UK #1, Murray State Nation's Only Undefeated Team

With Syracuse and Baylor losing over the weekend, the University (for lack of a better word) of Kentucky moved to No. 1 after holding off a determined Alabama team 77-71, while Murray State's win over SIU-Edwardsville leaves them now as the nation's only remaining unbeaten team.  UK remains at No. 1 with a 57-44 win at Georgia on Tuesday.

While Kentucky fans can revel in their No. 1 ranking, the most exciting story this basketball season is Murray St.  Led by guard Isiah Canaan, the Racers now stand at 20-0, and could wind up as high as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA if they finish the regular season and conference tournament undefeated, according to CBS sports commentators. 

While they lack a dominant inside force, the Racers are a dangerous outside shooting team, and have good size and depth at all positions.  They have also continued to win despite the recent injury to their leading rebounding and third-leading scorer, forward Ivan Aska, whose return to the lineup will strenghten their inside game and enable Murray's guards to do more damage offensively.  Murray St. hits their three-pointers consistently, runs the floor very well, and--with a roster of juniors and seniors, a stark contrast to UK--has excellent chemistry.  They play well together, maintain their poise, and they are quick to make on-court adjustments to whatever the oppositon is throwing at them.  The only doubts about them are the quality of opponents they've played.  While the OVC is a solid basketball conference, it is impossible to think of Murray St. having the same record were they in the SEC or Big East, for example.  But any team that makes it 20-0 and shoots the ball as well as Murray St. is not a team anyone wants to play in March.  And as for how Murray St. would stack up against the big-time conference opponent, I would remind everyone of Morehead St.'s opening round win against regular-season Big East champion Louisville in the first round of the NCAA tournament (which happenend within minutes of UK squeaking past Ivy League representative Princeton on a last second shot by Bradon Knight).

How far can Murray St go?  I haven't seen a more prolific outside shooter than Canaan, and when he is on, it is tough to see how Murray can be beat.  No one in their right mind would have thought teams like George Mason (2006) or VCU (2011) would make it to the Final Four, but these teams showed that a hot-shooting ball club that gels as a unit can take down the powerhouses loaded with better size and talent.  My call: unless Murray St has an off night shooting the ball or runs into a team with a dominant big man who has the game of his life, the Racers will make it at least to a regional final, a la Kent State in 2002. 

As for UK, they remain a ridiculously talent, yet erratic and at times frustrating team to watch.  Their talent is enough for them to go all the way, but depending on which Terrance Jones shows up, turnovers, and making some timely threes to stretch the defense and allow the Wildcats' formidable front line to go to work inside, this team is vulnerable, especially if freshman shot-blocking freak Anthony Davis gets into foul trouble.

Could it be that the first time ever UK and Murray St. meet would in a regional final or the Final Four?