This past week was highlighted by some big Top 25 matchups, crazy games between potential bubble squads, and some significant upsets from the smaller guys. Finals week is over for most schools so expect a few more games than usual before a bit of a holiday break. Let’s get right into it!

The past week delivered a mix of statement wins and closely contested results among the AP Top 25.  Let’s begin, justifiably, at the top.  

(1) Arizona continued its dominant start, rolling past (12) Alabama, 96-75.  Brayden Burries scored 28 points in a breakout performance (adding another dangerous angle to their offense) and the Wildcats out-rebounded the Crimson Tide 52-32. (2) Michigan ONLY won by 28 in a 89-61 thrashing over Villanova before being tested by Maryland for 32 minutes, ultimately pulling away late, 101-83, in another strong showing. The Wolverines’ balance on both ends is frighteningly good.  

Is (5) UConn somehow flying under the radar?  The Huskies notched two impressive victories this week as well, holding off (18) Florida 77-73 and toppling Texas 71-63. (6) Purdue bounced back from their first loss of the season last week (courtesy of (4) Iowa State) with convincing wins over Minnesota (85-57) and Marquette (79-59), while (8) Gonzaga’s win over (25) UCLA (82-72) in Seattle was a nice addition to a strong non-conference résumé for the Zags.  Gonzaga’s vaunted frontcourt duo of Ike and Huff combined for 46 points.  Oh, and you have to see this dunk (link).  

Elsewhere, (9) Michigan State held off Penn State in a classically physical Big Ten matchup, (10) BYU came back from a 22 point deficit to take down Clemson (67-64) and beat up UC Riverside (100-53), (11) Louisville cruised past Memphis 99-73, and (13) Illinois rolled Ohio State (88-80) before this happened at (23) Nebraska (83-80).  Believe in Nebrasketball!

Possibly the best non-power conference game of the week took place yesterday as the Boise State Broncos took down Saint Mary’s by a score of 68-67. This result really improves the Broncos’ resume and may help them get off the bubble on Selection Sunday. Utah State beat a talented Illinois State squad to get to 9-1 on the year. Saint Louis dispatched San Francisco behind 18 pts from Amari McCottry. Belmont held serve with wins against UIC and Middle Tennessee. A tune-up game against Evansville is next before they travel west to take on ever-strong UC Irvine. Miami (OH) is off to their best start since the 1943-44 season as they moved to 10-0 this week. The MAC is going to be a fun league to follow once conference season starts. Six teams find themselves inside T3 Bracketology’s One-Bid League Top 25 and four teams are inside the KenPom Top 140.

The Delaware Fighting Blue Hens went into Washington, D.C. and came out with a 70-58 win over George Washington. It was Delaware's third win of the season and first since November 25th. The Ohio Wildcats find themselves on a three game win streak after upsetting St. Bonaventure in Cleveland. Can they create some MACtion as they start conference play against Bowling Green on Saturday?

Here is what we will be watching this coming week! Reply to this email and let us know what you will be tuning into!

Mondays are getting to be a day with relatively few games. However, don’t forget to tune into this one between the Cowboys and Jackrabbits! Wyoming enters at 8-2 and winners of four of their last five. South Dakota State has not had as impressive of a start to their season with a record of 7-5. They should have the crowd behind them for this game inside the Sanford Pentagon. They are a proud program and will aim for an upset in their backyard.

ACC/SEC challenge, anyone?  This one figures to be tight throughout, as Tennessee will look to protect their unbeaten record at home (5-0 this season) versus their biggest challenger yet.  Louisville is scoring 94 points per game, led by Senior guard Ryan Conwell (19ppg).  The Volunteers have dropped three straight games (Kansas, Syracuse, 14 Illinois) yet still hold their opponents to just 66 points per night.  In order to course correct, they’ll need a consistent 3rd scorer to emerge behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie (17 ppg) and Nate Ament (16 ppg).

Another former Pac-12 matchup on deck in this one! Arizona State came back from a 19 point second half deficit to eke out a win against a Santa Clara team we have talked a lot about. The Sun Devils have only lost to (8) Gonzaga and USC so far this year. They look to add another win to their better-than-expected record. UCLA dropped a game to the Zags in Seattle over the weekend. They find themselves at 7-3 with their other two losses coming to former Pac-12 schools (1) Arizona and Cal. Donovan Dent looked a bit more comfortable in the new system - watch for him and Tyler Bilodeau to continue to build their chemistry as the season progresses. 

American University has been one of the best stories of the young college basketball season, collecting above-average wins vs Maine, Longwood, and Drexel in the non-conference slate.  They battled Rutgers and Wake Forest to the end, and dropped a close game against another strong mid-major in Siena.  They’ll face perhaps their toughest challenge, however, in the VCU Rams (Kenpom #44). The Rams had only lost to P5 teams until their most recent game against New Mexico, a 3-point heartbreak.  They are, however, stealing the ball 8 times per night and shooting a modest 35% from 3 - something American struggles to prevent.

This game is an under-the-radar matchup that should be on everyone’s Friday viewing plan. The Seton Hall Pirates have been off to a blistering start this season. They had a strong showing in the Maui Invitational earlier this season and have built off that momentum. AJ Staton-McCray is playing his sixth(!!) year of college basketball but has saved his best for last. He is averaging a career high in points (14.3), steals, (2.0), and assists (1.7). He hasn’t had a game with multiple turnovers since November 13th either. Providence lost an absolute heartbreaker to Butler on Saturday (more on that below). Not much was expected of the Friars this year, but a win against The Hall would be a great way to jumpstart their season. Providence has five players averaging 10+ ppg and are led by Jason Edwards at 19.2 ppg. Edwards and Staton-McCray are two underrated guards and we expect a battle between them all game long.

Yours truly (Mason) picked Texas Tech to win the National Championship in our preseason newsletter.  In order to salvage any semblance of hope, TTU needs this one.  They’ve dropped key chances thus far in losing at Illinois, to Purdue, and vs Arkansas.  While the Big 12 will offer plenty of opportunity for resume-boosting wins, it feels like they need a victory over Duke on Saturday in MSG to solidify themselves as true contenders.  JT Toppin (22 ppg, 11 rpg) and Christian Anderson (20 ppg, 8 apg) have been exceptional, but need more help.  Meanwhile, the Blue Devils remain undefeated and boast the nation’s leading scorer in Cameron Boozer (23 ppg, 10 rpg).  They are grabbing 42 rebounds each night (26th in the country) and dishing out 19 assists (35th).

While the average sports fan will be watching NFL games, we recommend you turn your attention to this bubblicious matchup between the Bearcats and the Tigers. Whoever wins this game could have a slight edge when it comes to getting into the NCAA Tournament come March. In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, Clemson finds themselves as an 8 seed while Cincinnati is not included in the field. Clemson can’t afford losses to teams that may not make the tournament. Cincinnati is looking to force themselves into the bubble discussion they were a part of at the beginning of the season. It is early for a “must win” game, but this feels pretty close for the Bearcats.

Saturday’s Big East opener at Hinkle Fieldhouse was an instant classic, featuring 30(!) lead changes and March-style trading of haymakers.  After regulation couldn’t produce a winner, the drama spilled into double overtime, where Butler pulled ahead for good.  Gonzaga transplant forward Michael Ajayi paced the Bulldogs with 28 points and 15 rebounds, while guard Evan Haywood added 18, including the go-ahead points in the second OT to close out the victory.  Providence countered with 32 from Jason Edwards and 26 from Jaylin Sellers, but Butler’s execution down the stretch proved just enough.  The back-and-forth scoring, late stops, and clutch possessions made this one of the most entertaining finishes of the young season!

Mouhamed Dioubate was a disruptive force in the Wildcats’ 72–60 win over Indiana on Saturday, filling the stat sheet with a 14 point, 12 rebound double-double and a team-high five steals that ignited Kentucky’s (presumed missing) defensive energy.  Dioubate’s length and anticipation forced turnovers, started transition opportunities, and ultimately helped fuel a 30–11 second half run that flipped the game in UK’s favor.  Time will tell if the defensive persistence carries into SEC play.

The model is hot!! A great week where you would have made money on Vegas if you tailed the model! Totals are bouncing back nicely too! Check out the results below.