Kansas, Kentucky look to recover
After an upset- filled week in college basketball, several of the nation’s topranked teams are scrambling for bounce- back wins. Several must do it in the harsh spotlight of 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 lost a little luster when both teams were toppled by conference opponents on the road Tuesday, but it is still the unquestionedmarquee matchup of the Big 12/ SEC Challenge. The Jayhawks have the tougher assignment facing a second consecutive ranked team in hostile territory. But the Wildcats showed their youth at times in their loss at Tennessee and have room to improve their halfcourt execution, especially when their three- point shots don’t fall.
PLAYER TOWATCH London Perrantes, Virginia
The Cavaliers’ disciplined, tempodriven system doesn’t really produce superstars, but the senior do- everything guard is arguably the MVP for Tony Bennett’s squad. Despite battling flu symptoms, he scored 22 points Tuesday in the 13th- ranked Cavaliers’ impressive win at No. 12 Notre Dame. That 17- point victory on the road might have been overshadowed a bit at the time by the rash of upsets across the country, but Sunday’s result won’t be if the Cavaliers can follow up that performance by upending No. 2 Villanova ( 1 p. m. ET, Fox). The Wildcats, another one of Tuesday’s 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.
CONFERENCES TOWATCH Big 12 and SEC
In theory, thismade-for- TV series figured to provide top contenders from both leagues opportunities to improve their résumés. As matters have unfolded, however, Saturday’s 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. 18West 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 they’ll hope the dreaded letdown doesn’t come into play against the Aggies, who showed promise early but have struggled in SEC play.
In some unfortunate math for the SEC, the conference’s second- best team isn’t included in this year’s challenge. No. 24 South Carolina does face a former Big 12 member Saturday as it travels to Missouri, but a win there won’t 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 Gators’ postseason potential.