Men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball – there’s no shortage of college ball, every night.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help you figure out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from the weekend in college basketball.
A Final Four preview?
What an incredible weekend of college basketball, and a potential preview for March Madness in more ways than one. On the men’s side, we got a look at a possible set of Final Four matchups, with the top four seeds all facing each other. But considering what else went down — upset after upset, for both men’s and women’s basketball — it’s also worth remembering that this weekend might have been the only time we’ll get to see Duke vs. Michigan and Arizona vs. Houston. Hey, with the way the Big 12 has been this season, even saying the Wildcats and Cougars will face off in their conference tourney seems presumptuous.
The rankings played no part in which teams came out the winners, either. No. 3 Duke took on No. 1 Michigan, and would win, 68-63. No. 4 Arizona bested No. 2 Houston, 73-66. Close games on both accounts, but close is no comfort in March. Luckily for the Wolverines and Cougars, it’s still February.
With a margin of victory of just 5 points, the reason one team won over the other is either glaringly obvious or even comes down to a single play. For Michigan, the issue was the paint. Duke won the rebound battle handily, with 41 to the Wolverines’ 28; Duke had 13 offensive boards to Michigan’s 8, which helps explain at least part of the disparity in paint points, as well, with the Blue Devils scoring 34 to Michigan’s 24. With the teams otherwise even from deep and the free throw line, it was that performance in the paint that separated the two.
Star freshman forward Cameron Boozer was at the forefront with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double (as well as 7 assists and 2 blocks), but freshman guard Nikolas Khamenia had 9 rebounds off the bench in 24 minutes, as well: senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg led all Wolverines in both points (21) and rebounds (7). With Khamenia scoring 6 in addition to outrebounding every Michigan player, you could say he was the difference as much as anything else.
[Men’s College Basketball Top 25: Duke, Michigan Lead The Way]
For Houston, the paint was additionally an issue, however the Cougars had no actual scarcity of points towards Arizona. Whereas the Wildcats’ measurement beneath has frequently been a difficulty for opponents, Houston really outrebounded Arizona, 39-37, ending one up in each offensive and defensive boards. Nonetheless, the Wildcats outscored the Cougars 38-20 within the paint as a result of Houston struggled to attain simply usually: it shot 36% for the day despite the fact that it hit 31% of its 3s, and turning the ball over greater than twice as a lot as Arizona didn’t assist issues in any respect, both. Arizona had that large paint benefit, and scored 16 factors off of turnovers to Houston’s 3: the ultimate scores might need been separated by simply 7 factors, however Arizona led for 91% of the sport for a purpose, and rapidly put up its largest lead of the day — 10 — after Houston tied late, as a result of the Cougars’ capturing went fully chilly.
What’s most spectacular — and most encouraging — for the Wildcats right here is that they did it with out Koa Peat as soon as once more. He’s affected by an undisclosed “decrease leg harm,” and sat out once more like he did towards BYU — Arizona received each video games, with senior guard Anthony Dell’Orso as soon as once more stepping up from the bench. He scored 22 factors, identical to he did towards BYU, this time in 34 minutes and with 3 rebounds and 4 steals to go along with them. These 22 factors additionally led all scorers.
Arizona now has sole possession of first within the Huge 12 and slightly extra cushion for a double-bye, as Houston has misplaced two in a row and the opposite two groups trailing instantly behind — Kansas and Iowa State — each misplaced this weekend as effectively.
So many (males’s) upsets
No. 8 Kansas didn’t simply lose, and it wasn’t simply upset. The Jayhawks dropped a sport to unranked Cincinnati — their first unranked residence defeat of the 12 months — and by the ultimate rating of 84-68. And sure, this was regardless of freshman guard Darryn Peterson taking part in 32 minutes: he scored 17 factors on 7-for-17 capturing with 4 rebounds, 1 help and a steal. Sophomore ahead Flory Bidunga was the actual spotlight of the day for the Jayhawks, main with 18 factors on 8-for-10 capturing, whereas securing a double-double with a game-high 12 boards, 3 assists and a steal and block every.
That wasn’t almost sufficient towards the Bearcats, nonetheless, as they shot 48% on the day — and 12-for-31 from 3 — whereas profitable the rebound battle 40-29. Scoring 15 factors off of turnovers in comparison with Kansas’ 3, beating the Jayhawks on the boards and watching Peterson go 1-for-7 from deep and drive down the staff capturing proportion on 3s to 22% within the course of meant a Cincinnati W. The Bearcats obtained a career-high 28 factors out of sophomore middle Moustapha Thiam, who additionally had 7 rebounds, 8 assists and a couple of steals, and his efficiency was an enormous a part of why Cincinnati ran away with it within the second half.
Additionally throwing chaos into the Huge 12 image was No. 23 BYU, which just lately misplaced one in all its greatest gamers in senior Richie Saunders to an ACL harm. Whereas the Cougars misplaced to Arizona final week, they upset No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday, 79-69. Freshman ahead AJ Dybantsa had a game-high 29 factors and almost had a triple-double, too: he had a game-high 10 rebounds, tied with freshman ahead and teammate Khadim Mboup who grabbed his in 17 minutes off the bench, however Dybantsa additionally had 9 assists. Scorer, facilitator, rebounder — he’s going to must excel in any respect three to get BYU deep into March, and towards Iowa State, that’s precisely what he did.
BYU isn’t in any hazard of stumbling right into a double-bye for the convention tourney, nevertheless it stored tempo with UCF and is tied for sixth within the Huge 12, placing it in place for a single bye with 4 video games left on the schedule — together with one towards UCF, and one other dealing with off towards No. 13 Texas Tech, in addition to the Cincinnati staff that simply beat Kansas.
UCLA took down No. 10 Illinois, as a result of the Huge Ten hasn’t been sufficient of a large number. The Bruins at the moment are 10-6 with 4 video games left, not fairly in place to battle for a double-bye within the convention event however at the least in a powerful spot to safe the single-round selection, and even stronger as a result of each Iowa and Ohio State — the groups instantly trailing it — misplaced.
What’s absurd is how UCLA received — it by no means ought to have occurred in any respect, however Illinois’ protection is usually as dangerous as its offense is nice. And Illinois ranks first in KenPom’s Offensive Ranking, in order that inversion explains why the Combating Illini despatched three males previous halfcourt to defend an inbounds with 4.9 seconds left in time beyond regulation, then obtained caught by the obvious display screen on the earth earlier than forgetting to try to divert a game-winning layup by UCLA senior guard Donovan Dent even slightly bit. If this appears like hyperbole, that’s solely as a result of you haven’t seen the play in query.
Total, Illinois is a greater defensive staff than that — it’s thirtieth in Defensive Ranking, in spite of everything. There have been occasions this season, nonetheless, the place score goes out the window and is changed by lapses just like the above. And this one price Illinois huge time. To not take something away from UCLA, after all — not solely did it spring this entice on Illinois to win, however the Bruins pushed the Combating Illini thus far within the first place.
Final of the main males’s upsets got here by the use of Tennessee, which took down No. 19 Vanderbilt, 69-65. The Volunteers stayed on this one as a result of they dominated within the paint, scoring 40 factors to Vandy’s 22, and whereas the Commodores had greater than twice as many 3s — 9 to 4 — they nonetheless couldn’t shake their unranked opponent.
Tennessee took the lead, 66-65, after a Nate Ament jumper. The freshman ahead shot simply 3-for-13 on the day, however that shot was big, as Vandy wouldn’t rating once more, and Tennessee being within the lead meant that the Dores needed to hold fouling to get the ball again after lacking with a layup to reply. Tennessee would sink 3 of these free throws, placing the sport out of attain, however none of them ended up being crucial ultimately since Vandy couldn’t hit one other bucket.
So many (ladies’s) upsets
The ladies’s sport was additionally loaded with upsets over the weekend. No. 20 Texas Tech ended up shedding to Colorado, 75-68, as the 2 went back-and-forth from quarter to quarter. The Girl Raiders have been up 23-19, however then Colorado bested them within the second, 21-14. Texas Tech appeared prefer it had adjusted through the half, busting out a 22-13 third, however then the Buffaloes placed on a dominant fourth quarter by which they scored 22 and held Texas Tech to 9 factors.
Texas Tech had simply 18 rebounds in the whole sport, and to be truthful a few of that was as a result of it shot 58%. Nonetheless, Colorado missed much more usually, and the Girl Raiders didn’t get their share of these rebounds, with the Buffs selecting up 17 offensive boards to Texas Tech’s 15 defensive ones. These second probabilities added up, and the influence was felt much more when Colorado ended up scoring 31 factors off turnovers to Texas Tech’s 18, regardless of each groups having 19 pressured turnovers.
Virginia isn’t ranked, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a extremely good basketball staff that got here into play on Sunday thirty seventh within the NCAA Analysis Device. Even then, although, beating No. 8 Louisville was a shock, given the Cardinals have been on an upward trajectory. The Cavaliers dominated defensively, nonetheless, limiting Louisville to 36% capturing. Nonetheless, it needs to be identified that the Cardinals misplaced sophomore guard and high scorer Tajiianna Roberts after simply 4 minutes within the first quarter, to a leg harm — in a 74-72 loss, it’s straightforward to say that’s what brought on the loss. Nonetheless, Louisville obtained 34 factors from its bench, so the fill-ins did what they might to assist. And but! If Roberts had a greater capturing day than these gamers did… effectively, it’s not onerous to dream of one other bucket, you understand?
That being mentioned, Virginia is legit and a tourney staff, and accidents occur. The Cavaliers earned this one by limiting Louisville’s offense, and that’s one thing to recollect come March — this received’t be the final Louisville-level staff Virginia has to face if it’s to make it deep into March Insanity.
Popping out of nowhere on the upset entrance was Clemson over No. 9 Duke — the Blue Devils had received 17 video games in a row, and whereas Clemson, like Virginia, is legit, the best way issues labored out was nonetheless an actual shock. Duke was up 20-8 after the primary quarter, however virtually instantly let Clemson again within the sport with a 15-9 second. Whereas the Blue Devils largely course corrected within the third by limiting the Tigers to 7 factors, additionally they scored simply 10 of their very own. Clemson had an enormous fourth quarter, outscoring Duke 23-11 to not solely tie, however take the lead with 3.1 seconds left on the clock, on a 3-pointer by junior guard Hannah Kohn… the primary, and solely, factors of the day for the bench participant who’s averaging 5.0 per sport this season. She was left alone on the high of the arc, and executed a catch-and-shoot to perfection earlier than Duke’s protection might cease what it had allowed to occur.
Offensively, Clemson was a large number, capturing 32% for the day, however went 6-for-13 within the fourth quarter whereas hitting 9 of its 11 free throws for the day — credit score to the Tigers’ protection for limiting Duke’s alternatives to shoot, as effectively. One other ranked loss that’s sure to shake up the ballot.
Essentially the most vital upset of the weekend for girls’s basketball, although, was because of No. 13 Iowa defeating No. 6 Michigan. The Wolverines have been ranked excessive all 12 months, however they’ve a few evident points which have been spotlighted on this area many times: they generally get overly sloppy in a manner that makes them weak, and they don’t all the time shoot successfully sufficient to make up for that. In opposition to Iowa, Michigan had 24 turnovers and shot 31%. Iowa transformed these turnovers into 21 factors — 15 greater than Michigan obtained on Iowa’s — and whereas the Hawkeyes have been equally ineffective from deep, they have been a menace within the paint, dropping 40 of their 62 factors there. Michigan scored 44 factors complete, and simply as soon as within the final three-plus minutes of play.
Sophomore guard Olivia Olson shot 6-for-16, for 13 factors. The bench offered simply 6 factors on 2-for-13 capturing in 46 minutes, and Syla Swords performed all 40 minutes whereas capturing simply 3-for-11. Michigan is wildly gifted, nevertheless it has to tighten up earlier than the tourney, whether or not you’re referencing the Huge Ten’s or the NCAA’s.
Credit score to sophomore Ava Heiden for as soon as once more placing Iowa on her again, although — the middle scored a game-high 24 factors on 11-for-17 capturing and logged a double-double with 10 rebounds, 2 steals and a couple of blocks, whereas senior ahead Hannah Stuelke had her personal double-double with 11 factors, 12 boards and seven assists. Iowa, by the best way, is now tied with Michigan for second within the Huge Ten, at 13-3.
Miles logs her fifth triple-double of the season
Hey, right here’s a enjoyable stat. Simply 13 Division I ladies’s basketball gamers have ever had 5 triple-doubles of their careers, and on the boys’s aspect it’s even fewer at eight. TCU fifth-year guard and sure WNBA lottery decide Olivia Miles? She has 5 triple-doubles this season. Miles picked up her fifth of the 12 months and eleventh of her profession — the third-most in D-I ladies’s basketball historical past — with 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists towards Iowa State.
Miles scored or assisted on 63% of the Horned Frogs’ factors, which might be spectacular out of context however is much more so whenever you see that they beat the Cyclones by the slender rating of 80-73. She additionally scored 15 of these 26 factors within the remaining 5:21 of the sport, which helped deliver TCU from down 13 to profitable by 7.
Miles scored the two,000th profession level of her profession on this sport, making her the third D-I participant of the century to have at the least that many factors in addition to 800 rebounds and assists every.
It wasn’t simply Miles, although: fellow switch and senior ahead Marta Suarez, who may very effectively be a WNBA decide, too, had a double-double with 19 factors and 10 boards. Oddly sufficient, the one actual blemish within the sport got here from Miles, who shot 1-for-7 from deep and introduced down TCU’s capturing proportion on 3s — she went simply 2-for-14 to start out earlier than the fourth-quarter eruption. The starters performed a lot of the sport, the bench offered some factors and boards of their minutes and Iowa State was held to 39% capturing, with even junior middle Audi Crooks — who leads the Huge 12 in capturing proportion — restricted to an 8-for-17 efficiency.
TCU stays on their own atop the Huge 12 standings, at 13-3, and has to shut out the 12 months towards Cincinnati and fellow ranked staff, Baylor. Iowa State is in a tie for seventh within the convention at 9-7, not out of any combine simply but, and particularly not now that dynamo junior ahead Addy Brown has lastly returned to motion after lacking most of two months. Brown hasn’t discovered her shot once more but, however she does have 14 rebounds, 6 assists a steal and a couple of blocks in two video games and 45 minutes since coming again — Iowa State will want each little bit of her it could actually get if it’s to make it to March and someplace significant inside it.
