredible March Madness to come.
Teams of Focus:
Kentucky:
The Wildcats have struggled recently dropping two big games in a row. The loss to a tough Jayhawks team is understandable, but dropping a game to unranked Tennessee is inexcusable for a playoff hopeful team. This week, however, Kentucky was able to rebound against a tough Georgia Bulldogs team in an overtime battle. Just as hopes were getting high for this Kentucky team, they get blown out by ranked opponent Florida. Kentucky will be the toughest team to predict come tournament time.
West Virginia:
The Mountaineers are 17-4 on the year, but their record doesn’t tell the whole story. The fact is West Virginia is coming off a huge win on the season and shows no sign of slowing down. They are 3-0 this season against top 10 teams with a combined score of 240-194. With wins over #1 Baylor, #6 Virginia and recently #2 Kansas, West Virginia appears to be giant killers. The Mountaineers, however, are more than just good on the national stage. Look for them to make a statement this year in the tournament.
Game of the Week Recap
#2 Kansas (19-2) vs. #3 Baylor (20-1)
Final: 73-68 Kansas
Two of the top teams duked it out on Wednesday in a heavyweight bout for top dog. This Big 12 matchup will most likely be played again in the conference’s tournament at the end of the year, but for now it was the biggest game of the conference’s year, maybe even the biggest national game. Kansas held the more dominant offense, scoring an average of 84.3 points per game; the advantage in offense proved The Jayhawks are fueled by offensive juggernaut Frank Mason III and his 19.9 points per game. The Bears and their stifling defense will look to shut down Mason with guard and defensive mastermind Manu Lecomte.
