Bracketology 2020: Biggest winners and losers from Feast Week games

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 28: Jordan Schakel #20, Yanni Wetzell #5 and KJ Feagin #10 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrate after teammate Joel Mensah (not pictured) #35 dunked against the Creighton Bluejays during the 2019 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aztecs defeated the Bluejays 83-52. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 25: Jules Bernard #3 of the UCLA Bruins drives past Connor Harding #44 of the BYU Cougars during the first half at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Winner – West Virginia (7-0)

Feast Week record: 3-0
Beat Northern Iowa, 60-55
Beat Wichita State, 75-63
Beat Rhode Island, 86-81

Bob Huggins has the Mountaineers looking good after last season’s trainwreck. One of the biggest reasons—literally—is freshman Oscar Tshiebwe. The 6-9, 250-pound big man is averaging nearly a double-double. Jermaine Haley, Derek Culver, and Emmitt Matthews have all had strong starts to the season, as well. This is a team that has the potential to challenge for a first-round bye in the Big 12.

The Mountaineers came into the season with pretty good odds of making the NCAA Tournament, but they did themselves a huge favor by avoiding three very dangerous pitfalls against stellar programs. That feat that will inevitably pay dividends come March. West Virginia now has six nice wins under their belt, but they still lack a marquee non-conference victory. A late December bout with Ohio State provides a huge opportunity to get one.

Loser – UCLA (5-3)

Feast Week record: 2-2
Lost to BYU, 78-63
Beat Chaminade, 74-48
Lost to Michigan State, 75-62

Beat San Jose State, 93-64

It was hard to peg down exactly what to expect from Mick Cronin’s first season at the helm in Westwood before the season started. But now, eight games in, things are starting to come into focus. The Bruins have a team of talented players that don’t always know how to play well together. Jalen Hill can be a star, but guys like Tyger Campbell and Prince Ali need to be more consistent safety valves for UCLA.

The Bruins have a tough road through the Pac-12, especially with teams like Stanford and Oregon State looking good in the early going. UCLA could ill afford losses to Hofstra and BYU on their resume, and the Bruins missed an opportunity to cover those blemishes with a marquee win over Tom Izzo and Michigan State in Maui.

It wasn’t a complete nightmare scenario, though. At least the Bruins didn’t lose to San Jose State or Chaminade. But their trip to Hawai’i certainly didn’t provide the rest and relaxation that UCLA was hoping for.

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