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5 NCAA basketball teams on upset alert this week: Baylor, Illinois on high alert

By Mike Phillips

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: Guard Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears handles the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on January 16, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: Guard Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears handles the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on January 16, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Baylor and Illinois are among the NCAA basketball teams on upset alert this week.

Mid-January is usually the point where college basketball fans really start to pay attention to things like bracketology and NCAA Tournament resumes. Several teams have made statements for themselves while others have had trouble getting out of the gate and avoiding upsets. Let’s take a look at five programs that find themselves on upset alert this week, beginning with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Tennessee is on upset alert at Florida

One of the SEC’s best programs in the early going has been Tennessee, which has only lost to Alabama in conference play. The Volunteers rely on a stingy defense and a balanced rotation to win but they are still vulnerable to a dangerous road opponent on Tuesday against Florida.

Things haven’t been the same for Florida since they lost Keyontae Johnson for the season but the Gators still have plenty of talent on their roster. Florida has a home win over LSU on its resume and could look to add another signature win over the Volunteers this week.

Clemson is on upset alert at Georgia Tech

It has been a dream season for the Tigers but some air came out of their sails over the weekend. Clemson was dominated at home by Virginia, losing by 35 as the Cavaliers’ Pack Line defense smothered the Tigers, which could lead to a nasty hangover effect on Wednesday.

The Tigers hit the road to take on a capable Georgia Tech team coming off a COVID pause that already has victories over North Carolina and Kentucky on its resume. Taking the Yellow Jackets lightly could begin a slippery slide for the Tigers so taking care of business here is critical.

Illinois needs to be careful with Michigan State

There are questions about this game due to some positive COVID tests on Michigan State’s roster but if it is played this game is very tricky for Illinois. A highly-regarded team in the preseason, Illinois has had its fair share of stumbles in conference play, including a two-game skid last week against Maryland and Ohio State.

The Spartans have underachieved in Big Ten play but remain a big threat thanks to their depth and smooth flowing offense. Illinois also hasn’t won at the Breslin Center since 2015 either so there are some demons to conquer in this matchup.

Virginia Tech needs to be careful at Syracuse

The Hokies have been one of the ACC’s surprises this season, putting together a 10-2 record that includes wins over Villanova and Duke, but one of the biggest weaknesses for Virginia Tech has been its outside shooting. As a team, Virginia Tech is knocking down just over 35 percent of its three-point attempts, which could be problematic since outside shooting is the key to beating Syracuse’s 2-3 zone.

The Orange may not be a vintage Jim Boeheim unit but their zone defense is always tough to prepare for, especially if the three-point shot isn’t falling. Virginia Tech needs to pay attention to its execution to avoid getting tripped up in the Carrier Dome.

Baylor needs to be on upset alert at Oklahoma State

The headlines for Baylor will focus on their matchup with Kansas early in the week but their weekend trip to Stillwater is fraught with peril. Oklahoma State is fresh off an upset of the Jayhawks last week and features one of the nation’s most dynamic players in freshman point guard Cade Cunningham.

The Bears need to be careful not to let Cunningham wreck the game, which could help the Cowboys score another massive upset at home. Remaining focused after an emotional game with Kansas to take care of business on the road would be a big sign that Baylor is up to the challenge of contending for a national championship.

Next. 15 best home-court advantages. dark

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