Kentucky’s 83-44 blowout win over UCLA on Saturday headlines this week’s stories in the world of college basketball. The Wildcats come right back this weekend to play in a possible Game of the Year as they take on their bitter-rival, No. 4 Louisville on Saturday.
In the first Get More Sports College Basketball Podcast of the season, analyst Will Whelan and editor Mike Krumholtz delve into those stories and more, while also looking ahead to see who the legitimate national contenders are beyond the Bluegrass State.
Will also takes a look at who the top teams in the Pac-12 are headed into conference play, showing why you should be looking out for a pair of surprise teams in Washington and Cal. The 10-2 Golden Bears lost last night at home to No. 6 Wisconsin, but guard Tyrone Wallace remains one of the sleepers for the Wooden Award at the end of the season, as the junior averages more than 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per outing.
In taking a look at the opposite end of the country, Will highlights Virginia as one of his championship-caliber teams. Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers, who rank 2nd in the KenPom Ratings, are anchored by one of college basketball’s most elite defenses and a pair of star players in Anthony Gill and Justin Anderson.
And with the usual suspects of Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State struggling a bit to start the season, who can take their place at the upper echelon of the Big Ten? Though the surprise may already be out of the bag, Mark Turgeon’s Maryland Terrapins look prone to take control of the conference this season along with Wisconsin. Freshman guard Melo Trimble leads the 17th-ranked Terps, whose only loss has come to Virginia, despite the temporary absence of leading scorer Dez Wells.
For the latest college basketball news, please check out the college basketball podcast here at Get More Sports every Tuesday.
