Recruiting Wire Vol. 7

Recruiting Wire Vol. 7- And we’re back
After a week of not watching an ounce of college hoops and a weekend where I was isolated from the sports world, what a nice week to come back to the college scene and sports in general. I was so happy watching college hoops last week and yesterday. And, it was refreshing and a sudden reminder that spring is on its way. Now Spring Training is for me the official first sign of spring, but hearing the word “bracketology” makes my ears perch up.

After a week away, this Top 25 might look a little different, so let’s jump into it:
1.      Gonzaga
2.      Villanova
3.      Kansas
4.      Arizona
5.      UCLA
6.      Oregon
7.      Louisville
8.      North Carolina
9.      Baylor
10.  Duke
11.  Kentucky
12.  West Virginia
13.  Florida
14.  Perdue
15.  Cincinnati
16.  Wisconsin
17.  SMU
18.  Virginia
19.  Florida State
20.  St. Mary’s
21.  Norte Dame
22.  Butler
23.  Creighton
24.  Maryland
25.  Wichita State
This Top 25 just doesn’t sit right me for two reasons. One is because even with the resurgence of Duke I don’t think they should be a Top 10 team, and two Virginia should be hanging onto a Top 25 seeding by the skin of their teeth. There is no reason they should be 18th when they have dropped four games in a row with 3 games remaining in the season. But, with that said, here is my last Top 10 of the regular season:
1.      Gonzaga
2.      Kansas
3.      Villanova
4.      Louisville
5.      Arizona
6.      UCLA
7.      Florida
8.      West Virginia
9.      Cincinnati
10.  Wisconsin
In the week that I took off, I got to watch a verity of college hoops and I got to watch a couple of Cincinnati and Wisconsin games and I am high on both teams. Gonzaga will be the number one seed in the tournament because I think they will ride out the rest of the regular season undefeated then go into their conference tournament and continue to dominate.

Now, my Underappreciated Performance of the Week usually doesn’t come in a loss, but this one is an expectation—and yes I’ll take the bias remarks on this one. My Underappreciated Performance goes to Michigan Wolverines Junior Forward D.J. Wilson. Wilson poured in a couple of huge late 3’s late in the game, including the game tying 3 to send the game into OT. Wilson only had 16 points, 7 rebounds, and was 2-4 on 3’s, but boy did he make them count. The Wolverines have had a disappointing season, but it’s a season where the program was gutted due to transfers and graduates—so it is a season that is necessary for a culture to be built. Next up on the docket is my Performance of the Week and it goes to my vote for the Wooden Player of the Year. That would be Kansas Jayhawks Senior Guard Frank Mason III. Mason has been incredible in his senior season and he showed is case for the Wooden Award again on Saturday. In a narrow 2-point road win against Baylor on Saturday, Mason scored a game high 23 points, and a game high 8 assists, with 2 steals. Mason was also the floor general during the 8-0 game winning run that the Jayhawks went on. Mason has done everything he could do to put his team in a prime position to get their 13th straight Big 12 Title and chase down a National Title come tournament time.

Moving onto the upcoming schedule, it is overall a light schedule but it has a lot of gems in it. Starting when #10 Duke goes up to Syracuse and plays the Orange on ESPN at 7PM. Immediately following that game on ESPN, #7 Louisville goes to Carolina to play the #8 Tarheels on Tobacco Road at 9PM. You will have to wait until Saturday to get another great game, where you have a few… Starting at 2PM EST on CBS, the #13 Gators go into Lexington to play #11 Kentucky. After that #23 Creighton gets their final real test of 2017 when they play #2 Villanova at 3PM on Fox. #10 Duke them travels to South Beach to play Miami at 4 on CBS. And after that is all over you have the game of the night at 8PM EST on ESPN. #5 UCLA battles #4 Arizona on the road. Once you get over all those college hoops on Sunday, next Monday is the definition of “Big Monday.” #8 North Carolina goes into Virginia to play the as for mention #18 Cavilers on ESPN at 7PM EST. While that game is tipping off on ESPN U, #9 Baylor hosts #13 West Virginia at 7 as well. After those two affairs are done, the last big matchup of the week is when Oklahoma hosts #3 Kansas. Remember, there are no easy games in the Big 12. But, the regular season is coming to an end soon—so be on the lookout for the Class of 2017 in that Recruiting Wire.
Sources:(espn.com)

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