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Five Weekend Storylines: Kentucky’s rematch with Texas A&M

Elston Turner, Willie Cauley-Stein

Texas A&M’s Elston Turner, right, looks for an opening against Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

AP

Kentucky’s rematch with Texas A&M: Kentucky has had a number of lowpoints this season, but I don’t think there’s been a worse moment for UK fans than when they lost at home to Texas A&M on a night where Elston Turner lit up the Wildcats for 40 points. Every other loss has an explanation -- they’re young, they were on the road, they were playing a talented team -- except for this one.

And on Saturday night (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN), the Wildcats get their shot at revenge. But it’s more than just a payback game. Kentucky looked they best they have all season long on Tuesday night in their win over Ole Miss. Kyle Wiltjer dominated. Alex Poythress took over for 10 minutes in the second half. Nerlens Noel owned the game while scoring just two points. That’s something that they need to build on, because that was the first time all year long where we sat back and said, “Hey, maybe this team actually is getting better.”

Oh, and there may be a special guest in attendance. That should be fun.

What is going on with Missouri? The No. 17 Tigers host Auburn on Saturday (1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3) just three days after they lost their third SEC game of the year. But instead of the loss coming at the hands of a league favorite, Missouri fell at LSU. In a game where Laurence Bowers was back in the lineup.

What gives?

Is this group actually any good?

Because if they are, than that loss is unacceptable. Good teams simply do not lose to the bottom of their conference, especially when they play in a conference as weak as the SEC. If Missouri is a good team, that lose could end up lighting a fire under them, and Auburn could end up being the unknowing victims of a pillaging on Saturday.

We’re about to find out if the Johnnies are for real: Pop quiz hotshot: Who is all alone in third place in the Big East? Any guesses? Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that, at 6-3, St. John’s is sitting in third place by themselves, a half-game in front of four teams in the Big East standings? Steve Lavin’s group has been a revelation early on this season. They’ve won four straight games and have already knocked off Cincinnati and Notre Dame this year.

Now it gets serious. On Saturday, they’re at Georgetown (4:00 p.m. ET, CBS). They host UConn on Wednesday and then follow that up with trips to Louisville and Syracuse. If this group is really going to compete for a tournament spot, we’ll know in two weeks.

Philly hoops is a confounding mess: Villanova lost by 18 to Columbia at home and has since beaten both Syracuse and Louisville. La Salle beat Butler and VCU, on the road, and then lost at home to UMass. Drexel is, well, Drexel.

But the two teams in the city that have confused me the most are Temple and St. Joseph’s, who square off on Hawk Hill on Saturday (6:00 p.m. ET, CBS). St. Joe’s was picked to win the A-10 in the preseason, but got off to a 1-3 start in league play before winning their last two games. Temple beat Syracuse in the Garden earlier this year, but they’ve been the epitome of inconsistency since that win.

If anyone wants to take a shot at explaining any of those five teams, please, the comments section is below. Don’t hesitate.

When do we write off Illinois?: The Illini host Wisconsin on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten) in what has become a must-win game for them. Yes, they’ve beaten Gonzaga, Butler and Ohio State. Those wins are great. They’re also 2-6 in the Big Ten with a stretch coming up that consists of Wisconsin, Indiana, at Minnesota and Purdue, with trips to Ann Arbor and Columbus left on their schedule as well.

Yes, they have plenty of chances to right their ship, but with each loss, it gets harder and harder for a team to turn around their season. Lose this game, and the Illini are staring 2-9 in the Big Ten in the face. They cannot afford a slip-up here.

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.