Women's basketball watchlist: 12/14 edition

It’s a loaded women’s basketball Sunday. Here’s my daily watchlist.

BE SEATED AT ALL COSTS

These are the games you’re going to want to skip work for – the ones that will tell us a whole lot about the best of the best.

1pm: Baylor at Texas (ABC)

It’s a battle between the two best teams in the state. The Longhorns are currently the best team in the country, ranked #1 in On3’s Top 25, while Baylor remains a Top-25 foe. Texas certainly has the edge here, but we’ll see if Taliah Scott and the Bears can force the upset.

2pm: NC State at Miami (ACC Extra)

This is a really solid ACC matchup. While the league looks to be having a bit of a down year, these two teams should be sitting in Top 25-50 range this season and fighting for a strong finish in the conference. Both teams could really use this win in the early stages of ACC play.

3pm: Kentucky at Belmont (ESPN+)

Belmont vs. any P5 team is always must-watch TV. The Bruins are one of the better mid-majors in the country and always have the potential to cause some trouble. We’ll see what they have in store for a Top-15 Kentucky squad.

4pm: Louisville at North Carolina (ACCN)

This may wind up being the best ACC game of the year. UNC and Louisville are currently the top-two teams in the league and they’ll face off early this season. North Carolina has the home advantage, but Louisville just proved they can play with anybody after a one-possession falter to South Carolina.

4pm: Cal at Stanford (ACC Extra)

More ACC action makes the must-watch list. These two West Coast teams will face off and it’s an important matchup for both as we look ahead to NCAA Tournament implications. Cal and Stanford both have had their up-and-down moments this year, but they’ll need to bring their best for this one.

THIS COULD BE COMPETITIVE/FUN

These matchups are more than just your run-of-the-mill easy blowouts. While some of them have the potential to be, these games are an opportunity to see good teams test themselves early.

1pm: Auburn at Seton Hall (ESPN+)

2pm: Charleston at Florida State (ACC Extra)

2pm: Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (ACC Extra)

3pm: Marshall at Eastern Kentucky (ESPN+)

3pm: West Virginia at Texas A&M (SECN+)

3pm: Ball State at South Dakota State

3pm: Montana State at Oregon (Big Ten+)

3pm: North Texas at Illinois (Big Ten+)

3:30pm: Kansas State at Creighton (FS1)

4pm: Notre Dame at James Madison (ESPN+)

4pm: Northwestern at Utah (ESPN+)

A DECENT LOOK AND/OR AT OPTIMAL TIMES

These games will either be a solid look at a team or they just fall at optimal times. If you’re in need of basketball to watch all day (like me), these are games to add to your list. 

12pm: Illinois State at Nebraska (Big Ten+)

12pm: Dayton at Purdue (Big Ten+)

2pm: Winthrop at Tennessee (SECN+)

2pm: Pitt at Clemson (ACC Extra)

3pm: Denver at Kansas (ESPN+)

3pm: MIami (OH) at Colorado (ESPN+)

3pm: Abilene Christian at Texas Tech (ESPN+)

3pm: Southern Miss at Mississippi State (SECN+)

3pm: Missouri at Saint Louis (ESPN+)

3:30pm: Penn State at South Carolina (ESPN)

4pm: Arizona State at Oregon State (ESPN+)

6pm: Northern Iowa at Iowa State (ESPN+)

7pm: Davidson at Charlotte (ESPN+)

WATCH YOUR TEAM WIN A BLOWOUT

The rest of the games here will likely provide no true competitive value – but you never know. These games are just a look at some P5’s playing teams they should beat with ease. 

1pm: Toledo at Ohio State (Big Ten+)

1pm: Eastern Michigan at Indiana (Big Ten+)

2pm: West Georgia at Florida (SECN+)

3pm: SC State at Ole Miss (SECN+)

4pm: ETSU at Virginia Tech (ACC Extra)

4pm: Jackson State at Alabama (SECN)

5pm: Jacksonville at TCU (ESPN+)

5:30pm: Michigan State at DePaul (FS1)

6pm: Wyoming at Minnesota (Big Ten+)