There is an annual debate in college basketball about the value of momentum. It is real? Does it really matter if it is? Some believe that a streak of four, five, six, or seven straight wins, etc., has no bearing on whether that team will win its next game. They are all separate events. Others believe he can boost a team, especially entering the NCAA tournament.
Real or not, it seems easy to waste. In recent weeks, we've seen good teams fail to follow up solid wins or extend their winning streaks in a baffling stretch.
Houston had won five in a row and led most metrics as the No. 1 team in college basketball before suffering a double-digit loss to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday. Bill Self's team celebrated that victory, and then the Jayhawks made just three shots from beyond the arc in their overtime loss to rival Kansas State this week. Alabama had won four in a row, a streak that began with a home win over Auburn, before Nate Oats' team gave up 99 points in a loss to the Tigers in a rematch on Wednesday. And BYU beat Texas last weekend, but didn't appear during the loss to Oklahoma on Tuesday.
The North Carolina Tar Heels' loss to Clemson in Chapel Hill was the most surprising result of the week. The Tar Heels had dominated rival Duke on Saturday with a 93-point effort. They looked like a different team against the Tigers on Tuesday.
On Saturday, Armando Bacot said the ACC title “goes through me.” After the loss to Clemson, the veteran leader suggested the team had struggled to handle success.
Maybe the momentum is false, but the heartbreaking losses that followed some big wins have been very real.
All ESPN Bet odds.
0:22
Agbaji hits a three-pointer for the Jayhawks
Ochai Agbaji hits a three-pointer to open Kansas' game against Texas Tech.
No. 13 Baylor (17-5, 6-3 Big 12) at No. 4 Kansas (18-5, 6-4)
Saturday, 6 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
Kansas has gotten off a rocky start in the league several times under Bill Self. Even last year, the Jayhawks started 6-4 before finishing 7-1 and winning the Big 12 regular season title. That could happen again this year, but the road will be more difficult. They still have road games against Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Baylor and Houston. For a team that is 1-4 in its last five road games, the league's final chapter could cost Kansas in the Big 12 race and when seeding is announced on Selection Sunday. That's why Saturday's opportunity against Baylor, which leads the nation in three-point shooting (41.2 percent), is significant. A loss to RayJ Dennis (13.8 ppg, 6.4 ppg, 39 percent from 3-point range), Ja'Kobe Walter (14.2 ppg) and the Bears would be a missed opportunity at home, just before a treacherous race to the finish line. . The Jayhawks' opponents in their last four losses have connected on 43 percent of their 3-point attempts, a good sign for Scott Drew's team as well.
Medcalf's choice: Kansas, 84-80; Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
1:47
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Houston Cougars: Game Highlights
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Houston Cougars: Game Highlights
No. 5 Houston (20-3, 7-3 Big 12) at Cincinnati (15-7, 4-5)
Saturday, 4 p.m. Eastern, ESPN2
According to Joe Lunardi's latest rankings, the Big 12 has nine NCAA tournament-worthy teams. Every coach in the United States believes their league is a “gauntlet.” But it's true in the Big 12. There are no easy wins, but there are plenty of opportunities to strengthen a resume. Cincinnati figures in Lunardi's “first four outs” category. But a win over a top-seeded Houston team could change Cincinnati's fortunes. Can they do it? The Bearcats are No. 2 in the league and their opponents connect on just 46.1 percent of their shots inside the arc. Since Jan. 1, Houston has made 46.8 percent of its 3-pointers, a low-300 mark nationally, according to Barttorvik.com. But the limited offensive firepower of John Newman (10.0 ppg, 5.3 RPG) and company will be difficult to overcome against the best defense in the country.
Medcalf's choice: Houston, 70-63; Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
0:19
Kentucky's Reed Sheppard rises for a block
Kentucky's Reed Sheppard rises for a block
Gonzaga (17-6, 8-2 WCC) at No. 17 Kentucky (16-6, 6-4)
Saturday, 4 pm ET, CBS
Coming into the season, this seemed like the perfect showcase for Super Bowl weekend. Gonzaga and Kentucky are perennial powers in college basketball. And if both had lived up to their preseason projections, the winner of this game could have had a strong case for the top seed and a favorable region in the NCAA tournament. Instead, this is a matchup between a pair of teams that entered February after failing to meet preseason projections. For a Kentucky team that has lost two of its last three games, it's defense. The Wildcats have a collection of pro prospects and a sub-100 ranking in adjusted defensive efficiency in KenPom. They are essentially the Harlem Globetrotters with an allergy to rim protection on defense. Gonzaga? They need this victory to secure general consideration. Oh really. The Bulldogs are 0-5 against Quad I opponents. But recent injuries also mean Kentucky might not play at full strength.
Medcalf's choice: Kentucky, 90-86 Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN+
Ziggy Reid, a transfer from Merrimack, is proof that a player can improve dramatically during a college career. Three years ago, Youngstown State's fifth-year standout connected on just 29 percent of his 3-point attempts as a sophomore at Merrimack. This season, the 6-foot-6 forward is among the top 50 in the country with a 45 percent success rate from beyond the arc. But he's cooled off lately (5 of 16 in his last four games to start the week). If it can't find a rhythm, Youngstown State could fall to a Green Bay team that has made 39 percent of its 3-point attempts in the league. With a win, Green Bay could take sole possession of first place. With a loss, Youngstown State could move to the top of the standings.
Medcalf's choice: Youngstown State, 76-70 Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
SEASON TOTALS
Medcalf's choices are clear: 28-19
Against the spread: 21-26
