The college basketball season is revving up this week after a quiet period filled with anticipation, culminating in an exciting Saturday featuring four matchups between ranked teams.
The action will kick off with the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers facing off against the No. 23 Arkansas Razorbacks. Tennessee has maintained its position at the top of the AP Top 25 for four consecutive weeks; however, they are feeling pressure from No. 2 Auburn, which recently garnered nine first-place votes last week and eight more this week without playing a game.
Tennessee, boasting a perfect 12-0 record, stands as one of four undefeated teams in Division I basketball along with No. 6 Florida, No. 12 Oklahoma, and Drake. They enter this matchup following a commanding victory against Middle Tennessee just before Christmas. The Volunteers are part of a strong Southeastern Conference, with ten teams ranked this week, including four within the top six.
After a game against Alcorn State on Tuesday, Tennessee’s upcoming contest against Arkansas poses a significant challenge. The Razorbacks are coming off a decisive 30-point victory over Oakland and currently ride a six-game winning streak in their inaugural season under coach John Calipari.
No. 3 Iowa State (11-1) will also face a tough competitor in No. 25 Baylor after overcoming Colorado 79-69 on Monday night. The Cyclones’ sole setback came against Auburn in a narrow two-point defeat during the Maui Invitational. Iowa State features a balanced attack with six players averaging double digits in scoring, including Keshon Gilbert, who leads the team with 16.5 points per game.
Baylor’s season has been inconsistent thus far. They began with a significant 38-point loss to No. 19 Gonzaga and suffered a 15-point defeat against Tennessee. They also played the defending champion UConn closely earlier in December. Nevertheless, Baylor showcases one of the nation’s top forwards in Norchad Omier, who posts impressive stats of 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, combined with a formidable defense.
No. 5 Alabama, having a strong follow-up to their first Final Four appearance last spring, is led by preseason All-America guard Mark Sears. The Crimson Tide has collected victories against ranked opponents such as No. 22 Illinois, No. 14 Houston, and North Carolina, while leading college basketball in scoring, averaging nearly 90 points per game. Alabama ended their nonconference stretch with a dominating performance against South Dakota State, where they netted 19 three-pointers, and now they shift their focus to a tough matchup against No. 12 Oklahoma.
Porter Moser’s Oklahoma squad remains undefeated this season with victories against programs like Arizona, Louisville, and Michigan, marking their best start since the 1987-88 season. Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears has made a notable impact, averaging 18.1 points per game.
Another anticipated matchup on Saturday will feature No. 6 Florida, which is off to a fantastic start, matching its best beginning since the 2005-06 season when they won 17 straight games to start their national championship run. After finishing nonconference play with a significant win over Stetson, Florida is set to challenge No. 10 Kentucky.
The Wildcats, currently at 10-2, have fared well since Coach Calipari departed for Arkansas, securing wins over No. 4 Duke and No. 19 Gonzaga while suffering losses to Clemson and Ohio State. They rank second nationally in scoring, averaging 89.1 points per game.
In what promises to be an engaging contest, No. 9 Oregon (12-1) is flourishing during its inaugural Big Ten season, achieving victories against ranked teams such as No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 5 Alabama, and San Diego State. Their only setback occurred against No. 15 UCLA after a last-second three-pointer.
Oregon’s return to the court this Thursday will be challenging as they face No. 22 Illinois (9-3), which poses a significant threat due to their dynamic inside-outside game led by 7-footer Tomislav Ivisic and guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Jakucionis leads the Illini with 16.2 points per game while shooting 41% from beyond the arc, and Ivisic contributes solidly with averages of 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Illinois has previously secured wins against Arkansas and Wisconsin but has faced losses against Tennessee, Alabama, and Northwestern.
