Males’s Energy Rankings: Issues for Kentucky, Wisconsin as UConn, Purdue proceed dominance

Final week we would talked right here about UConn and Purdue separating themselves from the remainder of the nation. That theme was cemented as soon as once more this previous week, with eight of the opposite 14 groups in final week’s Energy Rankings struggling no less than one defeat. All three groups within the ready room misplaced. The subsequent three groups into account did, too.

However let’s discuss in regards to the two greatest storylines of this week’s rankings: Wisconsin and Kentucky. The Badgers have misplaced 4 in a row, together with back-to-back defeats this previous week at Michigan and Rutgers. They’re nonetheless one of many 4 groups in Division I males’s basketball with double-digit Quadrant 1 and a pair of wins, however their efficiency-based metrics are falling, and so they’re simply No. 51 within the nation over their previous eight video games at BartTorvik.com.

The Wildcats additionally discover themselves fully out of the Energy Rankings, disappearing from the ready room following a house loss to Gonzaga. It is truthful to start out questioning the solidity of their résumé, too. They’re simply 2-5 towards Quad 1 opponents, they’ve a Quad 3 loss and their greatest wins since beating North Carolina in mid-December are towards Florida, Mississippi State and Arkansas.

Can both staff flip issues round — Wisconsin offensively and Kentucky defensively — to battle their approach again into the highest 16? We’ll must see.

On to this week’s awards and rankings …

---

The goals of a six-bid Mountain West obtained a shot within the arm this previous week when Nevada gained at Utah State on Tuesday then rotated and knocked off San Diego State on Friday. The Wolf Pack have been one of many few groups nationally to beat two projected NCAA match groups this week, whereas additionally bettering their résumé sufficient to seek out themselves knocking on the door of projected brackets.

OT | THAT WAS FILTHY KENAN 😱 #BattleBorn | #PackParty pic.twitter.com/H2jdcTaRFO

— Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) February 10, 2024

Nevada opened the season with 15 wins in its first 16 video games however misplaced 4 of the subsequent 5 to fall beneath .500 within the Mountain West. Steve Alford’s staff opened the newest week with a 14-point win at USU, which hadn’t misplaced at house all season. Nick Davidson led the best way there with 25 factors and 10 boards. The Wolf Pack adopted up with a 70-66 time beyond regulation win over an Aztecs staff that discovered itself at No. 24 on this week’s AP ballot. This time it was Kenan Blackshear (22 factors) to tempo the staff.

The Wolf Pack now have 5 Quadrant 1 wins, tied for the eighth-most nationally.

Texas A&M has turned issues round since a rocky two-month stretch in the midst of the season, and this duo has led the best way. They each edge out Arizona’s Pelle Larsson for the nod — it was too arduous to decide on one — after carrying the Aggies to a highway win over Missouri and a dominant house victory over Tennessee.

In opposition to the Tigers, Radford had 22 factors and 4 boards, whereas Taylor went for 18 factors, 5 boards and three assists. On Saturday, each gamers went off. Taylor had 25 factors and 7 assists, with Radford going for 27 factors, 5 boards and 5 assists. Based on ESPN Stats & Info, they turned simply the third pair of teammates up to now 25 years to every have 25 factors and 5 assists towards a top-10 opponent.

Radford is now averaging 25.0 factors in his previous three video games, whereas Taylor has one other enormous efficiency so as to add to his rising checklist of big-time particular person performances: 35 factors vs. FAU, 34 factors vs. Houston, 31 factors vs. Kentucky, 41 factors vs. Arkansas, 30 factors vs. Ole Miss.

There have been a slew of spectacular wins this week: Florida crushing Auburn, Texas A&M blowing out Tennessee, and Kansas State knocking off Kansas in time beyond regulation. All deserve recognition. However knocking off No. 3-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill wins the week. The Tigers have been basically coming into a make-or-break week to really feel snug about their NCAA match hopes after dropping six of their earlier 9 video games and sitting at 4-6 within the ACC.

Clemson scored the primary basket of Tuesday’s sport, had a 15-2 lead within the first 3½ minutes and by no means trailed. PJ Corridor (25 factors) and Joseph Girard III (21 factors) had enormous baskets within the closing minutes to interrupt a 70-70 tie and maintain off a comeback try by the Tar Heels. The Tigers, who additionally gained at Syracuse on Saturday, have improved to 2-60 all time at UNC.

When Abdur-Rahim accepted this job again in March, he knew he was taking on a program in a troublesome spot. The Bulls have been coming off a 14-18 marketing campaign and had by no means completed .500 or higher in league play since shifting from the Huge East to the American in 2013. Though Abdur-Rahim introduced a few gamers with him from the Kennesaw State staff he took to the NCAA match final season, USF was picked ninth within the AAC within the preseason ballot.

After profitable at Rice on Saturday, nonetheless, the Bulls are by themselves atop the convention standings coming into the ultimate seven video games of standard play. They’ve gained 9 video games in a row and 15 of their previous 16 to sit down at 17-5 total and 10-1 within the AAC. Abdur-Rahim has accomplished it virtually totally with newcomers, with sixth man Selton Miguel the one USF returnee within the prime seven of the rotation.

---

Three groups with questions

Kentucky Wildcats: The Wildcats’ defensive points have been obvious earlier within the season, however their offense was so environment friendly it did not appear to matter. Nicely, that is not the case. They’re 4-5 of their previous 9 video games and have misplaced three straight video games at house for the primary time since 1966. Over the previous 4 video games, the Wildcats are No. 283 nationally in adjusted defensive effectivity at BartTorvik.com.

St. John’s Crimson Storm: The Johnnies had a 15-point lead late within the first half at Marquette, in place to seize a marquee win. They ended up dropping by 11, lacking various pictures across the rim within the closing minutes. Rick Pitino’s staff is now simply 2-6 in its previous eight video games and has to journey to Windfall on Tuesday. The Johnnies is likely to be on the fallacious aspect of the bubble because it stands.

Utah Utes: We have highlighted the Utes on this part beforehand, as a consequence of their highway struggles. However this previous week, Utah misplaced to Arizona and Arizona State at house, bringing the tally as much as 4 losses in its previous 5 video games and dropping the Utes to 6-7 within the Pac-12. Most regarding, nonetheless, is that their subsequent three video games are on the highway — the place they’re 0-5 in Pac-12 play to this point this season.

---

Energy Rankings

1. UConn Huskies (22-2)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: at DePaul (Wednesday), vs. Marquette (Saturday)

Since Donovan Clingan returned from a foot damage that price him 5 video games in December and January, UConn is No. 2 nationally in adjusted defensive effectivity at BartTorvik.com. That features limiting six of seven opponents to fewer than one level per possession — highlighted by the Huskies holding Creighton to 48 factors again on Jan. 17 and Xavier to 22 first-half factors on Jan. 28. With Clingan anchoring the paint protection, Xavier shot 3-for-23 on 2-pointers with him on the ground in that sport. This previous week, it occurred once more, with Georgetown going 7-for-22 on layups on Saturday.

2. Purdue Boilermakers (22-2)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: vs. Minnesota (Thursday), at Ohio State (Sunday)

Purdue’s lone sport this week was a drubbing of Indiana, giving the Boilermakers two 20-point wins over their in-state rivals for the primary time since 1933-34, in response to ESPN Stats & Info. Zach Edey had 26 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 assists, however he additionally did one thing he had by no means accomplished in his school profession: Make a 3-pointer. Edey’s banked-in trey from the highest of the important thing with 6:35 left within the second half was his first in 4 years in West Lafayette.

You’ve got waited for it…

… so right here you go. – @zach_edey

🎯 BULLSEYE!!! pic.twitter.com/EKzTKSstxp

— Purdue Males’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) February 11, 2024

3. Houston Cougars (21-3)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: vs. Texas (Saturday)

Whereas Houston’s protection will get all of the headlines, the Cougars’ three key metrics at EvanMiya.com all revolve round their offense. Coming into Saturday, all three of their losses this season got here after they tried fewer than 15 free throws, made fewer than 33.3% of their 3-pointers and their opponent dedicated fewer than 15 fouls. In opposition to Cincinnati on Saturday, nonetheless, the Cougars have been nonetheless capable of come out with a win, regardless of none of these thresholds being met.

4. Marquette Golden Eagles (18-5)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: at Butler (Tuesday), at UConn (Saturday)

Marquette’s profitable streak is now at seven video games after a comeback to beat St. John’s on Saturday, though highway video games at Butler and UConn await. The Eagles’ final loss got here towards Butler greater than a month in the past, when star guard Tyler Kolek had two factors on 1-for-13 capturing. Since that loss, Kolek is averaging 19.7 factors and 10.0 assists, capturing 47.4% from 3-point vary. He had 27 factors, 7 boards and 13 assists towards the Johnnies on Saturday.

5. Arizona Wildcats (19-5)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: vs. Arizona State (Saturday)

Kylan Boswell has been on the coronary heart of almost every thing Arizona has accomplished nicely this season. The sophomore guard had a terrific first month of the season, when the Wildcats have been at their greatest, and has been inconsistent since then — which can be mentioned for his staff. Boswell has averaged simply 4.6 factors in Arizona’s 5 losses, with two scoreless outings amongst these video games. However he appears to be like to be rounding again into type, scoring 16 factors and making 5 assists within the triple-overtime win at Utah after which going for 15 factors and 4 dimes at Colorado.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels (19-5)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: at Syracuse (Tuesday), vs. Virginia Tech (Saturday)

Carolina’s aforementioned beautiful loss to Clemson on Tuesday was the third sport in a row its protection — which had been the catalyst for a 10-game profitable streak — allowed a couple of level per possession. The Tar Heels returned to type towards Miami on Saturday, holding the Hurricanes to 6-for-23 from 3-point vary. Offensively, Elliot Cadeau had arguably the very best sport of his school profession, ending with 19 factors and eight assists, whereas additionally hitting two 3s for the primary time.

7. Kansas Jayhawks (19-5)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: at Texas Tech (Monday), at Oklahoma (Saturday)

Kansas has to hope Dajuan Harris Jr.’s late-game damage towards Baylor would not power him to overlook any time shifting ahead. He completed up the sport towards the Bears, however we’ll have to observe his well being. Significantly as a result of Kansas would not actually have a alternative for him. Based on KenPom, Harris has performed 90% of the Jayhawks’ level guard minutes over the previous 5 video games. He additionally had two of his higher offensive performances up to now week, averaging 14.5 factors and 6.5 assists towards Kansas State and Baylor.

8. Tennessee Volunteers (17-6)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: at Arkansas (Wednesday), vs. Vanderbilt (Saturday)

Tennessee suffered its worst lack of the season on Saturday, giving up 85 factors in a 16-point defeat at Texas A&M. The Vols merely could not comprise Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford and actually struggled to generate constant offense on the different finish. They went with out a discipline aim for a nine-minute stretch spanning each halves and have been simply 3-for-15 from 3 for the primary 25 minutes. They’ve additionally now allowed no less than 1.20 factors per possession twice up to now three video games — after permitting only one opponent to hit even 1.10 factors per possession within the first 20 video games of the marketing campaign.

9. Iowa State Cyclones (18-5)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: at Cincinnati (Tuesday), vs. Texas Tech (Saturday)

Not dropping Iowa State after its two-point loss at Baylor final weekend appears to be like smart on reflection, after the Cyclones went on the highway and beat Texas, then dealt with their enterprise towards TCU at house on Saturday. Curtis Jones’ emergence as a dependable producer off the bench up to now three weeks has been a lift for T.J. Otzelberger. The previous Buffalo switch hit double figures in scoring in six of his first 17 video games of the season. He now has accomplished it in six straight video games, averaging 14.2 factors over that span.

10. South Carolina Gamecocks (20-3)
Earlier rating: 15
This week: at Auburn (Wednesday), vs. LSU (Saturday)

The continued emergence of Collin Murray-Boyles offers Lamont Paris a brand new dimension at each ends of the ground. Within the first 15 video games of his school profession, the freshman ahead averaged 6.5 factors and 4.1 rebounds. He scored greater than 15 factors as soon as throughout that stretch. Prior to now three video games, although, he is averaging 21.0 factors and seven.0 rebounds and simply had 31 factors on 14-for-17 capturing in a win over Vanderbilt.

11. Auburn Tigers (19-5)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: vs. South Carolina (Wednesday), vs. Kentucky (Saturday)

It may be arduous to discover a larger disparity in performances in a four-day span than Auburn’s this previous week. Auburn regarded each little bit of a nationwide title contender towards Alabama, scoring 99 factors and holding Bama to certainly one of its worst offensive efforts of the marketing campaign. Three days later, Florida hammered the Tigers in Gainesville, scoring 81 factors regardless of not making a discipline aim within the closing 9 minutes. Fortuitously, Bruce Pearl’s staff returns house for 2 key video games this week.

12. Alabama Crimson Tide (17-7)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. Texas A&M (Saturday)

On Wednesday, Alabama had its worst defensive efficiency since late within the 2021-22 season, giving up 99 factors to Auburn on 1.28 factors per possession. Making issues worse, the Tide made simply 9 3-pointers, solely the third time of their previous 12 video games they failed to achieve double figures in made 3s. The protection wasn’t a lot better towards LSU on Saturday, because the Tigers have been capable of shoot higher than 63% contained in the arc after Auburn dominated the paint earlier within the week. The distinction was, Alabama made 18 treys on the different finish, en path to a program-record 109 factors on the highway.

13. Duke Blue Devils (18-5)
Earlier rating: 16
This week: vs. Wake Forest (Monday), at Florida State (Saturday)

On a roster with out a ton of next-level athleticism or slashing skill, Mark Mitchell has grow to be an actual asset offensively for the Blue Devils. He totaled 30 factors and 17 rebounds in wins over Notre Dame and Boston Faculty this previous week, lacking simply 5 pictures over the 2 video games. He additionally hit two 3s towards BC, solely the second time this season he has made a number of pictures from behind the arc. Mitchell’s skill to crash the offensive glass and get to the free throw line to create simple offense is exclusive for Jon Scheyer’s staff.

14. Baylor Bears (17-6)
Earlier rating: 14
This week: vs. Oklahoma (Tuesday), at West Virginia (Saturday)

The Bears’ three-game profitable streak got here to an finish in Lawrence on Saturday, though having two possibilities to ship the sport towards Kansas to time beyond regulation regardless of lacking Langston Love and regardless of turning the ball over 21 occasions is a constructive signal for the staff’s protection. It additionally helps that Ja’Kobe Walter lastly noticed the ball go within the hoop a number of occasions, as he had his first double-figure scoring effort (17 factors) since Jan. 27. He is nonetheless capturing simply 23.7% from 3 in Huge 12 play, nonetheless.

15. Illinois Combating Illini (17-6)
Earlier rating: 13
This week: vs. Michigan (Tuesday), at Maryland (Saturday)

Illinois obtained completely blitzed down the stretch of Saturday’s sport towards Michigan State, giving up 24 factors within the closing 6:32 — together with 13 factors within the closing 2:15. The protection is one thing to observe within the coming weeks, because the Illini have now allowed 1.15 factors per possession over their previous three video games. Additionally they have to get Quincy Guerrier again on monitor. After averaging 15.8 factors and eight.9 boards in an 11-game stretch, he is at 5.5 factors and 4.5 boards in his final 4 video games.

16. Creighton Bluejays (17-7)
Earlier rating: Within the ready room
This week: vs. Georgetown (Tuesday), at Butler (Saturday)

The Bluejays transfer from the ready room into the highest 16 regardless of a loss at Windfall, principally as a result of everybody else round them additionally misplaced. CU gained at Xavier on Saturday, snapping a two-game dropping streak — a one-point loss to Butler and an time beyond regulation defeat to the Friars. Greg McDermott has one of the vital consolidated offenses within the nation, with 4 gamers scoring virtually all of Creighton’s factors, however outdoors of them, Mason Miller offered a pleasant carry on Saturday, making three 3s.

Dropped out: Wisconsin Badgers (No. 11)

Within the ready room

Colorado State Rams: After dropping 4 of six video games in January, the Rams have now gained 4 in a row, a stretch that features wins over San Diego State and Boise State. However the subsequent 5 video games will form the Rams’ destiny: at San Diego State, vs. Utah State, at New Mexico, at UNLV, vs. Nevada. We’ll know much more about Niko Medved’s staff, and their potential March seeding, after this run.

Oklahoma Sooners: The Sooners return to the fold after profitable three of 4 video games, with their 16-point win over BYU on Tuesday giving them the sting over the Cougars within the order. They’ve a brutal few weeks forward, with journeys to Baylor, Oklahoma State and Iowa State and residential tilts towards Kansas and Houston. Their seeding will shift dramatically after these video games.

BYU Cougars: Regardless of the loss at Oklahoma on Tuesday, the Cougars have gained three of their previous 4 and have a reasonably manageable — no less than when it comes to the Huge 12 — upcoming schedule. Fousseyni Traore has been an actual issue since returning to common minutes following a hamstring damage: 18.8 factors, 7.0 rebounds on 63.8% capturing in his previous 4 video games.