COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS

Big 12-SEC Challenge falls in Big 12’s favor

Ken Cross

February 02, 2016 at 12:29 pm.

Jan 30, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots over LSU Tigers guard Tim Quarterman (55) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Jan 30, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots over LSU Tigers guard Tim Quarterman (55) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Big 12, the deepest basketball conference in the nation and with the top RPI as well, was an overwhelming favorite over the SEC on Saturday and it took a 7-3 advantage in wins. However, a closer look at the games shows that this could have gone in the SEC’s favor as Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky all blew leads when they were in position to put their opponents away.

In a “challenge,” it is key to remember that match-ups are prime. It is like the NCAA Tournament, as looking at head-to-head schedules and trying to pick winner is a waste of time. It’s a must to analyze the teams as well as other intangibles such as location and game time. Those things impact the mentality of the underdog, as well as the favorite.

Here is a recap of the 10 games, best to worst:

1) Oklahoma 77 @LSU 75 – This was the top game of the weekend. LSU led for almost the entire game until the Sooners, behind 32 points from Buddy Hield, who was 7 0f 8 from 3-point land, erased a 14-point deficit and tied it at 75-75 with under a minute remaining. The Sooners went to a ball screen high-look with Isaiah Cousins, the screener, moving away from the ball, thus pulling the defender off position, and Cousins drilled a 15-footer with 3.8 seconds left for the win. At 13-8, LSU is now in a must-win situation every time out with what will be the number one pick in the NBA Draft in June in Ben Simmons.

2) @Kansas 90, Kentucky 84 (OT) – Wayne Selden, Jr., scored a career-high 33 points as the Jayhawks outlasted Kentucky, which played well enough to win. Selden may have wanted to upstage Tyler Ulis in the backcourt, as Ulis had garnered much of the attention in previewing the match-up. Ulis finished with 26, a career-high as well. With Kentucky leading by eight in the middle of the second half, Bill Self’s switch to the match-up zone was a huge key in allowing a Jayhawks rally.

3) @Texas A&M 72, Iowa State 62 – Both teams defended better than expected as the Aggies’ big men, Jalen Jones and Tyler Davis, were the keys, in addition to swingman Danuel House, who led all scorers with 20. The Aggies’ guards locked down dynamic Iowa State point man Monte Morris as he was only 4-of-14 with eight points in the full 40 minutes.

4) @Arkansas 75, Texas Tech 68 (OT) – This game was barely on the radar, but it was as good as any in a competitive format. It was a tale of two halves for the Razorbacks as guard Dusty Hannahs scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half. Then 7-1 Moses Kingsley, who had 11 rebounds, scored all 17 of his points in the second half and overtime. Kingsley put the game in overtime with a score off an offensive rebound with 13 seconds remaining.

5) @Baylor 83, Georgia 73 – The Bears are often forgotten entity Big 12 championships are discussed, but they are tied for first in the conference. They went a 17-2 run out of halftime to reverse a three-point deficit and took a 49-37 lead, virtually ending any Bulldog hopes of an upset. Rico Gathers was a tough match-up inside for the Bulldogs as he finished with 17 points and nine boards. The free throw line was key for the Bears as they were 28-of-36, while the Bulldogs were 15-of-26.

6) @TCU 75, Tennessee 63 – This was an improbable win for the Horned Frogs as Tennessee led 41-27 at halftime. The Vols lost their first half shooting prowess as they were 1-of-16 from the floor in a stretch in the middle of the second half and fell behind by 12. Kevin Punter had another big game for Tennessee, but struggled in the second as he finished with 24. TCU’s Malique Trent had 14 of his 15 points after halftime.

7) @Florida 88, West Virginia 71 – This was easily the biggest surprise in the Challenge; not so much that Florida won, but how they won. Dorian Finney-Smith was dominant for the Gators in scoring 24 points in 30 minutes as he hit five triples. The Mountaineers, missing Jonathan Holton due to a suspension, turned the ball over 18 times as the Gators showed the Mountaineers a relentless press. Michael White’s youthful squad seems to be coming of age with the depth he has built around Finney-Smith. Florida may be a sleeper in March.

8) Oklahoma State 74, @Auburn 63 – The Tigers are so decimated with injuries, then Bruce Pearl suspended senior Cinmeon Bowers for the game for breaking team rules. It was amazing that the Tigers were within five points late in the second half. The key was the quick start for the Cowboys who made five threes in the first 6 ½ minutes to take a 21-11 lead. OSU’s Juwan Evans and Auburn’s Kareem Canty shared game-high honors with 21 each. Pearl has repeatedly implored his players to step up beside Canty and help him throughout the course of the game. Canty has had a stellar first season and should be an All-SEC first team performer.

9) @Kansas State 69, Ole Miss 64 – The Rebels were probably lucky to be within five at the end after SEC leading scorer and Stefan Moody didn’t attempt a shot in the second half. Kansas State coach Bruce Weber acknowledged after the game that it was very much a part of the Wildcats’ game plan to make him give up the basketball. No one has been able to do this all season, so credit the Wildcats with great execution on the defensive end. K-State had a 17-0 run in the second half that pushed the lead to 63-45 in knocking out Ole Miss, who is still without injured Sebastian Saiz.

10) @Texas 72, Vandy 54 – Vanderbilt has been an interesting study as the Commodores looked like a Final Four quality team, coming out of Maui after a 70-63 loss to Kansas in the Maui Classic championship game. The Commodores have been hurt by injuries to Luke Kornet and Matthew Fisher-Davis which have wreaked havoc with their chemistry. Texas controlled this game from the outset and outscored the bigger Vandy team, 40-18, in the post. The Longhorns are executing Shaka Smart’s “havoc” style in forcing turnovers and harassing opposing guards, as they have pushed their record to 14-7 in winning five of their last six.

For more of Ken’s writing you can visit: www.collegehoopswatch.com

Ken on Twitter; @CollHoopsWatch @KennyThaBaller