Florida State, Rutgers trending up; Memphis in difficulty

  By Andy KatzFOX Sports College Basketball AnalystPostponements. Terminations. of that occurred in men's college basketball over the past month. However what really did not transform was the annual anointment of groups as well early in the often,  groups are given a "pass" to the tournament prior to the new year even gets here. Yet this previous week revealed that early checks out on groups aren't constantly precise. To be clear: The period is not over for any one of the teams listed below by any kind of stretch. Some have renewed hope,  while others deal with significant 's has a pulse,  and that's in trouble? I CBB on FOX Andy Katz shares which groups he thinks are showing renewed hope and which teams ought to be worried regarding their recent efficiencies. Groups with a pulse: Texas AM The Aggies were hardly a group of note in the SEC in the preseason or also during nonconference play. They had an official shot to remove Wisconsin in Las Vegas in the preliminary of the Maui Invitational however could not hold a lead. They went on to win the final 2 video games of the event against Butler and Notre Dame,  and the only acne because that Wisconsin loss was a four-point,  neutral-court loss to TCU. The Aggies took down Arkansas and Ole Miss at home before scratching an outstanding road win over Missouri. We will certainly discover where the Aggies stand this week,  with Kentucky on Wednesday and a check out to Arkansas on Saturday prior to LSU in Baton Rouge the adhering to Wildcats beat Michigan State without Pete Nance over the weekend in East Lansing,  providing their second Large 10 roadway win. Home losses to Michigan State,  Penn State and Maryland after holding leads stings. However they have a lot of possibilities upcoming with Wisconsin on Tuesday prior to road video games at Purdue and Hogs were a trendy NCAA Tournament pick early after they won the Hall of Fame Standard in Kansas City,  yet after that they failed and shed 5 of six in December and early January. However,  an outstanding sway Missouri adhered to by a road win versus LSU has actually transformed the instructions of this group. A home video game versus Texas AM on Saturday will be Golden Eagles have actually won 4 straight under Shaka Smart,  including against Divine superintendence and Seton Hall. They already have gain Illinois,  Ole Miss and West Virginia,  along with a road win at Kansas State. The following four games at Villanova,  against Xavier,  at Seton Hall and at Providence will certainly be StateLeonard Hamilton constantly discovers a way in the ACC. Florida State just needed time. The Seminoles have won three straight,  including ripping off Miami after the 'Canes had simply defeated StateThe Bulldogs' 78-76 win over Alabama was season-changing. They have gain Arkansas and,  at 3-1,  have to be taken seriously in the SEC. The largest tests for the Bulldogs will come with Kentucky on Jan. 25 and at Texas Tech on Jan. 29. RutgersGeo Baker is healthy,  Ron Harper Jr. is scoring,  and the Scarlet Knights have actually won five of six,  including defeating Michigan in the house. The home win versus Purdue has great life span,  and ripping off Maryland when driving provides Rutgers that much-needed road Horned Frogs had a COVID time out however have actually returned with two victories in the Big 12,  at Kansas State and over Oklahoma in OT. The sway Texas AM will certainly have StateThe Racers had a win at Memphis and an early loss to Auburn. Yet Murray State is 15-2 and 5-0 in the Valley after defeating rival Belmont by 22 in Nashville. This group has at-large wins on extraordinary buzzer-beater by Ron Harper Jr. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights won in dismayed fashion on a near-half-court buzzer-beater by Ron Harper Jr. Teams in trouble: LouisvilleThe Cardinals have lost 3 straight,  consisting of by 12 at Pitt. They've currently shed at Western Kentucky and in your home to Furman,  DePaul and NC State. They are smacking at 10-7 and 4-3 in the Orange have actually lost 4 of five,  consisting of home games versus Virginia and Florida State. Add those two to a home loss to Colgate previously in the season,  and Syracuse is no place near a tournament Cavaliers are irregular again after shedding 2 of three games,  including at home to Wake Woodland. In their previous 2 home losses,  the Cavaliers racked up 50 and 55 appeared like points were heading in the appropriate instructions for the Tigers with gain Wichita State,  Tulsa and Cincinnati. Yet given that after that,  they have actually shed 2 straight: last week at UCF and at East Carolina at the buzzer. They had little room for mistake Knights Shop ,  having currently whiffed against Iowa State,  Georgia,  Ole Miss and Murray State. The sway Alabama stands out,  yet there were as well numerous various other faults. Defeating SMU on Thursday is a must. The very first of 2 Houston video games is Feb. 12 when traveling. Memphis still has the items to win the American Event. But if the Tigers do not change their direction,  that could be this team's only means into the Katz is a longtime university basketball writer,  analyst and host. He can be seen on FOX Sports and Huge 10 Network systems,  in addition to March Chaos and ,  and he holds the podcast "March Insanity 365." Katz worked at ESPN for virtually twenty years and,  before that,  in papers for 9 years.