Kentucky

Many had a feeling that things would get a bit heated between in-state rivals Louisville and Kentucky on Saturday afternoon. Kentucky fans at Rupp Arena were more than ready to see the Wildcats reclaim bragging rights while the veteran Cardinals weren't showing up to simply lie down. The talking began in the tunnel before the game and threatened to mar the game before a shot was even attempted.

Saturday will feature one of the game's biggest rivalries when Louisville visits Kentucky in Lexington. The two fan bases are at each other's throats for 365 days a year with the winners owning bragging rights for the following year. Expect Rick Pitino, who's been a polarizing figure in the state ever since he took the Louisville job following a tough time with the Celtics which was preceded by an outstanding run in Lexington, to get an earful at Rupp Arena.

 

Kentucky

Record: 14-0

Quality wins: North Carolina, Connecticut, Indiana

Postseason prediction: NCAA Final Four

 

There wasn't much suspense in the game between Kentucky and Drexel at Rupp Arena but the end result was important nonetheless. The Wildcats took care of the Dragons 88-44, picking up the program's 2,000th victory as a result. DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson scored eighteen points apiece in the pasting which also moved the third-ranked team in America to 12-0 on the season.

Still a National Title Contender

An SEC Title Contender

Above Average SEC Team

Average SEC Team

Below Average SEC Team

John Calipari attempted to convince the masses following Kentucky's 64-61 win over Connecticut in the SEC/Big East Invitational that his Wildcats were 4-5 instead of 9-0. Good luck convincing people of that, but what needs no selling is how good of a player John Wall is. Foul trouble sat the freshman on the bench for much of the first half and the turnovers (seven) need to decrease, but the Raleigh, NC native took over down the stretch to deliver the win. Wall led all scorers with twenty-five points and also had six steals in the victory.

By now, most of you have seen the video of Evan Turner falling on his back, breaking a few bones and writhing in pain. That's an incredible loss for the Buckeyes. Turner was getting some considerable media hype for Player of the Year, and for good reason. He was averaging over 12 rebounds per game...as the team's point guard. Arguably the most versatile guy in college basketball, Turner will now miss two months. That means that his Player of the Year aspirations are all but dashed.

For the second consecutive night Madison Square Garden will be the center of attention in college basketball with the occasion on Wednesday being the first night of the SEC/Big East Invitational. St. John's will be playing at home in the event but the fact that they aren't the showcase game shows how far Norm Roberts' program has to go. But they are improving, a fact that should help them out against Georgia in the first game of the doubleheader. D.J. Kennedy had an outstanding second half in the Red Storm's loss at Duke, a game in which they were able to remain competitive.

The weekly Bracketology field is based on how the tourney looks "as of this moment." My weekly Bracketology updates are usually released later on Mondays. In late February into March, I release Bracketology updates daily as the season approaches crunch time.