There are three things that stuck out in College Basketball.
There are three things that did stick out in College Basketball. This past Saturday saw a team that can prove it can compete in the BIG-10. The other big stories were North Carolina getting back on track with a win. And last but not least, we will have a new No.1 for the sixth time this season.
No.1 No.18 Villanova upsets No.1 Kansas 56-55: This is technically an upset however the oddsmakers in Las Vegas only had Kansas as 1 1/2 point favorite. This game was anything but normal. Both teams combined to only shoot 13-of-54 form three point line. I know that College Basketball has moved the three point line back further, however they guys need to learn how to play in the paint.
This is the fifth time this season that the No.1 team went down. It all started on opening night when No.2 Kentucky upset No.1 Michigan State, Evansville upset No.1 Kentucky, then Duke had the No.1 Spot, they got their world rocked by Stephen F. Austin. Louisville took over the top spot, they got knocked off by Texas Tech and now we can add Kansas to the list of the latest No.1 victims to fall.
So Now here's the question who will be the sixth No.1 team this season, It will probably be Gonzaga and the question is can the Zags stay there, we shall see because every game this season has had the February-March type feel.
No.2 Ohio State is a team that could win the BIG-10: The Buckeyes are a legit contender in the BIG-10 and yes they could win the conference because of the team they have. Ohio State already has three impressive wins on their tournament resume. They have beaten Villanova, North Carolina and Kentucky. They beat the Wildcats on Saturday 71-65.
Ohio State head coach Chris Holtman has said we have a team that can compete within the conference and with the ACC, Big East and SEC. We have been winning games by not doing anything fancy. If you at the numbers for the three best scorers on the team you can see what Ohio State has done.
Kaleb Wesson: 13.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, There's a player who can get it done.
Duane Washington: 11.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, He can shoot it form beyond the arc, Try 53.7%.
D.J. Carton: 11.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG,3.0 APG 51.2% From the field, He had 15 against Kentucky on Saturday.
Those are the three reasons why Ohio State could be a team to watch out for going into BIG-10 Play.
No.3 North Carolina is adjusting to not having Cole Anthony in the lineup. The Tar Heels ended their four game losing streak against UCLA on Saturday 74-64. The Tar Heels were without Cole Anthony and he's a major absence in the lineup. Anthony was averaging 19.1 points per game before he went out with a partially torn meniscus, Anthony did have an arthroscopic procedure don on his right knee and he's expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks.
But UNC did very well with five players in double figures against UCLA. Garrison Brooks had 12 points. Armando Bacot, he had 15 points. Jeremiah Franco, he had 12 points. Brandon Robison, he also had 12 points. Anthony Harris had 14 big points in UNC's victory.
The Tar Heels still have a ton of work to do before ACC play gets started because DUKE is on top and Virginia is in the middle of it. And who would have thought that the Tar Heels would be mid pack at the start of the season, and they are only 1-2 in ACC play.
If they play like they did against Wofford they're in huge trouble when they face teams like Duke, Virginia, NC State and that's just for starters.
Here's my take..
I'm not sure if it's just me, but every game I have watched in College Basketball has had the February-March type mentality. We have seen five No.1's go down and we're not even into January yet. We have seen teams Like Stephen F. Austin go into Cameron indoor and upset Duke and stun the College Basketball World. UNC lost to Wofford for a second time.
We have seen the Ohio State Buckeyes prove to me and everybody else that they can compete in the BIG-10 and Nationally. When Ohio State can beat teams like Villanova and Kentucky that's something pretty cool. And when you can go on the road to Chapel Hill and humiliate UNC by 25 that's something worth talking about and Duke nation was having a field day with that and the UNC loss to Wofford has UNC reeling.
But the Bottom line is this, we start conference play and anything can happen. But will we still see the No.1 fall like the leaves in November or will it finally settle down, we will see about that.
Just about every game this season has had the Madness of tournament time this season. I have seen just about everything in 2019-20.
Bottom Line..
