BY: SOME GUY NAMED STEVE
The slate for college basketball is ABSOLUTELY LOADED tonight! There’s a little bit for everyone. We got conference tournament games, battles between potential No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, and do or die must win games between two bubble teams. It’s going to be crazy so let’s go over the best games tonight has to offer!
Battle for the 1 Seed
Tonight we are treated to not one but two games between top 6 teams!
#3 Baylor (18-1) at #6 West Virginia (17-6): Line Baylor -4.5/Total 148.5
Baylor is coming off of its first loss all season after getting physically dominated by the Kansas Jayhawks 71-58. It was the Bears’ second game since a three week COVID-19 pause and they once again looked rusty. Baylor’s star guard, Jared Butler, had a very poor game scoring only 5 points on 2 of 9 shooting. Butler normally averages 16.4ppg and will look to bounce back against WVU.
Besides Butler, Baylor has two other guards that are just as dominant. MaCio Teague and Davion Mitchell average a combined 28.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 7.2apg, and shoot very well from the floor (both above 46%). This guard trio is the reason why Baylor is a top 3 team in the country.
West Virginia has a great guard of its own, Miles McBride. Miles McBride has become one of the best players in all of college basketball and does not have a true weakness. McBride averages 15.5ppg, 4rpg, 4.6apg, 1.8spg, and shoots 42.8%. He can attack you in a number of ways and is very efficient with the ball. McBride can drive, can pass, and shoot the three pointer. He is top 3 on the team in points, rebounds, assists, and I am very intrigued to see how he will play vs Baylor’s guards.
Besides McBride, WVU has a great big man (Derek Culver) who is averaging a double double on the season. At and 6-foot-5 225 pounds, Culver has the size and athleticism to dominate the boards tonight. Culver is hoping to have the same success Kansas had vs Baylor when it out rebounded the Bears by 20.
Prediction: I’m expecting a bounce back from Baylor tonight. WVU may have the size advantage inside but its defense has not been the best vs good offense teams. The Bears’ offense is ranked 4th in all of college basketball and I expect their trio of guards to shoot much better than they did vs Kansas (14-44 from the field). Baylor 82 WVU 74
#4 Illinois (18-6) at #2 Michigan (18-1): Line Michigan -6.5/Total 145
Michigan vs Illinois will determine who the favorite is for the Big Ten tournament . Both teams have been playing their best basketball all year and dominate on the interior. The battle I am most looking forward to watching tonight will be between Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn and Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson.
Kofi Cockburn vs Hunter Dickinson will be can’t miss television. Both guys are 7 feet tall and have dominated the interior all season long. Cockburn averages 17.7ppg, 9.9rpg, 1.3bpg while Dickinson averages 14.8ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.6bpg. Neither player doesn’t much damage outside the paint so we are in for a old school style of physical basketball.
What impressed me most with Dickinson was his ability to shut down Iowa’s Luka Garza. Garza is considered by many to be the best big man in the country but Dickinson made him look human. Dickinson held Garza to 6-19 from the floor and only four rebounds.
Tonight he is faced with another test against Cockburn who hasn’t been held to less than 6 rebounds all season long and has scored double digits in all but one game. Get your popcorn ready folks!
The X-factor in this game will be the availability and effectiveness of Illinois’ NBA prospect, Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu averages 21ppg, 6.3rpg, 5.3apg, 1.1spg, and is a top 5 player in the entire country. When he’s on the court Dosunmu is a highlight reel waiting to happen. He is great shooter with elite play-making abilities and has some of the best ball handling in the country.
Unfortunately, Dosunmu will be a game time decision due to a facial injury he suffered against Michigan State last week. Illinois did win both games that Dosunmu missed against Wisconsin and Nebraska but Michigan is a different animal. If the Fighting Illini want to have any chance to compete they will need Dosunmu to play and play to his full potential.
Prediction: Call me crazy but I think Illinois gives Michigan a good game tonight. If Dosunmu is able to play then tonight could be one of the best games we will see all season. Illinois may have the star power but the Wolverines balanced offense should give them the slight edge. Michigan 78 Illinois 74
Other Notable Games
Besides the two must watch games tonight here are some other games I’m keeping my eye on!
Akron (+6) at Buffalo (Go Bulls)
Indiana (+3) at Michigan State
Duke (+1.5) at Georgia Tech
Wisconsin (+1.5) at Purdue
Horizon Quarterfinals
The biggest games out of these five have to be Indiana at Michigan State and Duke at Georgia Tech. All four teams are in the middle of the bubble and desperately need a win! Tonight could be the difference if these teams want to make the tournament.
For live updates and breaking news, follow Trainwreck Sports, Crossing Swords or 2 Goalies 1 Mic on Twitter or subscribe to our YouTube channel
The Sports Desk can be reached at editorialtrainwrecksports@gmail.com