Dude…
As conference play continues to heat up, the contenders and pretenders continue to put games in between themselves. Now that conference play is going on, those teams who scheduled weak are now forced to take on some tough opponents. The matchups are good almost every day of the week. Here is your week 7 Corner 3 report.
Key SEC Home Losses?- The SEC had a wild weekend of home losses, headlined by Alabama’s surprising 74-64 defeat to Ole Miss. The Crimson Tide, who had been averaging over 80 points per game, struggled offensively, shooting just 25% from three and 42% overall. Ole Miss capitalized behind Malik Dia's stellar performance, as he dropped 23 points and solidified his case as an All-American contender this season. Meanwhile, Florida fell at home in a heartbreaker to Mizzou, 83-82. The Gators relied heavily on Walter Clayton Jr., who poured in 28 points, but it wasn’t enough as Caleb Grill led the Tigers with 22 points, going 6-10 from beyond the arc. Controversy arose late when the officials missed a 10-second backcourt violation against Mizzou, sparking frustration with the frequent trips to the monitor that disrupt the flow of the game. Mizzou is proving to be a legitimate contender, boasting marquee wins over Kansas and now Florida. If they can handle Arkansas—despite the Razorbacks’ disappointing season with a massive NIL budget and Hall of Fame coach John Calipari—Mizzou should find themselves ranked on Monday. I won’t hate on Mizzou too much, they deserve to be ranked and are definitely a tournament team. With 2 of the top 3 teams in the SEC losing, it brings the race for the SEC title even tighter.
Iowa State is the Best in the Big 12- The Iowa State Cyclones have firmly established themselves as legitimate national championship contenders and the frontrunners to win the Big 12. Anchored by a lethal trio of sharpshooters in Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey, and Curtis Jones, the Cyclones boast an offense that can score from anywhere on the court. The trio shot the lights out against Kansas, especially Curtis Jones. Jones could be an All American this year as he had 25 points and went 5-6 from deep. Complementing their offensive firepower is a stifling defense, a hallmark of Coach T.J. Otzelberger's system. Under his guidance, Iowa State consistently disrupts opposing offenses with relentless pressure and always jumping the passing lanes, making it difficult for anyone to find rhythm. Iowa State is only allowing 69.5 points per game and a defensive rating of 93.1, making them the best defense in the country. With their balanced attack and elite defensive identity, the Cyclones have all the tools to dominate the Big 12 and make a deep run in March.
Lazy Jayhawks- The Kansas Jayhawks are in trouble, plain and simple. Hunter Dickinson, who was supposed to be an All-American centerpiece, has yet to live up to the hype. His tendency to shoot too many threes and his inability to finish inside—even on seemingly simple six-footers—has stymied the offense. KJ Adams has been equally disappointing, missing at least four layups against Iowa State and providing little to no offensive threat. Dejuan Harris has regressed, struggling to hit free throws and committing turnovers at critical moments. The lack of effort was on full display late in their loss to Iowa State, when Hunter Dickinson failed to even contest an offensive rebound off a missed free throw. That lack of hustle allowed Curtis Jones to bury a logo three, effectively sealing the game. HELLOOO, hey Hunter, if I remember correctly THE FIRST THING THEY TEACH YOU IN SPORTS IS THAT EFFORT TAKES NO SKILL!! I mean come on! If not for Zeke Mayo’s offense, this team would be in free fall. The Jayhawks’ so-called "stars" need to figure things out quickly, and someone other than Mayo needs to step up and contribute offensively. With this kind of effort, Kansas could be headed for an early exit in March, and if they don’t improve, don’t be surprised if they’re the victim of a first-round upset. Bill Self’s squad needs a wake-up call before it’s too late.
PC’s Top 5
Duke
Auburn
Iowa State
Tennessee
Marquette
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