Weekend preview: Parity? Everyone's chasing UConn and Purdue - ESPN

This is usually the time within the college basketball season when the word parity is frequently used.

As March approaches and a collection of imperfect teams aim to hit their strides before the postseason, it often appears as if there is a crowd of good teams at the top but not necessarily a team that has separated itself. While the numerous losses by top 10 teams in road games against unranked opponents this season have supported the case for parity, they do not tell the full story.

The story of college basketball today? A pack of teams are chasing UConn and Purdue, two squads that have distanced themselves from the field. Those two are inching toward greatness.

So the question is not which team will emerge in March, but can any squad stop Purdue and UConn, or are they destined to battle each other in the national title game? The Boilermakers have Zach Edey, who will likely win a second consecutive Wooden Award, and wins over Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette, Illinois, Alabama and Arizona. UConn hasn't lost a game since Dec. 20.

The Huskies and Boilermakers aren't in that parity group. They've been the most dominant forces in the sport. Will anyone catch them?

All odds from ESPN BET.

Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

After the 75-63 home win over Ole Miss, John Calipari said his Kentucky team is built for the postseason, citing all of its strengths: an elite offensive crew (No. 7 in adjusted offensive efficiency on KenPom), a low turnover rate and NBA-level talent who can quickly shift a game.

He's right. But NCAA tournament history suggests a team that struggles to this degree defensively (107th in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom) might not fare well in the postseason. Three of the Final Four teams a year ago were top