January 19, 2022
WATCH: Consistency matters even in January
UCF deserves more love
It is only the middle of January, but at this point in the season, coaches are looking for consistency from their teams. Why does consistency matter? Because it lets you know that teams are finding ways to win and putting together performances that span the full 40 minutes of a game – and maybe even an overtime or two. You can play great for 39 minutes, but lapses in the last one minute can be the difference – consistency in everything you do sets teams apart even at this time of the year.
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Central Florida has proven they should be ranked in the Top 25, sitting now at 12-2 and 4-0 in the AAC. They beat South Florida at home and keep getting better. California Baptist is one of those consistent mid-major squads ranked in the top five of the College Insider.com Mid-Major poll. They are 11-2 and continue to handle their business in the WAC.
The Top 25 is packed with teams who are consistent night in and night out. No surprise but Tennessee continues to stay hot, now 6-0 in the SEC and 17-1 overall. Iowa State is a Top 10 team in the nation and leads the Big 12 at 5-0; three of those wins have been on the road. The ACC has a host of teams playing well right now, but Notre Dame seems to be gelling at the right time. They are 4-1 in league play but have three upcoming games on the road – how consistent can they stay?
Teams in the Pac 12 are always the true definition of consistency – balanced scoring, tough defense every game and stuffing stat sheets to get wins. Stanford and Colorado have been great so far and Oregon is finally healthy and back at full strength – Kelly Graves cannot wait to have his full roster and put all those pieces together.
The key going forward these and other teams – can you be this consistent a month from now? Stay tuned!
Written by Missy Heidrick
I am a retired Kansas State shooting guard and spent almost 20 years working in Higher Education and Division 1 athletics. I am currently a basketball analyst for television and radio, contributing correspondent at The Next, Locked on Women's Basketball podcast host, WBB Naismith Award board of selectors member and run my own consulting business. I am a proud mother of two and wife to a patient husband who is almost as big of a sports junkie as I am!
