Week Two of the school basketball season had much more pleasure than the primary with an exciting Champions Basic, marquee matchups, huge upsets and an early sport of the 12 months candidate that offered the play of the week.
For the recap on all of that and extra, take a look at our weekly rankings, gamers of the week and the clip of an unreal end in Charleston on Friday night time.
1. UConn (3-0)
UConn’s schedule will warmth up quickly, however the Huskies are taking good care of their severely outmatched competitors till then. Three lopsided wins have them 3-0 and looking out poised for an additional run at a nationwide championship.
2. Kansas (4-0)
The Jayhawks rode the momentum from a win over North Carolina right into a monumental milestone for Invoice Self, who turned the all-time chief in wins at Kansas with a victory within the Champions Basic over Michigan State.
3. Auburn (3-0)
You possibly can’t beat Houston each week however an accomplishment like that deserves a soothing follow-up week, which the Tigers loved of their lone sport of the week towards Kent State.
4. Gonzaga (3-0)
The identical will be stated for Gonzaga who have been greater than deserving of some relaxation after dismantling Baylor final week and defeating one other high-major staff in Arizona State with an excellent second half.
5. Purdue (4-0)
With Zach Edey gone and seven’3 freshman Daniel Jacobsen out for the season, Purdue wanted to discover a technique to win an enormous sport and not using a large heart being the largest cause why and it proved to be no subject because the Boilermakers took down No. 2 Alabama at Mackey Area. An enormous win for Matt Painter who’s trying to proceed his staff’s dominance in a brand new period with out Edey.
6. Kentucky (3-0)
Followers have been anxious to see what life with out John Calipari can be like and Mark Pope has not upset up to now. He got here up with a program-electrifying win in his first huge sport because the Wildcats took down Duke in an exciting nightcap on the Champions Basic. They’re rewarded with a sizeable soar in our energy rankings.
7. Duke (3-1)
I feel the Blue Devils can most likely recover from shedding simply 9 weeks into the season towards an excellent staff, however the ending may create some angst throughout the fanbase. Cooper Flagg struggled mightily in clutch conditions and his two turnovers within the remaining seconds sealed his staff’s destiny.
8. Alabama (3-1)
There’s no disgrace in shedding at Mackey Area, particularly this early within the season, however the Tide do endure a slight drop within the rankings due to it. Protection is all the time going to be the chief concern with this group and surrendering 87 factors is stable proof of that reality.
9. Houston (2-1)
The Cougars bounced again from a loss to Auburn with a typical defensive efficiency, permitting simply 45 factors to Louisiana in an enormous win on Wednesday. That protection can proper a whole lot of unsuitable and preserve Houston in any sport towards any staff, making them a legit contender in March.
10. North Carolina (2-1)
UNC shook off a disappointing loss to Kansas with its most full efficiency of the early season in a 107-55 shellacking of American on Friday night time. The Tar Heels will lean on a gifted and skilled backcourt headlined by returning All-American RJ Davis.
11. Indiana (3-0)
The Hoosiers stayed sizzling with their greatest win of the season by taking down South Carolina 87-71 at Meeting Corridor on Saturday. Mike Woodson has issues clicking early on with a check on the Battle 4 Atlantis arising subsequent week.
12. Tennessee (4-0)
There’s a whole lot of new faces for Tennessee this season however one of the vital acquainted within the sport in Zakai Zeigler has the Volunteers off to a 4-0 begin. The 5’9 level guard must be one of many prime gamers within the SEC as he tries to guide his staff to a different Elite Eight.
13. Iowa State (2-0)
The season hasn’t actually began but for Iowa State and received’t this coming week both with only one sport towards IUI. The next week with matchups towards Auburn and Marquette is when issues will begin to warmth up however till then we nonetheless don’t know an excessive amount of about this Cyclones staff.
14. Wisconsin (4-0)
One of many huge shockers this week was Wisconsin’s upset over No. 9 Arizona, though it was the best way it pulled it off that was essentially the most shocking. The Badgers relied on an offensive explosion of 103 factors to take down the Wildcats and enter the nationwide highlight.
15. Rutgers (3-0)
The Scarlet Knights are one other Huge Ten staff who had a wonderful week, however it was much less about particular person outcomes and extra about long-term targets. Ace Bailey made his Rutgers debut and regarded sharp with 17 factors in a 17-point win over Monmouth.
16. Marquette (4-0)
Faculty Park was left distraught as Kam Jones took over late to assist the Golden Eagles keep away from the upset towards Maryland. Jones’ ascension and the event of a number of different returning position gamers can be essential in protecting Marquette on the prime of the Huge East this season.
Subsequent 5: Baylor, Creighton, UCF, Texas A&M, Florida
Gamers of the Week:
John Tonje, Wisconsin Badgers
It seems it’s time for America to be taught the identify John Tonje. The sixth-year switch scored simply 21 factors in eight video games final season for Missouri and is averaging greater than that with Wisconsin this season at 23.5 factors per sport. A 41-point outburst towards Arizona helped elevate that common and take down the highest 10 Wildcats.
Trey Kaufman-Renn, No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers
Kaufman-Renn has been a breakout every of the final two seasons for the Boilermakers and this may be the 12 months for the 6’9 junior. He was sensational in Purdue’s assertion victory over Alabama with 26 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists for the Boilermakers. He’s averaging 18 factors by means of 4 video games this season and may very well be an All-American if he retains this up.
Ante Brzovic, Charleston Cougars
In a sport that wasn’t on many individuals’s radars, Charleston received a double-overtime thriller 119-116 over FAU and Brzovic was the hero with a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to knock off the Owls. The sport-winner was a part of a 39-point effort for the 6’10 lefty who’s a reputation to watch on the mid-major ranks this season.
Andrew Carr, No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky wanted a spark late towards Duke to drag off the upset and Carr was the one who offered it for the Wildcats. The senior transformed a pair of and-ones within the remaining 4 minutes and was the emotional chief all through the night time. He additionally scored a team-high 17 factors and made two of his three triples.
Maxime Raynaud, Stanford Cardinal
The 7’1 Frenchman is off to a terrific begin in his senior season with 4 consecutive double-doubles, together with a 33-point, 14-rebound efficiency on Sunday towards UC Davis. Raynaud is an fascinating underneath the radar prospect to observe this season.
Play of the Week
Ante Brzovic wasn’t simply one of many gamers of the week but additionally offered the play of the week along with his buzzer-beater towards FAU that despatched his house crowd right into a frenzy. Between the clutch bucket and an excellent name from the broadcasting staff, this clip has all of it and may very well be the ultimate play in one of many video games of the 12 months in school basketball.
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/42417319
Video Credit score: ESPN
