Until recently, the SEC and the Big 12 have been the two big conferences in all of College Basketball. This season, it looks the ACC might be the strongest from top to bottom with the Virginia teams being extremely good and the bluebloods up to there standards. This Saturday, the Big 12 and SEC challenge returns as the series is in favor of the Big 12, 3-1-1. The SEC won it for the first time last year and are looking for a repeat. For most of the teams in the challenge, it’s about bragging rights. For others, it’s just about getting back on track after some losses. SEC was unlucky this year with the draws as 2 of the better teams in the conference wont be playing in it (Auburn and Mississippi State).
Alabama vs. Baylor 11 AM ESPNU
Baylor is one of the hottest teams in the conference after coming off a 85-73 win on the road against West Virginia. Ever since Tristan Clark was ruled out for the rest of year, Baylor nearly beat Kansas, and has defeated Oklahoma State on the road, Top 10 Texas Tech, and West Virginia. Baylor doesn’t shoot the ball well (although they have improved in conference play), they play excellent defense. They are 28th in the nation in total defense and hold their opponents to 64.3 PPG. Players like Makai Mason and Jared Butler have been huge contributors through their hot streak and look to keep things going on Saturday.
From Alabama’s perspective, this game is a bit more interesting. Baylor G Jared Butler was a Alabama commit and was apart of the team not too long ago. But with the combo of Bama bringing in Kira Lewis Jr. (their leading scorer) and a condition that wouldn’t let him play. So he transferred to Baylor and now will be playing against them. All 3 of Alabama’s losses were within single digits and one including a 3 point loss in Knoxville against #1 Tennessee. Similar to Baylor, Alabama is average at scoring, but holds their opponents to a cool 71.3 PPG.
Score Prediction: Baylor seems to be at their best as of late at home (although losses to Texas Southern and SFA aren’t attractive). In a back forth defensive matchup, Baylor sneaks by and takes a win to begin the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Baylor 68, Alabama 65.
#24 Iowa State vs. Ole Miss 11 AM ESPN
Iowa State will be no easy out as similar to Alabama, all of their conference losses are by single digits, but not one is by 5 or more points. Marial Shayok has been huge scoring threat for this team with 19.1 PPG and Junior Michael Jacobsen has averaged 6 rebounds on the season. Iowa State is a pretty disciplined team as they turnover the ball just 10 times a game which ranks in the top 15 in the nation.
Ole Miss has been impressive towards the beginning of conference play with back to back wins over Top 15 teams in Auburn and Mississippi State. But has struggled as of late with a 14 point loss at home to LSU (who wont be competing in this challenge). As well as a 21 point loss to Alabama. They will be at home for this contest, so a big home court advantage will be needed.
Score Prediction: With the directions both teams have been going, this game might not be as close as some people think. But with the home court advantage and a ready Ole Miss team, they should get into Iowa State’s head. Ole Miss is 0-5 in this challenge and at home, I think the 5 turns into a 6. Iowa State 72, Ole Miss 63.
Florida vs. TCU 11 AM ESPN2
TCU has had multiple issues with transfers or off the field issues with players. TCU has 4 players currently transferred from the program since the season began, including the highest ranked recruit in TCU history, G Jalen Fisher. Even with all of that, TCU has stayed afloat in the Big 12. Alex Robinson is having a All-Big 12 season (13.3 PPG, 7.9 APG) and Desmond Bane has been a spark plug offensively (nearly 15 PPG). TCU gets the Gators at home and could be big for the Horned Frogs.
This Florida team is not the same one from a year ago, that smashed Baylor in this same challenge. Florida had a solid recruiting class, but have some of those young players guards Noah Locke and Andrew Nembhard playing big minutes. All of Florida’s losses were against good teams and will always have a elite defense. They rank in the Top 10 in the nation in field goal percentage defense and near the top of the conference in forcing turnovers.
Score Prediction: Florida is playing solid ball after losing 2 close games to Top 25 teams. Even though TCU is playing well through the transfers, they’ve lost back to back games in the challenge and Florida’s defensive presence may overwhelm them. I’ve got the Gators pulling off a bit of an upset and win in Fort Worth. Florida 65, TCU 59.
Kansas State vs. Texas A&M 1 PM ESPN
Kansas State is finding their stride at the right time as ever since Dean Wade returned from injury, the Wildcats have been on fire. Since starting conference play off 0-2, they’ve won 5 straight, including 3 against Top 25 teams. They’ve been doing it through excellent defense giving up 45 to #14 Texas Tech and the most they gave up was just 61. This might be bad news for the Aggies as they are playing the wrong team at the wrong team.
Speaking of the Aggies, they’ve been one of the worst teams in all of the Power 6 schools. They have one win in conference play and lost by double digits in 5 of their 6 losses. They have one of the worst defenses and aren’t very good on offense either. They just straight up have not been good this season and this game could get ugly similar to their conference games.
Score Prediction: This will be one of the easier picks, it just depends by how much. Give me the Wildcats by 17. Kansas State 80, Texas A&M 63.
South Carolina vs. Oklahoma State 1 PM ESPNU
Prior to conference play starting if you looked at this matchup, it could’ve been a coin flip to determine who could win. Now that’s not quite the case. Oklahoma State was able to pull off an “upset” against Texas at home. Outside of that, OSU hasn’t played very well and are lacking a consistent #1. It also hasn’t helped that OSU has the same people as TCU as they had a plethora of players transfer from the program including, G Michael Weathers.
For South Carolina, they are on the other side of the pedulam and are playing great basketball after a bad start to the season. USC has defeated Florida, #16 Auburn, #14 Mississippi State, as well as Vanderbilt (who nearly beat Tennessee just earlier this week). Part of that has been the rise of Hassani Gravett as he is averaging 15 PPG on 44-45-88 from the field in conference play.
Score Prediction: It’s a home game for the Cowboys, so it should make things interesting. But in the end, I have South Carolina going on the road and defeating Oklahoma State. South Carolina 71, Oklahoma State 65.
Texas vs. Georgia 1 PM ESPN2
These teams did matchup 2 years ago in Athens. Georgia defeated Texas 68-65. We’ll see if the Bulldogs can do it again. Texas had a brutal slate of 3 Top 25 teams in a row including 2 Top 10’s in Kansas and Texas Tech. Texas has been up and down as they’ve shown signs of being a legit Big 12 Contender early in the year with a Neutral site win over #7 North Carolina. But also has lost to Oklahoma State and TCU.
For Georgia, it’s just not been a good year for them. They lost by 46 to Tennessee and even lost to Georgia State by 24 earlier in the season. Georgia doesn’t do anything specifically well and turn the ball over more in one game than their football team does the entire season. It’s a home game, so a rowdy crowd could get them into this game, but I don’t like their chances.
Score Prediction: Texas comes out and establishes the tempo (which is hard to do when you’re not in your home building). Potential Lottery Pick, Kerwin Roach has a great game and Dylan Osetkowski gets a near double double as Texas wins. Texas 84, Georgia 72.
Vanderbilt vs. Oklahoma 3 PM ESPN2
Oklahoma has been middle of the road in the Big 12 this year and only having 1 Top 25 win against a team that’s not even ranked anymore (TCU). They got back on track and won Bedlam against Oklahoma State on Wednesday, but they have the Commodores coming into town. Oklahoma’s SRS rating is 22nd in the nation (bases point differential with strength of schedule) and does have some solid wins. Just none in the Top 25.
Vanderbilt nearly pulled off (what would’ve been) the upset of the year against Tennessee. Losing in overtime at home, 88-83. Vanderbilt has not been good this year. They lost to Kansas State by 11, when Dean Wade was still injured and they were struggling. Bryce Drew has done a solid job with the program, but this season has been a forgettable one so far to say the least.
Lon Kruger gets his teams ready for televised games and Oklahoma puts on a clinic in the 3 o’clock slot. Oklahoma 77, Vanderbilt 62.
West Virginia vs. #1 Tennessee 3 PM ESPN
WV is 9-10 (1-6) on the season and it has been the season a lot of CBB fans didn’t expect. The SEC was unlucky with some of their teams for the matchup. Well, West Virginia was unlucky with this matchup. West Virginia has at. #24 Iowa State, vs. Oklahoma and at. #14 Texas Tech AFTER this game. The stretch is brutal and doesn’t get any more difficult than traveling on the road to the #1 team in the nation. WVU did beat Kansas not too long ago, but it was a home game and West Virginia had the size advantage with Azbuike still being out.
Coming off a close win over Vandy on the road, Tennessee is out to prove that they can be dominant again. WV is coming off a home loss to Baylor and is the worst team in the Big 12 conference. This is the chance for studs like F Grant Williams and G Admiral Schofield to show out and put on a clinic for the home crowd as this should be one of the more lobsided affairs.
Score Prediction: Bob Huggins press was able to keep WV in the game against Baylor. Tennessee is a different animal though and gets hot from beyond the arc. Tennessee 88, West Virginia 67.
#9 Kansas vs. #8 Kentucky 5 PM ESPN
This game will be the headliner (as most years are) and the game between blue bloods (no pun intended) from 2 of the best conferences in the nation. After losing by 1 to WV, Kansas came back home and defeated Iowa State in a close ballgame that featured 29 points and 15 rebounds from Dedric Lawson. He’s going to need another big game in a big time environment on a big time stage.
Kentucky had the 34 point blunder to begin the year against #4 Duke. But since, has rebounded nicely and picked up 3 Top 25 wins and G Tyler Herro has turned it up a notch in conference play. Herro averages 14.5 PPG and almost 5 rebounds a contest. The Freshman duo of Keldon Johnson and Herro have made Kentucky serious contenders again for a conference title.
Score Prediction: Kansas has the experience advantage and shoots better from 3 point range (lead by Legerald Vick). But Kentucky has the home environment. I wouldn’t be too surprised if KU wins, but for now, UK gets a huge home win. Kentucky 74, Kansas 71.
Arkansas vs. #14 Texas Tech 5 PM ESPN2
Chris Beard has done a tremendous job with the turnaround that has been Texas Tech these past 2 seasons. Tech has struggled recently though, losing 3 straight ballgames, including putting up just 45 points at Kansas State. Jarrett Culver is a First Team All-Big 12 candidate and the Lubbock environment is one of the most rowdiest in the country.
Arkansas has potential lottery pick, F Daniel Gafford. G Isiah Joe has been a really pleasant surprise as a Freshman, but it’s been Mason Jones that has stepped it up and leads the team in scoring in their previous 6 contests. Arkansas hasn’t been bad, but traveling all the way across the state and facing an angry Texas Tech could be disastrous.
Score Prediction: Arkansas keeps things close and Daniel Gafford is able to feast down in the paint, but David Moretti catches fire from 3 point range and Jarrett Culver keeps the crowd pumped up. Texas Tech 68, Arkansas 62.
SEC/Big 12 Challenge Prediction Record: 6-4 Big 12.
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