Faculty basketball schedule, video games to look at 2023: One other check for surging Baylor, Sunflower Showdown Half II

We flip the calendar from January to February this week, and a large month awaits for groups throughout Division I. After a totally entertaining weekend that noticed loads of surprises — particularly within the Massive 12/SEC Problem — there can be alternatives for assertion wins, résumé-boosting wins and, nicely, just-don’t-mess-this-one-up wins.

Because the headline of this piece suggests, the Massive 12 continues to be head-and-shoulders above each convention, however that is not the one league value monitoring as we close to one month to go till convention event time. Behind No. 1 Purdue within the Massive Ten standings is an unlikely candidate: Northwestern, which was picked thirteenth within the preseason ballot. With No. 16 Xavier taking place over the weekend, the highest of the Massive East is beginning to bunch up, too. Even in an odd 12 months for the ACC, North Carolina-Duke at all times delivers ultimately, form or type. Oh, and do not forget concerning the Mountain West, which might ship 4 groups dancing if the NCAA Event started tomorrow.

It would not, in fact. But it surely’s getting nearer.

This week’s high video games

No. 11 Baylor at No. 10 Texas (Monday, 9 p.m. on ESPN) — One other Monday, one other large check for Baylor within the rugged Massive 12. One week in the past, the Bears beat then-No. 9 Kansas in Waco. This week, they will take their six-game successful streak to Austin for a duel with Texas.

Baylor’s terrific offense — No. 2 within the nation in effectivity — runs on an uber-talented backcourt, massive males who hit the glass laborious and terrific ball safety. Over 43% of its photographs in convention play have been 3-pointers, the best fee within the league. Texas has its personal deadly offense in transition, although, and the Longhorns go 9 deep. Plus, they’ve solely misplaced as soon as at dwelling this season. The backcourt battle between Baylor’s Keyonte George, Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer and Langston Love vs. Texas’ Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter and Arterio Morris is definitely worth the value of admission alone.

No. 7 Kansas State at No. 8 Kansas (Tuesday, 8 p.m. on Massive 12/ESPN+) — This one would not want an excessive amount of explaining. The final time these two groups performed, Keyontae Johnson threw down a game-winning alley-oop within the Wildcats’ 83-82 time beyond regulation victory to cap the most effective video games of the season. With a whopping 67 mixed free throws tried, it was a battle befitting of the in-state rivalry.

The final time the Wildcats swept the Sunflower Showdown, nevertheless, was manner again in 1983, and Jalen Wilson could have an enormous position in making certain it stays that manner. The junior has been nearly as good as anybody within the sport not named Zach Edey with a career-high 38 factors within the final assembly. Kansas State must do a greater job guarding Wilson on the perimeter. Too many instances, the Wildcats acquired caught sleeping in opposition to Wilson’s off-ball motion or closed out poorly.

If Wilson’s going to beat you with contested photographs from deep, so be it. He is capturing beneath 35% from past the arc and went simply 3 for 10 within the first assembly. However you’ll be able to’t give him open catch-and-shoot jumpers and enable direct drives to the rim.

No. 22 San Diego State at Nevada (Tuesday, 11 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community) — Two of the highest groups within the Mountain West standings do battle in Reno, with Nevada seeking to avenge its loss to San Diego State earlier in January. The Aztecs have fantastic stability with 5 gamers averaging a minimum of eight factors in convention play. The Aztecs have a terrific backcourt in Matt Bradley, Darrion Trammell and Lamont Butler, with Adam Seiko coming off the bench (he had a career-high 25 factors in a formidable win over Utah State final week). Nevada, although, hasn’t misplaced at dwelling this season and boasts standout wins over Boise State, Utah State and New Mexico — three of the convention’s high 4 groups — on the Lawlor Occasions Middle. Kenan Blackshear had 68 factors over these three wins, and the Wolf Pack will want one other massive one from him Tuesday night time.

No. 17 Windfall at No. 16 Xavier (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. on FS1) — This one can be a ton of enjoyable, with each groups rating top-20 nationally in offensive effectivity. They get it achieved in very other ways, although: Windfall leads the Massive East in offensive rebounding proportion and free throw fee in convention play; Xavier leads the way in which in 3-point proportion. Windfall, in the meantime boasts the most effective 3-point protection in Massive East play.

Keep watch over a captivating massive man battle: Windfall’s Bryce Hopkins, a Kentucky switch, leads the Massive East in factors per recreation in convention play and will get to the road at will. Xavier, in the meantime, boasts a pair of expert bigs in Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle.

Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (Wednesday, 9 p.m. on ESPN 2) — Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are top-40 groups nationally based on KenPom. They’re additionally seventh and tied for eighth, respectively, within the convention standings. That is how good the Massive 12 is. Grant Sherfield is coming off a 30-point explosion within the Sooners’ large win over No. 2 Alabama. Count on bedlam throughout the newest installment of the Bedlam Collection

VCU at Saint Louis (Friday, 7 p.m. on ESPN2) — Chaifetz Area must be buzzing on Friday night time with the Rams visiting the Billikens in a showdown between the highest two groups in a aggressive Atlantic 10. VCU owns the convention’s finest protection and has the A10’s highest pressured turnover proportion. Nevertheless, slowing down the A10’s most effective offense can be no simple job. The Billikens are one of many nation’s most skilled groups, with Division I assists per recreation chief Yuri Collins main the way in which. Javonte Perkins is beginning to discover his groove after getting back from a torn ACL and a bothersome ankle harm. He is scored in double digits in 5 straight video games.

No. 1 Purdue at No. 21 Indiana (Saturday, 4 p.m. on ESPN) — After dropping 4 of its first 5 Massive Ten video games, Indiana has come roaring again with 5 straight victories, 4 by double digits. Purdue, however, hasn’t had any kind of inconsistency points. The Boilermakers have one loss this season — by one to Rutgers — and Zach Edey, who averages 22.1 PPG and 13 RPG, has just about locked up participant of the 12 months honors.

Edey’s growth has been outstanding. He is at all times been massive. He hasn’t at all times been in a position to end each fingers, use good footwork and timing to create area, or have the contact to complete off performs. He leads the nation with 12 factors per recreation on submit ups, and it begins with him getting nice positioning. His right-handed hook is sort of unstoppable, and when you overplay there, he can go over his left shoulder. For those who attempt to deny the ball, he’ll stuff you within the basket. He now faces an Indiana protection that is among the many worst in defending post-ups this season.

North Carolina at Duke (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN) — The second of those two matchups (on March 4) is among the many 10 video games we’re wanting ahead to in 2023, however this primary assembly must be fairly good, too. These storied packages have break up their final 40 conferences, 20-20.

Duke freshman Kyle Filipowski has been terrific regardless of accidents and uneven performances round him. He is on tempo to be simply the fourth ACC freshman to common a minimum of 15 factors and 9 rebounds within the final 30 seasons, and the primary since Marvin Bagley III in 2017-18. His battle with Armando Bacot down low can be an exciting one. Solely three gamers have extra double-doubles than Bacot this season.

Plus, it is UNC-Duke. What extra do I’ve to say?

No. 12 Gonzaga at No. 18 Saint Mary’s (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN) — Additionally featured in my early-January listing, this can be a brawl between the 2 finest groups within the West Coast Convention. The Bulldogs play quick and have one of many nation’s finest offenses. The Gaels play gradual and have one of many nation’s finest defenses. Drew Timme is having yet one more excellent season, even when this 12 months’s Gonzaga crew is not Mark Few’s finest. Saint Mary’s has 4 gamers averaging a minimum of a dozen factors — tied for many of any crew — in what is perhaps coach Randy Bennett’s finest group. This can be value staying up for.

Three NBA Draft prospects to look at

Take a look at the 2023 CBS Sports activities NBA Draft Prospect Rankings.

• It has been a troublesome 12 months for Villanova in 12 months 1 beneath Kyle Nepture after Jay Wright’s retirement, however Cam Whitmore is beginning to present what makes him such an attractive prospect. The strong-bodied small ahead scored 21 factors in a slender loss to No. 23 Windfall over the weekend and has scored in double digits in 5 of his final six video games whereas capturing over 45% from 3 throughout that stretch. The Wildcats get powerful assessments at No. 14 Marquette and Creighton this week. Whitmore is fourth in our prospect rankings.
• Iowa is again on the nice facet of the bubble of Jerry Palm’s Bracketology, however the Hawkeyes have work to do to remain there. That begins in opposition to Northwestern and Illinois — each event groups at the moment — this week. Kris Murray has been on a tear these days, with 5 video games of a minimum of 20 factors in January, most of any Massive Ten participant. He is fifteenth in our prospect rankings.
• Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino is coming off a 24-point outing that included six 3-pointers in a win over Ohio State. That got here after he hadn’t made a single 3-pointer over his prior 4 video games. Hood-Schifino leads the Hoosiers in assists, steals and turnovers, and he can run actually cold and warm. Indiana will want him scorching: The Hoosiers are at Maryland and residential in opposition to No. 1 Purdue this week. Hood-Schifino is thirty fifth in our prospect rankings.