College basketball remains a hot topic with exciting games. Gonzaga, once the top team in the US, faced a tough loss against Tennessee last Saturday. Several teams in the top 25 have had key players injured. The NCAA seems to be handling the aftermath of the FBI investigation lightly. It appears that many players are in contention for the Wooden Award.
Key Points to Note:
Rick Barnes is currently a strong candidate for Coach of the Year. In 2015, I rode through Austin with Barnes during his final days coaching at Texas. Back then, opinions about the former Longhorns coach, who led the team to a Final Four and only missed the NCAA tournament once in 17 seasons, were not favorable. Barnes is well aware of this.
Texas had grown tired of predictability and decided to move on. At Tennessee, a job he took after his departure from Texas, Barnes continues to exceed expectations.
Last season, the team was predicted to finish at the bottom of the SEC, but the Vols ended up sharing the SEC title with Auburn. This season, Barnes might lead one of the most impressive teams in the country, possibly set for a strong showing in the NCAA tournament in Minneapolis next April.
The Vols’ thrilling and strategic victory over Gonzaga in Phoenix last Saturday showcased their resilience, even without SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams, who fouled out. Admiral Schofield’s impressive 30 points led the charge, and Tennessee’s defense limited Gonzaga to their lowest points per possession this season at 1.07.
Tennessee has only one loss this season, in overtime against current top-ranked Kansas. They are performing at a top-15 level across all aspects. Schofield (17.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 41 percent from three-point range) is a strong contender for the Wooden Award.
