With the calendar turned to 2023 and conference play underway, the college basketball season is going full steam ahead. Almost every night there is a chance for the top teams to make another strong statement. Potential bubble teams add big wins to their resumes (or avoid bad losses), and struggling teams can deliver shocking results. In the last five days alone, we’ve seen all three of his previously undefeated teams. U Conn, Purdue When new mexico — Down to unranked opponents.
So what kind of upset lurks in the mix? Which games could shape the conference championship race? Which ones will be downright fun? .
No. 7 Alabama at number 13 Arkansas (January 11th)
Buckle up and get ready when the Crimson Tide rolls into Fayetteville for a date with the Razorbacks in less than a week. Both teams like to run, they can score a lot and they defend very well. Arkansas is his fifth on Ken Pom’s defensive efficiency index, and Alabama is his 13th.
Yes, the game features two great teams, but the NBA has more talent than them. In the lottery, Nick Smith Jr.knee management) came out and the Razorbacks had Anthony Black, Jordan Walsh and Ricky Council IV all in the top 45. Kyle Boone’s 2023 NBA Draft Big BoardBut the best prospect here is Brandon Miller from Alabama. He’s third on the big board, leading all true freshmen this season with 19.2 points per game. In Smith Jr.’s absence, these teams will also meet in Tuscaloosa on his February 25th.
No. 3 Kansas and Kansas (January 17th)
with a 116-point offensive burst in a victory at texas On Tuesday, Kansas officially takes center stage. The Wildcats are 2-2 in conference play during his seven-game winning streak. west virginia team. Jerome Tang delivered an impressive turnaround in his first year. The Wildcats already have him 13 wins this season after he won 14 overall last season.
The Wildcats have a strong one-two punch in their fifth-year pairing: guard Markkis Nowell and forward Keyyonte Johnson fell down on the court It’s late 2020, but they’ve made an emotional comeback. Kansas, of course, is no slouch with a handful of high-quality wins: The Jayhawks rank in the top 12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and he’s 6-0 in games decided by 6 or less. They combine championship experience (Jalen Wilson, Dajuan Harris) with an exciting freshman in his Grady Dick. This could be the best and most important Sunflower showdown in a long time in front of his swaying Bramlage Coliseum. The Jayhawks have won 15 of their last 16 meetings.
No. 10 UCLA at number five Arizona (January 21st)
The Bruins or Wildcats could win the inside track at the Pac-12 regular season races at the McKale Center later this month. The Bruins also have a chance to get revenge after Arizona defeated them for the conference tournament championship last season.
Full of familiar faces. At UCLA, Jaime Jacquez Jr. has scored his double-digit points in all his 15 games this season. He and Arizona big men Umar Balo and Azuolaz Tuberis have averaged 17 points this season and he is the only Pac-12 player in his country to tally six rebounds. At guard, Tiger Campbell has UCLA’s all-time assists. Also, Arizona has won 27 straight home games. This is his third longest active winning streak in Division I.
No. 18 Xavier No. 4 UConn (January 25th)
After the Musketeers got off to a perfect start to the season for the Huskies, UConn gets a chance at home for revenge. Xavier ranks among the top 10 nationally in offensive efficiency and leads his conference team in all majors in his 3-point shooting percentage (40.4%), with four players averaging 14 or more points. He is the only major player on his conference team.
UConn, of course, has its sights set on running the Final Four. Potential National Player of the Year, Adama Sanogo leads a Husky team that ranks in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. UConn is one of the deepest teams in the country, so he has a lot of help.
#6 #8 in Texas Tennessee (January 28th)
A nice little respite from conference play we get Last The SEC/Big 12 Challenge on January 28th, and the culmination of 10 games, is Texas, Tennessee. Both of these teams are deep and talented, and an interesting backcourt battle between Longhorns’ Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter and Volunteers’ Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi will go a long way in determining the outcome. There’s a storyline that Rick Barnes is facing his former program. By the way, Kansas vs. kentucky And Arkansas vs. Baylor can also be enjoyed. We look forward to this day.
No. 9 Gonzaga and Saint Mary (February 4)
No team has won more than St. Mary’s (8 wins) against Gonzaga since the 2010-11 season. A ninth will be on the table when Bulldog visits Gales a month from now. Gonzaga boasts his third-best offensive efficiency in the country and plays at a faster pace in Division One, while St. Mary’s have a top-10 defense and play at the slowest pace in the country. Gales held Drew Timm to just 6 points in a win over the then-no. Gonzaga finished first last year.
No. 8 Tennessee at Kentucky (February 18)
This border battle marked the mid-February slate, and now Tennessee is a much better team. I have it.
Kentucky’s story is not quite the same.The Wildcats Suffered a Loss MichiganGonzaga, UCLA, Missouri, and their attacks above and below must fire on all cylinders against the SEC’s best defenses. Oscar Tshiebwe is still a double-double machine. He has had three consecutive double-doubles this season and his eighth straight. If the Wildcats are still struggling to get into this matchup, this offers a chance to right the ship. There is a possibility
No. 15 Indiana No. 1 Purdue (February 25)
The second matchup between Hoosier State rivals (they also take place on February 4th) could have a big impact on the Big Ten’s regular season title. Purdue is turned off First loss of the season at home Rutgers, but the Boilermakers rarely lose at McKee Arena, especially against Indiana.Hoosiers haven’t won in the West Lafayette Since 2013.
Both teams revolve around outstanding heavyweights. Zach Eady is averaging 21.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks this season, a number no player in his conference has averaged over the millennium. Meanwhile, Trace Jackson-Davis isn’t far behind with 16.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 blocks. Last year, both games dipped into the final seconds.
No. 16 duke and north carolina (March 4)
Regardless of the year, it would be hard not to include this matchup at least once. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have split their last 40 matchups 20-20, with Duke leading North Carolina by just 5 points in that period.
North Carolina retains all its bragging rights after that crush the duke At Mike Krzyzewski’s last home game Instant Classic Final Four GameThe first matchup of the year is on February 4th at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but Duke vs. North Carolina in the regular season finale is a tricky one. Jeremy Roach vs. Caleb Love will play against each other in his two pits of the ACC’s best guards, and Duke’s frontline vs. Armando Bacot will be a great fight down low.
No. 2 houston and memphis (March 5)
Houston could well go into the final game of the season with one loss (Alabama game) in season. Memphis could certainly double that number. Penny Hardaway’s team decided things two seasons ago by beating the Cougars in the regular season finale last season. But it will certainly be challenged by Houston’s defense, which leads the nation with just 50.9 points per game. Expect a fun battle between Davis and Marcus Susser.
