February Crunch Time: When Contenders Find Out Who They Really Are

The article explores how February serves as the true proving ground for top college basketball contenders before March Madness, focusing on demanding late-season schedules, hostile road environments and the quest for seeding and identity across conferences. Highlighting Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky, Purdue and several other programs, it argues that this month’s grind—rather than March’s spectacle—ultimately determines which teams are...