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FRIDAY, DEC 23rd
-AUBURN AT UCONN (game in Hartford). Auburn comes in at 9-2 and needs really needs to do better than they did the last time they faced a team from New England. If they want to make the NCAA Tournament then winning on the road against non-tournament teams is what they need to be able to do.
-PROVIDENCE AT BOSTON COLLEGE. This is an old Big East rivalry that probably doesn’t burn as hot as it used to. Providence has been a bit of a surprise this year. They come into this game at 10-2, but still don’t have a true road win on their profile. BC is a much more modest 6-6 and so far hasn’t looked like the kind of team that is postseason bound.
-NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT WEST VIRGINIA. This is practically a buy game, but it technically isn’t. It’s part of a four year home-and-home deal that the two schools have. And, with NKU being much improved and coming into this game at 10-3, it’s a chance for them to do something that will make them nationally relevant. It’s a long shot because WVU is an excellent team, but it’s still a great opportunity for a Norse team that, by UTR standards, really shouldn’t be ignored.
-RUTGERS AT SETON HALL. This is an old Big East rivalry that is now an OOC rivalry. Both teams come in with bloated records. Seton Hall actually has some wins of note to go along with it where most of Rutgers wins have come against fluff. Having said that, Rutgers needed a bit of fluffing given the state of their program. If they can win this game, it could be a huge turning point for the Scarlet Knights. It will be much easier said than done, though.
-GEORGIA AT OAKLAND. Georgia could use a notable road win, and although Oakland is an Under the Radar team, this would still go down as a notable road win.
-ARKANSAS STATE AT MINNESOTA. Arkansas State had a chance to pick up a nice win against Alabama the other night, and just came out flat. Going to Minnesota is a tougher assignment, but if they were to pick this up it would really boost their NCAA Tournament profile. Arkansas State has a win at Georgetown, but they can’t just hold serve and coast the rest of the way. They need a win like this on their resume if they want to be able to make the NCAA Tournament without the automatic bid.
-SAN FRANCISCO VS ILLINOIS STATE (Diamondhead Classic). Both teams won their first game easily yesterday, and come into this with quite a bit of momentum as well as a need to build up their resumes. Neither appear to be inside the bubble as of yet, but both are on our radars and have the ability and opportunity to play their way into the picture.
-WYOMING VS USC (Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic). Wyoming has a bloated record. If they can win this game, they’ll have a bloated record with some meat on it and suddenly be nationally relevant. USC is unbeaten, in the rankings, and looking to remain that way.
-VMI AT DAYTON. Buy game.
-HARVARD AT HOUSTON. Buy game.
-FLORIDA A&M AT WISCONSIN. Buy game.
SATURDAY, DEC 24th
-UTAH AT HAWAI’I (Diamondhead Classic). This game tips off after midnight throughout most of the United States!! I’m saying it’s on Dec 24th! We DO have basketball on Dec 24th! It’s not a very meaningful game, but it’s the most meaningful thing that’s happening that day!
-The Longhorn Network is also rerunning the Kansas v Texas game from the 1999-2000 season.
SUNDAY, DEC 25th
-The final round of the Diamondhead Classic is being played today. Most of the games don’t carry any real weight and aren’t worth highlighting. The biggest game in the bracket is probably Friday night’s game between San Francisco and Illinois State. If the winner of that can hold serve against either Tulsa or San Diego State they will have added three neutral floor wins to their profile and built up some momentum going forward.
MONDAY, DEC 26th
-MORGAN STATE AT LMU. Yunno, I don’t know why this game is being played today and none others. But, the two teams have the college basketball stage all to themselves!
-We are switching into holiday mode (or at least I am) until next Tuesday. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday Season and is able to enjoy whatever it is they plan on doing. If it’s a big family gathering that you’re looking forward to, then I hope you enjoy it! If’ it’s big family gathering that you’re dreading, then I hope you survive it and that the shattering of emotions is held to a minimum. Remember, the Diamondhead games are going on all throughout Christmas Day, so if you want something to do as you run and hide you can turn those on and hit us up on Twitter! If you’re by yourself, then I hope you’re at least able to enjoy the down time and destress. And, again, the Diamondhead games are on, so you can turn those on and hit us up on Twitter! If you’re having to work, then you must be really important in some capacity and I hope they’re at least paying you time-and-a-half.
-Big Ten and American play tip off on Tuesday, and we will be back then to highlight that.