Dude…
Another week, another slew of upsets happening in conference play. Some teams continued their rise in the rankings. Some teams stumbled. Who still remains intact after all the upsets? Here are your week 9 results!
SEC Scramble- Alabama solidified its title aspirations with a gritty win over Kentucky in Rupp Arena, led by Grant Nelson's stellar 25-point, 11-rebound performance. Mizzou also got a big win at Florida making themselves a contender in the SEC. Caleb Grill and Jaxson Robinson lead the team in scoring as they beat competitive Florida. Look for the Tigers to be a threat to make the second weekend come March. They did just lose to Texas at Texas, but a loss like that won’t matter as much if they continue to play well throughout the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Tennessee stumbled against Vanderbilt, and Alabama suffered a surprising loss to Ole Miss, highlighting the unpredictability of the conference. Mississippi State added to the drama by defeating Ole Miss in a rivalry clash. Despite the chaos, Auburn remains the SEC's most complete team, consistently proving why they're the league's best. With teams trading punches, the SEC title race is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling in years.
Iowa State National Title Contenders?- Iowa State delivered a statement win over Kansas, showcasing their potential as legitimate national title contenders. Curtis Jones stole the show with an electric 25-point performance, shooting the lights out, while Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert anchored a stifling defense crafted by T.J. Otzelberger. Meanwhile, Kansas struggled with Hunter Dickinson’s lack of effort, Dajuan Harris’ uncharacteristic turnovers, and the absence of KJ Adams, honestly, boosted their shooting efficiency. KJ couldn’t shoot it into the ocean. Iowa State’s defensive identity is undeniable, but their recent loss to West Virginia—highlighted by an abysmal 1-for-17 showing from three—raises questions about consistency. Javon Small’s 27 points for West Virginia exposed cracks in the Cyclones’ armor. So, are they championship material? If they can clean up their shooting and avoid lapses like in Morgantown, the answer will be yes.
Best of the Rest- UConn’s struggles continued with a tough loss to Creighton, where Ryan Kalkbrenner dominated inside with 16 points and 10 rebounds. UConn’s offensive woes were evident, as they missed the scoring spark that Liam McNeeley usually provides. Meanwhile, Duke flexed its muscle in the ACC with a commanding win over Boston College, fueled by Cooper Flagg’s 28 points and Tyrese Proctor’s 20, solidifying their position as the conference’s dominant force, especially with North Carolina falling to Stanford and Wake Forrest in a surprising upset. Elsewhere, the chaos continued as Marquette dropped a close one to Xavier, Michigan lost on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater, and Santa Clara stunned Gonzaga in a massive upset. College basketball is proving unpredictable, with top teams facing challenges at every turn. So who is truly a contender? Duke is the obvious choice, as I have them #1 in my rankings. UCONN is still hanging in there if they are healthy enough, as they seek a 3 peat. Either way, it should be a wild rest of the season.
PC’s Top 5
Duke
Auburn
Alabama
Iowa State
Houston
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