This is always a weird weekend on the sports calendar. The Super Bowl is still a week away, so on Sunday, all we have is the Pro Bowl.

The Pro Bowl isn’t even an actual game anymore, so there isn’t likely to be anything of interest happening there.

Fortunately, it is an absolutely loaded weekend of men’s college hoops. On Saturday, we have Duke-North Carolina, Alabama-LSU, Auburn-Tennessee, Kansas-Iowa State, Miami-Clemson, Indiana-Purdue, Texas-Kansas State, Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s and more!

It’s almost time for college hoops to take center stage as March Madness draws ever closer. This weekend will be a great time for casual fans to start taking notice of what’s happening on the court.

Now let’s dive into your questions for this week’s SDS Mailbag:

Robert:

It’s time for my annual question about whether a fourth team of current Kentucky NBA stars could take down an all-star team of current NBA players from other SEC schools.

Robert provided his breakdown of Kentucky’s first-, second-, third- and fourth-team members. Here’s how he put it together:

Kentucky first-team:

  • PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SG: Devin Booker
  • SF: Keldon Johnson
  • PF: Anthony Davis
  • C: Bam Adebayo

Kentucky second-team:

  • PG: De’Aaron Fox
  • SG: Jamal Murray
  • SF: Shaedon Sharpe
  • PF: Julius Randle
  • C: Karl-Anthony Towns

Kentucky third-team:

  • PG: Tyrese Maxey
  • SG: Tyler Herro
  • SF: Trey Lyles
  • PF: PJ Washington
  • C: Isaiah Jackson

Kentucky fourth-team:

  • PG: Immanuel Quickley
  • SG: Malik Monk
  • SF: Hamidou Diallo
  • PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
  • C: Nick Richards

I’m going to go ahead and say this right off the top. Can an all-star team from other SEC schools take down Kentucky’s fourth-team? Absolutely!

The gap between the talent Kentucky is sending to the NBA and what the rest of the league is sending to the pro ranks is closing. So, the real question is – could this team of SEC all-stars beat Kentucky’s third-team?

Rest of SEC all-stars:

  • PG: Anthony Edwards (Georgia)
  • SG: Bradley Beal (Florida)
  • SF: Khris Middleton (Texas A&M*)
  • PF: Robert Williams III (Texas A&M)
  • C: Nicolas Claxton (Georgia)

Middleton played at A&M when the Aggies weren’t in the SEC, so if you don’t want to consider him, I’d sub him out for either Michael Porter Jr. (Mizzou) or Jabari Smith Jr. (Auburn) at the 3 spot.

That squad is absolutely taking down Kentucky’s third team. Heck, I think it would give Kentucky’s second team a pretty darn good game, too, and might even win.

Now Kentucky’s first team? That’s a different story. The Wildcats are still the kings of the SEC when it comes to sending talent to the pros.

Steve:

What’s your take on Alabama claiming Jalen Hurts and Ohio State claiming Joe Burrow?

This debate has gotten completely out of control, in my opinion. I don’t care who claims who, but I will say this.

Alabama has a stronger claim to Hurts than Ohio State does to Burrow. Why? It really is quite simple and we make it way more difficult than it needs to be.

Hurts contributed at Alabama. He led the Tide to an SEC title as a freshman in 2016, winning the SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Offensive Player of the Year awards in the process. As a sophomore, he led Alabama to the College Football Playoff title game, where Tua Tagovailoa helped him win a national championship ring.

If you win a title at a school and play a big role in doing so, you can be claimed by that school’s fans. Hurts’ contributions at Alabama dwarf those of Burrow’s at Ohio State.

Also, Hurts still claims Alabama alongside Oklahoma. Why shouldn’t Alabama fans show him the love, too?

Jackson:

Which SEC football coach enters 2023 on the hottest seat?

The obvious answer here is Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M but, wow, that buyout figure is still through the roof. He’d still be owed more than $75 million if he’s fired following the 2023 season.

Yikes.

There are 2 other options – both seem unlikely, but nothing is ever completely off the table in the SEC. The first is Billy Napier at Florida, who could find himself in hot water if he doesn’t solve the QB situation in Year 2 with the Gators.

The second is Eli Drinkwitz at Mizzou. He’s recruiting at a high level and has hired an offensive coordinator for the 2023 season. But if the Tigers crater and don’t make a bowl game in 2023 (which I’m not expecting, but nothing is out of the question), Drinkwitz could be shown the door in Columbia.

@Dobbe8:

Where do you most want to see Bryce Young end up in the 2023 NFL Draft?

The Alabama star is in the mix to go No. 1 overall. I don’t see any scenario where he falls past the Houston Texans if he’s there at No. 2.

So, who can trade up to get him? Would the Chicago Bears take him first and cut ties with Justin Fields?

Anything is in play for the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, but I think he’d be a very interesting fit with the Indianapolis Colts. I like Michael Pittman Jr. I like the running game behind a (hopefully) healthy Jonathan Taylor. The offensive line is decent when healthy. The defense is OK.

The problem with the Colts the past couple of years has been quarterback play. Young would obviously fix that and give Indianapolis a long-term solution at the position. His rookie contract would also allow the Colts to use money that has been given to high-priced free-agent quarterbacks in recent years to plug other holes in the roster.

Out of the group of teams that could trade up or draft Young, which I consider to be the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, I like Young’s fit with the Colts the best.

Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at Adam.Spencer@XLMedia.com.