College Basketball’s Weekly Update.
We are in that weird week of the season where teams are finishing up non conference play and getting ready to start the in conference schedule.
This is the perfect time to take a deep dive into conference’s and my personal favorite thing to do around this time is decide who I think is over rated or under rated.
There are four teams that remain undefeated in college basketball, two of which I still believe to be over rated. However all four teams with out a loss are as follows, Houston Cougars (11-0), Ole Miss (10-0), Oklahoma (10-0), and James Madison (10-0).
This season has given us maybe the best non conference schedule in the history of the sport, with teams like Arizona and Purdue playing the top teams in the country without fear. Alabama and others such as Kentucky, Kansas, and UNC have played tough schedules as well. It is good for the game, the players, and the fans.
College Basketball: Under Rated Teams
This list is longer than it should be, however there have been some ups and downs this season. Some of these teams are not getting the proper media attention due to their record or their name.
I am looking for these teams to improve each week and go into March at full strength. These are all teams I can see making it to the second weekend of the tournament, and some of them right now you would call me crazy.
Michigan State, Nebraska, Michigan, and Ohio State are all in the Big 10 and all a lot better than the word on the street says they are. Each team is one or two tweaks away from being elite in my eyes. Illinois is also a team in the Big 10 I believe can play villain this season.
Each team I look at at under rated has 3-4 players that can put the ball in the basket and are figuring out how to play together.
Other teams on my underrated list are Syracuse, Auburn, Alabama, Texas, and Memphis. With the latter Memphis being the most dangerous in my mind. I would not be shocked and in fact am expecting Memphis to be a final four team come March.
Texas, Alabama, and Auburn can all be second weekend teams easily, and have played hard non conference schedules resulting in less than pretty records. Syracuse even with their struggles is 8-3 and has the talent to compete if they choose too.
College Basketball: Over Rated Teams
This one is harder to call, I have four teams on this list. These are teams I believe cannot get any better, as in we have seen them at their best already. Although at their best is pretty darn good, I do not see these teams being great this season.
Tennessee has shown great promise, losing three games to the likes of Kansas, Purdue, and Gonzaga. Not too shabby, I think the Vols will go into SEC play and be the third of fourth best team in the conference. Instead of the projected first place they are currently at.
Oklahoma is undefeated and has played 4 games against good teams, however I do not think they have been tested enough to simulate Big 12 play. I look for them to struggle in conference season and also due to lack of offense be a first or second round exit.
Clemson is a tough one, only one loss on the season, which came Saturday against Memphis by 2. Clemson has a home court and a team that can score, still I do not believe in their guard play to be strong enough come conference play. I look for them to struggle in January and February, and be an easily forgotten team in March.
Florida Atlantic is a great story for college basketball. They have a great coach, great players, great fans, and an amazing culture. Due to their conference look for them to end the season with only a handful of losses. Yet, I still don’t believe this team should be considered elite. Huge game this weekend against Arizona, that will give us a true eye test of the Owls.
Hunker Down For Conference Play
This weekend is Christmas, and then after that, it is all about the three month race to March.
Conference play begins this week for the Big East. We will see some of the best regular season races I believe in all conferences as we have seen in a while.
College Basketball is back and this is what it is all about.
Rowan Donaghey, Sports Reporter and Betting Analyst for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on the X via @RowanDonaghey
Follow Stare Down Sports on the X for all of the latest news and updates @StareDownSports
Leave a Reply