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Every weekday, a panel of our college hoops experts discusses the biggest issues, trends and themes in and around college basketball.
1. Which conference will win the SEC/Big 12 Challenge?
Andy Katz: The Big 12, and it won't be close. The Big 12 could have the highest percentage of teams to make the NCAA tournament. The SEC could be one of the lowest. The SEC's best chance for a breakthrough win could be Arkansas over Iowa State in Ames. Kentucky is the one outlier with the Wildcats facing a stiff test from Texas, but they're expected to win at home.
Myron Medcalf: The Big 12. I think the Big 12, pound-for-pound, is one of the toughest conferences in the country again. The SEC is strong at the top (see: Kentucky) but mediocre overall. Battles between Texas-Kentucky, Florida-Kansas and Arkansas-Iowa State could go either way. But I think the Big 12 will win the Challenge by a one- or two-game margin.
Dana O'Neil: The Big 12 is a deceptively deep league and the SEC is a transparently thin one. This is no contest. Kentucky, the lone legit favorite, will even have its hands full with Texas.
2. Arkansas is the SEC's only undefeated team not named Kentucky. Are you buying the Razorbacks?
Katz: Yes. Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson was high on the returnees, notably Bobby Portis. It's hard not to like Arkansas, regardless of the soft start by the rest of the SEC teams (not named Kentucky). The win at SMU was significant. The Mustangs were desperate and yet Arkansas went in there and won. Winning at Iowa State, one of the toughest venues in the country, would be a major coup for Anderson.
Medcalf: Yep. The Razorbacks have a top-20 offense and top-50 defense. They have Portis, a potential lottery pick. Michael Qualls is a star and they boast a strong bench. They're taking care of the ball (16th in turnover percentage) and they're strong on the offensive glass. Arkansas looks like a tourney team and maybe more at this point in the year.
O'Neil: Not yet. I think the Razorbacks have the chance to be the third (presuming Florida is righted) bright light in the dismal league, but I'm not entirely all-in. Having seen SMU in person, I know how depleted the Mustangs are, so I need a little more proof. Yes, a win over Iowa State could provide it.
3. Is West Virginia a one-man team? What happens if LSU figures out how to defend Juwan Staten?
Katz: Not at all. The Mountaineers have better size inside than a year ago and depth. The Mountaineers have plenty of options to make a serious run at the Big 12 title. LSU needs a breakthrough road win for confidence and possibly March relevance.
Medcalf: West Virginia isn't a one-man squad. Staten's numbers are actually down from last season. He has gone from 37 minutes per game to 28. Why? Because Bob Huggins has more depth and Devin Williams and Jonathan Holton help with the scoring load. Plus, the Mountaineers are forcing turnovers on 32.4 percent of their defensive possessions (No. 1 in the country per Ken Pomeroy). Staten isn't the only weapon on that team.
O'Neil: Staten is the engine and the muscle, but he's also savvy enough to create opportunities for his teammates. If LSU goes all-in on Staten, it could pay for it.
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