Through New Year’s Day, most of the focus in the college sports world will fall on football — that’s just the way it is.
Yet, a lot of important college basketball will be played until the turn of the calendar year. League play will start for the power-conference teams in the final week of December. On Saturday, Jan. 2 — when college football should have chosen to stage its two semifinals — college hoops will become the primary object of attention for many fans across the country. Some will watch a bunch of third-tier bowl games, but in terms of importance, roundball will rise as soon as Jan. 1 ends.
What do you, as a college football fan moderately interested in basketball, need to know about in the early portion of the hoops season? We’re here to help with a concise viewer’s guide.
Ryan Palencer joins me in pointing you to the highlights of the next seven weeks:
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EARLY-SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
RYAN PALENCER
Biggest November Game: Kentucky-Duke
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 ET, ESPN
Anytime Duke and Kentucky clash, it’s must-see TV. A game that features two of the last four national champions adds a lot of excitement this early in the season. This matchup allows us to salivate more than a week before tucking into that Thanksgiving feast. Coach K has now adopted the John Calipari strategy of talented one-and-done players, making the matchup even more intriguing.
Biggest December game: Maryland-North Carolina
Tuesday, Dec. 1, Approx. 9:40 ET, ESPN (after Virginia-Ohio State, which could run long)
In a matchup of two of the top teams in the nation, Maryland and North Carolina will form the main event of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. This could easily be a preview of a Final Four contest. Marcus Paige (if he’s healthy by then) going against Melo Trimble will provide a compelling “game inside the game,” as both could certainly become two of the top scorers in the country.
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MATT ZEMEK
Early-Season Tournament Primer
There are three things you need to know about the early-season tournaments, in terms of potential matchups worth setting aside time to watch.
1) MAUI INVITATIONAL: Kansas could play Vanderbilt or Indiana in the final.
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
2) 2K CLASSIC: Duke could play Wisconsin or Georgetown in the final.
Sunday, Nov. 22, approx. 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
3) WOODEN LEGACY: Arizona could play Michigan State in the final.
Friday, Nov. 29, approx. 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
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Three sneaky-good matchups — not the Dukes or Kentuckys or Kansases, but very good teams worth paying attention to:
1) Utah at Wichita State — Saturday, Dec. 12, 3:30 ET, ESPN2
2) Dayton at Vanderbilt — Wednesday, Dec. 9, 9 ET, ESPNU
3) Davidson at California — Monday, Dec. 28, 9 ET, Pac-12 Network
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You have one day in December to watch college basketball. Which one should it be?
Maryland-North Carolina on Dec. 1 is certainly a main draw, as is the Big Ten-ACC Challenge in general (on the first few days of December).
However, if you want to pick one day and one day only for college basketball in December — setting aside college football for a 15-hour viewing block — make it Saturday, December 19.
Here’s what you’ll get on Dec. 19 — all times Eastern
* Utah-Duke, noon, ESPN
* Villanova-Virginia, noon, ESPN2
* North Carolina-UCLA, 1 p.m., CBS
* Indiana-Notre Dame, 2 p.m., ESPN2
* Kentucky-Ohio State, 3:30, CBS
* Cincinnati-VCU, 4, CBS Sports Network
* Butler-Purdue, 5, Big Ten Network
* Northern Iowa-Iowa State, 7, ESPNU
* Baylor-Texas A&M, 9, ESPNU
* UNLV-Arizona, 9:30, ESPN2
* Tennessee-Gonzaga, 11, ESPNU
* Texas-Stanford, 11:30, ESPN2
How will the at-large board look in late February and early March? December 19 will help shape that answer, more than most days in December.
Enjoy the season!
