We've had a conversation about the value of handshake lines for years. Every time there is a problem after a match, we start to question its purpose.
As we should.
On Wednesday, the Southland Conference announced the suspensions of eight players from Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Commerce after their postgame brawl that began, obviously, in handshake line.
The line itself isn't necessarily the problem, but college sports could learn from the professionals by not forcing athletes to shake hands after an emotional confrontation. It should always be optional. That's one way to help avoid some of the postgame drama we've seen in recent years.
For 40 minutes, players fight in controversial games. Forcing them to shake hands has always been a risky measure. It's time to make these handshake lines optional.
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Saturday, 12 pm ET, CBS
Last week, two teams that seemed on the verge of greatness (Purdue and UConn) suffered surprising losses. It doesn't change his limits, but it's worth considering whether Houston has done enough to secure a spot in that conversation.
The Cougars are 9-1 in their last 10 games, a stretch that includes five top-35 wins in KenPom. A win at Baylor would extend their lead in the Big 12 and continue to solidify their position as the likely top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Baylor has just one loss in its new arena, a triple-overtime affair against TCU. The Bears are second in three-point shooting percentage, but are also 5-5 in their last 10 games. Ja'Kobe Walter (14.4 points per game) could be a top-five pick in this summer's NBA draft. He will face the best defense he has seen all season.
Medcalf's choice: Houston, 70-65; Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
Saturday, 2 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
For two years, Hunter Sallis seemed lost on Gonzaga's defense, as he averaged just 4.3 and 4.5 points per game during his freshman and sophomore seasons. At Wake Forest, however, he has become an All-ACC level player who averages 18.3 points per game and shoots 42% from beyond the arc. A win Saturday against a top-10 Duke team would help the resume of a Wake Forest program that's on the bubble. But Sallis won't be the only player in the game who has evolved this season.
Jared McCain has averaged 16.0 points per game over Duke's last nine games (the Blue Devils are 8-1). The freshman's development has made Duke a more promising Final Four contender. The Blue Devils have gotten the timing right.
Medcalf's choice: Duke, 79-76; Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
Saturday, 4 pm ET, CBS
College basketball is a long season. It begins two weeks before Thanksgiving and ends around April Fool's Day. And sometimes, headline numbers don't mean as much as recent trends. Kentucky's defense has been much maligned this season, ranking 93rd in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to BartTorvik.com. However, as of Feb. 6, the Wildcats rank 29th in the country in that metric. That doesn't prove they're a good defensive team. However, he shows that he has the tools to play at a level that will allow him to go far in the NCAA tournament. An Alabama team that entered the week ranked first in adjusted offensive efficiency and also has its own defensive issues is a great test of Kentucky's newfound defensive prowess.
Medcalf's choice: Kentucky, 90-85; Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
Saturday, 4 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
There was a time when Tony Bennett seemed to have cracked the college basketball code. From the 2013-14 season to 2018-19, when Virginia won the national title, the Cavaliers won at least 29 games in five of six seasons with balance that has eluded them this season. Virginia is basically Kentucky in reverse. The Cavaliers, who suffered a 34-point loss to rival Virginia Tech on Monday, have the second-worst adjusted offensive efficiency during Tony Bennett's tenure (163 per KenPom). A win over a first-place North Carolina team will require a more efficient scoring effort. That has worked for others. The Tar Heels (3-3 in their last six games) gave up 132 points per 100 possessions (Syracuse) and 110 points per 100 possessions (Clemson) in their last two losses.
Medcalf's choice: North Carolina, 67-62; Against the spread: Not available at time of publication
SEASON TOTALS
Medcalf's choices are clear: 32-23
Against the spread: 27-28
