Picknroll's Big12/SEC Challange Selections...

Part 1   

 

      The Big12/SEC Challange is a mid-season breath of winter fresh air. Arguably, the Big 12 is the nation's best conference. The SEC has the best cadre of basketball coaches in the NCAA. The SEC is still looked at by many sports fans as a football conference. The challenge gives the SEC a place to build credibility. It also gives the SEC a chance to show the Selection Committee how good they are. Ten games between the Big 12 and the SEC should be quite a show. Five of these games will have a national impact on post-season play.

GAME 1: Alabama vs. Oklahoma - Easily the most anticipated game of the Challenge. Originally it was to be shown on ESPN2.  It will now be shown on ESPN. Tip-off is 11 CST and will be played on Oklahoma's home court in Norman, Ok. 

   

     The Tide has become the darling of bracketologists this week. Now projected as a two-seed, Alabama is in rarified air. Oklahoma is off two huge wins. First, the Sooners took down # 9 blue-blood Kansas. Then, Oklahoma traveled to Austin and beat the # 5  Longhorns. On Saturday, the Sooners will go for the hat trick with Alabama. 

     Alabama is coming off ten consecutive wins. The latest two were over Mississippi State and Kentucky. Both were hard-fought affairs. Alabama was without Jordan Bruner.  Alex Reese hurt his knee in the Kentucky game, and his status is unknown at this time.  The heart and soul of the Tide, Herb  Jones, fell and hurt his back against Kentucky. He came back on the floor but was clearly limited with what he could do. I think Jones will play, but whether or not he is 100% is unknown. 

     Alabama will start John Petty, Josh Primo, Alex Reese, Herb Jones, and sparkplug Jaden Shackleford.  Shackleford led the Tide's comeback with 21 points against the Wildcats.  Oklahoma is an excellent basketball team and is playing their best ball right now. The Sooners are led by 6-6 guard Austin Reaves, scoring 15.8 ppg, rebounds at 5.1 per game, and assists at 5.1 per game. He leads the Sooners in all three categories. This is a solid basketball program and is coached by a soon to be Hall of Fame coach, Lou Kruger. 

    If Bama is healthy, I pick them to win. Kenpom has Oklahoma as a one-point favorite. Watch out for home cooking and the home-court advantage. If the Tide is not healthy, it will be a tough pull to win. Pick's pick: Alabama

GAME 2: Texas A&M (7-7) vs. Kansas State (5-12). Neither team is ranked in the top-twenty five at this time. The game will be played in Manhatten, Kansas.  These teams will not be confused with good basketball this year. For TAMU,  this is an opportunity to get some positive press. For Kansas State, it is an opportunity to win one at home in the challenge. Both teams haven't enjoyed the success they expected. TAMU is led by Savion Flagg. The 6-7" 225 lb. senior is the foundation of the Aggie team. His numbers have fallen off some in the last few games, reflecting the team's overall performance. Emanuel Miller is averaging  15 ppg and 8 boards. He has been key to the Aggies. He gives the Aggies some additional inside clout. He's 6-7 and 210 lbs. 

    Kansas State is having a woeful season. Coach Bruce Weber has thrown down the gauntlet to his players, telling them their entire season will be defined in the last ten games. "Texas A&M is the biggest game of our season," proclaim Weber, who is putting it all on the line. The game is on Kstates campus, which always helps.  PICK'S pick: Kansas State in a close one. I'm changing my pick here TAMU

Game 3:  Texas Tech (11-5) vs. LSU (11-4) One of the Challenge's premier games. Both teams are fighting for national recognition. Texas Tech is led by Youtube viral baby Mac McClung. He is averaging 17.2 ppg. He'll square off against LSU's Cameron Thomas, guard, who is averaging 21.7 ppg and has 20 or more points in nine games. Ironically, neither of these players are from the States they represent. Both are from Virginia. Trendon Watford, LSU, has had a good season for the Tigers. 

    Will Wade, he of the strong-ass offer, is at a crossroad. His Tigers are no longer in the top-twenty five after losses to Alabama and Kentucky. The Tigers then closed out a tight game with TAMU. The LSU defense has been sketchy at best. If LSU is going to make a run for a good NCAAT seed, it starts with Tech. Texas Tech beat both Kansas and Texas and is now ranked 10th in the AP poll. The game will be played in the Maravich Assembly Center on campus at LSU. I think Texas Tech may have the better team, but LSU is at home. Pick's pick: LSU with reluctance. 

GAME 4: West Virginia (11-4) vs. Florida (9-4) is another marquee game in the Challenge. Bob Huggins is a great basketball coach. Mike White is also a great coach. This is one game I'm looking forward to seeing. Florida lost the best player due to heart problems, and Gators stumbled. They did not fall. Behind the play of Tre Mann, Florida got back on track. Mann is averaging almost 15 points per game and 4 boards.

     West Virginia has been a tough team to play in Morgantown. Another headliner game is in Big 12 territory.  Miles McBride, 6-2 200 lb. guard, has led the Mountaineers to an 11-4 record and 11th in the nation. He's averaging 15.9 ppg and 4.2 assists per game.  Huggins teams are always fundamentally sound. WVU has beaten Texas and Richmond. They lost to Oklahoma. They have had their last three games postponed.

 

      Without Keyonta Johnson and his 16 ppg, Florida has turned to Mann and have seemingly turned the corner with the addition of Colin Castelton, 6-11, a post player who is averaging 12 ppg.  The last few games the Gators have won were against the lower part to the SEC. They beat Vandy, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Vandy. The big win for Florida was a 72-49 win over Tennessee. Pick's pick - WVU

     More problems for Kentucky. They have lost a tremendous opportunity to regain some momentum for their season. The Wildcats cannot play nationally ranked Texas. The game was to be played in Lexington.

Part 2

Game Five:  TCU Horned Frogs (9-6) vs. Missouri Tigers (10-3) is not one of the best games to be played, but very important to each.  The Tigers, currently a projected 3 seed in Bracketology, would gain a nice win over a good opponent. TCU would love a win over an excellent Missouri team for conference bragging rights. 

     Missouri is currently tied for second place in the SEC. Coach Martin's team is experienced and looking to show the SEC and the Selection Committee that they are worthy of a low seeding. While most fans will be watching the Texas Tech v.LSU game, this one is worth the view.  PICK'S pick - Missouri

Game six: Arkansas (13-4) vs. Oklahoma State (10-4) hasn't gotten many fans' attention, but this should be a great game. Oklahoma State is led by Cade Cunningham, the consensus one and done freshman in the NCAA. Okie has self-imposed the postseason as an offer to the NCAA infraction committee to avoid a bigger punishment. Now, some are saying they should withdraw that offer. At any rate, watching Cunningham, who is averaging 18.0 ppg and 6 rebounds. Arkansas will counter with Moses Moody, 16.5 ppg, and J.D. Notae, averaging 14 a game. All five of the Arkansas starters are in double figures. 

     14-4 sounds a lot better than 13-4, according to my Arkansas buddy. It would be a solid win over an outstanding opponent. Bill Musselman seems to have gotten the Hogs back on track after the thrashing by Alabama. Oklahoma State is a good team. They can win.  PICK'S pick - Arkansas in a close one

Game seven: Auburn (10-7) vs. Baylor (2) is one game eagarly anticipated by SEC fans. A Tiger win might make the basketball world think an NCAA bid is in reach. That's a stretch,  but beating the # two ranked team in the nation would be a big time deal. Don't joke yourself, it would be huge for the SEC. Auburn has the size inside to dominate the boards and protect the basket. Now the Tigers have a point-guard who can score and deliver the goods to his teammates. Shariff Cooper has made a difference in the Tiger team, but the Bears will not be impressed. 

     Baylor is a great basketball team. I've watched them in several games and they have no real weaknesses. Ironically, the Bears best player is Jared Butler. He's a 6-3 195 lb. guard who can light it up. The irony, he signed with Alabama only to fail his entrance physical. He found Baylor. You have to wonder "what if" he had stayed at Alabama. He is a 50% shooter from the three-point area. He is a 90%  free-throw shooter.  The Butler/Cooper matchup may be a classic. Baylor is a 13-point favorite. PICK'S pick - Baylor but it could be close.

Game eight: Iowa State (2-8) vs. Mississippi State (9-8) isn't going to rock your basketball world, but this is a big game for Mississippi State. A win gives Hail State a small chance to make the NCAA. Iowa State has been racked with COVID problems all season. The lack of practice and games has made it hard to even be competitive. Example?  State has played 8 more games that Iowa State. 

Mississipp State has the size and the scorers to make this a one-sided affair. Move on, nothing to see here.  PICK'S pick - State

Game nine: Kansas (11-5) vs. Tennessee (11-3) it's Rock Chalk and Ole Smokey. Kansas is a true blue-blood in college basketball. Tenneesee is a pure-bred in SEC basketball. Kansas has lost three consecutive games. The Vols have been highly rated all season due to their inside game and defense.  Tennessee is ranked 18th in the AP Poll.  Kansas checks in at 15th despite the three recent losses.

     This might be an old-fashioned type game. Tenneesee is  going to keep the score down, and Kansas is going to want to make it a track meet. Yves Pons, 6-6 forward is a beast on defense. He is a shot blocker who is averaging two a game.  John Fulkerson, 6-9 forward is the Vols leading scorer. Tennessee isn't going to beat you on offense. They will kill you on defense. Kansas has beaten Texas Tech, Oklahoma, TCU, and West Virginia. They also lost a high scoring affair with Gonzaga.  I'd love to see this game on a neutral floor, but it's in Knoxville. PICK'S pick - Tennessee

     A great day of Hoops. A lot of highly anticipated games.