After a 3-game slide, the Commodores got back on track with an 88-56 thumping of Mississippi State over the weekend. I think that the scouting report is getting pretty good on the Commodores – if you have a big, dominant frontcourt, you can bludgeon them with it. If you don’t have good backcourt defenders to guard Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles, you’re going to be in for a long night. Mississippi State had neither.
17. Alabama
It was Charles Bediako who got all of the national attention this past week, with his eligibility taking more twists and turns than a country road. But I’m concerned about the injuries – this team is not as good on both sides of the ball if Amari Allen and Aden Holloway are not playing, and that had a direct hand in the loss to Tennessee.
18. Arkansas
To this point in the season, Arkansas has not lost on its home court, and they have not lost to a team ranked worse than 33rd on KenPom right now. That’s a pretty solid resume, and it’s only going to have opportunities to get better playing a gauntlet SEC schedule.
19. Kentucky
Mark Pope’s Wildcats are now on a 5-game win streak, and seem to be getting everything figured out. But at the same time, the injuries just keep piling up and piling up, as now Kam Williams is out for the season. Is this going to be another “addition by subtraction” situation for the Cats?
20. St. John’s
It took a second-half comeback for Rick Pitino to notch his 900th career win (while coaching against his own son) at Xavier on Saturday. Unlike last year’s team, this bunch can really score. Maybe that’s just what they need to have a longer stay in the NCAA Tournament this season.
Doug Henderson grew up playing every sport imagineable. He quickly hit a ceiling his playing skills didn't let him break and had to turn to writing to get his sports fix.
