In February, college basketball is enveloped in speculation, especially regarding the looming bubble debate. Yet, the final weeks of the regular season offer more than just brackets and rankings. Here are 11 other puzzles these final games might solve.
Will Eric Dixon Clinch the Season Scoring Title?
Eric Dixon, a Villanova graduate student, leads the nation in scoring since mid-December, averaging 23.2 points per game. His output has cooled off in recent games, averaging only 20 points in his last six contests. Nonetheless, he’s on track to become Villanova’s first scoring champion since 1950 and only the third from the Big East in the last 12 seasons. If the season ended today, his average would rank as the second lowest to ever lead the nation since 1949.
Close behind, Jamal Mashburn Jr. of Temple, just 15 miles away, holds second place with a 22.0-point average. This rivalry adds another layer of excitement to the regular season.
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Will Alabama Maintain the Title as the League’s Most Lethal Offense?
Currently, Alabama is the sole team averaging over 90 points per game, managing a robust 90.3. They’ve consistently led the nation in scoring since last season at 90.1 points per game. Colorado State’s Nate Oats has overseen this scoring efficiency; Alabama has crossed the 100-point mark 96 times in its 112-year history, with 29 percent (28 instances) occurring during Oats’ tenure.
Over the past two seasons, Alabama has achieved 17 100-point games and set an SEC record with eight straight road games scoring at least 85 points. However, scoring prowess doesn’t always correlate with March success, as only two championship teams in the past 60 NCAA Tournaments led the nation in scoring.
Can St. John’s Secure Their First Big East Regular Season Title in 33 Years?
The Red Storm are currently in front by two games, with five matches remaining in the regular season. Three of these are against bottom-tier opponents—DePaul, Butler, and Seton Hall—but they also face a challenging game against Marquette. Thirteen different Big East schools have claimed this title since St. John’s last victory.
The Red Storm’s journey has been nail-biting; their last five outings have all been decided by six points or fewer.
Can Michigan Transform from Last Place to Big Ten Champions?
Indiana in 1967 is the only team to ascend from the bottom to the top of the Big Ten the following year. Last season, Michigan finished 3-17, lagging four games behind. Today, they lead the conference by a game with a 12-2 record, having overtaken many more clubs than Indiana did six decades ago.
Michigan’s final stretch is fraught with risks. They still have games left against second-place Michigan State and home games against Illinois and reviving Maryland. Four of their final six matches are at home, but their showdown with Tom Izzo on the last Sunday of the regular season will be a critical test.
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Who Will Claim the Most Improved Team Award?
Michigan’s resurgence from 8-24 to 20-5 is a strong contender, showcasing an improvement of 15.5 games. Louisville’s leap from 8-26 to 20-6 and Missouri’s jump from 8-24 to 19-6 are also significant achievements.
Michigan stands at the top of the Big Ten but faces tough matchups in their remaining games. Missouri still must play Alabama and Kentucky, while Louisville’s remaining ACC matchups, excluding Duke, occur largely at home.
Can Kansas Rediscover Their Form?
Initially ranked No. 1, Kansas now has a 17-8 record, barely hovering in the AP rankings at 23rd. The Jayhawks have been stuck in a win-loss oscillation for nearly a month and are tied for fifth place in the Big 12, with six conference losses and 14 in two seasons—more than any Kansas team since 1984.
Kansas has six more games, including pivotal matches against Texas Tech, Houston, and Arizona. Their performance could either affirm their relevance or reinforce concerns.
Will Wisconsin Maintain Their Record-Breaking Free Throw Percentage?
Currently sitting at 83.7 percent, Wisconsin leads the nation in free throw shooting, eclipsing Villanova’s 83.0 percent all-time record from four years ago. The Badgers have shown remarkable consistency, shooting 36-for-37 in their first games of the season, 41-for-47 against Arizona, and 25-for-27 against Butler.
However, even the best have their slips. John Blackwell missed both free throws in the opening minutes against Purdue, embarrassing the crowd with free fries offered for consecutive misses. Thankfully, the Badgers quickly regained their form, making 18 of their next 22 attempts.
Which Player Will Log the Most Minutes Per Game?
The rankings show Bennett Stirtz from Drake University topping the list with 38.56 minutes per game, closely followed by Mitch Mascari, also from Drake, at 38 minutes. Both guards are essential to the Bulldogs, contributing 18.5 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Both transfers arrived with Ben McCollum from Northwest Missouri State.
This rigorous workload hasn’t hindered Drake from achieving a 23-3 season record.
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Can Houston Retain Their Big 12 Championship?
The Cougars have claimed the conference title in four of their last five seasons and successfully held onto it in their first year in the Big 12. They are currently two games ahead with six matches left, including a pivotal game against Texas Tech on February 24.
In early February, Tech stunned Houston with an 82-70 overtime victory, making their rematch all the more significant.
Will Akron and Yale Finish Unbeaten in Conference Play?
Akron is currently 12-0 and would become the first MAC team since Miami in 1958 to go through conference play unbeaten. Yale is matching them with a 9-0 record, facing three road games against Ivy League rivals after Wednesday’s contest.
How Will the Sun Belt’s Tournament Race Play Out?
The final weeks of the Sun Belt season feature a four-team tie for first place, all with 10-4 records. Arkansas State, James Madison, South Alabama, and Troy are in contention, with only one game left between Arkansas State and South Alabama on Wednesday.
Arkansas State’s journey has been anything but ordinary. They began with an overtime victory over Akron, later losing a nine-point decision against Alabama, and stunned no. 16 Memphis by 13 points. They’ve had close encounters with UAB, Kent State, and more, but their final game against South Alabama will determine their fate.
College basketball still eagerly anticipates March, but the regular season’s final weeks hold many exciting revelations.
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