ESPN Men's Basketball

Overview: Both Iowa and Illinois entered the Big Ten tournament in need of a championship to earn a trip to the Big Dance. Iowa had managed to impress in stretches this season (the Hawkeyes swept Wisconsin) and was mentioned as a sleeper in the buildup to the Big Ten tournament. Illinois, however, had fallen on hard times. The Illini had lost 11 of their past 13 -- a stretch that might cost Bruce Weber his job -- prior to Thursday’s 64-61 loss to Iowa.

After a back-and-forth first half that featured a 50 percent shooting clip for Illinois and a 46 percent mark for Iowa (Illinois had a 31-27 lead at halftime after a D.J. Richardson 3-pointer at the buzzer), Illinois stormed out to a 40-33 advantage just minutes in the second half. But Iowa returned fire with a 22-8 run that gave the Hawkeyes a 55-48 advantage midway through the second half.

It was just a four-point game in the final minute, and a crucial Iowa turnover seemed to put Illinois in a position to change the outcome. But the Illini coughed the ball up before they could do anything with that vital possession. Joseph Bertrand hit a 3-pointer with 16.1 seconds to play, cutting Iowa’s lead to one (62-61). But a pair of free throws by Matt Gatens put the Hawkeyes ahead again by three.

Turning point: The Illini appeared to possess a little mojo at the start of the second half, but Gatens squashed that momentum with a pair of crucial buckets near the 14-minute mark. Gatens hit a deep three, then dunked off a turnover on the other end. The game turned off that stretch. Iowa began playing with more vigor, which led to the run that turned the game in the Hawkeyes’ favor.

Key player: Gatens was a star for the Hawkeyes. He scored 20 on 7-for-12 shooting. Beyond the box score, however, the senior stayed calm when Illinois started to pull away at the start of the second half. He also had three rebounds and an assist. He converted all four of his free throw attempts, including two in the final seconds.

Key stat: The Illini committed 12 turnovers compared to Iowa’s six. The Illini went 7-for-25 from beyond the arc.

Miscellaneous: The Illini made this game far more difficult than it had to be with tough shots toward the end of the shot clock … Meyers Leonard scored 18 points in what might have been his final game at Illinois … Freshman Aaron White (13 points) could be a Big Ten star next year.

What’s next: Iowa moves on to face Michigan State at noon on Friday. Illinois will probably end up in the NIT. The bigger question is how long Weber will be on the sideline.

Basketball-wise, Meyers Leonard did not have the best Wednesday night. Individually, he was great: 18 points, 9 rebounds, one assist, one block. But his team, the hapless and collapsing Illini, lost to Michigan in typically uninspired fashion at home. The loss permanently sealed Illinois's 2012 fate as a once-promising team that melted down in the worst possible way.

On Jan. 11, the Illini were alone atop the Big Ten at 4-1. They had just upset Ohio State at home. Since then, they've lost 10 of their past 12 games, fans have revolted, athletic director Mike Thomas was tepid in his support of coach Bruce Weber, Weber was open and public and emotional about his failings as a coach this season, and his tenure -- and any chance Illinois had of returning to the NCAA tournament -- has ended emphatically.

After the game, Leonard even raised eyebrows with this comment:

Center Meyers Leonard said the Illini have not given up hope. "I don't know why anyone looks at us and thinks we're some different team," he said, alluding to earlier victories this season. "Like we're not capable. But we are."

It's fair to wonder how capable Illinois even was in the first place. This offense was never good, and it has only worsened -- it is now No. 10 in the Big Ten in efficiency -- down the stretch. But it's not hard to figure out why people are looking at Illinois differently. When you lose 10 of your past 12 games, that's just part of the bargain.

But there is a bright side to this story, fortunately, a nice human element to add to an otherwise brutal night for Illinois and its star center. Bailey Leonard, Meyers' older brother, who just returned the States after his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, surprised little bro and the rest of the team with a visit to its afternoon workout Thursday. From the State Journal-Register's John Supinie:

Bailey returned from his second deployment overseas to shock Meyers during the afternoon workout. He wore his dress blues.

“Surprising Meyers was great,” Bailey said at halftime. “It was great to see him be happy in front of the team. I think it was good for the team. I hope it gives them extra motivation to play tonight.” [...] Weber knew about Bailey’s return for a month and kept the surprise. Meyers thought he wouldn’t see his brother for the first time in a year until the Big Ten Tournament, at the earliest.

“I had no clue he was coming,” Meyers said. “I brought tears to my eyes. He put his life on the line every single day. I couldn’t be more proud to call him my brother.”

If you read Dana O'Neil's excellent feature on Meyers Leonard in January (and if you haven't, just go read it now, because I guarantee it's a better way to spend the next half hour than whatever it was you were planning on doing), you'll be familiar with the Leonards' story.

Meyers' father passed away when he was six, throwing his family's life into disarray. His mother's poor back health made it impossible for her to work but unable to afford the surgery she needed. Bailey's decision to enlist in the Marines and serve overseas was even more difficult, and Meyers has had the weight of all that and more on his very broad and capable shoulders throughout his basketball career.

Last September, for a piece on college basketball players' (and our generation's) memories of September 11, 2001, I spoke with Meyers about his brother's deployment and how it affected him.

"Honestly, I try not to think about [my brother]. It scares me when I do think about him. His life is at risk every day. I try not to think about it, but there are certain days or certain time periods where I won't be able to talk to him and it's on my mind even more. Basketball is an escape from pressure. Whatever the pressure is. Whether it's homework or worrying or just needing to clear my mind, I'll go run and get some shots up and clear my mind and escape before going back to what I was doing before."

Unfortunately, Bailey's surprise return Wednesday night didn't lead to a win for Illinois or Meyers, despite his excellent performance in the game. But in the midst of a messy, frustrating, spiraling and potentially all-consuming season, it may served as a helpful reminder that some things are much bigger than wins and losses.

Update: A must-see photo of the reunion is here.

1. The Illini finally got that they have something to play for: themselves. In their win over Iowa Sunday, Illinois actually looked like a team that still cared about playing and fighting for an NCAA tournament berth. Meyers Leonard and Brandon Paul responded to Bruce Weber and the staff. The Illini could still make the bid process interesting if they can beat Michigan and win at Wisconsin this week.

2. Colorado coach Tad Boyle should be the Pac-12 coach of the year. The Buffaloes, who lost their best two players off last season’s team, won their 11th game in the conference with a 13-point win over Cal. The Buffaloes have no business finishing with a bye as a top-four seed in the Pac-12 tournament, yet can do so with a win at Oregon Thursday. If the Buffaloes didn’t get worked by Stanford by 24 at home (odd) then taking a Pac-12 title away from co-favorite Washington could have been a possibility.

3. Miami took one step closer to a tournament bid by beating Florida State Sunday. But Miami will have to keep winning if Reggie Johnson isn’t cleared by the NCAA. The selection committee has to judge the 'Canes without him from this point forward. If he returns then the overall body of work will be back in play. But if he doesn’t and Miami were to lose at NC State Wednesday (Boston College is next to close the season) then it will be a tough call.

Last week, in the midst of the Bruce Weber fracas -- after the disconcerting radio appearance from athletic director Mike Thomas, and after Weber's somewhat strange postgame news conference in which he admitted he had "coached not to lose" in lieu of building a "culture of toughness" -- CBS's Gary Parrish related a story of his time spent with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo as an example of the respect Weber commands among his Big Ten peers:

Weber did not have a private plane. He instead had a 3:45 a.m. wakeup call that would allow him to grab a commercial flight and take a more inconvenient route to the exact same place we were going, and when Izzo heard this he invited Weber to travel with us. Later, I asked Izzo why he offered a lift to Weber considering the plane was in essence an advantage in a recruiting battle for multiple prospects between Michigan State and Illinois. "I wouldn't do it for anybody," Izzo answered. "But if you lose a kid to Bruce you know it wasn't underhanded. You know he's going to do things the right way."

Clearly, there is a lot of respect here. It should be no surprise, then, to see Izzo go public in defense of the beleaguered Illinois coach during an appearance on Chicago Tribune Live Monday:

“I think he is a phenomenal coach,” Izzo said. “Look at his record, look at what he has done there over the years compared to anyone else who’s been there, and they’d have to agree. They had a tough year, like I did last year.” [...]

“I’ve been disappointed. I love Illinois. I think the fan base, they’ve always been great, but you get a new AD in there,” Izzo said. “A week ago, talk about not giving him a very good (sic)… if you are going to get rid of a guy, do it at the end of the year. I think that hurt him Saturday, you could tell by his players. But knowing Bruce like I know him, I know it will be hard, but he’ll find a way to bounce back. He’s not a good coach, he’s a great coach. He really is, he’s proven that.

“I’m not an AD, but I mean put it this way, when an AD does what happened it affects your team and recruiting.”

Few coaches in the Big Ten can credibly calm an opposing team's fan base. Izzo may be the only one. But his success in the league, and the respect he commands among his peers and rival fan bases -- nobody actively dislikes Tom Izzo -- gives his words a unique kind of weight.

Not that they'll help much. Izzo is wrong about at least one thing: This isn't just about one bad year. Illinois fans expect to participate in the NCAA tournament. Frankly, they expect a lot more than that, and some of it may be unrealistic, but this particular expectation is not. If the current trajectory continues, the Illini will miss their third tourney in five years under Weber. One of the teams that did make the cut -- last year's 20-11 squad -- was considered by most fans, given the mix of young talent and veteran stalwarts, to be a massive disappointment. Illinois fans' frustrations have been slowly but surely building over the past five seasons. They accentuated in 2011, and they've officially boiled over in 2012. This goes deeper than one bad season. (And oh, by the way: Weber isn't Izzo. One mediocre year after six Final Fours in 11 seasons this is not.)

Had Illinois managed to beat Nebraska at Nebraska Saturday -- as opposed to being blown out 80-57, an effort accompanied by an openly weeping Meyers Leonard -- fans would still want Weber gone. Even if this team rallies and somehow makes the NCAA tournament, which seems very unlikely, the fans won't be dissuaded. They want a change. Their decision has been made. And if Thomas's comments on the matter are any indication, he is inclined to agree.

So what can Weber do? The only thing left to do -- keep coaching, keep fighting, keep working hard. On Monday, he told ESPN Chicago's Scott Powers he had shared this message with his team:

"I can't have my own pity party," Weber said. "They can't have it. There's no sympathy from anyone. Obviously, you guys know it. It's out there. If we keep feeling sorry for ourselves, we're going to let the season slip by. We have to man up. Tough times stop; tough people don't.

"I told all the guys I don't want any more tears until the end of the season. We just got to play."

This is an admirable way to move forward. Weber could just as easily lash out at unsupportive fans, or an overbearing media, or -- in a slightly more risky maneuver -- at his athletic director, for vaguely "hurting" his kids with "negativity." He hasn't done that. Instead, he's going to fight to the end. You can't help but respect the tact.

Weber's colleagues, Izzo included, surely agree. But unless something drastic changes in the next three weeks, all the Big Ten respect in the world can't save Weber's job now.

(Hat tip: Beyond the Arc)

Illinois' Meyers Leonard and Purdue's Robbie Hummel will lead their respective NCAA tournament bubble teams into Wednesday night's matchup.

The Morning After is our semi-daily recap of the night's best basketball action. Political leanings aside, it found last night's debate utterly fascinating.

Penn State 54, No. 25 Illinois 52: The last time we saw the Fighting Illini, they were at home against one of the best teams in the country, Ohio State. The crowd was rolling. Brandon Paul was, too. The shooting guard had his dream game, the Platonic ideal of an individual offensive performance, the kind of game he'll remember forever: 43 points, 11-of-15 from the field, 8-of-10 from 3, 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Illinois won 79-74.

Nine days later, that incredible outlier of a performance says as much about this Illini offense as any of Illinois' other substandard performances in Big Ten play to date -- which, for the record, have been pretty much all of them. When you get that kind of night from Brandon Paul, and you just narrowly edge the Buckeyes by five points at home, well, maybe that's not such a good sign.

With the exception of their performance against Ohio State, the Illini have for much of the season -- and particularly in conference play, despite their 4-1 (now 4-2) start -- been one of the more anemic offenses in the Big Ten. Nine days after their rollicking win, and just a few days after Michigan State and Indiana helped them become the only one-loss team in the Big Ten to date, the Illini did what they have been doing for pretty much the entire season, especially since the start of conference play. They turned the ball over way too often.

Last night's turnover rate at Penn State -- 25.0 percent -- led Illinois to score just .93 points per possession at Penn State. It also cemented Illinois' status as the Big Ten's most turnover-prone squad: As ESPN Insider/Basketball Prospectus oracle John Gasaway tweeted Thursday night: "Including tonight's loss @ Penn State, Illinois has given the ball away on 24% of their possessions in-conf, worst in the league by far." When you open Illinois' profile on Statsheet, and peer into its handy four-factors-oriented game stats, you see a team that has given the ball away on more than 22 percent of its possessions five out of six times in conference play. Even against Ohio State, despite all of Paul's brilliance, Bruce Weber's team coughed it up 27.3 percent of the time.

For much of the season, anyone who has watched Illinois play has asked -- nay, begged! -- for the Illini to stop taking outside shots, to stop running so much offense through Paul, to getting beast-mode sophomore forward Meyers Leonard more touches on the low block. It hasn't happened. Sure, Leonard took 12 shots Thursday night; he made six en route to a solid 15-point outing. But Paul and fellow guards D.J. Richardson, Sammy Maniscalco (can I call him Sammy?) and Joseph Bertrand combined for 33 shot attempts of their own. They made nine. Throw in all the turnovers, and of course it's no surprise the Illini scored just 52 points in 56 possessions Thursday night.

This is the great challenge of Illinois' season. The Illini are talented, no question about that. They defend better than any recent Weber-coached team. At the beginning of the year, I expected that the losses of seniors Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale -- three players who insisted on taking inefficient shots, didn't bang on the low block, and (especially McCamey) never stopped the ball at the point of attack the way Weber's guards have to -- would amount to addition-by-subtraction on both ends of the floor.

That's half right. The Illini do defend. That's good news; it will keep them in games and give them chances to win, even on the road. But this iteration is even less efficient on offense than 2011's. Until Leonard becomes the single focal point of this offense -- or at least until Illinois stops giving the ball away so frequently and so carelessly -- this team's ceiling will continue to be much lower than it should. Meanwhile, we should view the Ohio State win less as a grandiose sign of improvement and more like the outlier it truly was.

In short: The Illini commit way too many turnovers to be consistently successful. The end? We'll see.

Vanderbilt 69, Alabama 59: Advanced statistics seem somewhat beside the point here. On Thursday night, the Crimson Tide couldn't make a shot to save their lives. That's why they lost.

To be fair, we should direct some major credit toward the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are, it should be noted, vastly improved on the defensive end of the floor in SEC play. The Commodores are allowing just .90 ppp to opponents in SEC games, the stingiest mark in conference -- a better figure than Kentucky's Anthony Davis-led defensive juggernaut, even. That's a smallish four-game sample size, of course, so it's not quite predictive of the way the rest of the season will unfold, and that figure has been accomplished against some of the worst of what the SEC has to offer: Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia and now Alabama. (Auburn mustered a mere .60 ppp in its game vs. Vanderbilt. That's just ... wow.) No one is expecting Vanderbilt to become a defensive monster, but if some of what the Commodores have done since mid-December is real, even that marginal improvement is, in general, a sign of big things to come. This team can score just fine, as we saw last night. (That Alabama defense is good, folks.) If it can defend a bit, even better.

Besides, while we're at it, we might as well mention this: Winning on the road in conference play is never easy. When you do, credit is deserved. Consider that credit granted.

But in all honesty, this loss was just as much about Alabama as it was about Vanderbilt -- arguably even more so. I mean, just look at the box score: The Crimson Tide shot 23-of-70 from the field and 6-of-24 from beyond the arc. That's a problem. Why? Apparently, despite the Crimson Tide's 26.9 percent accuracy from beyond the arc -- which ranks them among the five worst long-distance teams in the nation -- no one has broached the topic with Alabama that maybe it should, you know, stop shooting 3s.

It's one thing to struggle on offense, as Alabama does. That's OK. This is one of the best defenses in the country. It doesn't have to set the nylon ablaze every time it hits the court. But when you're this bad from long range, and you possess the kind of physical, athletic frontcourt talents Alabama does, you have no business busting 24 3s against anyone. All that does is lead to long rebounds and secondary breaks which negate that incredibly impressive half-court defense in the process. How counterproductive is that?

The good news? Alabama ranks just No. 300 in the nation in 3-point/FGA ratio. It has served the Crimson Tide well thus far. On Thursday night, Alabama saw what happens when it deviates from that identity. I believe the high school kids at the 7-11 by my house have a phrase for this, typically used (as far as I can tell, because I feel old and out of touch every time I want to grab a Coke Zero) when discussing the merits of "Drake:" Stay in your lane. It applies here.

Coverage links of note: Robbi Pickeral was, per the usual, on hand with North Carolina, which pulled away from Virginia Tech in the second half thanks to a burst of sheer euphoric talent -- and much more intensity.

Everywhere else: Duke rolled over Wake Forest, and the highlight of the night was Doc Rivers' face when his son, Austin, took a horrible, let-me-dribble-for-a-few-seconds-and-then-launch 3-pointer that somehow banked in. Doc's face was a mixture of relief and embarrassment. Fellow parents patted him on the back as he sank his head into his hands. Pure, uncut comedy gold. ... Virginia just trounced Georgia Tech on the road, 70-38. ... St. Mary's remained undefeated in WCC play with a win over Pepperdine. ... NC State handled Boston College. ... and out in Pac-12 play, Cal held on for an excellent three-point win at Washington while Stanford fell prey to Washington State's offensive home cooking. It's hard not to see the Bears as the only obvious Pac-12 favorite going forward.

Saddle Up is our semi-daily preview of the night's best basketball action. It laughed at this gif, and now it almost feels bad. Almost.

No. 4 Baylor at No. 18 Kansas State, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3: There's an interesting dynamic brewing around Baylor, even as this team has streaked to a 15-0 start and, as the faceless Stats LLC writer behind our afore-linked pregame preview wrote, its "best start, longest-ever win streak and highest ranking" in the history of the program. Despite all that, people seem to be wondering why the Bears, good as they are, aren't better?

More specifically, they seem to be asking why Perry Jones III, the most gifted athlete in college hoops, doesn't dominate games in proportion to his ability. They ask why Jones, with his soft touch and 6-foot-11 frame and his top-five NBA lottery status doesn't produce the consistent low-post bucket feast of Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger, or the face-melting highlight reel of Thomas Robinson. You look at Jones on the court, and you see what NBA scouts see: Incredible size, incredible length, incredible touch. But the box scores only rarely align with our eyes.

To hear Baylor coach Scott Drew tell it, it sounds rather simple: Jones is still developing:

“I think Perry’s more physical this year. He is stronger, bigger, more mature,” Drew said. "He wasn’t one of those 24-year old freshmen. He’s a younger guy, and as he continues to develop he’ll be able to take more advantage of things inside. And he’s shooting the 3 now. He’s definitely a different player. I think it’s just all age and maturity. That’s what the NBA sees – they see every year he gets closer and closer to it."

Jones may have to grow up in a hurry Tuesday night. There are few interiors in the country as well-suited to match up with Baylor's length and athleticism as the Kansas State Wildcats, which most recently ended Missouri's perfect run with an emphatic effort at home. If Baylor wants to escape the Octagon of Doom with its own perfect record intact, it will have to survive a sluggish, slow, hard-fought defensive battle of a game. In the immortal words of Chicago Bulls local analyst and all-around hilarious human being Stacey King: It's a man's game. No boys allowed. (And yes, I really just wanted to quote Stacey King. Can you blame me?)

The good news for Baylor comes on two fronts:

1. This is a good defensive team in its own right. In fact, with rare exceptions the Bears have been much better defensively team than on the offensive end all season long. The Bears rank No. 35 in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, per Pomeroy; they're No. 13 defensively, allowing opponents .87 points per possession. That's really good.

2. Baylor has a fully developed, capital-M man of its own on the low block. His name is Quincy Acy.

If you're looking for the Bears' interior star thus far this season, look no further. While Jones has posted decent numbers peppered with the occasional flash of brilliance, Acy has been in beast mode all season long. Perhaps that is the best argument for the power of development in college hoops: Acy has a fraction of Jones' natural talent, but more often than not this season he's been the more productive and effective of the two.

At this point, pining for consistent dominance from Perry Jones seems a little bit silly. He's clearly improved, but he's still not quite there yet. The good news for Baylor, especially as the meat of their Big 12 begins to challenge them on a frequent basis (the Bears travel to Kansas Monday and host Missouri next Saturday) is that Jones isn't the only talented player on this roster. There's Acy, there's guards Pierre Jackson and Brady Heslip, there's gifted freshman Quincy Miller, there's Cal transfer Gary Franklin. Jones looks like he should be a transcendant star, but he isn't. Individually, none of the Bears are without their flaws. And neither, despite its record, is this team.

Oh well. There's no use pining for something that isn't there, at least not yet. What the Bears are already is still awfully good. They'll need to be to stay undefeated tonight.

No. 5 Ohio State at Illinois, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN: First and foremost, NBA scouts should love this one. Why? Because they get a chance to measure Illinois sophomore forward Meyers Leonard -- a potential first-round pick whose stock should rise as the season continues -- mano a mano with surefire lottery pick Jared Sullinger. That matchup, pitting two of the Big Ten's three or four best big men, is the one to watch. It's a good one.

Where Illinois coach Bruce Weber may direct more of his concern is, well, everywhere else. The Illini have been a thoroughly mediocre offensive team for pretty much the entire season, thanks in large part to the fact that Leonard simply doesn't touch the ball enough. Instead, those touches and shots go most frequently to guard Brandon Paul, who is still taking the highest percentage of his team's possessions and shots despite his effective field goal percentage of 42.1 and his offensive rating of 91.7. Paul might be the only Illini player who can consistently get to the rim, but that apparent talent doesn't seem to be doing much good. Just as often, Paul decides to shoot a three, where has gone 21-of-74 (28.4 percent) on the season. Yikes.

Considering the presence of Leonard, and the fact that fellow backcourt mate D.J. Richardson actually is efficient (off. rating: 116.4; eFG%: 54.4), Paul's chuck-happy ways constitute a drastic misappropriation of resources. That, more than any other reason, is why the Illini have struggled thus far this season. They may be able to hold Ohio State's offense in relative check tonight. The Illini do defend, Leonard can (conceivably, anyway) present some resistance to Sullinger and the benefit of an Orange Krush-led home atmosphere should be a huge leveling force.

But if Illinois takes the usual diet of bad shots and silly threes against this No. 1-ranked efficiency defense, which is holding opponents to (get this) .78 points per trip this season, they might not break 50 points. Whatever the final tally, it will be ugly.

Everywhere else: No. 13 Louisville will try to avoid a loss in a slightly tricky road game at Providence. ... No. 3 UNC will host Miami. ... No. 7 Michigan State gets Iowa in East Lansing, and if the Hawkeyes double down on their NYE win at Wisconsin, the world will officially cease to make sense. ... Georgia travels to No. 19 Florida. ... Florida State will attempt to halt its ugly recent slide at Virginia Tech. ... Vanderbilt looks to stay unbeaten in SEC play at South Carolina. ... and UNI goes to Omaha to face No. 21 Creighton in another huge MVC game with potential NCAA tourney bid implications.

It’s an epidemic that’s plagued the national college basketball scene for far too long. Too often, this issue is overlooked or dismissed.

But it’s time to address the madness that’s rocking programs throughout the country. I’m referring to Starving Big Man Syndrome.

Perhaps your favorite team suffers from this silent season-killer. Well, it’s time to identify the victims in hopes of rectifying this growing challenge.

1. Meyers Leonard -- Why won’t the Illini feed the big man? He took four shots in Saturday’s loss to Purdue. Just eight in a Dec. 17 loss to UNLV. He’s capable of duplicating his 20-point effort against Minnesota last week and his 21-point performance in the Illini’s Dec. 3 win over Gonzaga. He should get the ball more often. He was 4-for-9 in a one-point win over Northwestern Wednesday, but his teammates failed to find him multiple times when the Wildcats weren’t doubling.
2. Patric Young -- Florida’s big man has a 63 effective field-goal percentage, according to Ken Pomeroy’s ratings. He took 20 shots combined in Florida’s past two games. But he’s only cracked double digits in field-goal attempts four times this year. And he’s only responsible for 12.7 percent of his squad’s shots this season. Sure Florida is stocked with perimeter talent. But the SEC is a hotbed for talented bigs. Anthony Davis, Arnett Moultrie, Festus Ezeli and JaMychal Green anchor the league in the post. So the Gators will need Young even more in league play. It’s time to toss the ball inside.
3. C.J. Aiken -- The 6-9 forward is ranked sixth in the Atlantic 10 in John Hollinger’s NCAA player efficiency ratings (23.59 PER). But prior to Wednesday’s 84-82 win over Duquesne (he was 5-for-10), Aiken had taken 11 shots combined in two previous games. The Hawks -- like Temple and St. Louis -- are going to make the Atlantic 10 race interesting, especially with Xavier’s recent struggles. Aiken is a key part of St. Joseph’s NCAA tourney hopes due to his defensive prowess (his 4.5 blocks per game lead the nation). But he’s more than a shot-blocker as his performance in the Duquesne victory proved.
4. Anthony Davis -- Finding the best use for Davis’ expansive skill set isn’t simple. He’s 6-10 but he’s certainly not a traditional big man. And Kentucky is stocked at every position. But it never hurts to have an additional offensive weapon, especially one who’s shooting 65 percent from the field. But Davis’ offensive game might become a significant factor in March and April, despite the talent around him. Prior to his 22-point performance (9-for-11) against Arkansas Little-Rock Tuesday, Davis had taken seven shots or less in seven games.
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David Butler II/US PRESSWIREPerhaps a loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday might have UConn emphasizing getting the ball to center Andre Drummond much more often.
5. Andre Drummond -- Every legit mock draft board I’ve read places the UConn forward in the top five of this summer’s draft. Why would a lottery pick take five shots and score four points … EVER? That was Drummond’s stat line in Wednesday’s upset loss to Seton Hall. It just doesn’t make any sense. It was his second five-shot outing in three games. He shot two free throws combined in those matchups.
6. Arsalan Kazemi -- He leads the nation in rebounding. And he’s on top of Conference USA in steals and field-goal percentage. But he’s averaging 7.7 field-goal attempts per game for Rice, despite boasting a 61.2 effective field-goal percentage, per Ken Pomeroy. But he’s been responsible for just 13 percent of Rice’s field-goal attempts so far this season.
7. Eli Holman -- Detroit has lost three of its past five games with Holman in the lineup. The 6-10 presence missed multiple games due to an indefinite leave at the start of the season. He’s shooting 62 percent from the floor and averaging 12 ppg. Ray McCallum Jr. and Chase Simon handle the scoring load for the Titans. But Holman can be an offensive difference-maker in conference play. Detroit nearly knocked off nationally ranked Mississippi State when Holman went 6-for-8 from the field.
8. Alex Len -- He’s only played three games after missing time because of an eligibility issue (he’d previously signed with a pro team overseas). But Len is living up to the hype for ACC sleeper Maryland. I know Terrell Stoglin (21.2 ppg, sixth in the nation) likes to eat. But Len is hungry, too. He’s taken 10 shots in his team’s past two games (he was 10-for-14 from the charity stripe in those contests). He’ll probably become a more viable part of Maryland’s offense in the ACC, where John Henson, Mike Scott and the Plumlee Clan lurk. He’s a dangerous addition for the rest of the league.
9. James Haarsma -- UW-Milwaukee’s 6-7 forward has hurt himself with foul trouble in multiple games. But the Panthers could use an offensive boost that Haarsma should be able to provide. He had three points in a Tuesday loss to Western Michigan. According to Hollinger’s ratings, he’s No. 22 in the Horizon League in player efficiency with a 15.76 PER. Milwaukee won a slice of the Horizon last year, but the Panthers have lost three of their past four games. In two of those matchups, Haarsma only took four shots, even though his team shot under 30 percent from beyond the arc in those games. Might be time for UWM to look inside.
10. Royce White -- He’s surrounded by shooters at Iowa State. And right now, there’s really nothing to complain about regarding his role because the Cyclones have won six in a row, including a solid victory over Texas Wednesday night. But the Big 12 is a big league. And White is capable of offensive fury. The league’s eighth-ranked player in Pomeroy’s offensive ratings has taken 16 shots in his team’s past four games. He still leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. So it’s not like Fred Hoiberg’s offense has ignored him. But White’s 22 points and 13 rebounds in a Dec. 3 loss to Michigan weren’t flukes. He’s that good. And he’ll get better with more scoring opportunities inside.

If your favorite team suffers from Starving Big Man Syndrome, please call 1-800-FEED-HIM. That’s 1-800-FEED-HIM. Or just call Bill Walton.

Wednesdays are always big nights in college basketball. Here are some predictions for this evening’s games (I’m including my take on Kansas State-Kansas in case you missed it at the bottom of my game preview):

No. 20 Marquette at No. 9 Georgetown

The Golden Eagles bounced back from a home blowout against Vanderbilt by beating Villanova 81-77 on New Year’s Day. Still, Buzz Williams’ team is struggling without 6-foot-11 center Chris Otule. Georgetown was far from impressive in a 49-40 victory over Providence one day earlier. Both teams are very well-coached and are considered contenders for the Big East title. The Hoyas get the nod here, but only because they’re at home. This could be the game of the night.

Prediction: Georgetown 60-57

No. 3 Duke at Temple

The Blue Devils have won their past three games by an average of 32.3 points, but Temple should provide a much stiffer test. Fran Dunphy’s squad has won three straight since a Dec. 17 setback at Texas, but the Owls don’t have enough firepower to upend a Final Four contender.

Prediction: Duke 82-69

Notre Dame at Cincinnati

The Bearcats have gone 6-0 without suspended center Yancy Gates, who will return tonight. The Bearcats have been playing with a four-guard lineup, so it will be interesting to see how they alter their game plan with Gates. Notre Dame is in rebuilding mode and will be hard-pressed to beat Cincinnati on the road.

Prediction: Cincinnati 75-66

Illinois at Northwestern

If John Shurna and the Wildcats want to have any chance of earning the first NCAA tournament bid in school history, they’ve got to win games against similar opponents at home. Stopping Illinois standouts Meyers Leonard and D.J. Richardson won’t be easy, but I think Northwestern can pull it off.

Prediction: Northwestern 68-67

Iowa at Minnesota

If the surging Hawkeyes can beat a good Wisconsin team in Madison, I’ve got to think they’ll have a chance at Minnesota, which is 0-2 in the Big Ten after road losses against Illinois and Michigan. This would definitely qualify as an upset, but not a huge one.

Prediction: Iowa 72-66

No. 1 Syracuse at Providence

The Friars lost by 24 points against St. John’s and then scored only 40 in a setback at Georgetown. Syracuse should roll.

Prediction: Syracuse 85-66

Wichita State at Evansville

Just two games into the conference season, and the Shockers are already in a difficult position following a home loss to Creighton on New Year’s Eve. They can’t afford a road loss to an Evansville team that upset Northern Iowa on New Year’s Day.

Prediction: Wichita State 74-68

No. 22 Kansas State at No. 15 Kansas

Kansas State has lost its past five games at Allen Fieldhouse by an average of 18 points. Kansas is as vulnerable as it’s been in years, but Kansas State relies on several young players -- namely freshmen Thomas Gipson and Angel Rodriguez -- who have never experienced this kind of environment. The Jayhawks will win tonight but don’t be surprised if the Wildcats return the favor when Kansas visits Manhattan.

Prediction: Kansas 75-63

Upset of the night: Texas Tech over Oklahoma State

Gallagher-Iba Arena is traditionally one of the toughest places to play in the Big 12. But Oklahoma State fans may not be as excited about this season’s team. Two more players -- Fred Gulley and Reger Dowell -- have decided to transfer in recent weeks. Third-leading scorer J.P. Olukemi tore his ACL last weekend and is out for the season, and highly touted freshman Le’Bryan Nash has been a disappointment. Texas Tech is rebuilding under first-year coach Billy Gillispie, who may have the conference’s top freshman in forward Jordan Tolbert.

Prediction: Texas Tech 66-59

St. John’s freshman Moe Harkless exploded for 32 points and 13 rebounds is a 91-67 win over Providence. It broke a Big East record shared by Troy Murphy and Allen Iverson for most points by a freshman in his first conference game. He is one of only five major conference freshmen with a 30-10 game in the past five seasons, a list that also includes Jared Sullinger, Michael Beasley, Bill Walker and J.J. Hickson.

The last Big East freshman with a 30-point, 10 rebound effort? Carmelo Anthony, who did it three times in 2002-03.

Tolbert emerging for Texas Tech
Jordan Tolbert led Texas Tech with 27 points in a 74-58 win over Cal State-Bakersfield. Tolbert has scored over 20 points in each of his past four games. He’s averaging 21.0 ppg in December, fifth-highest among major conference players. Tolbert is now averaging 15.8 PPG. Only Washington’s Tony Wroten has a higher scoring average among freshmen in the power six conferences. Tolbert came into the season ranked 38th among incoming freshman power forwards.

Leonard filling the stat sheet for Illinois
Meyers Leonard logged 42 minutes in Illinois’ 81-72 double-overtime win over Minnesota. Leonard recorded his third straight double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds to go with five blocks. It’s his second 20-10-5 game this season. He’s the only Big Ten player in the past 15 seasons with multiple such games in a season. Only Draymond Green and Jared Sullinger have more double-doubles in the Big Ten this season.

Big second half for Dragicevich
Notre Dame extended its home winning streak to 28 games with a 72-59 win over Pittsburgh. The Irish were led by a career-high 22 points from Alex Dragicevich. That’s more than the 20 points he scored in 14 games as a freshman last season. Notre Dame trailed by one at halftime, but Dragicevich scored 17 in the second half to help the Irish pull away. Pittsburgh has lost back-to-back games in December for the first time since 2007.

The Morning After is our semi-daily recap of the night's best basketball action. It needs to start getting more sleep.

Illinois 81, Minnesota 72 (double overtime): This double-overtime thriller said more about Minnesota’s heart than Illinois’ talent. The Gophers were down 48-35 midway through the second half. And then, Tubby Smith applied the full-court press and an ‘80s Detroit Pistons defense in the halfcourt. That changed everything.

The Illini were rattled as their lead dwindled. Minnesota completed a 10-0 run after 7-footer Elliott Eliason forced a Meyers Leonard turnover that Andre Hollins converted on the other end to cut Illinois’ lead to three.

With a chance to put their foot on Minnesota’s throat, the Illini relented against the Gophers’ attack. They’re third in the Big Ten in turnovers per game (13.9) and they committed 21 Tuesday.

Julian Welch had a chance to extend Minnesota’s lead late in regulation but he missed the front-end of a one-and one and Leonard hit a pair of three throws after he was fouled. The first overtime was shaky for both teams. Both had a shot to avoid a second extra period, but Welch missed an easy layup and Sam Maniscalco took an ill-advised three-pointer with time on the clock.

But the Illini pulled away in the second overtime. So what? The bigger issue is that they nearly blew a 13-point lead in home conference game against a team that’s playing without its best player (Trevor Mbakwe is out for the year with ACL injury).

I came away from this game impressed, again, by Minnesota’s tenacity. The Gophers are young at most positions. They had no business putting up that kind of a fight in Champaign, Ill., the first Big Ten road game for a chunk of the players on that roster. If the Gophers can steal a few away from Minneapolis, they’re going to be OK in the Big Ten.

But where’s Illinois’ edge? I think Leonard is a stud and he’s surrounded by talent. The Illini, however, need to develop a little bravado so that they take advantage of teams when they have the opportunity. Didn’t happen against the Gophers. They’ll pay for similar lapses in the future.

Notre Dame 72, No. 22 Pitt 59: The postgame buzz of this upset centered on one question: “What’s wrong with Pitt?” The Panthers suffered their second consecutive loss, their third of the season, in the Big East opener for both squads.

Two of the losses came at home against a pair of midmajors -- Wagner (Friday) and Long Beach State (Nov. 16). The Panthers had won 58 consecutive home games entering the loss to the 49ers.

In Pitt’s third loss Tuesday, Notre Dame took over in the second half. The Fighting Irish connected on 18 of 25 shots in the second half. They shot 50 percent from the field, including a 5-for-8 mark from the three-point line after halftime. Sophomore guard Alex Dragicevich (he scored 17 of his career-high 22 points in the second half) played as 1993 Dan Majerle.

So the Panthers fell to a hot Notre Dame squad that treated the bucket like … a big ‘ol bucket. It rarely missed late. Plus, the Fighting Irish have won 28 consecutive home games.

But Pitt entered the season amid Final Four talk. They returned All-America candidate Ashton Gibbs and attracted a recruiting class anchored by Canadian standout Khem Birch. Right now, however, they’re not even a Top-25 team. They were 1-for-14 from the three-point line Tuesday. They hit 2 of 15 threes in their 59-54 loss to Wagner Friday.

Tray Woodall’s groin/abdominal injury was a major setback for a squad with limited backcourt depth. Woodall returned Tuesday, but he failed to score. Gibbs played a ton of minutes in Woodall’s absence and that seemed to wear him down, something Dixon said he feared. Birch’s decision to leave the program a few weeks ago didn’t help, either.

But Pitt’s problems are extensive. The Panthers possess the 159th-ranked defense in Pomeroy’s adjusted efficiency ratings. They entered the week with the Big East’s worst turnover margin.

If the Panthers don’t correct their problems soon, they’re going to end up in a battle just to make the Big Dance.

Everywhere else: Wisconsin welcomed Nebraska to the Big Ten with a 64-40 whipping. Ryan Evans went 9 for 11 from the field and scored 22 points. The most promising stat line for the Badgers, however, was Jordan Taylor’s 15 points and five assists. That’s the kind of production they’ll need from the preseason All-America going forward. … Georgia needed overtime to dismiss a 4-9 Winthrop squad 92-86... Jordan Tolbert recorded 27 points in Texas Tech’s 74-58 win over CS-Bakersfield … BYU easily defeated CS San Marcos, which sounds like some party school on a Spanish island. The Cougars hit 50 percent of their shots in the 79-51 win. Bad day for the Cal State system, I guess.

Spoiler alert! The answer to that question is "we'll see."

Here's something a little more definitive, then: If Illinois doesn't turn its offense around by the time the Illini take the floor against Missouri tonight, they have very little chance of hanging with the Tigers. That's for sure.

Missouri is one of the best offensive teams in the country. Illinois is by no means one of the worst this season, but if you've only seen Bruce Weber's team in three of its past four games, you'd be easily convinced to the contrary.

To wit: On Dec. 7, the Illini hosted St. Bonaventure. They won 48-43. They scored .73 points per possession.

On Saturday, the Illini lost 64-48 to UNLV in Chicago. They scored .70 points per possession.

On Monday, the Illini hosted Cornell. They won 64-60. They scored 1.01 points per possession. Wait -- that's not all that bad! It's ... pretty average!

But as the inimitable Big Ten Geeks revealed in their analysis of Illinois' offense Tuesday, that points per possession average was boosted by a nice start and a late surge. In the 41 possessions that came between the first six and the final 17 (in which the Illini scored 1.67 and 1.65 ppp, respectively, Weber's team scored just .63 points on each trip down the floor. No wonder a seemingly overmatched Cornell team managed to hang around so long -- and at Assembly Hall, no less.

What gives? The Geeks point rightfully toward Illinois' bench as one of the culprits:

One glaringly obvious weakness over this rough patch has been the play of the Illinois bench. Against Cornell, seven bench members combined for the following statline: 41 minutes, 0 points, 0-10 FG, 7 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls.

If one player put up those numbers, everyone would be asking why he’s even on the team. To be fair, this group includes five freshmen and two inexperienced sophomores, so it’s possible they are hitting the proverbial wall with the semester coming to an end. Regardless, Illinois absolutely must get something out of its bench going forward if it hopes to be a tournament team.

Of course, bench play doesn't explain the entire problem; there are some systemic issues at work here, too. The most obvious of these, when one ganders at Illinois' advanced efficiency profile (subscription required), is stylistic. The Illini might be shooting too many threes. Right now, the Illini are averaging 32.5 percent from beyond the arc. Their free throw rate (a ratio of free throws to field goal attempts) is 32.2 percent. The Illini aren't exactly chucking 3s; their ratio of 3-pointers to field goals is about 36 percent, which is above average but hardly crazy. But that lack of fouls is dragging this offense down, making it difficult to get easy points at the line when shots aren't falling. Far too frequently, especially in the past two weeks, those shots simply aren't going down.

If Weber could fix his team overnight, he'd probably ask them to play through forward Meyers Leonard far more often. Leonard has been fantastic this season, scoring efficiently in the low block and rebounding on both ends of the floor. He almost certainly needs more touches. (Guard Brandon Paul, he of the 93.4 offensive rating and the team-high 26.4 percent usage rate, should probably defer a little more often.) But if Leonard sees double-teams, and he does, the Illini still have to knock down open shots. If they don't, it won't matter how much they try to play through their talented sophomore big man. The offense will still struggle.

Which is why tonight's game with Missouri should be fascinating. The Illini haven't had much time to identify these woes, let alone address them. Keeping pace with the Tigers will be a daunting task. But keep an eye out. The offensive improvement Illinois so desperately requires doesn't need to happen tonight. But if Illinois wants to turn a solid start into a worthy Big Ten finish, major repairs are required.

Here's my attempt at ranking the Big Ten teams:

1. Ohio State: The Buckeyes finished off South Carolina essentially without Jared Sullinger, who was hampered by a foot injury. They’re a solid team without him. But to maintain this post, they need Sullinger to get healthy fast. The Big Ten’s contenders are coming, and they’re far more competitive entering conference play than it appeared they'd be in mid-November.

2. Indiana: The Hoosiers passed their first test since becoming a ranked team with a win Saturday over Notre Dame in Indianapolis. Cody Zeller scored 21. His 6-foot-11 frame and skills that go with it make the Hoosiers Ohio State’s greatest threats in the Big Ten. Seasons 2008-09 through 2010-11 just called and they can’t believe what I just wrote.

3. Michigan State: The Spartans are rolling. They’ve won nine in a row. I’d love to see this Spartans squad matched up against North Carolina and Duke right now. It’s just a different team compared to the one that lost to those ACC powers in back-to-back games at the start of the season. Draymond Green (15.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg) is playing like an All-America candidate.

4. Wisconsin: The Badgers bounced back from a Dec. 3 home loss to Marquette with four straight wins. That streak included a win over UNLV and a road victory over UW-Milwaukee. The Badgers have the best scoring defense in the country. Bo Ryan’s system still works.

5. Illinois: The Illini’s offensive inconsistency finally caught up with them Saturday in Chicago, where they accrued only 48 points in a loss to UNLV. Memo to the Illini: That 7-footer in the paint (Meyers Leonard) didn’t get enough touches down the stretch in that game. They’ll learn. It was just their first loss of the season.

6. Michigan: Trey Burke’s talent is undeniable. He’s averaging 13.1 points and 4.7 assists per game as a freshman. But it’s his poise and leadership that should really scare Big Ten opponents.

7. Minnesota: The biggest surprise in the Big Ten. The Gophers didn’t collapse after they lost Trevor Mbakwe to a torn ACL in a loss to Dayton last month. That was their last loss. They’ve won five in a row, as juco transfer Julian Welch (10.3 ppg) has blossomed into a leader for the team.

8. Purdue: Saturday’s 67-65 loss to Butler in Indy exposed one of Purdue’s greatest weaknesses: its limited interior. Robbie Hummel has recovered well from back-to-back ACL tears. And Ryne Smith and Lewis Jackson offer solid support. But in the oversized Big Ten, the Boilermakers need some beef inside. They could use a midseason trade.

9. Northwestern: The Wildcats had a close call against Central Connecticut State on Saturday (they won 70-64). But they’ve only lost once: a blowout against Baylor at home. This is still a hard team to peg based on its soft nonconference schedule. But Big Ten play is coming. We’ll find out soon if the Wildcats are ready for their first-ever trip to the Big Dance.

10. Nebraska: Bo Spencer (16.1 ppg) is a special player. He’s mature and the bright lights of the Big Ten won’t intimidate him, considering the time he spent in the SEC. But this is a deep league. So the Cornhuskers will need more than a one-man operation to climb the conference’s standings.

11. Penn State: The Nittany Lions have lost three of four. But Tim Frazier (17.4 ppg, 7.2 apg) is the one bright spot for this struggling team.

12. Iowa: Fran McCaffery’s rebuilding phase is apparently going to take some more time, especially considering the depth in the Big Ten. But if he ever gets discouraged, he should call Tom Crean. These rebuilding projects don't show results right away.

Saturday’s slate of games featured some surprising finishes. Teams were exposed. Others were discovered.

It was a tutorial on the unpredictable ebb and flow of the college basketball scene this time of year. Here are a few things I learned:

No. 1 Syracuse 88, North Carolina State 72

What we learned: The Orange aren’t just deep -- they're really good

Syracuse has been praised as one of the deepest teams in the country. The Big East power possesses a talented backup at every position. Sometimes, however, the “depth” tag suggests a team lacks individual talent. That’s not the case with the Orange. North Carolina State started strong but Syracuse didn’t panic. It just turned to its stars. Dion Waiters (career-high 22 points), Scoop Jardine (16 points) and Kris Joseph (21 points) led an SU squad that hit 56.5 percent of its shots. North Carolina State was up early and then -- Bam! -- the Orange snatched the game back. Even with a target on their backs as America’s new No. 1 team and a highly publicized investigation of a former assistant coach, they continue to operate like a team without any distractions. Cuse has survived every Bernie Fine development and overcome the obstacles on the floor. Can’t get overly excited quite yet about a team that just played its first road game, but the Orange seem to have it all right now.

No. 13 Florida 84, No. 22 Texas A&M 64

What we learned: Florida’s backcourt is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams

Well, the Aggies don’t belong anywhere near the top 25, judging by Saturday’s lopsided loss to the Gators. They can’t score. The Big 12’s worst scoring offense and worst free throw-shooting team couldn’t find the buckets to compete with Florida. Give UF credit for attacking early (opened the game on an 18-2 run), putting its potent offense to work and getting to the free throw line (30 attempts). The Gators are going to have trouble against bigger teams given their size disparity, but as Saturday’s game proved, opposing teams continue to have problems matching up against a team with their backcourt depth (three guards scored 16 or more, led by Kenny Boynton’s 22 points and his six 3-pointers). One question remains, though. Patric Young took two shots. You have to wonder whether he’ll become a more consistent part of Florida’s offense in SEC play. One thing is clear: When this team gets going, it’s a hard one to stop. There are still defensive concerns, but the Gators are going to compete in the SEC if they continue to produce this level of offense.

No. 7 Baylor 86, BYU 83

What we learned: Perry Jones can lead Baylor to a national championship

Baylor’s NCAA title hopes will be directly linked to its identity outside of Waco. The Bears were 1-3 away from their home floor during the nonconference portion of last season’s schedule. Those road woes followed the Bears into the Big 12 season. In a gritty game Saturday against a BYU squad that’s always tough on its home floor, Perry Jones III scored a career-high 28 points and played with the heart that’s expected of a star. After suffering a late knee injury, Jones checked back into the game and scored on a putback with 20 seconds to play that capped the win. Pierre Jackson blocked Brandon Davies’ 3-point attempt at the buzzer. BYU held a 13-point lead in the first half, but Jones kept the Bears alive in a hostile environment. He’s NBA-lottery good. We knew that before Saturday’s game, but since his return from an NCAA-mandated suspension at the start of the season, he’s looked like an NCAA championship-caliber leader, too.

Gonzaga 71, Arizona 60

What we learned: Gonzaga is not discouraged by early struggles, but Arizona might be

This was a significant game for a pair of teams that had dropped from the rankings in recent weeks as they failed to meet preseason projections. Both needed this game in Seattle. Gonzaga played like it understood the stakes. Arizona did not. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-0 lead to start the game, and Zona spent the rest of the contest trying to close the gap. But that early onslaught from Gonzaga set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. The Zags held off Arizona’s late charge that cut the deficit to 62-56 with 2:03 to play. The Wildcats’ leading scorer, Solomon Hill, went 1-for-7 and finished with six points, his second single-digit effort in three games. The fall continues for Arizona, an Elite Eight team last season but one that has lost four of its past seven games. Give Gonzaga credit, though. The Zags seemed motivated and focused, despite suffering their recent ups and downs. Saturday’s version of Elias Harris (25 points) should help Gonzaga in what should be an excellent WCC race with BYU and Saint Mary's. Hopefully, the 2-for-11 player who showed up for last weekend’s loss to Michigan State never returns.

UNLV 64, No. 19 Illinois 48

What we learned: UNLV is legit

With about 41 seconds to play in this game, Illinois' D.J. Richardson drove right in and went up for a dunk that wouldn’t have affected the outcome. But Quintrell Thomas swatted the shot like it mattered. Thomas and Mike Moser gave UNLV a combined 30 points with leading scorer Chace Stanback (2 points) struggling, as UNLV strolled into Chicago and locked up an Illinois team that came in at 10-0. The Runnin’ Rebels now have dropped a pair of undefeated, nationally ranked squads (North Carolina, Illinois), and their only two losses came against quality opponents on the road (Wichita State, Wisconsin). This Mountain West standout is legit. The Rebels can clamp down defensively. Illinois went 16-of-63 from the field (7-of-25 from the 3-point line). Surprisingly, Illinois didn’t feed big man Meyers Leonard (3-of-8) enough in the second half. During some stretches, Leonard’s teammates just missed him and settled for bad shots. Other times, however, Leonard couldn’t breathe with UNLV defenders swarming him.

No. 4 Louisville 95, Memphis 87

What we learned: Josh Pastner is still trying to figure out this team

Let’s start with giving Louisville credit. The Cardinals held off Memphis’ relentless pursuit, after watching their 13-point second-half lead become a 58-55 deficit. Behind Russ Smith’s career highs of 24 points and seven steals, Louisville pulled off a solid home win. But it also was another game in which Memphis baffled observers with its inefficient use of its immense talent. Will Barton is special (28 points, 16 boards), and he’s surrounded by a variety of highly skilled athletes. But that hasn’t been enough for the Tigers. Their four losses have come against quality opponents, but at what point will this group get over the hump? When will it stop playing in spurts and begin improving shot selection in tight stretches? Those are all key questions for Pastner going forward. He has some talented players on his roster. But getting all that talent to work together is still a challenge.

More observations from Saturday:

* No. 2 Ohio State stayed strong when Jared Sullinger left Saturday’s 74-66 victory over South Carolina with a foot injury, but you have to wonder whether the sophomore’s ailments will hamper him and the program the rest of the way.

* With Cody Zeller, who scored 21 points in Saturday’s 69-58 win over Notre Dame in Indianapolis, the No. 20 Hoosiers can compete for the Big Ten title.

* Both Mississippi State and Detroit proved they’re legitimate conference contenders during the Bulldogs’ 80-75 victory over the Titans. MSU is 11-1 now, while the return of center Eli Holman (12 points, 9 rebounds) increases Detroit’s potential of winning a Horizon League title.

* The Missouri Valley race will be the most competitive in the country. Indiana State’s 61-55 win at No. 25 Vanderbilt was just a reminder of the conference’s parity and talent. The Sycamores will compete with Creighton, Northern Iowa, Wichita State and Missouri State in what should be a heck of a two months in the Valley.

* J'Covan Brown continues to keep 9-2 Texas afloat in the Big 12’s fringe contender conversations. He scored 23 points in a nice 77-65 victory over Temple.

* A game-winning tip-in with a second to play by Butler’s Andrew Smith helped the Bulldogs snap a three-game losing skid with a 67-65 win over Purdue. The Big Ten is really big this season, and Purdue lacks a consistent interior presence. That will create a variety of issues for the Boilermakers in conference play.

Hopefully, you ignored college football. Hopefully, you procrastinated putting up your Christmas decorations. Hopefully, after Kentucky's thrilling win over North Carolina this afternoon, you stayed plopped in that couch groove, remote in one hand and snacks in the other, ready to flip from one hoops affair to the next.

Why? Because UK-UNC was merely this Saturday's opening salvo. Sure, it was the best and most important and most entertaining and most talented and most insert-your-adjective-of-choice-here game of the day. But it wasn't the only one. Let's run through the rest of this afternoon's action -- beginning with Xavier's remarkable comeback win over Purdue. (Tu!)

No. 11 Xavier 66, Purdue 63: Technically, a brief glance at the Game Flow illustration in the link to the left tells the story here. The Purdue lead was 20-6 after 10 minutes. It was 33-22 after 20 minutes. It was -- get this -- 55-36 after 30 minutes. Then, in the final 10 minutes, and especially the final five, Xavier staged a marvelous comeback, ending the game on a 30-8 run and holding on in the end to get the most unlikely of wins.

You can look at the box score and know this, and therefore know the story of the game. But believe me when I say this is one you had to see to believe. In particular, you needed to see X guard Tu Holloway, whose late-game transformations -- Holloway goes from inefficient to "oh my God, did you just see that?!?" -- are one of the strangest and most compelling performance storylines in college basketball this season. It pains me to say this, but in his past two games, Tu Holloway became college basketball's Tim Tebow. (I know, I know. I couldn't resist.)

As in Xavier's victory at Vanderbilt on Monday, Holloway was pedestrian to downright bad for much of Saturday afternoon. Before the final five minutes, he was borderline invisible, when he wasn't committing one of his six turnovers, that is. And then, just as it did Monday night in Nashville, something clicked. After the five-minute mark, Holloway went 3-of-4 and scored 13 of his 21 total points, including the three consecutive dagger 3s he stuck in the closing moments when his team needed them most. He won the game with his shooting and finished it off with his free throws.

It's strange, this lightbulb that seems to click only in the closing moments. But whatever it is that goes off in Holloway's head when the game is on the line in the closing moments, Xavier fans will take it. Thanks in large part to Holloway's late-game heroics, the Musketeers end this week with two crucial nonconference wins over two power-six teams, one of which came on the road.

There's a ton of season left, but would anyone want to draw the Muskies in an elimination game right now? For all its occasional struggles -- and by occasional, I mean "for the first 35 minutes of any given game" -- this Xavier team not only appears to be balanced and talented, but also appears to be as difficult an out as any team in the country. If you're up on the Musketeers, you better bury them deep. As long as Holloway's on the floor and the lead is mathematically in reach, you're never, ever safe.

As for Purdue, Matt Painter and Co. will certainly be unhappy to lose a game they controlled for so long in such heartbreaking fashion. And the sight of Robbie Hummel wincing at the end of the Boilermakers bench -- Hummel was crippled by apparently excruciating cramps for much of the afternoon -- was certainly an unwelcome one. But there are bright sides. For one, Hummel's injuries were merely cramps. (Seeing the Purdue senior, in the midst of a heartwarming comeback from two major ACL surgeries, hold his leg after contact is the quickest way this side of an Eli Roth movie to feel one's stomach turn in knots.)

More important, it should be noted that Purdue was the vastly superior team for much of the game. A loss is a loss, of course; no distinction will be made for its type during the résumé comparison season in early March. But the Boilers can take something from this game. They were the better team for its majority -- on the road, in a tough environment, against an experienced and talented team, with its best player cramping late -- and at the end of the day, maybe that's what's worth remembering.

No. 16 Marquette 61, No. 7 Wisconsin 54: Make no mistake: Marquette is a good team. Arguably a very good one. Even without star Jimmy Butler, last season's do-everything scorer, rebounder, glue guy and teammate extraordinaire, the Golden Eagles are still very good.

Even so, this is a borderline shocking result. Why? Because Wisconsin doesn't lose at home, like, ever. Before Saturday, in 11 seasons under Bo Ryan, UW was 156-11 at the Kohl Center. The Badgers were working on a 23-game home winning streak against all opponents; the last time they lost a nonconference home game was Dec. 23, 2008. So for the Golden Eagles to come in and get a win in this underrated in-state hoops rivalry -- well, yeah, that's a shocker, no matter how good this Marquette team is.

Of course, the Badgers gave Marquette the opportunity almost from the starting tip. Wisconsin posted an uncharacteristically awful shooting performance Saturday afternoon, particularly in the first half, when the Badgers scored just 22 points and found themselves in a 10-point hole at halftime. Things improved slightly in the second, but UW still finished 16-of-50 from the field and 5-of-19 from 3. For a team averaging 44 percent from 3 and 50 percent from 2 this season -- a team that relies on slowly working the ball in pursuit of a high-percentage final shot -- that simply won't get it done.

Wisconsin's slow pace -- its greatest advantage at times -- also makes it very difficult for the Badgers to mount a comeback. They tried, and cut the lead to within striking distance late in the second half even despite a tough charging call on point guard Jordan Taylor that cost the Badgers a three-point play and sent Taylor to the bench with his fourth foul. But Marquette was just as good down the stretch. Guard Darius Johnson-Odom didn't have a hugely efficient night (17 points on 15 shots), but anytime he can get his 18-foot step-back jumper off, it becomes an unstoppable offensive weapon. Meanwhile, Marquette is getting good contributions from sophomore Vander Blue and freshman guard Todd Mayo (younger brother of O.J.).

Wisconsin may have shot itself in the foot in this one -- not unlike Tuesday's close call at North Carolina -- but Marquette deserves the credit. The Golden Eagles took advantage early, made enough plays to finish the game and in the process notched one of the biggest wins of Buzz Williams' ever-promising tenure at the program. Impressive stuff.

Illinois 82, No. 18 Gonzaga 75: Maybe Gonzaga beats Illinois on a neutral court. But maybe not.

That's the feeling one got while watching this game, in which Illinois -- a young team but one with talent, which is something yours truly has been saying all season -- never looked overmatched or overwhelmed against a ranked Bulldogs team with designs on a deep tournament run. A little like UK-UNC, this win didn't feel like the benefit of home-court advantage as some deciding factor. Illinois can play with people. Now we know.

Of special note? Illinois forward Meyers Leonard. The sophomore missed much of the first half thanks to foul trouble, but he returned in the second with a determined style of play. The end result: 21 points and 6 rebounds on 9-for-11 shooting from the field. Those are impressive tallies any way you slice them, but considering Leonard posted those numbers while matched up with Gonzaga center Robert Sacre, they're doubly so. Throw in the balanced performances from starters D.J. Richardson (19 points), Brandon Paul (13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) and Sam Maniscalco (10 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds) and, well, don't look now, but this Illinois team might well be better than last season's disappointing senior-led squad. It certainly looked the part Saturday.

No. 17 Pittsburgh 61, Tennessee 56: In Maui, the Tennessee Volunteers proved themselves to be a flawed but hard-nosed and pesky bunch, one that would refuse to roll over for their apparently more talented opponents. That quality was on full display against Pitt, which led UT by eight with 1:46 to go. That's when the Vols began fouling, and after an elbow cost guard Ashton Gibbs a technical foul -- and gave Tennessee the customary shots and possession -- the Panthers missed the front end of two one-and-ones and watched as Trae Golden's 3 cut the lead to 58-56 with 11 seconds remaining.

It wasn't pretty, but the Panthers pulled this one out after forcing a jump ball on Tennessee's key possession late. They'll be thankful for that when seeding time comes around this spring. But let it be known: Tennessee was supposed to be rebuilding. That may be true. But don't tell the Volunteers. Because they aren't yielding anything in the meantime.

Other noteworthy results from the afternoon: The jury is still out on Iowa State; the Cyclones don't have any truly bad losses (at Drake is forgivable, and so is a home loss to UNI), but after Saturday's 75-65 loss at Michigan, Fred Hoiberg's rebuilt team hasn't made us sit up and take notice either. ... Ryan Boatright's home debut after a six-game NCAA rules suspension went swimmingly: The freshman guard scored 23 points and led his team to a game-opening 14-2 run in what was arguably a struggling UConn team's most impressive performance of the year, a 75-62 victory over Arkansas. ... Usually, UCLA-Texas is a marquee game. Not this season. The Bruins are now 2-5 after today's home loss to the Longhorns, which was briefly interrupted by a power surge that caused the lights to dim in the aging Los Angeles Sports Arena, UCLA's temporary home. One imagines Ben Howland would have preferred the lights stay off. ... BYU played at the home of the Utah Jazz (hey, there's nothing going on there) and dusted off Oregon with a 13-0 run in the second half of its impressive 79-65 win. Noah Hartsock led the way with 23 points and 12 boards for the Cougars. In other news, the Horizon League began conference play -- yes, conference play -- on Saturday, with the two biggest results a 77-71 overtime win by Valpo at Butler and Cleveland State's 66-61 win at preseason Horizon favorite Detroit. We know to never count out Butler (or Detroit if Eli Holman ever returns), but it's becoming apparent that the Crusaders and Vikings are the teams to beat in the Horizon.