Another week in college basketball, another wild week filled with epic performances, incredible finishes and shocking upsets. College basketball never ceases to amaze.
This weekend’s slate features three ranked games in VS and six top 10 teams playing on the road. We could easily see a very different AP Top 25 ranking on Monday. At the very least, with several high-stakes conference matchups, we’ll likely see a minor change.
As with most Saturdays during the conference season, there are an overwhelming number of games that are likely to be high in entertainment value – but a handful of games really stand out.
Here are the five best men’s college hoops games to watch in a busy weekend ahead:
What to expect: Points! Another Kentucky game, another high point game. The Wildcats have only played one game where neither team scored more than 70 points (a 70-66 loss to Clemson). Vandyerbilt can score the ball and the home crowd has proven to be loud and impactful when given the opportunity. This is a game that could truly be one of the most entertaining of the weekend and could solidify Vandy’s stature as a tournament team.
Key stat: The key for Vanderbilt will be stopping the barrage of 3-pointers that Kentucky is capable of putting up. The Wildcats average 10.2 made 3-pointers per game to lead the SEC, meaning nearly a third of their points come from the arc. The Commodores are a middle of the pack team defending the 3-point line in the SEC, giving up 7.1 Made 3s per game. If they can keep Kentucky at that number, it would be a huge win. Vandy can score for Kentucky (he averages 82.3 per game), but he’ll need to be solid in deep shot defense.
Trends: Vanderbilt has scored in bunches this season, but its defense has been a key in wins this season. In games where they allow fewer than 75 points this season, the Commodores are 12-0. When they allow 75 points or more, they are 3-4. On the other hand, when Kentucky scores 70 or more points, it is 14-1. When the Wildcats fail to reach the 70-point plateau, they are 0-3 on the season.
What to expect: One thing that both of these teams possess and really defines them is that they have balanced scoring. Neither team has a player averaging 15 points per game, but each team has four players averaging double figures. This makes the offense incredibly balanced, with plenty of floor spacing and mounting the hot hand. This should be another one of those games.
Key stat: Turnovers will be key here, as both teams are excellent at forcing turnovers. Ole Miss forces 16.2 turnovers per game, which leads the SEC. Missouri forces 15.2 turnovers per game, third-most in the SEC. Whoever can keep the ball and prevent mistakes will be in a very good position to win the match.
Trends: The Rebels have had a good season so far, but they can take another step forward when they are active on the boards. This season, Ole Miss is 8-0 when outscoring their opponent. He’s only 7-4 when passed. This one will be a huge storyline because Missouri has divisions hitting on the glass. In games where the Tigers have a positive rebounding differential, they are 10-1, but they are only 5-3 when they fail to get more rebounds. Both teams need to bounce back if they want to take another step forward.
What to expect: Points! This game may not feature two of the top three offenses like one of the plays we highlighted last week, but it does feature two very good offenses. Xavier is eighth in the country in fast break points, scoring nearly 17 per game in the open floor. Meanwhile, UConn is eighth in offensive efficiency according to Kenpom, but does it a little differently – sitting quietly tied for second in the country with 19.4 assists per game.
Key stat: These two teams may not get the most out of the 3, but they are very effective from deep. This season, Xavier and UConn rank second and third, respectively, in 3-point percentage in the Big East. This translated well into overall offensive success, with these two teams being the only ones in the conference to average 75 points per game while shooting 35% or better from Deep as a team.
Trends: UConn has won four straight in the series against Xavier, with the Musketeers’ last victory coming during the 2022-23 season when they swept the Huskies. Another note, this is the second time this season the Musketeers will play three straight games against AP Top 25 Teams.
What to expect: This game is going to be a rock fight. No team allows fewer points per game than Houston (53.9). The next closest team in points per game allowed is Drake (57.8). Kansas isn’t far behind Houston, ranking 16th in the nation, allowing just 63.3 points per game. First 50 point victory!
Key stat: The magic number is 60 years. Since the 2015-16 season, which was Kelvin Sampson’s second with the Cougars, Houston is 114-4 when allowing fewer than 60 points. Those are the second-highest wins in the country during that time, trailing only Virginia. The Jayhawks, however, are the opposite. Since the 2015-16 season, Kansas is 173-63 when scoring at least 60 points, the second-most wins in the country for that stretch, behind only Gonzaga.
Trends: Kansas is 5-2 in its last seven games when facing an AP Top-10 team at home. However, if you look back a little further, it’s just 5-5 in the last 10 games hosting AP Top-10 teams. History isn’t as kind to Houston and that’s saying something lightly. Since Sampson took over, he is just 2-6 on the road against AP Top-15 teams.
What to expect: If this is an up and down game, Tennessee will have a hard time winning. If it’s a possession by possession, run through the shot clock, type of game, then Auburn may struggle to win. If we’re lucky enough to get Johni Broome back in this game for Auburn and Chaz Lanier brings his A game, then we’ve had fun. Tennessee is 13-0 when Lanier has an assist or more. Just one. When he failed to record an assist, the Vols were 4-2.
Key stat: Auburn’s offense is the story here, and Tennessee will need to bring its playmaking game defensively if it wants to win. Auburn is one of only two teams (Miami OH) to shoot 50% from the floor, 38% from deep and 74% from the free throw line. This gives him a lot of offensive depth. The good news is that Tennessee can do just that. He’s currently allowing just 58.6 points per game, the third-best mark in the country. The Vols also hold opponents to just 36.3% field goals. It will be a battle whose strength can overcome others.
Trends: Tennessee is 5-5 in its last 10 games against AP Top-Five Teams but hasn’t won on the road against an AP Top-Five team since 2008. Since 2010, Auburn is 1-5 when it hosts a Top-10 AP-10 AP team. The Tigers have also lost six straight games to AP Top-10 SEC teams, with their last win coming in 2019 at Kentucky.
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