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Jeff Borzello
Are we able to put Houston within the elite tier of faculty basketball this season?
Auburn and Duke have been staples on the high of our Energy Rankings for a number of weeks, with Iowa State within the combine. And whereas Tennessee has light, Alabama and its ultratalented roster is shifting up. However Houston additionally belongs on this dialogue.
The Cougars misplaced three video games in November and fell dramatically within the standings, clocking in as little as No. 17 within the Related Press ballot. And due to their schedule, they did not play any opponent that will transfer the needle — till Saturday at Kansas, after they surged again from down six factors within the ultimate seconds of each regulation and extra time to come back out of Allen Fieldhouse with a win, which they adopted up with a snug victory at West Virginia on Wednesday.
Houston’s metrics have maintained a spot within the higher class of groups this season. Even after the three losses, the Cougars did not fall under No. 5 at KenPom. Now they’re No. 1, forward of each Auburn and Duke. And BartTorvik has them atop his rankings, too.
Certain, the win at Kansas is admittedly the one marquee victory Houston has to date this season, however a 13-game successful streak with 11 double-digit wins over that stretch earns Kelvin Sampson’s crew a spot within the high tier of the game.
Earlier rating: 1
After getting into final weekend as a game-time choice, Johni Broome has performed 66 minutes in two video games and appears like he by no means missed any time.
Broome had 16 factors, 13 boards and 4 blocks off the bench in opposition to Tennessee on Saturday, then put up 26 factors (20 within the second half), 16 rebounds and three blocks in Wednesday’s win over LSU — his ninth 20-10 recreation this season, tied for essentially the most in Division I. He additionally turned the primary Division I participant to submit a number of video games with a minimum of 25 factors and 15 rebounds, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.
Subsequent seven days: at Ole Miss (Feb. 1), vs. Oklahoma (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 2
Duke wrapped its January slate with a win over NC State on Monday, and Cooper Flagg had yet one more dominant outing with 28 factors, 7 rebounds and three assists. Flagg was unguardable within the second half, going for 23 of his 28 factors after the break. Within the Blue Devils’ seven January video games, Flagg averaged 25.4 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists, capturing practically 43% from 3-point vary. He has overtaken Auburn’s Johni Broome as the favourite for Nationwide Participant of the Yr, whereas Duke has established itself as a nationwide title favourite. Not a foul month.
Subsequent seven days: vs. North Carolina (Feb. 1), at Syracuse (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: 4
It wasn’t fully clear what Alabama would get out of Chris Youngblood this season. The co-AAC Participant of the Yr at South Florida in 2023-24, Youngblood missed the primary month of this season due to an ankle damage. After coming off the bench for the previous six weeks, Nate Oats inserted him into the beginning lineup earlier than the LSU recreation final weekend. In his two video games as a starter, Youngblood has totaled 36 factors and 7 rebounds, highlighted by Wednesday’s efficiency in opposition to Mississippi State: 23 factors whereas capturing 7-for-10 from 3 and hitting a few clutch 3s late earlier than icing the sport from the free throw line.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Georgia (Feb. 1)
Earlier rating: 3
Iowa State was one free throw (or 60 toes) from knocking off Arizona in Tuscon on Monday regardless of not taking part in something near its greatest recreation of the season. Curtis Jones actually struggled, whereas the crew general shot 29.2% from 3 within the Cyclones’ second-worst offensive efficiency of the season, forward of solely their loss at West Virginia. Three-point capturing was additionally on the coronary heart of that defeat, because the Cyclones made simply considered one of their 17 makes an attempt from past the arc.
Subsequent week’s journey to Lawrence to face Kansas offers one other large check.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Kansas State (Feb. 1), at Kansas (Feb. 3)
Earlier rating: 5
Florida is about to place its nationwide championship credentials to the check, with highway journeys to Tennessee and Auburn on the docket over the subsequent two weekends and a house date in opposition to a sizzling Vanderbilt crew in between.
The important thing for the Gators comes on the protection finish. Within the loss to Kentucky, they gave up 106 factors at a clip of 1.48 factors per possession. In opposition to Missouri, they surrendered 83 factors and 1.21 factors per possession. Whether or not they can get out and run in opposition to the Vols or Tigers might be price monitoring, too. Of their wins, the Gators lead the nation with 19.3 fast-break factors per recreation, per CBB Analytics, scoring 16.8 factors off turnovers. Of their losses, that mark falls to 9.0 fast-break factors and 5.0 factors off turnovers.
Subsequent seven days: at Tennessee (Feb. 1), vs. Vanderbilt (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 8
Houston did not play its greatest recreation in opposition to West Virginia on Wednesday — the Mountaineers shot 57% from the sector within the second half (47% for the sport), tried extra free throws, had fewer turnovers and outscored the Cougars 9-2 in factors off turnovers. And but, Houston received by 14, holding West Virginia to 49 factors.
Houston’s flooring is remarkably excessive. The Cougars needn’t play something resembling an ideal recreation, they usually can nonetheless roll to a win. On Wednesday, it was offensive rebounding, second-chance factors and efficiency past the arc that have been their keys to success — they simply have so many alternative methods to win.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Texas Tech (Feb. 1), vs. Oklahoma State (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 10
Marquette’s quest for a Huge East regular-season title — what could be its second in three seasons — might be closely influenced by the subsequent three video games: vs. UConn on Saturday, adopted by highway journeys to St. John’s and Creighton subsequent week.
The continued reemergence of Stevie Mitchell as a scorer could be an enormous enhance to the Golden Eagles’ hopes. In Mitchell’s previous two video games — each wins over Villanova and Butler — he has totaled 43 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals whereas making three 3s. He was a catalyst for Marquette’s comeback in opposition to Butler, scoring 14 factors within the second half.
Subsequent seven days: vs. UConn (Feb. 1), at St. John’s (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 7
After back-to-back losses, Kentucky bounced again with an extremely spectacular assertion win on the highway at Tennessee. The Wildcats have now knocked off six top-15 groups, with 4 of these six wins coming away from house. They did it Tuesday with out starters Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr and nonetheless managed to attain extra factors in opposition to Tennessee than any crew has all season. Jaxson Robinson and Amari Williams have been each wonderful, however Koby Brea (18 factors, 5 3s) and Ansley Almonor (12 factors) had huge footwear to fill — and stepped up.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Arkansas (Feb. 1), at Ole Miss (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 6
Tennessee dropped its second straight recreation and misplaced for the fourth time in seven video games Tuesday, giving up a season-high 78 factors to Kentucky in Knoxville. Whereas the defensive efficiency was the Volunteers’ second worst all season on a per-possession foundation, a lot of the blame for the loss will fall on their offense.
A few of the stats are eye-popping: The Vols have been 13-for-41 on uncontested pictures, together with 8-for-33 on uncontested 3-pointers. They have been 7-for-16 on layups. They usually made one fewer 3-pointer than Kentucky regardless of making an attempt 21 extra 3s.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Florida (Feb. 1), vs. Missouri (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: 12
There is a legit case to be made that Michigan State’s two-game lead within the loss column for the Huge Ten title stems partially from the Spartans’ softer schedule to start out convention play, however they’ve taken care of enterprise in spectacular trend nonetheless, with just one recreation determined by a single possession. In accordance with conference-only stats at KenPom, Michigan State ranks atop the league in each offensive and defensive effectivity, offensive rebounding proportion, free throw charge, efficient subject objective proportion protection, 2-point and 3-point protection in addition to blocked-shot proportion.
Subsequent seven days: at USC (Feb. 1), at UCLA (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 13
Purdue has received eight of its previous 9 video games since a blowout loss to Auburn simply earlier than Christmas.
Braden Smith has averaged 18.7 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 9.7 assists and a couple of.8 steals in these 9 video games, making practically 35% of his 3-point pictures. He has tallied 4 double-doubles over that span, doling out 14 assists on two events whereas mixing in a 34-point outing. He has risen to No. 4 in KenPom’s Participant of the Yr standings, and it arguably will not be lengthy earlier than he passes No. 3 Hunter Dickinson, both. Smith is solely taking part in unbelievable basketball proper now.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Indiana (Jan. 31), at Iowa (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 9
Kansas suffered a brutal loss at house to Houston on Saturday, then wanted a late surge to carry off UCF’s upset try at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks welcomed KJ Adams Jr. again in opposition to UCF, however place to begin guard Dajuan Harris Jr. was out due to an ankle damage — it was the primary missed recreation of Harris’ profession and the primary time Invoice Self did not have Harris within the beginning lineup since March 1, 2022, and simply the second time since a 2021 NCAA event loss.
Rylan Griffen began in Harris’ place, but it surely was Northern Illinois switch David Coit who got here off the bench to play a season-high 28 minutes and rating 12 factors on 4 3s.
Subsequent seven days: at Baylor (Feb. 1), vs. Iowa State (Feb. 3)
Earlier rating: 11
From a charge standpoint, huge man Pharrel Payne is placing up among the greatest numbers within the SEC. He ranks ninth in offensive rebound charge and eighth in blocked shot charge, and he attracts essentially the most fouls per 40 minutes within the league. His per-40 stats are additionally terrific with 19.5 factors and 10.6 rebounds, and he is capturing 66% from the sector. With Solomon Washington out Tuesday due to damage, Payne received his first begin since November, responding with 10 factors and 11 rebounds in solely 17 minutes. In the meantime, Henry Coleman performed his most minutes of the season, ending with 14 factors and 6 boards.
Subsequent seven days: at South Carolina (Feb. 1)
Earlier rating: 18
Memphis must take higher care of the ball if it needs to win video games within the NCAA event. The Tigers rank No. 326 nationally in turnover proportion and final within the AAC in convention play. Opponents have scored a minimum of 20 factors off turnovers in opposition to them eight instances this season, and the Tigerrs have coughed it up on a minimum of 20% of their possessions 9 instances prior to now 13 video games.
It has been a focus for Penny Hardaway and his crew, with Hardaway saying after a closer-than-expected win over Wichita State — a recreation wherein the Tigers had 14 first-half turnovers — that the turnover points are “getting embarrassing proper now.”
Subsequent seven days: at Tulane (Jan. 30), at Rice (Feb. 2), vs. Tulsa (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: 21
St. John’s first-half efficiency in opposition to Georgetown on Tuesday was fairly merely ridiculous. The Purple Storm led by 30 with just below three minutes left within the half, with the Hoyas — on their house courtroom — not reaching double-figures in factors till 16 minutes have been gone. St. John’s restricted Georgetown to lower than 0.60 factors per possession, which is the second-best Purple Storm defensive effort in KenPom’s database. The one higher efficiency got here again in 2005 in opposition to Maryland-Jap Shore. St. John’s has now received 13 of its previous 14.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Windfall (Feb. 1), vs. Marquette (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 14
Illinois has misplaced three of its previous 5 video games whereas struggling at each ends of the ground.
Offensively, the Illini’s numbers have been horrific: They’re capturing 40.4% from the sector and 25.7% from 3-point vary, rating No. 329 and No. 363, respectively, per CBB Analytics. And their protection has been porous. They’ve allowed 95.8 factors per 100 possessions over the course of the season; prior to now 5 video games, that quantity is up at 108.6 factors per 100 possessions. A few of that may be attributed to the absence of Tomislav Ivisic, who’s out due to mononucleosis.
Subsequent seven days: at Nebraska (Jan. 30), vs. Ohio State (Feb. 2), at Rutgers (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: 16
Josh Hubbard had a profession night time Wednesday, scoring 38 factors in opposition to Alabama — but it surely wasn’t sufficient for the Bulldogs, who misplaced for the fourth time in six video games. They’ve allowed a minimum of 1.09 factors per possession in 5 of these six video games, scoring 0.93 factors or much less per possession in three of them.
Chris Jans desperately wants Hubbard’s perimeter supporting forged to get on the identical web page. RJ Melendez has totaled six factors after hitting double figures in 5 straight video games. Claudell Harris is averaging 8.0 factors over his previous 4 video games after hitting double figures in 5 straight. And Riley Kugel had simply two factors in opposition to Alabama after averaging 16.0 in his earlier three video games.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Missouri (Feb. 1)
Earlier rating: 22
Reyne Smith moved again into the beginning lineup 5 video games in the past, with Noah Waterman coping with a thumb damage. Over these 5 video games, Smith is averaging 20.0 factors and capturing 50% from 3-point vary, highlighted by his exhibiting in opposition to SMU final weekend: 30 factors on 10 3-pointers. He has made a minimum of three 3-pointers in every of his previous 5 video games, scoring 25 factors and making seven 3s in opposition to Pitt earlier this month.
Coach Pat Kelsey’s choice to go together with the 6-foot-2 Smith as an alternative of the 6-foot-11 Waterman was an attention-grabbing transfer, however the smaller lineup has carried out at a excessive stage at each ends of the ground.
Subsequent seven days: at Georgia Tech (Feb. 1), at Boston Faculty (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: 25
After lacking 5 video games due to a neck damage, Caleb Grill took a pair video games to knock the rust off — and has since emerged as top-of-the-line sixth males within the SEC, if not the nation. He has hit double figures in 5 of his previous six video games, averaging 15.0 factors and 4.3 rebounds over that span, capturing 48.8% from 3-point vary. Grill had 22 factors and 5 3-pointers in final weekend’s win over Ole Miss after going for 22 factors and 6 3-pointers in a win Jan. 14 at Florida.
Most significantly, Missouri is 5-1 in these six video games.
Subsequent seven days: at Mississippi State (Feb. 1), at Tennessee (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: unranked
Arizona has quietly been taking part in among the greatest basketball within the nation over the previous six weeks. Between dropping to UCLA on Dec. 14 and Monday’s thrilling extra time win over Iowa State, Arizona had the ninth-best adjusted effectivity margin within the sport.
The Wildcats have been in want of a marquee win for his or her résumé, and beating the third-ranked Cyclones actually certified. Caleb Love was clearly the massive story, however coach Tommy Lloyd as soon as once more had some less-heralded gamers come up huge. Carter Bryant hit 4 3s, and Tobe Awaka had top-of-the-line video games of his profession, ending with 17 factors and 12 boards.
Subsequent seven days: at Arizona State (Feb. 1), at BYU (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 15
Oregon stays within the rankings due to the energy of its general physique of labor — the Geese have the second-most Quadrant 1 wins within the nation, sitting at 8-2 in these video games. However they have not seemed the half in a number of weeks, going 4-3 in January, together with a 32-point house loss to Illinois and a highway defeat at Minnesota.
In accordance with BartTorvik.com, Oregon’s adjusted effectivity margin this month is down at No. 72 nationally. In Huge Ten video games, the Geese rank thirteenth in offensive effectivity at KenPom and eleventh in defensive effectivity.
Subsequent seven days: at UCLA (Jan. 30), vs. Nebraska (Feb. 2), at Michigan (Feb. 5)
Earlier rating: 23
Texas Tech has risen rapidly up the rankings over the previous few weeks, particularly within the efficiency-based metrics, however the Purple Raiders are about to be put to the check. They head to Houston this weekend earlier than internet hosting Baylor, then hit the highway once more for a rematch with Arizona.
Grant McCasland will hope to have Darrion Williams again for these video games, because the versatile ahead has been bothered by an ankle damage. With out Williams, Tech went greater with Federiko Federiko within the lineup.
Subsequent seven days: at Houston (Feb. 1), vs. Baylor (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 19
Ole Miss snapped its three-game dropping streak Wednesday night time, surviving two late pictures from Tre Johnson to beat Texas. The Rebels now get two huge résumé-boosting alternatives, with Auburn and Kentucky coming to Oxford for his or her subsequent two video games.
Jaemyn Brakefield continued his stellar offensive play in opposition to the Longhorns, ending with 18 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists off the bench. Brakefield has now hit double-figures in six straight video games, averaging 15.2 factors over that span.
Subsequent seven days: vs. Auburn (Feb. 1), vs. Kentucky (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: 24
Wisconsin has now misplaced two of its previous three video games after successful seven straight between mid-December and mid-January.
The Badgers have additionally misplaced to arguably the 4 greatest Huge Ten groups they’ve confronted: Michigan, Maryland, Illinois and UCLA. There was a stark distinction on the defensive finish when Wisconsin faces high-level competitors: In Quadrant 1 video games, the Badgers rank No. 321 in defensive effectivity at CBB Analytics, in comparison with No. 86 throughout the total season. They’re No. 316 in opponent paint factors per recreation in Quad 1 video games, too, however No. 63 throughout all the season.
Subsequent seven days: at Northwestern (Feb. 1), vs. Indiana (Feb. 4)
Earlier rating: unranked
Vanderbilt makes its first look within the rankings after beating its second top-10 opponent in as many weeks. The Commodores held on to beat Tennessee on Jan. 18, suffered a highway loss at Alabama, then knocked off Kentucky this previous weekend.
This marks the continuation of what has been a exceptional first season in Nashville for Mark Byington. Vandy was picked sixteenth within the preseason SEC ballot, but the Commodores are ranked for the primary time since December 2015 and are trending towards their first NCAA event look since 2017.
Subsequent seven days: at Oklahoma (Feb. 1), at Florida (Feb. 4)
Dropped out: Michigan Wolverines (No. 17), UConn Huskies (No. 20)
