NCAA Basketball: AAC’s best and mid-major threats among biggest questions
2. 13 ranked teams lost last week. Which were the most disturbing results for you?
Gluck
Auburn losing at Mizzou. There was a lot to pick from but this is probably the worst because it looks bad for the entire SEC conference. Yes, Auburn was missing their star in Isaac Okoro. But, a double-digit loss to the lowly Mizzou Tigers, whose previous high point of the season was only losing by four at LSU, is unacceptable for any ranked team. Add in that Mizzou was missing their second-leading scorer themselves, Mark Smith, and that makes it all the worse. Okoro will return this season, which Auburn clearly needs, but if this is their result without him healthy it looks bad for the team and their entire conference.
Winick
Louisville’s road losses are the most disturbing. It’s really quite interesting to look at the ACC and find zero dominant teams, but that’s where we are at in mid-February. Bad road losses happen, but two in a row is relatively concerning. The Louisville starters combined to make six total field goals and 0 three-pointers in the loss to Georgia Tech. They then turned around and allowed Clemson to shoot 51% from the field in the next game. Jordan Nwora has faded into obscurity and a consistent second option has yet to emerge. I would argue the Cardinals’ drop to 11 in the AP poll was not far enough.
Simberg
Maybe it’s a combination of the results but Seton Hall losing at home to Creighton and at Providence is very concerning. Suddenly, the Pirates three-game Big East lead has shrunk to one game. Creighton is a good team, but you have to defend homecourt. And the Providence loss is probably more concerning considering they had just come off a loss and were getting blown out early. I had the Pirates as a stealth Final Four contender, and I still do, but they need to right the ship soon.
Cravalho
It’s got to be Illinois. The Fightin’ Illini started off conference play so strong but once the hardest Big Ten stretch of play came about, they dropped four in a row to Iowa on the road, Maryland, Michigan State, and at Rutgers. I need to see Kofi Cockburn and the rest of the team steal one from Penn State in their own house or I might lose full faith in this team showing up in the big moments.