Jeff Borzello
Shut
Jeff Borzello
ESPN Employees Author
Basketball recruiting insider.
Joined ESPN in 2014.
Graduate of College of Delaware.
Myron Medcalf
Shut
Myron Medcalf
ESPN Employees Author
Covers school basketball
Joined ESPN.com in 2011
Graduate of Minnesota State College, Mankato
Feb 21, 2025, 09:00 AM ET
There isn’t a 1 vs. 2 matchup to headline this weekend, however it stays a weekend of intriguing rematches that can have a large influence on convention races and NCAA event seeding.
The enlargement 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 might be robust defensively; Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga is must-watch West Coast basketball; and St. John’s vs. UConn is basic Large East basketball at Madison Sq. Backyard.
For those who’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 massive rematches this weekend.
All instances are Jap.
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0:43
Iowa State upsets Houston for Large 12 title
No. 7 Iowa State upsets No. 1 Houston in a blowout for the Large 12 championship.
Final assembly: Iowa State def. Houston 69-41 in final yr’s Large 12 title recreation
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 shedding three in a row in late January and early February. Whereas the Cyclones are seemingly out of the 1-seed and Large 12 title race, they’re very a lot in play for a 2-seed — and so they have an opportunity to run the desk throughout the remainder of the common season, too.
What’s modified because the first assembly? That is the one recreation with no head-to-head assembly this season. But, each groups have seen exceptional continuity from final season, in an period the place groups are rebuilding yearly. Houston has 4 starters again from the staff that began the Large 12 title recreation, 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 greatest basketball, although, averaging 13.9 factors and 4.6 assists over his earlier eight video games.
Iowa State returned three starters from that recreation, 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 reworked 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 greatest within the nation; Iowa State is third within the convention and within the high 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 deal with the ball to have an opportunity to win once more. The Cyclones turned it over on not less than 22% of their possessions in 4 of their six video games getting into Monday and rank eleventh within the Large 12 in turnover proportion. Houston is the very best 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 very best taking pictures staff 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
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1:55
Nelson, Sears lead Alabama previous Kentucky
Grant Nelson and Mark Sears rating 25 and 24 factors, respectively, as Alabama picks up a powerful highway win at Kentucky.
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 towards top-25 groups to finish the common season. However it has already misplaced the primary two video games of that stretch (Auburn, Missouri), so Kentucky represents a chance to remain within the hunt for the SEC title and, extra importantly, preserve its case for a high seed within the NCAA event.
A brief-handed Kentucky staff 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 increase the Wildcats’ odds of locking up a good event seed and probably assist keep away from one other robust first-round matchup.
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What’s modified because the first assembly? Kentucky might 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 greatest 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 related 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 recreation might be the distinction within the final result Saturday.
What to anticipate this weekend: Each groups mixed to fabricate one of the crucial breathtaking offensive shows of the season after they first met: Kentucky registered 124 factors per 100 possessions and related 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 process for a staff that may not have its greatest guards on the ground. However Sears is taking pictures simply 35% in his staff’s 5 losses.
Alabama can largely play the identical model and win, particularly since this recreation is at house. The final assembly was a 78-possession affair, a cushty tempo for Alabama towards a now-shorthanded Kentucky squad. A number of extra stops might be useful, however Nate Oats has the consolation of realizing he defeated Kentucky at full power within the first outing. — Medcalf
Luke Barrett with the putback 👏#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/nuk4UNLv2F
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 essentially the most dominant run in males’s school 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 increase 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.
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What’s modified because the first assembly? Augustas Marciulionis needed to climate a bizarre midseason funk, punctuated by a 3-for-9 outing towards the Zags. Since that recreation, nonetheless, Marciulionis has discovered his rhythm once more and averaged 19.5 factors within the 4 video games getting into this week’s slate.
What to anticipate this weekend: Gonzaga has performed at a top-50 tempo this season however was pressured into its slowest recreation (61 possessions) by Saint Mary’s — which impacted the result. Mark Few’s program has to place itself able 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 charge) and second-chance alternatives. That, together with holding to their extra methodical tempo, might assist the Gaels safe their third consecutive win towards Gonzaga within the remaining WCC matchup earlier than Gonzaga leaves for the Pac-12. — Medcalf
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0:47
Rick Pitino, Dan Hurley react to St. John’s win over UConn
Rick Pitino and Dan Hurley share their ideas after St. John’s highway win towards Connecticut.
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.
High tales of the week from 
UConn’s hopes for a share of the Large East regular-season title had been accomplished after it suffered a surprising loss at Seton Corridor on Saturday. The Huskies want to seek out consistency. They haven’t gained two video games in a row because the begin of January, and their NCAA event seed is slipping.
What’s modified because the first assembly? Not a ton has modified. The largest growth is that Liam McNeeley has gotten extra wholesome. The groups’ first assembly was McNeeley’s first recreation again after lacking eight video games with an ankle damage, 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 towards 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: This can be a matchup of the Large East’s greatest offense and greatest protection in convention play. UConn wants its massive three to play properly. Alex Karaban went for 20 towards 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 very best offensive rebounding staff 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 recreation, Rick Pitino will like his probabilities, because of the latest types of Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis Jr. — Borzello
