Males’s hoops: Everything however the tip 4 has changed

Iowa Teachhigh-10 team?

It would also ogle moderately off originally peer, however the Cyclones are playing to boot to any individual in men’s college basketball out of doors the tip three or four groups in the country — and they’re rapidly constructing the model of résumé to succor that up.

All of us know about Hilton Magic and Iowa Teach’s ability on its residence court. The Cyclones possess wins over Houston and Kansas in Ames this season, after Saturday’s seventy nine-75 victory over the Jayhawks. Nevertheless to boot they beat TCU by one on the Horned Frogs’ floor earlier this month. They now possess three Quadrant 1 wins, and 6 total in opposition to Quadrants 1 and 2. And in the three weeks since their loss at Oklahoma in the Tall 12 opener, they’re fourth in the country in adjusted efficiency margin at BartTorvik.com.

Their metrics are also deserving of high-10 buzz. Iowa Teach is as a lot as No. 10 in the NET, No. 12 at KenPom, No. 7 at BPI and No. 14 in ESPN’s strength of yarn.

And the blueprint in which about this nugget? Iowa Teach’s gain over Kansas change into as soon as its eighth AP high-10 gain in the previous two years; in step with ESPN Stats & Information, that is mainly the most of any team in the country in some unspecified time in the future of that span.

Could well all of it come crashing down with avenue video games at Baylor, Texas, Cincinnati and Houston in the next three weeks? Sure, but Iowa Teach has vastly exceeded expectations so far, and its high-10 procedure on this week’s Energy Rankings is indicative of the Cyclones’ performance.

On to this week’s awards and rankings …

Crew of the Week: South Carolina Gamecocks

Lamont Paris can be the fave for Coach of the Year nationally. He’s taken a South Carolina team picked 14th in the SEC preseason ballotto the brink of the tip 25 after this week’s two wins improved the Gamecocks to 17-3 total and 5-2 in league play. The stunner change into as soon as the team’s seventy nine-62 blowout gain over Kentuckywhich change into as soon as ranked in the tip five getting into the week and regarded each bit esteem a first price Perfect Four contender. Nevertheless South Carolina ended the principle half of on a 17-4 tear and then rolled in the 2d half of. Ta’Lon Cooper led the blueprint in which with 20 sides. The Gamecocks followed that up with a 72-64 gain over Missourisealing the sport leisurely with free throws. B.J. Mack paced the team with 21 sides.

Take into accout, right here is a team that went 11-21 final season (4-14 in the SEC) and then misplaced freshman superstar G.G. Jackson to the NBA. Paris has worked wonders this marketing campaign and has South Carolina in procedure to carry out the NCAA match for the principle time since 2017.

Gamers of the Week: Jordan Pope, Oregon Teach Beavers and Boo Buie, Northwestern Wildcats

It has been a prolonged three seasons for Oregon Teach, however the Beavers appropriate had their most efficient week of that interval, beating Arizona and Arizona Teach — and it change into as soon as Pope who led the blueprint in which for Wayne Tinkle. The sophomore guard went for 31 sides and five assists in opposition to Arizona, including the sport-a success 3-pointer at the buzzer. He wasn’t rather as prolific in opposition to ASU, but silent had an efficient 19 sides and 6 dimes.

— Heat Take a look at CBB (@HeatCheckCBB) January 26, 2024

Boo Buie, meanwhile, has established himself as one among the perfect substantial-sport players in the country, particularly down the stretch, and he did it over again in opposition to Illinois on Wednesday. Buie carried out with 29 sides — eight of which came in extra time — and 7 assists. He followed that up with 19 sides, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in an effortless gain over Ohio Teach on Saturday. The Wildcats are of route 15-5 total and 6-3 in Tall Ten play, and Buie is playing esteem one among the elite guards in the country.

Safe of the Week: Richmond Spiders 69, Dayton Flyers 64

Dayton entered the weekend with the longest a success amble in men’s college basketball, a skill All-The US forward in DaRon Holmes II and regarded esteem the actual current in the Atlantic 10. It exited Saturday in 2d procedure after suffering its first loss since Nov. 19. In defeating the Flyers, Richmond received its 10th sport in a row to live unbeaten in the league. This change into as soon as a fight between the league’s most efficient offense and the league’s most efficient protection. The Spiders held the Flyers to 33.9% taking pictures from the sphere and their fewest sides per possession of the promoting campaign. Coach Chris Mooney’s protection also restricted Holmes to nine sides on 2-for-12 taking pictures.

Richmond change into as soon as picked 11th in the preseason Atlantic 10 ballot, however the Spiders — in the succor of East Tennessee Teach switch Jordan Kingwho’s averaging better than 19 sides per sport and had 17 in opposition to Dayton — are atop the league.

Coach of the Week: Alan Huss, Excessive Point Panthers

In a season with several first-365 days head coaches doing noteworthy jobs, Huss is come the tip of the list. Excessive Point change into as soon as picked seventh in the nine-team Tall South preseason ballotafter finishing below .500 in league play in each of the previous four seasons. Nonetheless, the Panthers improved to 18-4 on the season after erasing a 17-point 2d-half of deficit on the avenue at Winthrop on Saturday. They’re 7-0 in convention play and are tied for the nation’s 2d-longest a success amble (10).

Huss spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach below Greg McDermott at Creightonso the Panthers’ offensive prowess must no longer come as a shock. Whereas we’re talking Excessive Point, it would be negligent to no longer mention guard Kezza Giffawho has emerged as one among the perfect mid-predominant scorers in the country for the reason that calendar flipped to 2024. He had 37 sides in the gain over Winthrop on Saturday and is averaging 29.7 sides in three video games as a starter.

Three groups with questions

Villanova Wildcats: After a success four in a row throughout the turn of the fresh 365 days, Villanova has now misplaced five of its final six video games to fall to 11-9 total and 4-5 in the Tall East. Tuesday’s residence sport in opposition to Marquette has now essentially grew to change into into a must-gain ache for Kyle Neptune’s team.

Ohio Teach Buckeyes: The Buckeyes are in disarray. They were steamrolled this previous week by Nebraska and Northwesternfalling to three-6 in Tall Ten play, with defeats in five of their final six video games. OSU has also now misplaced 14 consecutive avenue video games dating succor to final season.

Utah Utes: The house/avenue splits for Utah in Pac-12 play are alarming. The Utes are 5-0 at residence but are of route 0-5 on the avenue after getting drilled by Washington Teach and Washington by a mixed 47 sides this previous week. They’ve misplaced five of their previous eight video games total getting into the largest two-sport stretch in opposition to Colorado and Arizona.

1. UConn Huskies (18-2)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: vs. Providence (Wednesday), at St. John’s (Saturday)

One procedure by which the Huskies hadn’t been rather as dominant this season as a 365 days up to now change into as soon as the defensive end. Nevertheless when they lock in, esteem they did in opposition to Creighton and Xavier in the previous couple of weeks, they are able to absolutely suffocate groups with size, size and stress. They held the Bluejays to 0.78 sides per possession on Jan. 17, and the Musketeers scored appropriate seven sides thru the principle 14-plus minutes Sunday and carried out with appropriate 56 in a 43-point loss. It change into as soon as one among essentially the most dominant performances of UConn’s entire Tall East tenure.

2. Purdue Boilermakers (19-2)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: vs. Northwestern (Wednesday), at Wisconsin (Sunday)

If there change into as soon as a week to pronounce the impression of Southern Illinois switch Lance Jonesit change into as soon as this one. Against MichiganJones made five 3-pointers and led the team with 24 sides. Against Rutgers five days later, he essentially struggled to shoot the ball, scoring four sides on 1-for-10 taking pictures — but silent grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out eight assists and racked up five steals. He makes a incompatibility at each ends of the ground and affords a dimension the Boilermakers haven’t had the final couple of seasons.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (17-3)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: at Georgia Tech (Tuesday), vs. Duke (Saturday)

RJ Davis has clearly established himself because the perfect guard in the country — and his 36 sides in opposition to Wake Woodland on Monday affirmed it — but it indubitably’s been the fresh play of Elliot Gift that can take the Tar Heels to 1 other level. The five-superstar freshman is playing his most efficient basketball of the season. He had 14 sides and three assists in the gain over the Demon Deacons, then followed it up with a occupation-excessive 16 sides and 6 assists in the gain over Florida Teach. Cadeau sparked the early 2d-half of tear that grew to change into the sport round for Carolina.

4. Tennessee Volunteers (15-4)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: vs. South Carolina (Tuesday), at Kentucky (Saturday)

Dalton Knecht‘s All-The US case gets stronger with each sport, and there is also a case to be made that he’s a high two or three Wood Award candidate. Sadly for Knecht, Zach Edey exists and is going to be the runaway participant of the 365 days, but that must no longer diminish what the Northern Colorado switch has carried out. He’s averaging 32.0 sides and 5.6 rebounds in his previous five video games, taking pictures 47.2% from 3. Knecht had one other 32 in opposition to Vanderbilt on Saturday.

5. Houston Cougars (18-2)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: at Texas (Monday), at Kansas (Saturday)

Houston has shaken off its two-sport losing amble to take four wins in a row, including a audacious avenue victory at BYU on Tuesday. Jamal Shead has been one among the premier guards in the country all season, but he wasn’t at his most efficient in some unspecified time in the future of the losses, totaling eight assists and 6 turnovers and taking pictures 2-for-11 from 3. Shead has bounced succor, alternatively, averaging 18.0 sides, 5.5 assists and appropriate 1.5 turnovers since. He’s also taking pictures 43.8% from 3 over the final four video games.

6. Wisconsin Badgers (16-4)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: at Nebraska (Thursday), vs. Purdue (Sunday)

When AJ Storr transferred to Wisconsin from St. John’s final spring, there change into as soon as some seek recordsdata from as to whether or no longer he would possibly perchance perchance be capable to atomize into a lineup that returned all five starters. Connor Essegian‘s early struggles made it much less difficult than anticipated, but Storr has been a starter since day one and has equipped a dimension Greg Gard’s offense has lacked for several years. He’s handiest gotten better because the season has stepped forward, capped this previous week by 15 sides and 12 boards in opposition to Minnesota and then a 28-point performance in opposition to Michigan Teach.

7. Marquette Golden Eagles (15-5)
Previous ranking: 10
This week: at Villanova (Tuesday), at Georgetown (Saturday)

Tyler Kolek‘s struggles of early January — when he totaled seven sides and shot 2-for-19 in two losses — seem esteem a lifetime up to now. One day of Marquette’s four-sport a success amble for the reason that residence loss to butlerKolek has totaled 40 assists to appropriate 12 turnovers, while averaging 15.5 sides, despite Saturday’s four-point effort in opposition to Seton Corridor. The emergence of David Joplin has also helped overcome the accidents to Bound Ross and Sean Jones. In his final three video games, Joplin is averaging 18.0 sides and taking pictures 12-for-23 from 3-point vary.

8. Kentucky Wildcats (15-4)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: vs. Florida (Wednesday), vs. Tennessee (Saturday)

Kentucky had its two worst offensive performances since early December this previous week, scoring 62 sides in a 17-point loss at South Carolina and then going for 63 sides in a six-point gain over Arkansas. The Gamecocks did a proper job of retaining the Wildcats out of transition, forcing them to carry out plays in the half of court, and Kentucky taking pictures 4-for-13 from 3-point vary would possibly perchance perchance no longer carry out up for it. Rob Dillingham‘s absence wound on Saturday in opposition to Arkansas, however the Wildcats had their most efficient defensive showing for the reason that season opener, retaining the Razorbacks to 0.81 sides per possession.

9. Duke Blue Devils (15-4)
Previous ranking: 15
This week: at Virginia Tech (Monday), at North Carolina (Saturday)

Whereas Duke is 3-1 in its previous four video games, the Blue Devils in some unspecified time in the future of that stretch haven’t regarded esteem a team capable of making a deep tear in March. They had to come succor to beat Georgia Techmisplaced at residence to Pittregarded underwhelming in opposition to a unpleasant Louisville team and then escaped after a leisurely unpleasant call in opposition to Clemson. Defensively, there were loyal components. They’ve allowed no longer lower than 1.03 sides per possession in each of those video games and they’re struggling to set stress on the ball. Pitt, Louisville and Clemson mixed for appropriate 27 turnovers.

10. Iowa Teach Cyclones (16-4)
Previous ranking: Within the waiting room
This week: at Baylor (Saturday)

Iowa Teach did no longer beat Kansas with its protection or its ability to power turnovers. The Cyclones uncharacteristically made 14 3-pointers, including nine after halftime. It change into as soon as essentially the most 3s they’ve made since knocking down 16 in a loss at Oklahoma in the 2020-21 season. Even though it doesn’t come in the originate of trifectas, coach T.J. Otzelberger is initiating to accumulate fixed manufacturing from his backcourt. Curtis Jones is averaging 16.7 sides in his previous three video games, while Keshon Gilbert has scored no longer lower than 15 sides in four straight after scoring 10 or fewer in six straight.

11. Arizona Wildcats (15-5)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: vs. Cal (Thursday), vs. Stanford (Sunday)

The importance of Arizona’s gain at Oregon on Saturday can’t be overstated. The Wildcats were coming off a loss at the buzzer at Oregon Teachwere appropriate 6-5 of their previous 11 video games and would possess risked falling out of first procedure in the Pac-12. Nevertheless Caleb Esteem‘s occupation-excessive 36 sides carried Arizona to a gain. Their defensive performances on the avenue are silent troubling: they’re eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency in Pac-12 play far from residence, in step with BartTorvik.com.

12. Kansas Jayhawks (16-4)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: vs. Oklahoma Teach (Tuesday), vs. Houston (Saturday)

Kansas has now misplaced three of its previous six video games, losing to 4-3 in the Tall 12 — tied for the Jayhawks’ worst initiate in league play below Invoice Self. For the principle half of of the season, it change into as soon as easy to show their lack of a fixed fifth option when they were struggling. Nevertheless the fresh downturn in originate has came about as Johnny Furphy change into as soon as thrust into the initiating lineup and grew to change into a fixed perimeter shooter. Kansas’ protection has been inconsistent in league play, and it has also fallen sufferer to variance in obvious conditions, with West Virginia and Iowa Teach combining to carry out 26 3-pointers.

13. Creighton Bluejays (16-5)
Previous ranking: Within the waiting room
This week: vs. butler (Friday)

Since initiating 0-2 in Tall East play and losing three of four to entire December, CU has received seven of its previous eight, with the lone loss coming at UConn. The Bluejays’ 3-point taking pictures has gotten succor on aim in the previous three video games, with them making 12 each in the wins over Seton Corridor, Xavier and DePaul. Earlier than these, they were held to eight or fewer 3s in seven of the old nine video games. Trey Alexander has also returned to his early-season originate, averaging 24.3 sides in his previous three outings, to stream with 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

14. Auburn Tigers (16-4)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: vs. Vanderbilt (Wednesday), at Ole Leave out (Saturday)

This week change into as soon as step by step going to be an illuminating one for the Tigers, who had received 11 straight video games but hadn’t essentially been tested on the avenue in opposition to a match-caliber team. And they spoke back with two shut losses to Alabama and Mississippi Teach. It change into as soon as Auburn’s offense that struggled each times. The Tigers shot appropriate 11-for-49 from 3-point vary and essentially struggled to lift out at the rim in opposition to Mississippi Teach, lacking nine layups.

15. Illinois Combating Illini (15-5)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: at Ohio Teach (Tuesday), vs. Nebraska (Sunday)

Terrence Shannon Jr.‘s return from his six-sport suspension change into as soon as anticipated to shake Illinois out of its up-and-down few weeks and accumulate the Combating Illini playing the blueprint in which they were for the principle two months of the season. Nevertheless Shannon hasn’t been rather as effective offensively. He’s silent averaging 13.3 sides in his three video games succor, but he’s essentially struggling to shoot the ball, going appropriate 1-for-14 from 3.

16. Utah Teach Aggies (18-2)
Previous ranking: Within the waiting room
This week: vs. San José Teach (Tuesday), at San Diego Teach (Saturday)

Utah Teach ends the week atop the Mountain West after occurring the avenue and beating Boise Teach in extra time. The Aggies are of route 7-2 in opposition to Quadrants 1 and 2; handiest six groups possess more wins in opposition to the tip two quadrants than Danny Sprinkle’s team. They’re working at an incredibly excessive price on the offensive end, scoring no longer lower than 1.09 sides per possession in each Mountain West sport so far, scoring 1.19 sides per possession thru seven league video games.

Dropped out: Oklahoma Sooners (No. 13), Dayton Flyers (No. 14), Baylor Bears (No. 16)

Within the waiting room

Texas Tech Crimson Raiders: Grant McCasland is doing an unbelievable job in Year 1 i n Lubbock, guiding the Crimson Raiders to the tip of the Tall 12 after Saturday’s avenue gain at Oklahoma. They’ve misplaced appropriate one sport since November — and that change into as soon as a avenue tilt at Houston. Likelihood McMillianwho led the blueprint in which with 27 sides Saturday, has hit double figures in seven of his final 10 video games.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Nate Oats’ team picked up its perfect gain of the season on Wednesday, retaining off Auburn down the stretch for a four-point victory. The Tide possess now received eight of their previous nine video games and possess a yarn more in step with their lofty metrics. They’ve also made no longer lower than 10 3s in all eight of those wins, with the lone loss coming when they shot 4-for-21 from 3 in opposition to Tennessee Volunteers.

Baylor Bears: It has been tricky loss after tricky loss for the Bears over the final two weeks, with three defeats by a mixed nine sides in four overtimes. The most modern change into as soon as a triple-extra time loss at residence to TCUthe set the Bears’ downturn in 3-point taking pictures continued with a 5-for-22 showing. They’re appropriate down to appropriate 29.2% in league play despite taking pictures it at 41% for the season.