Community Picks: LSU 0% vs Auburn 0%

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn's leading rebounder Cinmeon Bowers is set to return from a one-game suspension. Continue to Article

February 01, 2016 2:57:pm EST

The game between the fourth-ranked Jayhawks and No. 20 Wildcats, the two winningest programs in Division I history, is easily the highlight of the day. ''You can remove the 16,000 people and play shirts and skins,'' Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, ''and it's still Kansas and Kentucky. It's the most recent matchup that's likely to be fresh in the minds of the Jayhawks, however. Continue to Article

January 29, 2016 6:29:pm EST

Give the SEC and Big 12 credit for their foresight. Not only were they shrewd enough to schedule their challenge during the dead weekend before the Super Bowl, they also managed to pit the three strongest teams in both leagues against each other. There's a battle of blue bloods, a clash of national player of the year candidates and a matchup between one of the nation's most electric offenses and stingy defenses. Here's a look at Saturday's 10 Big 12-SEC Challenge games ranked in order from most to least watchable:   THESE ARE MUST-SEE TV 1. Kentucky at Kansas (7 p.m. EST): With stretch-shooting forward Derek Willis sparking Kentucky since joining the starting lineup and highly touted freshman Skal Labissiere finally showing signs of progress, the Wildcats have taken strides the past two weeks. They've pounded Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Missouri by at least 14 points apiece. Now comes a true test of how far Kentucky has come, a road game against a Kansas team that has lost just nine home games in Bill Self's tenure. The fourth-ranked Jayhawks should be plenty motivated too since they've dropped two of three and they're only 15 months removed from a humbling 72-40 beatdown at the hands of the Wildcats last November. 2. Oklahoma at LSU (5 p.m. EST): While the clash between Buddy Hield and Ben Simmons will be fun, this game is meaningful for more than just that. This is LSU's best chance to nab a victory that would drastically improve its NCAA tournament hopes. Thanks to a dreadful November and December, the Tigers had little margin for error entering SEC play. They've crept back into contention for an NCAA bid with a 6-2 league record, but toppling the nation's top-ranked team would be huge. The key to LSU's improvement has been adding sharpshooter Keith Hornsby to stretch defenses and forward Craig Victor to provide an interior scorer and defender. It has also helped that Tim Quarterman is figuring out how to be effective off ball, enabling the Tigers to play more through Simmons.   3. Iowa State at Texas A&M (2 p.m. EST): In the past two weeks, Iowa State has reestablished itself as a potential Final Four contender by toppling Kansas and Oklahoma at Hilton Coliseum. Now the Cyclones will have a chance to show that they can defeat a marquee opponent on the road too. Before its surprising road loss at Arkansas earlier this week, Texas A&M had been easily the SEC's best team. The fifth-ranked Aggies are in first place in the conference because they share the ball exceptionally well on offense and they create turnovers on defense without either fouling or surrendering easy baskets. As if the the game itself wasn't intriguing enough, the coaches also have history with one another. Steve Prohm served as an assistant under Billy Kennedy at Murray State before inheriting the head coaching position when Kennedy left for Texas A&M in 2011. BEST OF THE REST: 4. West Virginia at Florida (12 p.m. EST): For a team ranked in the top 30 in both the RPI and the KenPom rankings, Florida has mostly flown under the radar in Michael White's debut season. The Gators have been exceptional defensively but their lone quality win came at home against an LSU team not even certain to make the NCAA tournament. A visit from ninth-ranked West Virginia gives Florida the chance to fill that hole on its resume and make a splash in the process. As always, the key when playing the Mountaineers is to limit turnovers and keep them off the offensive glass, two areas in which the Gators have been decent but not exceptional this season. 5. Vanderbilt at Texas (12 p.m. EST): If Vanderbilt isn't the nation's most disappointing team, the Commodores are certainly on the short list. They're just 12-8 overall with a lone notable win over Florida despite NBA prospects at point guard and center and a wealth of shooters surrounding them. Especially bizarre is that Vanderbilt hasn't been able to get that talent-laden lineup to score more efficiently. They shoot well from the perimeter, but they turn the ball over too frequently and they seldom get many second-chance points. A win at Texas would be a step forward, but it won't be easy. The Longhorns' lone loss in their past five games came by nine at Allen Fieldhouse. WATCHABLE BUT POTENTIALLY ONE-SIDED: 6. Georgia at Baylor (3 p.m. EST): Despite returning a few key players from last year's NCAA tournament team, Georgia thus far has been unable to duplicate its success. The Bulldogs are 11-7 but their lone win away from home came by three at the expense of a dreadful Missouri team. Reversing that trend at No. 18 Baylor seems unlikely. The Bears should have a huge edge on the offensive glass. UNWATCHABLE BUT POTENTIALLY CLOSE: 7. Texas Tech at Arkansas (4 p.m. EST): This is Tubby Smith's best Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders have still lost six of seven in the rugged Big 12. 8. Ole Miss at Kansas State (2 p.m. EST): Kansas State is 339th in 3-point shooting percentage. Ole Miss is only slightly better. This has major rock fight potential. IF ONLY THESE WERE FOOTBALL GAMES: 9. Oklahoma State at Auburn (8 p.m. EST): Auburn beat Kentucky! Oklahoma State beat Kansas! And aside from that, these two rebuilding teams have been largely unremarkable. 10. Tennessee at TCU (2 p.m. EST): Kevin Punter has been phenomenal for Tennessee, but the Vols' defense and rebounding has not been nearly as stellar.   Continue to Article

January 29, 2016 12:20:pm EST