This weekend features an exciting array of heavy-hitting college basketball action. On Saturday, three Top 25 teams hit the road to take on fellow members of the AP Poll, while overall, nine ranked teams will leave the comforts of home for a weekend test. Each week, we will preview our “Picks To Click”, and highlight some of the marquee matchups, and what we should all expect.
No. 3 Virginia at No. 13 Notre Dame: You think South Bend is going to rocking for the visiting Cavaliers? Mike Brey versus Tony Bennett. Jerian Grant versus Justin Anderson. This feels like a monumental game considering the ACC Conference and NCAA Tournament implications. Virginia can score and defend, while the Irish can do much of the same. Yet, why does it feel like Virginia has a distinct advantage this weekend? Bennett’s pack line defense has squandered many a game plan so far this season when opponents feel like they’ve got a shot at upsetting UVA. If the Irish want a chance on Saturday, they’ll need to continue their hot shooting ways from beyond the arc—as they shoot better than 40-percent as a team.
Who do we like? The first consideration is that conference road trips are absolutely brutal, and given Virginia’s recent play of closer than expected games, one has to think the Irish—who are riding high after going into Chapel Hill and leaving with a win—feel good about their chances. If Grant gets going, there are pieces around him to compliment, and the Irish have experience in close games, coming away with a win. If Grant doesn’t find his rhythm, Virginia can get out into transition, or take any sort of pace out of the game to mitigate any crowd momentum there may be. This is a pivotal game for the Irish, to keep their streak going since the loss to Providence, but I think UVA somehow makes enough plays to get a win. Pick: UVA[divider]No. 5 Louisville at No. 18 North Carolina: Perhaps it’s just me, but this North Carolina feels like the ultimate pretender when discussing any kind of danger come March. Sure, they play together offensively and Kennedy Meeks is one of the more improved players in the conference, but the Tar Hells don’t scare anyone, anymore. Meanwhile, since their loss to Kentucky, Louisville has gotten back to their winning ways, and Chris Jones has sparked much of it, someone I grilled for his play against the Wildcats in their loss. When UL gets quality play from Jones and Terry Rozier on the perimeter, they form a dangerous compliment to Montrezl Harrell.
But, could there be some magic left in the Dean Dome for the Tar Heels to upset the Cardinals? Simply put, no. Louisville has the advantage on the perimeter and inside, with the defense of Jones and Rozier to frustrate UNC point guard Marcus Paige. The only thing I see changing that, would be if Rozier or Jones pick up a few ticky tack fouls, which can happen on the road, and sitting much of the first half to allow UNC a run of confidence. Other than that, this one has “get ugly” potential for UNC at the hands of their new conference rival. Pick: Louisville[divider]No. 17 Iowa State at No. 14 West Virginia: Now is the time for the Cyclones to cement themselves as a contender or pretender in the Big 12. We’ve talked about it here at length: I picked ISU to win the Big 12 this year. Since that call, they’ve looked rather pedestrian, including an escape at home against Oklahoma State where they blew multiple chances to pull away. West Virginia, winners of two straight road games (and both with a final score of 78-67), host one of the most difficult places to play in the Big 12. It’s remote, far removed from any of the other schools in conference. These Mountaineers are back to playing Bob Huggins style of basketball, and it’s a style that can frustrate a run and gun team like ISU.
That’s not to say WVU can’t score, because they can, and this one has the potential to develop into a slightly sloppy, but wildly entertaining shoot out. I’m not ready to back off my pick for the Big 12 Champion, but I’m also not ready to pick ISU to win in Morgantown. A big game from Bryce Dejean-Jones would certainly aid that effort, though. Pick: West Virginia[divider]Cincinnati at UConn: If the Huskies fall to 8-6, with an AAC slate that still lacks firepower to majorly boost a poor bubble resume, we may need to start talking about other people here for a while. I’ve been high on their potential, including a call for Ryan Boatright as Conference Player of the Year, but the more they underperform, the more it looks like this group just doesn’t have it. Meanwhile, the Bearcats, amid all their coaching uncertainty, have been riding under the radar to an 11-3, 2-0 record. A win over UConn, on the road, would help them keep pace with Temple atop the conference.
This is a clash of styles, with UConn wanting to push the ball and turn the game into a track meet and UC wanting to slow things down due to their lack of offensive firepower. Who will get their way? I think this is a game tailor-made for UConn to break out in. Pick: UConn[divider]California at UCLA: With the Bruins notching a pivotal home win, in double overtime, against Stanford this week, they have a chance to drastically turn around their season. See, the key for this team was always going to be how it utilized its many weapons. Those weapons had gone largely unutilized due to the shooting antics of point guard Bryce Alford, but with 27 points and 18 rebounds against the Cardinal, Kevon Looney put the rest of the conference on notice. Meanwhile, following their indescribable loss to Washington State, Cal went out to LA and got beat by…USC?! The Bears are a mess right now.
So, who can turn their season around inside of Pauley Pavilion? Cal has a pretty clear advantage on the perimeter, while the Bruins could dominate inside. Neither team has built up much trust in the eyes of this analyst, but someone has to win, right? So, let’s go with UCLA. Cal will likely make this a competitive game, but they’ll need another couple of days to get their season back on track, as the Bruins will move back to 2-2 in Pac-12 play. Pick: UCLA
