College Basketball Corner

Let’s just throw the numbers out and watch some basketball. Quite frankly, the little number next to the team name represents a ranking more superficial than a 1998 McGwire home run.

The fact is that no one can state definitively who is the best team in the country because there is a counter-argument that is just as credible.

Kentucky started the week with the top honors, flaunting a squeaky clean record—the only unblemished record remaining in Division I. Well, that satisfaction lasted for about 47 hours, anyway.

On Tuesday night in Columbia, South Carolina, the Gamecocks exposed the Wildcats for what they really are—a team with an over-reliance on star freshmen. Even some late game heroics from Wall and Cousins couldn’t overcome the sensational performance from senior Devan Downey.

Watching the 5-foot-9, 175 lb. Downey utilize the dribble to get his shot off over much taller and longer UK defenders, I couldn’t help wondering to myself, why haven’t I heard more about this guy?

Downey’s 30-point effort along with Brandon Raley-Ross’ 17 helped to overcome the absence of two key players, Dominique Holmes and Mike Archie, for the Gamecocks, as well as the 27 pt., 12 rebound effort from Kentucky’s Demarcus Cousins.

Oh yeah, and then there’s that John Wall guy. He finished with 19, meaning that he and Cousins accounted for 46 of the Wildcat’s season-low 62 points. As a whole, the Wildcat freshmen scored 57 of the team’s 62. A little help from junior Patrick Patterson would have been nice.

Kentucky was able to tuck the USC loss in their back pocket, however, and get right back on track with a double-digit win over a solid Vanderbilt team on Saturday, Jan. 30. Not only did they win handily, but Kentucky also won with a balanced attack which is vital for any team at this point in the season. Hey, they even got point production from someone over the age of 19, as Patterson was good for 12.

I think it’s safe to say that Demarcus Cousins has stepped out of John Wall’s shadow, as he posted his 12th double-double of the season against Vandy, with 21 points and 10 boards.

Texas’ fall from grace has been so swift as to rival that of Tiger Woods. On Jan. 11, the Longhorns were promoted to the top spot. Five days later, they were taken to overtime by a scrappy Texas A&M team, where they were carried to a 5-point victory by senior Damion James, who finished with 26 points and 12 boards.

Then, on Jan. 18, the free fall began. On the road against Kansas State (then no. 9 in AP), Texas, a team that seemed to have all the answers throughout the year, was rendered powerless against a swarming K State defense. In my opinion, it was the best defensive effort of any team so far this year, as the Wildcats fed off the energy of a rockin’ Bramlage Coliseum crowd to hold the typically high-octane Horns to a mere 62 points.

An opportunity for a bounce-back performance would be squandered up in Storrs, Connecticut five days later. Texas was hungry, but Jerome Dyson was hungrier. He finished with 32 points, 18 in the second half, to lead UConn to its first win of the year against a ranked opponent. Unfortunately, consistency has been as evasive as ever this year for the Huskies—largely a product of losing the floor general from a year ago in AJ Price, along with head coach Jim Calhoun.

The lone bright spot for Rick Barnes and the Longhorns (who slipped to no. 6 in AP) in the past couple weeks came on Jan. 27 against Texas Tech. Unexpected offensive performances from senior guard Justin Mason (18 pts.) and junior Dogus Balbay (12 pts.), along with another stellar performance from Damion James (28 pts.), guided the Horns to a 95-83 victory at home.

Low and behold, the mysterious Longhorn struggles were in full display once again against Baylor on Jan. 30. They put themselves in a 14-point hole in the second half, shooting an atrocious 19-31 from the free-throw line. It all equated to an 80-77 overtime loss.

Texas better right the ship soon, because there are several other teams that are playing their best basketball of the season right now.

I don’t think Villanova (no. 3 in the AP) gets nearly enough credit for how good they are. With a seasoned veteran and star by the name of Scottie Reynolds at the nucleus, this team is sure to be one of the toughest outs come tourney time.

The Kansas Jayhawks have been the measuring stick for consistency this entire year. Sherron Collins has a knack for commanding his troops, and making the right play at the right time. On Jan. 30 against a powerful Kansas State team, Collins battled back issues all night, but, regardless, he hit what proved to be the game-winning shot on a fearless drive to the tin in OT.

Syracuse and Michigan State also feature strong leaders on the floor in Wesley Johnson and Kalin Lucas respectively.

In a year where no single team can seem to separate themselves from the pack, expect a February and March full of Shyamalan-like twists.

Tags: Connecticut, Damion James, DeMarcus Cousins, Devan Downey, Jerome Dyson, Jim Calhoun, John Wall, Kansas State, Kentucky, michigan state, Patrick Patterson, Rick Barnes, Scottie Reynolds, Sherron Collins, South Carolina, Syracuse, texas longhorns, Tiger Woods, UConn, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wildcats