What to anticipate in an enormous weekend of males’s faculty hoops rematches

There isn’t a 1 vs. 2 matchup to headline this weekend, nevertheless it stays a weekend of intriguing rematches that may have a large impression on convention races and NCAA match seeding.

The growth of energy conferences this season has meant we gained’t essentially see a round-robin schedule or two head-to-head matchups, so we needed to revisit March 2024 for one occasion.

However Kentucky vs. Alabama is assured leisure on the offensive finish; Iowa State vs. Houston will likely be powerful defensively; Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga is must-watch West Coast basketball; and St. John’s vs. UConn is traditional Large East basketball at Madison Sq. Backyard.

If you happen to’re questioning why there’s no point out of Duke vs. Illinois (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox) at MSG, the Blue Devils and Illini haven’t performed since December 2020. Tennessee at Texas A&M (Saturday, midday ET, ESPN) options groups that performed twice final season, however there are 5 first-year transfers throughout each beginning lineups. In the meantime, Michigan-Michigan State (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox) hasn’t been performed this season. With a brand new coach and roster, the Wolverines will battle the Spartans for first place within the Large Ten.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf break down what to anticipate in 4 large rematches this weekend.

All instances are Japanese.

Final assembly: Iowa State def. Houston 69-41 in final 12 months’s Large 12 title sport

What’s at stake: Houston’s highway win at Arizona final weekend gave the Cougars a two-game lead over the Wildcats and Texas Tech within the Large 12 standings — leaving Kelvin Sampson on monitor to go 2-for-2 in regular-season championships since becoming a member of the league.

Iowa State has righted the ship since dropping three in a row in late January and early February. Whereas the Cyclones are probably out of the 1-seed and Large 12 title race, they’re very a lot in play for a 2-seed — they usually have an opportunity to run the desk throughout the remainder of the common season, too.

What’s modified for the reason that first assembly? That is the one sport and not using a head-to-head assembly this season. But, each groups have seen outstanding continuity from final season, in an period the place groups are rebuilding yearly. Houston has 4 starters again from the workforce that began the Large 12 title sport, however its one roster change is huge: All-American Jamal Shead is gone, changed by Milos Uzan. The Oklahoma switch is taking part in his finest basketball, although, averaging 13.9 factors and 4.6 assists over his earlier eight video games.

Iowa State returned three starters from that sport, in addition to sixth man Curtis Jones, who returned to the bench with the return of Milan Momcilovic. TJ Otzelberger’s two new starters — Joshua Jefferson and Dishon Jackson — have remodeled the Cyclones’ offense.

What to anticipate this weekend: Anticipate a defensive battle. Houston has the highest protection within the Large 12 and one of many 5 finest within the nation; Iowa State is third within the convention and within the prime 10 nationally. The groups mixed to attain 100, 138 and 110 factors of their three conferences final season (Iowa State gained the primary and final of these video games).

Iowa State must care for the ball to have an opportunity to win once more. The Cyclones turned it over on a minimum of 22% of their possessions in 4 of their six video games coming into Monday and rank eleventh within the Large 12 in turnover proportion. Houston is the perfect within the league at forcing turnovers.

In the meantime, will the Cougars proceed to make photographs from the perimeter? They rank ninth nationally in 3-point proportion and are the perfect taking pictures workforce Sampson has had since 2017, whereas 3-point protection has been a vulnerability for Iowa State. 4 of the Cyclones’ earlier eight opponents have made double-digit 3s. — Borzello

Final assembly: Alabama def. Kentucky 102-97 on Jan. 18

What’s at stake: For Alabama, that is one other key matchup in a string of eight consecutive video games in opposition to top-25 groups to finish the common season. Nevertheless it has already misplaced the primary two video games of that stretch (Auburn, Missouri), so Kentucky represents a possibility to remain within the hunt for the SEC title and, extra importantly, preserve its case for a prime seed within the NCAA match.

A brief-handed Kentucky workforce has already proved itself with wins over a number of top-25 squads — although it has misplaced three of its previous six video games. Beating Alabama will enhance the Wildcats’ odds of locking up a positive match seed and probably assist keep away from one other powerful first-round matchup.

What’s modified for the reason that first assembly? Kentucky could possibly be with out its beginning backcourt this time. Within the first matchup, Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler mixed to attain 28 factors however each might miss Saturday’s rematch on account of accidents. That’s been Mark Pope’s best impediment this season.

Alabama has been one of many nation’s finest offensive groups. Coach Nate Oats moved Chris Youngblood (38% from past the arc in SEC play) into the beginning lineup after defeating the Wildcats. The Tide have linked on 39% of their 3-point makes an attempt within the seven video games Youngblood has began however Alabama’s back-to-back losses are the results of a problematic protection (tenth within the league) that has haunted the Tide for weeks.

The personnel modifications from the primary sport could possibly be the distinction within the consequence Saturday.

What to anticipate this weekend: Each groups mixed to fabricate one of the breathtaking offensive shows of the season once they first met: Kentucky registered 124 factors per 100 possessions and linked on 52% of its photographs contained in the arc and 40% of its 3-point makes an attempt. And that wasn’t sufficient to outscore an Alabama squad that registered 131 factors per 100 possessions, made 51% of its photographs contained in the arc and 38% of its 3-point makes an attempt.

This time, the Wildcats might want to make Mark Sears uncomfortable, a frightening activity for a workforce that may not have its finest guards on the ground. However Sears is taking pictures simply 35% in his workforce’s 5 losses.

Alabama can largely play the identical model and win, particularly since this sport is at house. The final assembly was a 78-possession affair, a cushty tempo for Alabama in opposition to a now-shorthanded Kentucky squad. A couple of extra stops will likely be useful, however Nate Oats has the consolation of figuring out he defeated Kentucky at full energy within the first outing. — Medcalf

Luke Barrett with the putback 👏#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/nuk4UNLv2F

— Saint Mary’s Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) February 2, 2025

Final assembly: Saint Mary’s def. Gonzaga 62-58 on Feb. 1

What’s at stake: Twice. That’s all. Since 2000, Gonzaga has solely did not win all or a part of the West Coast Convention regular-season title twice: 2012, 2024. It’s probably the most dominant run in males’s faculty basketball. However Saint Mary’s edge on this season’s convention race is important traditionally, and since one other Gonzaga loss might expose the Bulldogs’ lukewarm résumé.

After a lopsided win over Baylor in its season opener, Gonzaga has secured only one top-50 KenPom win this season (San Diego State). Saint Mary’s has two (Gonzaga, Nebraska). The winner of this rematch will enhance its résumé and probably elevate its potential seed on Choice Sunday. The loser — particularly if it’s Gonzaga — might discover itself on the fallacious finish of a tricky matchup within the opening spherical.

What’s modified for the reason that first assembly? Augustas Marciulionis needed to climate a bizarre midseason funk, punctuated by a 3-for-9 outing in opposition to the Zags. Since that sport, nevertheless, Marciulionis has discovered his rhythm once more and averaged 19.5 factors within the 4 video games coming into this week’s slate.

That’s dangerous information for Gonzaga. However Graham Ike, who scored 24 factors within the first assembly, leads a workforce that’s made strides since that loss, rating twentieth in adjusted defensive effectivity in that span. The improved defensive effort could possibly be essential within the rematch.

What to anticipate this weekend: Gonzaga has performed at a top-50 tempo this season however was compelled into its slowest sport (61 possessions) by Saint Mary’s — which impacted the end result. Mark Few’s program has to place itself ready to push the tempo this time. Plus, the power of a house crowd ought to shift the vibe on this assembly.

Saint Mary’s was profitable on the offensive glass (37% rebounding fee) and second-chance alternatives. That, together with protecting to their extra methodical tempo, might assist the Gaels safe their third consecutive win in opposition to Gonzaga within the closing WCC matchup earlier than Gonzaga leaves for the Pac-12. — Medcalf

Final assembly: St. John’s def. UConn 68-62 on Feb. 7

What’s at stake: St. John’s is aiming for its first Large East regular-season championship since 1992, holding a 2.5-game lead within the league standings.

UConn’s hopes for a share of the Large East regular-season title have been achieved after it suffered a stunning loss at Seton Corridor on Saturday. The Huskies want to search out consistency. They haven’t gained two video games in a row for the reason that begin of January, and their NCAA match seed is slipping.

What’s modified for the reason that first assembly? Not a ton has modified. The most important growth is that Liam McNeeley has gotten extra wholesome. The groups’ first assembly was McNeeley’s first sport again after lacking eight video games with an ankle harm, and whereas he completed with 18 factors and 11 rebounds off the bench, he struggled to hit photographs from the perimeter. He adopted that efficiency with 38 factors and 5 3s in opposition to Creighton, so chances are high McNeeley’s taking pictures woes gained’t repeat themselves.

On the St. John’s facet, it’s price noting it allowed Villanova and Creighton to every surpass one level per possession — the primary time since November that back-to-back opponents reached that mark.

What to anticipate this weekend: It is a matchup of the Large East’s finest offense and finest protection in convention play. UConn wants its large three to play properly. Alex Karaban went for 20 in opposition to Seton Corridor and displaying indicators of breaking out of his droop. Solo Ball was unimaginable whereas McNeeley was out, and he has to proceed taking pictures it with confidence.

On the different finish, can St. John’s dictate on the offensive glass? The Purple Storm surprisingly didn’t have a ton of success on second-chance alternatives within the first assembly given they’re the perfect offensive rebounding workforce within the league and UConn has struggled on the glass at instances. Their lack of taking pictures from the perimeter makes it crucial that they get straightforward baskets across the rim. If it’s a detailed sport, Rick Pitino will like his probabilities, due to the current types of Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis Jr. — Borzello