For the previous 12 months, the dialog round convention realignment has been polarizing. Whereas some imagine there are advantages to the altering tide in faculty sports activities, a lot of the dialogue round realignment has been unfavorable.
There are groups, nevertheless, that due to realignment will earn alternatives to compete in opposition to prime packages and show they belong, too. That is the optimistic.
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Simply ask the Huge 12. Newcomers Houston, BYU and Cincinnati Bearcats are all within the prime 30 on KenPom. And UCF, the fourth addition to the league this season, secured wins over Kansas and Texas previously week.
They don’t seem to be alone. Florida Atlantic reached the Ultimate 4 in March, and now the Owls are within the combine to win the American Athletic Convention title of their first season within the league.
It is occurring within the non-Energy 5 leagues, too. First-year head coach Chad Boudreau has led Western Illinois on a nine-game profitable streak getting into its matchup in opposition to Tennessee State on Saturday. Western Illinois may win the Ohio Valley Convention crown in its first 12 months within the league.
A 12 months from now, the true chaos will arrive when the Pac-12 breakup sends groups throughout the nation. And the dialog about rivalries and custom — and the affect of realignment on these ideas — will persist. However realignment has enhanced the aggressive worth in faculty basketball, too.
All odds from ESPN BET.
UCF Knights vs. Texas Longhorns: Full Highlights
UCF Knights vs. Texas Longhorns: Full Highlights
No. 9 Baylor (14-3, 3-1 Huge 12) at Texas (12-5, 1-3 Huge 12)
Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
This recreation is important for the in-state rivals. A gap was created for Baylor within the Huge 12 race when, final week, Houston misplaced back-to-back video games and Kansas suffered a shocking loss at UCF. An undefeated Baylor squad ascended to the highest of the league standings. However a 68-64 time beyond regulation loss at Kansas State on Tuesday demonstrated the challenges each workforce in America’s prime league will face this season. Any stumble could possibly be pricey as Houston and Kansas attempt to climb again to the highest of the standings.
For Texas, each recreation is a must-win proper now. The Elite Eight squad from a 12 months in the past added potent scorer Max Abmas (17.8 PPG). However final week’s win at Cincinnati is the one top-50 KenPom win on the Longhorns’ résumé. Their NCAA event hopes — they’re 59th within the NET rankings — are dwindling. With three losses in 4 video games, Texas should begin racking up high quality wins to have even a slim probability to play its manner onto the bubble.
Medcalf’s decide: Baylor, 77-70; Towards the unfold: Unavailable at time of publication
The highlights that Steven Ashworth is bringing to Creighton
Try the highlights that ought to make followers enthusiastic about Steven Ashworth transferring to Creighton.
No. 18 Creighton (13-5, 4-3 Huge East) at Seton Corridor (13-5, 6-1 Huge East)
Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, FS1
When Shaheen Holloway earned his first head-coaching job at Saint Peter’s in 2018, he employed a philosophy that has since carried him to the highest of the Huge East standings because the second-year head coach at Seton Corridor, which is tied with UConn for first place. All of Holloway’s groups have compelled turnovers on almost 20% of their opponents’ possessions. It is a fixed for his groups.
Effectively, Creighton is tenth within the convention with turnovers on 19% of its possessions in Huge East play. Trey Alexander (16.3 PPG, 4.5 APG) has dedicated 16 turnovers in his previous 5 video games. However the Bluejays boast certainly one of America’s prime defensive items, too. And a Seton Corridor workforce that struggles from the 3-point line (32.6%) and does not have an actual offensive id past Kadary Richmond (16.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.2 SPG) attempting to make a play must clear up that problem.
Medcalf’s decide: Seton Corridor, 72-69; Towards the unfold: Unavailable at time of publication
Tide rolls to win over Mizzou to stay unbeaten in SEC
5 gamers rating in double figures to steer Alabama (12-5 general, 4-0 in SEC) to a 93-75 conquer visiting Missouri at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Dalton Knecht’s breakout season continues. Final week, he was listed as a projected first-round decide in ESPN’s newest mock draft. He has earned it. Knecht, the Northern Colorado switch, has averaged 34.3 PPG in Tennessee’s previous three video games. As he has emerged, Tennessee has made progress, too. Sure, that is arguably America’s greatest defensive workforce, however with Knecht’s sizzling hand, the Vols even have a star and playmaker who anchors an offense that has scored 80 factors or extra in 10 video games.
Nevertheless, Alabama has America’s greatest offensive assault (ranked first in adjusted offensive effectivity on KenPom). It is a chaotic, breathtaking show that few groups have matched in faculty basketball. Mark Sears (19.6 PPG, 48% from past the arc) leads an Alabama workforce that shoots 3-pointers on half of its makes an attempt and in addition makes almost 40% of these photographs. This can be a basic battle between an ideal offensive workforce and an ideal defensive workforce. The winner could have the sting in a crowded race for the SEC championship.
Medcalf’s decide: Tennessee, 86-80; Towards the unfold: Unavailable at time of publication
SEASON TOTALS
Medcalf’s picks straight up: 25-13
Towards the unfold: 18-20