NCAA Basketball: Memphis, Kentucky lead Monday Morning Mailbag

What are the biggest NCAA Basketball questions you have this week? We answer them all in this week’s Mailbag, including looks at Memphis, Kentucky and more.

It’s February and, with less than six weeks remaining until Selection Sunday, the stakes have been raised in NCAA Basketball. Every game has become even more important whether it’s regarding seeding or a team’s bubble situation.

So, what questions do you all have as we start the regular-season stretch run? Let’s dive into the mailbag.

Do you have a college basketball or NBA Draft question you want to have answered? Join the conversation on Twitter @brauf33. Thanks as always to those who contributed this week.

Yes. Experience always matters in the NCAA Tournament, particularly in the backcourt, and that will become even more vital this year given how inconsistent teams are. Having a backcourt that can provide stability and consistent production has given teams much bigger advantages than in past years because of it.

This is one of the reasons why mid-majors like Dayton and San Diego State have had such great years and is why I think both are capable of making long runs come March. Baylor’s backcourt has propelled them, too. Seton Hall and Oregon are teams to watch because of their experienced guards as well.

Rapid fire, I like it! Let’s see:

I say six from the Big East with Villanova, Seton Hall, Creighton, Marquette, Butler, and Xavier.

Arkansas can compete. It’s certainly a huge weakness that limits their upside but their guards, particularly Mason Jones, are capable enough.

USC is good. They’re not great by any stretch and head coach Andy Enfield doesn’t help matters but they’re long, athletic, and have a potential top five pick in Onyeka Okongwu.

It’ll either be Baylor/Kansas Part II or either of the Seton Hall/Villanova games. Remember, Baylor already beat Kansas 67-55 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Who the hell knows. My guess right now is Maryland, but it could be one of those situations where we have a four-way tie.

When both teams are playing their best, I think Duke is better. That said, Louisville is more consistent and doesn’t have the inexplicable poor performances the Blue Devils are prone to. So, I think the Blue Devils may be better, but I trust Louisville more.

This March Madness may not feature a single top 10 pick at the upcoming NBA draft. Has that ever happened before? OBI, Vern Carey or Nico might have to go top 10 for that to not happen. If top 10 is Anthony Edwards , James Wiseman, Cole, LaMelo, Deni Avdija (Israel), Theo maledon (France) , Isaiah Stewart, Tyrese Halliburton, Onyeka (usc on bubble) , Rj Hampton. That top 10 could have 0 in tourney. – Dan (@MrDanOppy)

I honestly don’t know if that has ever happened before but I don’t think it has. I do think Obi Toppin is going to go in the top 10 so I think it’ll become a moot point, but the lack of top prospects playing significant college basketball games has certainly hurt casual interest in the sport.

Kentucky fans should feel fine out their team moving forward despite the Auburn loss. That said, I don’t think the Wildcats have #HugeUpside. They still really struggle to shoot from deep and get inconsistent contributions from their guards because of it. Nick Richards’ emergence has been great for them and they’ve needed it, but their potential is capped because of their inability to stretch the floor.

Not a team that is as good/talented as Memphis is. That comes with having so many freshmen and underclassmen, though, but it’s alarming that it’s still as big of an issue as it is.

I think the Tigers are in the NCAA Tournament right now but need to take care of business the rest of the way. They need to beat the teams they should beat and then go at least 2-2 against the other top teams in the American (Wichita State, at Cincinnati, Houston twice). Do that and get to the AAC semis, and Memphis will be in.