The Volunteers currently lead the race for the SEC title, with the Tigers just one game behind. Both of these programs know they’ll be in the field and will hold a very high seed, so they’re playing solely for regular season honors.
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John Calipari has treated Mississippi State like Mississippi Valley State, owning an 18-1 record against the Bulldogs and 17-0 outside of the SEC tournament. But even the Delta Devils finally won one, as they broke through on Tuesday to raise their record to 1-27. Could Mississippi State finally end its own run of futility against Kentucky?
The Tigers appear to have the opponent they need, as Clemson has really had Pittsburgh’s number. Since Pitt’s inaugural ACC season, Clemson has dominated this series, winning 11 straight over the Panthers.
If the NCAA tournament was played at Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas would be the overwhelming favorite to win the title. The Jayhawks have been so unbeatable in their building that even defending champion and likely top seed Connecticut couldn’t handle them there.
Cincinnati hasn’t found the Fertitta Center any more welcoming than any other Big 12 visitors. The Bearcats are used to coming to Houston, as the teams used to be American Athletic Conference rivals, but that only means that the Cougars have won nine of 10 from Cincinnati and six straight in Houston. Cincinnati hasn’t won in the Space City since 2017, the final year before Houston built the Fertitta Center.
The Boilers know they’ll be a top seed again. But they need the intimidation factor, and they need to make a statement to make that happen. Showing the Ohio State game was a fluke would make a strong statement that Purdue intends to be a force in March.
St. John’s hasn’t beaten any of the Big East’s best. And that’s why this is their last chance. The Red Storm’s final three games before the Big East tournament are Butler, DePaul and Georgetown. Beating the Bulldogs won’t move the needle, and the Blue Demons and Hoyas are pure land mines.
The AP Top 25 saw its top two seeds lose this week. Purdue dropped to third overall after their loss to Ohio State, and UConn will face their wrath come Monday when the new rankings are out.