Games to Watch - Week of Dec. 1st

It's December and while the weather's getting colder, the college basketball season is heating up! Okay, that was really dumb, but it's kinda true. Anyway, on with the games to watch:

Preseason Tourneys/Events:

ACC/Big 10 Challenge (Dec. 1st-3rd)

The annual ACC whipping of the Big 10 is upon us, but despite how the overall results may go the individual matchups should be really good. Rather than list all the matchups here, I'll preview them as we go depending on what day it is.

My Pick: Listed on Wednesday

Big 12/ Pac-10 Hardwood Series

Apparently this already started. Stanford beat Colorado on Saturday to give the Pac-10 a 1-0 lead. So much for organization. Seriously, take a page from the ACC/Big 10 challenge and just put every game on a three day window. It can't be that difficult. They've got series games in late December for crying out loud. I'm not going to remember this series by then. Anyway, I'll preview these games as well, as there's some good games to be found here as well.

My pick: Listed on Sunday

Mon Dec. 1st

ACC/Big 10 Challenge games:

Wisconsin v. Virginia Tech - The Big 10 might actually win this one. I like the Badgers more than most people I've heard from thus far. I think they execute their methodical style of basketball as well as anyone in the country, and they hung with UConn for a good portion of the Paradise Jam final. Meanwhile, people wonder why the Hokies haven't made the tournament the past few years and it's for this reason: they don't win these kinds of games. They've already lost to Xavier and Seton Hall and with some other ACC teams getting some good out of conference wins (Maryland, BC) Virginia Tech probably needs this one to keep pace, as it's their last shot at a good non conference win.

George Mason v. Liberty - Yes, it's a slow day in college hoops, but that means I get to talk some small conference b-ball! George Mason's back on top of the Colonial for the time being, and with VCU not blowing anyone out of the water, the conference could be up for the taking again. The Patriots already won @ East Carolina, who beat VCU, so they have this game and @ Dayton at the end of December before their conference schedule. Meanwhile, Liberty has the best overall record in the Big South but is in last because they already lost a conference game to favorites UNC-Asheville. They have @ Clemson and @ DePaul coming up before the conference season.

Tues, Dec. 2nd

ACC/Big 10 Challenge games:

Ohio State v. Miami (FL) - this is the beginning of a very difficult stretch for the Buckeyes which includes @ Notre Dame, Butler, and West Virginia at the end of the month. Ohio State hasn't been tested at all this year but they will be soon.

Iowa v. Boston College - I haven't seen Iowa play but I have seen BC and if that game was any indication, Iowa's going to have their hands full with this young Eagles team. Iowa already got smoked by West Virginia this year so it's not looking good for the Big 10 in this matchup.

Clemson v. Illinois - I think the Big 10 has a legit shot at winning this one as well. Clemson is undefeated but their best win is home vs. Temple which isn't anything to write home about. Meanwhile, Illinois showed what they're capable of this year by winning at Vanderbilt, which is not an easy thing to do by any means. At the beginning of the season I would've given this one to Clemson but now I think the young Illini players are growing up quicker than any of us expected.

Virginia v. Minnesota - Possibly the worst team in the ACC vs. an okay mid-level Big 10 team. Good matchup for the Big 10, but the Cavaliers did give Syracuse all they could handle at the Carrier Dome on Friday, so this one could go either way as well

Duke v. Purdue - This could be the most competitive game of the challenge, or it could be very one-sided. If Purdue can do a better job of limiting fouls, cut off driving lanes, and create turnovers, we're going to have a very entertaining game on our hands. However, Duke also has the firepower to run the Boilers out of their own gymnasium. If I was a betting man, I'd vote for the former, especially considering Purdue doesn't go down easily in Mackey.

Wed Dec 3rd

Indiana v. Wake Forest - Do I really need to say anything about this game?

Penn State v. Georgia Tech - Tech's played no one. State lost to Rhode Island but otherwise beat a bunch of cupcakes. Neither team has really done anything yet, and not much is expected out of either of them, so let's call this even.

Michigan v. Maryland - The battle of the mini-Cinderellas. Both have beaten top 10 teams so far this year, and both could surprise come conference play. Of the two, Maryland's win impressed me more. I feel like they dominated Michigan St. more, and UCLA simply couldn't execute offensively down the stretch vs. Michigan. Slight edge to the Terps but this one could go either way.

UNC v. Michigan St. - The Spartans had issues with a mid-level ACC team that probably won't make the tournament and a decent Missouri Valley team that probably won't make the tournament. I don't care that it's in Detroit, they're not beating the Tar Heels.

Florida St. v. Northwestern - The Seminoles have the advantage, but watch out for Coble and that screwy Princeton offense Northwestern runs.

MY PREDICTIONS: I'm picking UNC, Wake Forest, Florida State, and Boston College for sure in the ACC, and Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Purdue for the Big 10 (despite my belief that Purdue-Duke will be a close game that could easily go either way, I'm not picking against my team). The other matchups are toss-ups. Of the four, I'm leaning towards Miami (FL) and Maryland. Clemson-Illinois seems pretty even, and I have no idea on the Penn State-Georgia Tech game, so for kicks I'll take Illinois and Penn State and say the ACC wins 6-5.

West Virginia v. Ole Miss - Really, people. Anyone could win the SEC West at this point. Of the six Miss St. has looked the best but they lost to Washington St. and Texas Tech over the weekend so they're far from stellar. Meanwhile this is probably the Rebels best shot at beaing a good non-conference opponent this year (unless Louisville decides to cash it in again like against Western Kentucky)

Wichita State v. Texas Tech - Tech lost to Pitt but beat Mississippi State to take third place in the Legends Classic, which I would say is a success. They have a tricky non-conference game here vs. a Wichita State team who only went 1-2 in the Old Spice Classic but gave both Georgetown and Michigan St. problems offensively. If Tech wins this game, they only have @ UTEP standing in the way of a 14-1 non-conference slate, which is what they'll need to do to make a tournament run.

DePaul v. Cal - The Bears are in a similar situation to Texas Tech... and they have @ UNLV as a win on their resume. And in a Pac-10 which appears pretty wide open at this point, there will be decent wins to go around. I'd say 4th place in the Pac 10 is not an unreasonable goal, and that would give them some at-large consideration for the tournament.

Thurs, Dec. 4th

Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series

UCLA v. Texas - Actually, I take that back. Any series that can give us this good of a matchup early in the season is okay in my book. If you like slow-paced defensive basketball, this one's for you. Don't expect either team to run the other out of the water. It will likely come down to execution at the end... and this would be a good time for the UCLA freshman to start living up to the hype.

USC v. Oklahoma - Taj Gibson vs. Blake Griffin. Sounds like a matchup we'll be hearing more of in the NBA someday. But for now, we have a very talented but underachieving Trojan team taking on a very talented, overachieving Sooner team. On paper, this is a close matchup. Based on recent results, this definitely favors the Big 12 again.

Oklahoma St. v. Washington - Okay, Huskies... you're looking to get a good non-conference win for your tournament resume... well, how about Kansas? No? Too good for you? How about Florida? Still no? Well... uh... I'm kind of at a loss for options here... how about the Cowboys? Seriously, take it or leave it. You're going to need one of these at some point and this is your best option. Well?

Mt. St. Mary's v. Sacred Heart - Yay for ESPN showing two not-very-good small conference teams on national TV. Not being sarcastic or anything...

Fri, Dec. 5th

Arizona v. Texas A&M - Looking like a win for the Pac-10, but the Aggies have a good mix of senior leadership and young talent which could mesh later in the year during Big 12 conference play.

Sat, Dec. 6th

Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series

Baylor v. Washington State - If you want to stay up late, you might catch this sleeper of a basketball game. And by "sleeper" I mean "underrated", not actually sleeping

Oregon State v. Iowa State - Hey, at least the Beavers won a b-ball game!

Duke v. Michigan - No, this isn't a typo. They were already scheduled to play this season. So yes, they're playing each other twice. This isn't that difficult of a concept people

Ohio State v. Notre Dame - Game two of the out of the three game stretch that will define Ohio State's resume. At least, the non-conference part

Miami (FL) v. Kentucky - Last year, they started their tournament run during conference play. This year, with wins over Kansas State and West Virginia, they're trying to put away bad memories of ugly non-conference losses early. Want to get rid of it completely? Beat the U at home on Saturday.

Wisconsin v. Marquette - A lot of people believe this Wisconsin team shouldn't be ranked. If they want to justify their ranking, here's a good way to do it.

UAB v. Cincinnati - The Big East Campaign For 10 Tournament Teams rolls on. Chances in your house against strugging marginal tournament teams don't come around very often. If there is going to be a tenth Big East team in the tournament, they better have some good non-conference wins, and here's a possibility.

Rhode Island v. Providence - Same as above, except for the struggling part

Creighton v. St. Joseph's - The battle of the underachieving-at-large-mid-major-conference-hopefuls.

Dayton v. Akron - I'll let you in on a little secret. You know the Dayton Flyers? Yea, they're pretty good.

BYU v. Utah State - Both teams are undefeated. Go figure.

Sun, Dec. 7th

Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Classic:

Nebraska v. Arizona State - Good opportunity for a Cornhusker team that is fresh off a good win vs. Creighton. Get this win and their at-large stock would skyrocket.

Kansas St. v. Oregon - Should be a pretty even game, which hopefully means it's entertaining. Besides, if nothing else, you know the Ducks will be running the ball up and down the floor so it'll be entertaining if not sloppy.

Cal v. Missouri - This game could be very, very important for tournament selection purposes in March. And very important for the series.

MY PREDICTION: Other games in the series include Kansas @ Arizona on Dec. 23rd and Texas Tech @ Stanford on Dec. 28th. I'll take the Big 12 for two games on Thursday (Texas and Oklahoma), both games on Friday (Baylor and Iowa State), the Missouri game on Sunday, and Kansas and Tech to give the Big 12 a 7-5 win. I am also considering taking Kansas State over Oregon and REALLY wanted to pick Nebraska to upset Arizona State but both are on the road and not as likely.

Florida v. Florida State - Here's hoping this one's better than the football one.

Miss Valley St. v. Kentucky - Poor Mississippi Valley State. They're like the power conference punching bag this year. Already lost to Arizona St, Washington St, Oklahoma, Arizona, Georgia, and Iowa State. And if that isn't bad enough, their nickname is the Delta Devils. What does that even mean? But there is one saving grace. They play in the SWAC, where no team has a winning record and only one team has more than one win. So maybe they'll catch fire and win the conference. And then beat all those teams in the tournament who beat them in the regular season. That'll show them. Anyway, that seems like a good way to end this.