COLLEGE BASKETBALL WEEKEND VIEWING GUIDE
The start of this year’s college basketball season has been incredible. Throughout the first month of the year, we’ve have primetime matchups featuring some of the biggest brands in the sport, and it has made for appointment viewing not just for the college basketball sickos, but for the casual viewers as well.
That said, this weekend marks the first time where we will have a full-blown, knock-down, drag-out college basketball Saturday, and there is nothing in the world of sports that is better than that.
We get an appetizer on Friday night down in Nashville, and a tasty treat on Sunday afternoon as well.
Here is everything you need to know to stay locked in on college basketball this weekend:
Saturday, 12:00 p.m.: No. 10 Iowa State at No. 1 Purdue, CBS
The question that is going to be hanging over this game will be the status of Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey, who is currently dealing with a groin injury that he suffered in the Players Era. He is a game-time decision, and unless you call West Lafayette home, you should be rooting for him to play. Because an afternoon of watching Lipsey and Braden Smith go head-to-head while Trey Kaufman-Renn and Joshua Jefferson square off is the kind of afternoon every fan dreams of.
Saturday, 12:00 p.m.: No. 4 Duke at No. 7 Michigan State, FOX
Cam Boozer has been the best player in college basketball this season, but he is going to be going up against a frontline of Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper that may be the most underrated frontline in college hoops. Kohler, specifically, has been arguably the best defensive player in the Big Ten this year. The Spartans are the best gapping defense in the sport and they have arguably the best point guard in the sport right now in Jeremy Fears. It’s a crime against humanity that this game is going to be played at the same time as Iowa State-Purdue.
Friday, 7:00 p.m.: No. 11 Gonzaga vs. No. 18 Kentucky (Nashville), ESPN2
Two programs facing must-win situations. Kentucky is coming off of a better performance on Tuesday night against North Carolina, but that was still a loss, one where the Wildcats really struggled offensively. Gonzaga has looked like one of the best teams in the country this season, and despite getting 40-pieced by Michigan in the Players Era, they are still considered a favorite to win the national title. This should be a heavy Kentucky crowd, can the Wildcats send them into the Broadway night with something to celebrate?
Saturday, 8:00 p.m.: No. 14 Illinois vs. No. 13 Tennessee (Nashville), ESPN
Both Illinois and Tennessee are coming off of losses on national television, with the Illini falling to UConn in MSG and Tennessee dropping a game at Syracuse in the ACC-SEC Challenge.
Saturday, 2:15 p.m.: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 22 Indiana (Indianapolis), CBS
Two programs that are built to score but are coming off of rough road performances. Louisville looked bad in a loss at Arkansas on Wednesday night, while Darian DeVries lost him Big Ten opener at Minnesota.
Saturday, 10:00 p.m.: No. 20 Auburn at No. 2 Arizona, ESPN
Arizona will get another opportunity to proves themselves as one of the best teams in college basketball this season with a home date against an Auburn team that has looked sensational in flashes. This will be a tough test for Koa Peat, who likely will be asked to slow down Keyshawn Hall.
Sunday 1:00 p.m.: Missouri vs. No. 21 Kansas (Kansas City), ESPN2
Is this going to be the first time in a month that we get to see Darryn Peterson play?
Saturday, 8:00 p.m.: Ole Miss at No. 23 St. John’s, Peacock
Ole Miss has struggled this season, with Chris Beard calling out his team’s effort in a home loss to Miami. It won’t be easier going on the road to the Garden to face Rick Pitino in an 8 p.m. tip-off.
Sunday, 5:00 p.m.: Georgetown at No. 16 North Carolina, ESPN
This is a game that the Hoyas badly need to win, but they will be shorthanded as Vince Iwuchukwu is not expected to play.
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