The latest shake ups in NCAA men's and women's hoops
The GIST: It’s still November, but between Monday’s poll drops, the defending champ No. 4 UConn men’s latest NCAA record, and this week’s inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, this hoops season is the gift that keeps on giving.
The women: This year’s (shockingly) dominant South Carolina squad remained at No. 1 this week while the Pac-12 proved that West is best, snagging five of the poll’s Top 12 spots. No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Stanford lead the Pac(k), but USC freshman Juju Watkins’ legendary career start helped launch her No. 6 Trojans to their best rank in 29 years.
- The ACC and SEC gals tip off their two-day Challenge with a slate of delicious matchups today, but tomorrow’s 9 p.m. ET Final Four rematch between the No. 9 Virginia Tech Hokies and reigning champ No. 7 LSU on ESPN is by far the spiciest.
- The return of star duo Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore (averaging over 24 and 17 points per game, respectively, this season) have the Hokies primed for revenge — an outcome made even more likely if LSU’s Angel Reese remains absent. Drama.
The men: Feast week tourneys shook up the Top 25, with Maui Invitational champ Purdue usurping No. 1 from now–No. 5 Kansas. Other trophies brought No. 18 Villanova, No. 19 BYU, and the No. 20 Colorado State Rams (thanks to their first Top-10 dub since 1984) into the poll. Creighton, the squad shellacked by the Rams, plummeted seven spots to No. 15.
- As for the fellas’ ACC/SEC Challenge, No. 12 Kentucky’s 95–73 thrashing of previously undefeated No. 8 Miami was the highlight of yesterday’s action. Today’s not-to-miss matchup? No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 17 UNC at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
