Highlighted Games for Saturday, Dec 27th

NOTES

-George Washington had themselves a fantastic Christmas by winning the Diamondhead Classic, and picking up a huge win against Wichita State in the championship game.  The three wins away from home against Ohio, Colorado and Wichita drastically improves their profile.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES 

-KENTUCKY AT LOUISVILLE (Spotlight Game).  You start to get the sense that if Louisville doesn’t beat Kentucky than no one will.  Kentucky has played and beaten several ranked teams rather handily already, but this will likely be their biggest test of the year.  It’s a huge rivalry game between two unbeaten teams that are hoping to end up as #1 seeds.  Kentucky has won six of the last seven, including two wins in the NCAA Tournament, so as far as the rivalry goes Louisville may be feeling a little bit of pressure in regards to needing to catch up.  It should be a fun one.

-GEORGETOWN VS INDIANA.  These two are squaring off in Madison Square Garden.  Both look like tournament caliber teams, and both can add a notable win to their profile.

-GEORGIA STATE AT GREEN BAY.  This is the second meeting between these two with Georgia State winning the first in a blowout.  Both teams are good, but it will be very difficult for either to finish inside the bubble, so it’s a game both need to win if they want any chance of that happening.

-SANTA CLARA AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast).  It’s the conference opener.  SMC has played really well at times this year, but has also been inconsistent and needs a strong showing in league play to have any chance of making the field.

-GONZAGA AT BYU (West Coast).  It’s the league opener, and it features the two best teams.  BYU needs some notable wins to end up safely inside the bubble, and Gonzaga needs a big road win like this to help their case of being a #1 seed.

-COLORADO STATE AT NEW MEXICO STATE.  New Mexico State has had a rough start, but they are a tough team to beat at home, so it would end up being a somewhat notable win for Colorado State, who is looking to remain unbeaten.

-UAB AT NORTH CAROLINA.  It’s technically not a buy game, and UAB actually won last year’s meeting, but this game will seem like a buy game.

-MAINE AT SETON HALL.  Buy game.  The Pirates can improve to 10-2.

-UNC WILMINGTON AT MINNESOTA.  Buy game.

-OAKLAND AT MARYLAND.  Buy game.

-MERCER AT GEORGIA.  Buy game.

-WRIGHT STATE AT OHIO STATE.  Buy game.

-KENNESAW STATE AT ILLINOIS.  Buy game

-SOUTHERN UTAH AT UNLV.  Buy game

-SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN (nondiv1) AT SAN DIEGO STATE.  Buy game.