Keep In Mind to Michigan State: It’s probably too early to panic,

• Myron Medcalf, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 10, 2023, 11:08 AM ET Close Covers college basketball

• Joined ESPN.com in 2011
• Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

There is this notion in college basketball that there is constantly time.Teams can struggle in the nonconference season and recuperate in league play. And sometimes, the very best teams don’t even reveal their finest things until March. Remember, UConn finished fourth in the Big East standings in 2022-23 and after that won the national title.Editor’s Picks 2 Related College basketball likes second chances.

Third and fourth possibilities, too.But it’s dangerous to get greedy and assume that time is constantly the solution. And even though we remain in just the 2nd weekend of the 2023-24 season, the sense of urgency for a couple of groups( and coaches) is currently rising.That conversation starts with No. 18 Michigan State. Following his group’s loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the Champions Classic in Chicago, Tom Izzo stated his team, which has struggled from the 3-point line at a historic clip, is getting excellent shots. They’re just not falling. Izzo has actually weathered other storms.But Izzo likewise has problems that exceed missed out on chances. A.J. Hoggard’s shooting and battles have been a concern. And the members of an extremely touted hiring class still require some spices before they’re all set to go. A matchup versus Butler this weekend might be more tough as a result, thinking about the challenges.Maryland, a team that returned numerous key players from last year’s NCAA competition group, has actually lost two of three games. And Villanova is trying to put a loss to Penn this week behind it, too. They’ll take on in Philly

this weekend.Plus, the Louisville Cardinals will go into the Empire Classic in New York desperate for a signature win and an indication that brighter things are ahead under Kenny Payne. With Indiana, the Texas Longhorns and UConn in the field, the opportunities will be there.Yes, it’s just Week

2. But the stakes are higher this weekend.Odds offered by ESPN BET Empire Classic, Madison Square Garden, New York City Sunday, ESPN,

1 p.m. ET March 17, 2023. That’s the

last time Connecticut lost a game. The Huskies have

likewise won 14 of their previous 15

, consisting of a national title run. They lost a lot from that team but Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot-2 sophomore, has actually connected on 65.5 % of his shots inside the arc this season. Through three games, the Huskies have made 73.2 %of their shots inside the arc, No. 1 mark in the country per KenPom. This is a substantial test for Indiana. Xavier Johnson, who is healthy after last season’s injury-plagued campaign, and Oregon transfer Kel’ el Ware are both leading the group with 16.5 PPG each. Mike Woodson is playing Mackenzie Mgbako, the five-star possibility in the 2023 class, just 17 minutes per game however those numbers could increase in New York. Woodson will need every athlete he has to stop the reigning nationwide champs. However the loss of UConn star Stephon Castle (14.5 PPG) to a knee injury isn’t terrific news for the Huskies.Medcalf’s choice: UConn 75-71. Versus the spread: Line unavailable (will update)

Baha Mar Hoops – Bahamas Champion, Nassau, Bahamas

Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

Months after a run to the Final Four, Miami returns with Nijel Load and Norchad Omier, 2 stars from the run. Wooga Poplar’s function– he’s leading the group in scoring with 20.7 PPG– has actually changed this season and the Hurricanes have benefited as a result. Jim Larranaga has a strong squad again. But weird things can happen in the Bahamas. Six years earlier, Arizona was ranked second in the country when it floundered in the Battle 4 Atlantis and subsequently played in the seventh-place game versus then-No. 18 Purdue. Georgia (top 60 in adjusted protective performance on KenPom compared to 132nd last season) is growing under Mike White.Medcalf’s choice

: Miami 78-72. Against the spread: Georgia (+6.5 )

Friday, FS1, 6:30 p.m. ET Michigan State’s 74-65 loss to Duke in the Champions Classic on Tuesday alone was not trigger for concern. A lot of challengers will probably lose to Duke this season. But Michigan State linked on just 16% of its 3-point efforts through 3 games, the worst mark for the program over the previous 25 years, according to ESPN Statistics & Information.And Posh Alexander(13.7 PPG) has actually fueled a Butler team that’s made 62%of its shots inside the arc. Michigan State has more talent. However the method the Spartans are playing, they can’t take any game gently. What takes place if the shots stop falling again?Medcalf’s pick: Michigan State 73-64. Versus the spread: Michigan State(-8.5) Friday, FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET Both groups are coming off frustrating advancements. On Monday, Villanova suffered a 76-72 loss against Philadelphia Big 5 rival Penn in the Palaestra. That’s not the way Kyle Neptune had wanted to kick off his season. And Maryland, which returned Jahmir Young and Julian Reese from last year’s NCAA competition group, has lost back-to-back games to UAB and Davidson.What’s incorrect with both teams? Well, the Terps have actually connected on just 22.6% of their 3-point efforts, which represent 38%of their general basket attempts

. That’s a problem. And Young has 10 turnovers in 3 games. But Villanova has to avoid the second-half letdown that cost the Wildcats against Penn.Medcalf’s choice: Villanova 70-67. Versus the spread: Maryland( +5.5 )SEASON TOTALS Medcalf’s choices straight-up: 2-1. Versus the spread: 2-1