As Duke celebrated their victory over Seattle on Friday, coach Jon Scheyer expressed his concern about the team’s recent busy schedule. “
We need practice time,” he remarked, highlighting a common issue faced by many ranked teams engaged in high-profile tournaments and televised games, especially during the Thanksgiving period. The lack of practice time has limited teams’ abilities to make necessary adjustments or resolve weaknesses. This issue may become particularly apparent this week as the sport gains visibility during a series of important matchups coinciding with the conclusion of the football regular season.
The spotlight falls on the AP Top 25 games set for Wednesday, featuring a highly anticipated clash between No. 2 Auburn and No. 9 Duke at the iconic Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. This match is complemented by an intra-state rivalry game as No. 10 Alabama takes on No. 20 North Carolina, marking a rematch from last season’s NCAA Sweet 16.
Auburn’s coach, Bruce Pearl, noted the significant pressure that comes with their recognition in the rankings. “We get an opportunity to go play one of the best teams in the country in probably one of the toughest environments,” he said on Monday. Meanwhile, teams are feeling the effects of their extensive travel schedules.
Auburn, which recently made headlines by scoring a win over unbeaten Kansas in the latest rankings, recently triumphed in the Maui Invitational. The Blue Devils, on the other hand, claimed a victory against a then-ranked Arizona but faced a loss to Kansas in Las Vegas. The Crimson Tide also participated in three games at the Players Era Festival in Vegas, while North Carolina, following their game at Kansas, traveled to Hawaii before joining Auburn in Maui. The Tar Heels encountered setbacks against both Auburn and Michigan State, leaving coach Hubert Davis echoing Scheyer’s sentiments about the lack of practice time.
“When you play four games in six days or three games in three days, you don’t get a chance to practice,” Davis said, emphasizing the challenge of continuously preparing without the opportunity to refine details during practice.
Marquette has a demanding schedule lined up starting Wednesday, which marks the beginning of a significant week for the fifth-ranked Golden Eagles. They first face No. 6 Iowa State and then host No. 11 Wisconsin on Saturday. Marquette’s Kam Jones has significantly increased his performance, boasting career highs across multiple categories and earning recognition as last week’s AP national men’s college basketball player for his triple-double that helped defeat then-No. 6 Purdue.
In contrast, the two-time defending champion UConn is trying to regroup following an unfortunate 0-3 run in Maui, which resulted in a drop to No. 25 in the latest poll. They face another tough test on Wednesday against No. 15 Baylor, as UConn, which previously had a streak of 17 consecutive wins, will attempt to bounce back after losing to Memphis in Maui’s opener.
Kentucky experienced a four-spot jump to No. 4 and is preparing for a crucial matchup against No. 7 Gonzaga this Saturday in Seattle. This game represents the third meeting in a six-game series plan announced in 2022, which involves home-region engagements for both teams.
Kansas, aiming to uphold its No. 1 ranking from the preseason, will play two road games this week. Their first challenge is against Creighton on Wednesday, who has slipped from the rankings after losing three consecutive games. Following that game, Kansas’s rivalry with Missouri awaits them on Sunday.
Several power-conference teams are lingering just outside the rankings, including Michigan State, Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, and Arizona State. Among them, Texas stands out with a game against N.C. State in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday, followed by a high-stakes matchup against UConn on Sunday that could potentially push them back into the rankings.
