College basketball weekend preview: Kansas takes on Kentucky
An upset-filled week in college basketball has several of the nationâs top-ranked teams scrambling for bounce-back wins. Several of them will have to do it in the harsh spotlight before a national TV audience. Here are some high points.
Game of the weekend
No. 1 Kansas at No. 4 Kentucky, Saturday, 6:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
This matchup might have lost a little luster when both teams were toppled by conference opponents on the road Tuesday night, but it is still the unquestioned headliner of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Jayhawks, of course, have the tougher assignment facing a second-consecutive ranked team in hostile territory. But the Wildcats showed their youth at times in the loss at Tennessee and still have room to improve their half-court execution, especially when their three-point shots arenât falling.
Player to watch
London Perrantes, Virginia
The Cavaliersâ disciplined, tempo-driven system doesnât really produce superstars, but the senior do-everything guard is arguably the MVP for Tony Bennettâs squad. Despite battling flu symptoms, he poured in 22 points Tuesday night in the 13th-ranked Cavaliersâ impressive win at Notre Dame. That 17-point victory on the road might have been overshadowed a bit at the time by the rash of upsets around the country, but Sundayâs result certainly wonât be if the Cavaliers can follow up that performance by upending No. 2 Villanova (1 p.m. ET, Fox). The Wildcats, another one of Tuesdayâs upset victims when they let a lead get away at Marquette, will hope for a better finish in front of a hometown crowd in Philadelphia.
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Conferences to watch: Big 12/SEC
In theory, this made-for-TV series figured to provide top contenders from both leagues opportunities to improve their reÌsumeÌs. As matters have unfolded, however, Saturdayâs slate is going to come down to avoiding bad losses for most of the squads from both conferences harboring realistic NCAA tournament expectations.
Perhaps the best pairing other than the top-five showdown in Lexington is No. 18 West Virginia playing host to Texas A&M (noon ET, ESPN). The Mountaineers brought their A-game for their much-anticipated clash with the Jayhawks, but theyâll hope the dreaded letdown doesnât come into play against the Aggies, who showed some promise early but have struggled in SEC play.
In some unfortunate math for the SEC, the conferenceâs second-best team isnât included in this yearâs challenge. No. 24 South Carolina does face a former Big 12 member Saturday as it travels to Missouri, but a win there wonât exactly move the needle for the Gamecocks. No. 25 Florida is on the challenge roster, but the Gators drew a trip to Oklahoma (2 p.m. ET, ESPN). The 8-11 Sooners can do little more than damage the Gatorsâ postseason potential.
Some of the Big 12 participants got difficult draws as well, with Kansas State heading to recent giant killer Tennessee (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2), and Iowa State visiting Vanderbilt (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Fifth-ranked Baylorâs visit to Ole Miss (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2) also is more about avoiding trouble than boosting credentials.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK IN COLLEGE HOOPS
