Weekend preview: Houston-Baylor, Alabama-Kentucky handshake lines - ESPN

We've had a conversation about the value of handshake lines for years. Every time there is a problem after a game, we begin to question their purpose.

As we should.

On Wednesday, the Southland Conference announced the suspensions of eight players from Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Commerce after their postgame melee that began — obviously — in the handshake line.

The line itself isn't necessarily the problem, but collegiate sports could learn from the pros by not forcing athletes to shake hands after an emotional matchup. It should always be optional. That's one way to help avoid some of the postgame drama we've witnessed in recent years.

For 40 minutes, players battle in contentious games. Compelling them to shake hands has always been a risky move. It's time to make these handshake lines optional.

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Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, CBS

In the past week, two teams that seemed on the brink of greatness — Purdue and UConn — suffered surprising defeats. It does not change their ceilings, but it is worth considering if Houston has done enough to secure a spot in that conversation.

The Cougars are 9-1 in their past 10 games, a stretch that includes five top-35 KenPom wins. A victory at Baylor would extend its lead in the Big 12 and continue to solidify its position as a likely top seed in the NCAA tournament.

Baylor has just one loss in its new arena, a triple-overtime affair against TCU. The Bears are second in 3-point shooting percentage but they're also just 5-5 in their past 10 games. Ja'Kobe Walter (14.4 PPG) could be a top-five pick in this summer's NBA draft. He'll face the best defense he has seen all season.

Medcalf's pick: Houston, 70-65; Against the spread: Houston (-2.5)

Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN