CBS college basketball analyst Shelvin Mack calls UK ‘one of my favorites to win it’
When I talked to former Bryan Station standout Shelvin Mack last week for my column about his work as an analyst on the CBS Sports Network’s “Inside College Basketball” show, I also asked for his opinions on the current season.
Q: What has impressed you this season?
Mack: “What I love most about this year is all the top teams are challenging each other with the non-conference schedule. Even UK playing those games is big, with Duke and Arizona playing each other, Purdue and Arizona. Over the past few years, you haven’t gotten these kind of matchups in the pre-conference season. I’m very impressed with teams willing to do that.”
Q: What teams have impressed you?
Mack: “UK. I think Coach (John) Calipari has done a great job of getting back to his winning formula, having dynamic freshmen mixed in with some older players. It’s translating to some wins and bringing back some of that excitement, too, with Rob Dillingham, with Reed (Sheppard), those high-level guards he’s always had with John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). He’s getting that back instead of going in the transfer portal. It’s not good for everybody.
“UK is one of my favorites to win it, also with UConn. I think those are some of the most complete teams. Tennessee they’re pretty good, but they’re depending a lot on Dalton Knecht right now. If he has a bad game, they might lose by 20. Then the Big 12, one of the best basketball conferences. It’s great that Houston is in that league now. They can get challenged a little bit instead of running through their previous conference, the American.”
Q: What are you paying attention to between now and the NCAA Tournament?
Mack: “I’m looking forward to seeing what Jon Scheyer can continue to do, second year as head coach at Duke. Last year was kind of a disappointment. But both of those schools, Duke and UNC. And also Michigan State, going pre-season top four or top five to not ranked, it might be Tom Izzo’s first time in like 20 years I think not making the tournament. His name is Mr. Final Four.”
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