Giovanni Fanta
College basketball broadcaster and reporter
The largest week of the school basketball season up to now is upon us with Thanksgiving tournaments throughout the nation providing a stable slate of video games with measuring sticks for applications.
And whilst you may nonetheless dismiss the truth that it is early, this week is a key time to bolster resumes, a second the committee may look again to in March when it assembled the 68-team discipline for the NCAA Tournament.
The conferences have a fairly good concept by Christmas of what number of bids they may accumulate for March Madness, and this can be a week the place many main groups will face off towards the majors. This week is a chance to maneuver the needle, as a result of if you happen to end this week winless, you basically have three weeks left to take action.
Just have a look at Monday’s Maui Invitational, when Auburn and Iowa State meet in a matchup of Final Four contenders. While there’s not a lot harm to the loser of that recreation, the winner probably books a date with North Carolina (which faces Dayton on Monday) to get one more main resume booster.
On the opposite facet of the bracket in Maui, Penny Hardaway and Memphis face back-to-back nationwide champion UConn Huskies, whereas Dan Hurley’s group faces its first actual exams this week, with Michigan State probably within the semifinals in Maui and a any of Auburn, Iowa State or UNC within the potential remaining. For Tom Izzo’s group, which isn’t presently in my Top 25, a compulsory victory towards Colorado arrives on Monday.
(Related: Latest odds to win the NCAA match)
Meanwhile, on Monday in Florida, Dusty May’s Michigan group meets Virginia Tech (6 p.m. ET on FS1) adopted by Xavier and South Carolina on FS1 from the Fort Myers Tip-Off. I’d be fascinated by Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf going up towards Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter within the frontcourt in a Wolverines/Musketeers championship recreation, to not point out Tre Donaldson going up towards new Xavier star Ryan Conwell within the frontcourt. protection. My prediction is that we’ll have May vs. Sean Miller on Wednesday evening in Florida.
We’re in for a deal with on Tuesday evening in Las Vegas when Kansas takes on Duke within the Vegas Showdown, a one-off occasion between the 2 groups that may meet within the 2025 Champions Classic, whereas Houston takes on Alabama within the Festival of the Players’ Era. The Blue Devils actually impressed defensively in Friday’s 69-55 win at Arizona, holding the Wildcats to their lowest common season level complete within the 4 years of the Tommy Lloyd period.
A group that was first in offensive rebounds and second-chance factors per recreation (22 apiece in every class) was held to only six offensive rebounds and eight second-chance factors. The size and flexibility of Jon Scheyer’s group was on show, and Cooper Flagg was excellent with 24 factors, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Between his management and Kon Knueppel who wasn’t afraid to take photographs and make 3s, Duke overwhelmed Arizona and made Caleb Love’s life a nightmare defensively. That places the Blue Devils again in my top-10.
There are loads extra highlights from Feast Week, with my Fifteenth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers assembly Louisville within the Battle 4 Atlantis opener on Wednesday. Mike Woodson’s group is 4-0 however untested and desires consistency from Mackenzie Mgbako, Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau. Myles Rice proved he can depend on a trailblazer.
Atlantis’ bracket additionally options Gonzaga, Arizona and Providence, who hope to see senior Bryce Hopkins make his season debut this week following an ACL damage.
Thanksgiving contains a marquee girls’s matchup as Chloe Kitts and defending nationwide champion South Carolina tackle star middle Audi Crooks and Iowa State (1:30 p.m. ET on FOX).
(Read extra: 2024-25 school basketball preview: Rankings of the highest 50 gamers and coaches)
On the boys’s facet, Purdue meets NC State within the Rady Children’s Invitational, a battle of final season’s Final Four groups. Then BYU meets Ole Miss (each video games can be on FS1). The title recreation and comfort recreation will air on FOX Friday at 3:30 PM ET from San Diego, with all 4 groups trying to check the place they belong in my Top 25, or why they belong within the rankings subsequent week.
The Players Era Festival, which takes place Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, won’t solely characteristic Alabama and Houston, however a Creighton group trying to bounce again from a loss to Nebraska, a Texas A&M group led by Wade Taylor, in addition to Oregon. and Rutgers, two groups simply exterior my rankings.
My huge winners from final week: Tennessee and Marquette.
The Volunteers beat Virginia and Baylor by a mixed 37 factors en path to the Baha Mar Hoops Championship title. The huge takeaway: Rick Barnes dunked as soon as once more within the switch portal with Chaz Lanier, who scored 25 first-half factors and drilled seven 3-pointers towards Baylor.
The Golden Eagles received at Maryland, led Purdue by 18 factors and beat an improved Georgia group on a impartial courtroom by 11 in a nine-day span, caring for enterprise and getting the increase of a nationwide candidate as a participant of the 12 months in Kam Jones. For Shaka Smart to lose Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro and be a part of Marquette’s first 6-0 begin since 2011 is phenomenal.
With that stated, right here is my up to date Top 25.
1. Kansas Jayhawks (5-0)
Did the Jayhawks seem like the most effective group within the nation? Not essentially, and I’ve questions on perimeter capturing. It simply would not look like the additions to the switch portal have been totally solidified but. But then once more, they’re 5-0 with wins over North Carolina and Michigan State, and Hunter Dickinson is so dominant. He was 15 and 15 in Tuesday’s win over UNCW.
2. UConn Huskies (4-0)
Alex Karaban is performing like an All-American for the back-to-back defending nationwide champions, averaging 16.3 factors, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per recreation whereas capturing a whopping 64% from the ground within the high 4 matches of the season. The Huskies will face their first actual exams this week on the Maui Invitational. A semifinal towards Michigan State adopted by a remaining with Auburn, Iowa State or North Carolina could be must-see TV.
3. Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-0)
The 5-0 Zags will face West Virginia on Wednesday in Battle 4 Atlantis, then both Louisville or Indiana. I anticipate Mark Few’s group to win this occasion. Graham Ike, Khalif Battle and Braden Huff all common not less than 14 factors per recreation. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in KenPom offense.
4. Tennessee Volunteers (6-0)
Zakai Zeigler is the proper level guard to line up Lanier, with Zeigler getting 9 assists in Friday’s win over Baylor. Jordan Gainey is proving to be a activate the bench, scoring 16 factors within the win. Tennessee is 6-0 with three wins over extremely ranked opponents away from dwelling. I’ll take Lanier’s expertise, protection, confirmed scoring, and Barnes’ teaching within the SEC title run.
5. Copper tigers (4-0)
Can the Tigers maintain the kind of efficiency that they had within the win over Houston? We’ll discover out this week. A large matchup arrives on Monday after they meet Iowa State. It’s crucial that Johni Broome takes benefit of a possible frontcourt benefit and that Tahaad Pettiford offers a few of his microwave scoring potential.
6. Marquette Golden Eagles (6-0)
Senior ahead David Joplin has handled some early-season ups and downs within the capturing division, main as much as Saturday within the Bahamas. He was sizzling, with a career-high 29 factors on six 3-pointers made in an 80-69 win over Georgia. The Golden Eagles have a pair of purchasable video games this week earlier than visiting No. 1 state. 5 Iowa on Dec. 4.
7. Houston Cougars (3-1)
When the Cougars discover a perimeter shooter, it modifications completely all the pieces due to how good they’re on protection 12 months after 12 months. Emanuel Sharp shot 5-of-5 from 3-point vary in an 80-44 win over Hofstra on Friday. They’ll want extra capturing in a mammoth recreation Tuesday towards Alabama in Las Vegas. It presents a window of redemption for the Cougars to get that huge win after arising brief to Auburn.
8. Kentucky Wildcats (5-0)
The 5-0 Wildcats are one of many highest-scoring groups within the nation, ranked No. 11 in offensive effectivity adjusted by KenPom. UK beat Jackson State, 108-59, on Friday behind 17 made 3-pointers and a mixed 43 factors from Otega Oweh and Koby Brea.
9. Duke Blue Devils (4-1)
The Blue Devils are again in my top-10, and actually, it nonetheless feels low. But the head-to-head loss to Kentucky is why I’ve them at No. 9. This group ranks first in KenPom-adjusted defensive effectivity, and for good motive. Khaman Maluach makes such an influence when he is within the recreation and Syracuse switch Maliq Brown was excellent on that finish of the ground within the win towards Arizona. Jon Scheyer’s group wants constant guard play. When Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster, and Zion James get it carried out, this group can beat anybody.
10. Iowa State Cyclones (3-0)
The Cyclones may have great alternatives to maneuver up within the standings this week, beginning with a recreation towards Auburn to begin a loaded Maui Invitational. Saint Mary’s switch Joshua Jefferson and sophomore Milan Momcilovic have to carry their very own towards Broome of the Tigers, and I believe it will likely be crucial for the Cyclones towards any main opponent to have Tamin Lipsey taking part in as the most effective guard on the courtroom. I believe Auburn can be favored by a bucket or so towards Iowa State, however this can be a full recreation.
11. Purdue Boilermakers (5-1)
12. North Carolina tar heels (3-1)
13. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1)
14. Wisconsin Badgers (7-0)
15. Cincinnati Bearcats (5-0)
16. Saverio Moschettieri (5-0)
17. Indiana Hoosiers (4-0)
18. Florida alligators (6-0)
19. Baylor Bears (4-2)
20. Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1)
21. Texas A&M Aggies (4-1)
22. Creighton Bluejays (4-1)
23. Ole Miss Rebels (5-0)
24. Mississippi State Bulldog (5-0)
25. BYU Cougars (5-0)
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports. He covers sports activities in a wide range of roles, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as a lead anchor on the BIG EAST digital community to offering commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him to @John_Fanta.
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