Who do you trust in college basketball right now?
This isn’t meant in a, “Who will appear before the IARB and/or Congress and lie on your behalf,” sort of way, although having that knowledge is a security blanket in its own way and if you, purveyor of perceived crimes against college basketball, need such a person, I encourage you to find them. I want to know who it is, at this point in 2023, that we really believe in as a legitimate and assured Good Team.
The list is a lot shorter than you probably think; frankly, I don’t think it’s more than six or so teams, no more than half of which will be in Houston for the Final Four. For the record, I’m not sure Houston will be one those teams, and I’ll disclose why soon.
Before we get to March, when everything gets decided on the court, what we believe is the only currency that matters. And a lot of teams have given us reason to pull an anti-Journey and dispense with belief:
Alabama got thoinked by a bad-verging-on-horrrible Oklahoma team.
Arizona lost to a frankly atrocious Stanford unit.
Tennessee just… I’m unclear what I should say to you, Tennessee. Back-to-back buzzer-beater losses are killers, but letting Vanderbilt be in the position is a larger indictment of your aspirational hopes. Oh, and you lost to a bad Florida team two weeks ago. PEOPLE DON’T FORGET LOSING BY 13 TO 13-12 FLORIDA. AND THEN YOU BEAT ALABAMA. WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF YOU, TENNESSEE?
Iowa State went Texas Tech and lost; not a killer, although not what you want, exactly. They also went to West Virginia and lost, which is pretty whatever, that’s more of a boost to the Mountaineers than a detriment to the Cyclones. But then Iowa State lost to Oklahoma State… [pause for dramatic effect]… IN AMES. That’s the worrisome one. Iowa State has taken plenty of losses on the road, but Hilton Coliseum is supposed to be sacred ground and you surrendered it to Oklahoma State.
Texas did you… did you just lose to Texas Tech, too? TEXAS. YOU HAD BEEN DOING SO GOOD.
Virginia beat Louisville by three which might as well be a loss seriously what are you doing Virginia Tony Bennett raised you better than this.
Xavier and Kansas State taking pretty atrocious road losses to Butler and Texas Tech barely rates, frankly. Losing in Lubbock is just the cost of being a contender in the Big 12.
Those are the high points, and also that’s just since January 28.