A quick look at what’s going on and what to look out for Wednesday.
All hail Duke. What else can you say after last night’s performance in which the No. 1 Blue Devils handily beat No. 4 Kansas State, 82-68? Thanks to the stellar play of guards Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving, Duke breezed past the Wildcats in the CBE Classic title game. It also marked Coach K’s 800th career victory with the school.
But Basketball Prospectus’ John Gasaway kind of rains on the early season Duke parade and closely examines how they’ve done it without big production from Kyle Singler. That being said, he’s pretty impressed with what Irving has done and his statistical analysis certainly backs it up.
Now, onto other matters…
Links
Some good quotes from around the nation. [Ballin' Is A Habit]
Rick Barnes got his 500th career win last night. [Statesman]
Mike DeCourcy takes a look around the country and tells Wichita State not to sweat it’s disappointing Maui Invitational performance. [The Sporting News]
Luke Winn checks in on some of the unsung seniors around the country, including Brad Wannamaker. [SI.com]
Scoring margin matters. Here’s why. [SB Nation]
And if you haven’t seen it yet, Michael Jordan’s kid can get up. [The Dagger]
Tonight’s Must See Games
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 13 Washington
Location: Lahaina Civic Center, Maui
Line: Washington -1
KenPom: Washington -1
TV: 5 pm, ESPN2
It’s the third place game of the Maui Invitational and I guarantee you the Spartans did not expect themselves to be playing in this one. But last night’s upset at the hands of UConn means Michigan State has to take on the Huskies a second straight night, only difference of course is tonight’s version hails from Seattle. The Spartans turned the ball over and shot a paltry 40 percent from the field against UConn and if they have a repeat performance tonight Washington will run State right out of the gym. Plus, Washington is showing itself to be a very good defensive team, allowing teams to shoot just 38 percent from the field. So with Michigan State’s pedigree, I think we can easily expect a good defensive battle in this one.
No. 7 Villanova vs. UCLA
Location: Madison Square Garden
Line: Villanova -4
KenPom: Villanova -4
TV: 9 pm, ESPN2
Villanova has been ripping through it’s early season opponents, winning by an average of 28.5 points per. But it’s come against mid-major pushovers so it’s about time the Wildcats get a sterner test tonight against the Bruins. The Garden will feature plenty of Philly fans which will make this a quasi-home game for the Wildcats, making things that much harder for the very young Bruins. UCLA has no seniors on its roster and six freshmen. Bruins have proven to be a good defensive team so far through three games. But then again, it’s come against the same class of mid-major pushovers the Villanova has destroyed, albeit West Coast versions.
No. 8 Kentucky vs. Connecticut
Location Lahaina Civic Center, Maui
Line: Kentucky -5.5
KenPom: Kentucky -6
TV: 10 pm, ESPN
Thirty for a fourth straight game for Kemba Walker? That’s probably what it’s going to take for the Huskies to capture the Maui Invitational title when they face the equally young, but more highly touted and talented Kentucky Wildcats. UConn will be looking to win it’s second Maui Invitational after it took the 2005 incarnation and they’re going to have to do it against a Kentucky team that convincingly beat a good defensive team in Washington last night despite shooting just 39 percent from the field. Best subplot in this game is the bristling hatred between Jim Calhoun and John Calipari. There’s no love lost between these two.
