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Around the Country (12/16)


djsalway
  • Let's take a look at what's going on around the NCAA and the Big Ten.

Around the Country:

(18) Kansas Jayhawks 61, (16) Florida Gators 67

Wrap Up: Scottie Wilbekin comes back from injury to post 18 to overcome star freshman Andrew Wiggins’ double-double.

Boise State Broncos 55, (19) Kentucky Wildcats 70

Wrap Up: The Wildcats were backed by James Young’s 21 points and Julius Randle’s double-double to knock off the undefeated Broncos.

(19) Kentucky Wildcats 77, (14) North Carolina Tarheels 82

Wrap Up: Once again, North Carolina comes up big against a ranked team by knocking off the freshman-led Wildcats.

Tennessee Volunteers 61, (11) Wichita State Shockers 70

Wrap Up: Tekele Cotton was able to power the Shockers past the Volunteers to start 10-0 for the first time in Wichita State history.

(2) Syracuse Orangemen 68, Saint John’s Red Storm 63

Wrap Up: Syracuse wasn’t very dominant early on and were down with just five minutes left in the game, but were able to come back to beat the Red Storm.

Here are the games to look out for in the upcoming week (all times Eastern):

(16) University of Florida vs. (15) Memphis University

Date and Time: December 17 @ 9 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN

Preview: Florida comes into this game coming off of a huge week in which they knocked off Kansas. They face yet another big challenge in the Memphis Tigers as a part of the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Gators will be looking to beat another ranked opponent to strengthen their résumé as they head into conference play in January. Memphis has a big win against Oklahoma State, but will need more, making this a good opportunity for the Tigers. With the way Florida is playing though, I can’t see them losing.

University of Texas vs. (14) University of North Carolina

Date and Time: December 18 @ 7 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN2

Preview: North Carolina has got to be one of the most bi-polar teams this season, as they have lost to two unranked teams, but beaten three really good ranked teams. Texas has had a good start to the season, starting off 9-1 and will be looking to carry some momentum into their weekend matchup with Michigan State (see below). With the way that North Carolina plays up or down to their competition, this could be a close one. I think they’ve learned their lesson after some close ones in the past. North Carolina big.

(8) Duke University vs. UCLA

Date and Time: December 19 @ 7:30 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN

Preview: Duke has had a couple of disappointing losses early on in the season, but are still one of the most talented teams in the country. UCLA, led by Coach Steve Alford, have only lost once, but left the rankings after that loss. Zach LaVine is one of the more underrated freshmen in the country, averaging a near triple-double. UCLA can make this close, as this is going to be played in Madison Square Garden, which doesn’t give a clear home-court advantage. This is going to be one of the best early season games. Don’t miss it.

Georgetown University vs. (18) Kansas University

Date and Time: December 21 @ 12 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN

Preview: Georgetown has had an up and down season so far with some very inconsistent play along the way. Kansas has also been a team that has struggled at times, while looking like an elite squad at other times. Andrew Wiggins should dominate this game against a much lesser athletically gifted team in Georgetown. It’ll be close in the first half, but Wiggins will dominate the second.

(7) Oklahoma State University vs. (20) Colorado University

Date and Time: December 21 @ 11:30 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN2

Preview: Marcus Smart is one of the early favorites for the Player of the Year awards that circulate the game of college basketball. He has been dominant so far, but it is quite possible that Askia Booker and Spencer Dinwiddie could slow him down a bit. Oklahoma State has a big supporting cast for Smart though, which will ultimately be the difference in this game. By no means am I saying that Colorado is not good, but Oklahoma State is THAT much better.

Around the Big Ten:

Milwaukee Panthers 52, (4) Wisconsin Badgers 78

Wrap Up: Wisconsin’s random high-octane offense came to play against in-state foe Milwaukee, winning by 26.

(25) Iowa Hawkeyes 82, (17) Iowa State Cyclones 85

Wrap Up: Iowa had a great game throughout, but couldn’t hold on in the end. The Hawkeyes’ Aaron White had 26 points and 17 boards in the loss.

(1) Arizona Wildcats 72, Michigan Wolverines 70

Wrap Up: Michigan led the whole game, but Arizona was able to come through in the end as the Wolverines’ offense stalled down the stretch.

Butler Bulldogs 76, Purdue Boilermakers 70

Wrap Up: Butler was led by Kellen Dunham with 25 points as they win the second game of the Crossroads Classic.

Illinois Fighting Illini 64, (13) Oregon Ducks 71

Wrap Up: Illinois played a spirited game, but were knocked off by the high-ranked Ducks of Oregon, backed by Moser’s 14 and 9.

Here are the games to look out for in the upcoming week (all times Eastern):

University of Nebraska-Omaha vs. Minnesota University

Date and Time: December 20 @ 9 PM

Television Coverage: BTN

Preview: This is about the best game that airs on the Big Ten Network this week, with the rest of the marquee matchups coming on ESPN’s family of networks and CBS. With that being said, this is still a good one to watch. Minnesota is coming on as one of the better teams in the Big Ten and will be looking to continue their hot streak against a decent Omaha team that is trying to win its first Division I conference title. Minnesota’s athleticism will carry them through this game, as the Hollins’ (not brothers) will take over.

(5) Michigan State University vs. University of Texas

Date and Time: December 21 @ 4 PM

Television Coverage: CBS

Preview: This could either be a really good game at Texas, or a not so good game, depending on how Texas fares against North Carolina earlier in the week. Michigan State lost to North Carolina, so if Texas can beat UNC that gives them an “advantage.” Yes, I understand, it doesn’t work that way but for today, it does. Texas has a pretty balanced attack. Michigan State does also, but only if Gary Harris is healthy. Without him, they are limited to Adreian Payne and Keith Appling to carry the offense. With this one being at Texas, it will be close. Michigan State hasn’t looked great lately. If they have Gary Harris, they will prevail; if not, uh oh…

Illinois University vs. (23) Missouri University

Date and Time: December 21 @ 5:30 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN2

Preview: Missouri is one of the last undefeated teams in college basketball and made their way into the rankings by beating UCLA a couple weeks ago. Illinois has played some good teams, but has not beat a quality opponent thus far. With this game at Missouri, Illinois can finally get the win that they have been looking for. Missouri’s long, athletic guard play will be tough to handle for the Illini, but if they can withstand Missouri’s runs, it should be close.

Notre Dame University vs. (3) Ohio State University

Date and Time: December 21 @ 7:30 PM

Television Coverage: ESPN2

Preview: Notre Dame is a very inconsistent team, as they have lost to some pretty bad teams, but played other decent teams close. Ohio State has yet to play a better team than Marquette, but are still within the top 5 in the country. OSU is going to need this win to continue to gain supporters for their number one seed in the year-end tournament. Guard play will be huge in this one, with Craft and Thompson for the Buckeyes and Grant and Atkins for the Fighting Irish. It might be close halfway through the second half, but I believe the Buckeyes have too much firepower and defense for the Irish to hang around.

Purdue University vs. West Virginia University

Date and Time: December 22 @ 1 PM

Television Coverage: ESPNU

Preview: Purdue is coming off of a loss to Butler at the Crossroads Classic, while West Virginia is playing really good basketball early on. Purdue has been up and down, which makes me believe that this one could go either way. Freshmen Bryson Scott and Kendall Stephens will have to lead the charge and make shots for the Boilermakers to take down a solid offensive team in West Virginia. In the end, I don’t think Bob Huggins will let his team lose to the mighty Boilermakers. If the big men from the Mountaineers can make a difference, it should be an easy victory. West Virginia by double digits.

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