CBB: Rivalry Week Preview
One of the most up and down seasons in recent memory continues to the final week of the regular season. Villanova fell to Xavier, then Xavier fell to Seton Hall last week which out the Wildcats in position to win the Big East. Kansas now has a strangle hold on the Big 12 and will look to finish off the season with two more ranked wins coming up this week. Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, and Maryland will battle it out for the #1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Miami (FL) and North Carolina face tough challenges that will decide the ACC regular season. I will produce my Top 25, as well as teams on the bubble that are all going in different directions, and picks for my games of the week.
Top 25:
1. Kansas (25-4) 2. Villanova (25-4) 3. Michigan State (24-5) 4. Miami (FL) (23-5) 5. Virginia (22-6) 6. Xavier (25-4) 7. Oklahoma (22-6) 8. North Carolina (23-6) 9. Indiana (23-6) 10. West Virginia (22-7) 11. Oregon (23-6) 12. Arizona (22-7) 13. Louisville (22-7) 14. Iowa (20-8) 15. Kentucky (21-8) 16. Maryland (23-6) 17. Purdue (22-7) 18. Duke (21-8) 19. Baylor (21-8) 20. Texas (19-10) 21. SMU (24-4) 22. Texas A&M (22-7) 23. Utah (23-7) 24. Seton Hall (21-7) 25. Iowa State (20-9) On the bubble: Wisconsin (19-10) Texas Tech (18-10) Syracuse (19-10) Vanderbilt (18-11) Ohio State (19-11)
Games (and picks) of the week: Oklahoma over Baylor (Tuesday): The Sooners beat Baylor at home last month and will finish a season sweep of the Bears. Buddy Hield has struggled but is still the best player in the country and he will break out of his slump as Oklahoma wins this Big 12 battle.
Iowa over Indiana (Tuesday): The Hawkeyes have struggled as of late but with a chance to win the Big Ten still up in the air, the experienced Iowa team will get revenge on the Hoosiers who beat them just a few weeks ago.
Kansas over Iowa State (Saturday): Kansas has been the best team in the country the last three weeks, and their ranking finally shows that. After a mid-January slump, Kansas did not lose one game in February and they will not start March with a home loss.
North Carolina over Duke (Saturday): Duke beat their arch rival a couple of weeks ago on the road even though the Tar Heels had been the more dominant team for much of the night. UNC will finish off their short-handed rivals on the road this time.
Virginia over Louisville (Saturday): In the Cardinals last game of the year, Virginia will leave Louisville with a bad taste in their mouths. The Cavaliers have been great this year and especially at home. Virginia will continue their terrific year with a big victory.
Last weeks record: 3-2.
Photo Credit: National Sun Times.
