Reags Top-25 Roundup: College Basketball Desperately Needs To Be Able To Flex Games Like The NFL So We Don't Get Screwed With Top-10 Matchups
I plan on doing these every so often, or really whenever there’s a million good games. Some days it will be a recap, some days it will be previews and some days it will be a combo of both. It’s just an easy recap, for those that couldn’t sit around all night and watch games. I get it. It’s one of the downfalls of college hoops. You lose a portion of the season because you’re overshadowed by football and people just waiting for March. Note it will just focus on top-25 teams to make life easier. At the bottom we’ll have a preview for today’s games.
Start flexing games
The best game tonight takes place between rivals, from the same state and is a top-10 matchup. Oh, both teams are in the ACC. Yep, it’s Virginia vs Virginia Tech. However, we can’t see this on national TV because for whatever reason this is on the ACCNetwork. That’s a bad thing for college basketball. We need to be able to flex these games similar to what the NFL does late in the season. This game should be awesome. Virginia Tech is trying to shake the image of this run and gun team. They actually play a bit slower this year and are a great defensive team. That said, defensively they want to turn you over. That’s one of the most important keys to this game. Virginia is 4th in turnover rate offensively. Virginia Tech is 9th in turnover rate defensively. Virginia Tech will look to send traps and make you uncomfortable. Virginia combats that by running the 3-guard set with Clark/Jerome/Guy. Clark and Jerome are both primary ball handlers, who can beat a press. The other key to watch? Virginia limiting Virginia Tech’s threes. Virginia obviously runs the packline defense and is probably the best team in the country when it comes to rotations. They are unbelievable when you watch them defensively rotate. Virginia Tech is 5th in 3pt% and 78th in 3PA/FGA. On the flip side Virginia is 1st in defensive 3pt% and 138th in 3PA/FGA. They are going to have to keep rotating to challenge the threes that Virginia Tech is going to shoot, especially late in the shot clock. This game is being played at Virginia, which is a huge advantage for the Cavaliers. With Tre Jones being out for likely 6 weeks this could be a matchup for the regular season ACC title.
SEC undefeated surprises
Ole Miss and LSU are both currently undefeated in SEC play. Maybe some thought LSU would be here with the recruiting class led by Naz Reid and the return of Tremont Waters. But, Ole Miss is one of the biggest surprises in the country. Kermit Davis brought his 1-3-1 zone to Ole Miss which means LSU is going to have to attack the middle of that most likely using Reid. From there Reid is going to have to make the right decision on whether to use his athleticism in short or read the defense for the switch kick to Waters/ Mays. Ole Miss has a couple of guys who can really score. Keep an eye on Terence Davis, Breein Tyree and Blake Hinson.
Are we going to get a shootout in DC?
Georgetown has been one of the most fun teams to watch this year. It seems like they are consistently going to overtime and playing close games. They can also score. They host Marquette today who is obviously led by Markus Howard and can get 50 whenever he wants. Howard can take advantage of the young backcourt in Akinjo/McClung by using those drag screens that Marquette loves to run up top. Georgetown is going to have to be smart with the hedge. They should really look at extending the hedge so Howard has to attack into the long 2 range. He wants to use the drag screen, take a step back move and get a quick three up. He’s able to do that against teams that hedge too low.
Bounceback home games for Mississippi State and UNC
Both teams suffered a home loss on Saturday in two wildly different ways. UNC got its ass kicked by Louisville in the worst home loss under Roy. Mississippi State blew a lead and lost to rival Ole Miss. Now, they both stay at home and get a chance for a bounceback. Mississippi State hosts Florida, who is struggling a bit under Mike White this year. UNC gets Notre Dame, who has been hit with a rash of injuries, playing with just six scholarship guys against Boston College over the weekend. Both teams are viewed as potential top-15 teams. They need to win these in order to stay like that.
Keep an eye on Markell Johnson’s injury
NC State is one of those teams that I truly believe can beat anyone. They have that pressing trap that Kevin Keatts likes to run that really forces turnovers and gets easy buckets. They can jump out to big leads early and then coast from there. However, part of what makes them so good is having Markell Johnson as the lead guard. Johnson is 47th in the country in ORtg, 76th in assist rate and 73rd in 3pt shooting. He’s the main guy that makes NC State’s offense go. He was limited to just 9 minutes against Pitt over the weekend after taking a nasty fall. NC State goes to Wake today – the worst team in the conference. It’s likely that they’ll be cautious about Johnson in this game, but it’s something to monitor. It’s also a game that NC State can’t struggle in.
5 Best Games
Virginia Tech at Virginia – 8pm, ACCNetwork
Marquette at Georgetown – 8:30pm, FS1
Seton Hall at Providence – 6:30pm, FS1
Florida at Mississippi State – 7pm, SECNetwork
LSU at Ole Miss – 9pm, SEC Network
Picks
North Carolina -12