College basketball tips off tonight and I can barely hold back my excitement. There is no better sport than college basketball and this year is loaded with champion caliber teams. The Big Ten is loaded and finally has a chance to win the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and my beloved alma mater, Illinois, is finally back in the preseason top 25. I haven’t been this excited since the Dee Brown/Deron Williams days… I hope they don’t blow it like the football team. I will preview the Illini team in another post, but for now I just want to make note of several marquee games this year so you can all save the date.
December 1 Michigan St at UNC – I think the Big Ten actually has a shot at the ACC/Big Ten challenge this year, which makes this match up even more crucial than ever. Both teams are ranked in the top 5 and this could be a potential Final 4 preview. I can’t wait to see these perennial powerhouses go at it; it could be an instant classic.
December 5 UNC at Kentucky – I love this Kentucky team because it is so young and has so much potential and it is exactly like every Calipari team… straight thugs that love to run and gun and, surprisingly, play defense. I can’t wait to watch them mature throughout the year and if they can stay together long enough, which is highly unlikely, then they’ll win a national championship sometime in the next few years to come.
December 6 Kansas at UCLA – First real test for the top ranked Jayhawks, that is because I don’t think Memphis will be able to compete without Calipari. Kansas is everybody’s preseason pick to win it all, again, and I don’t see many obstacles along the way. I want to see what all the hype about Freshman phenom Xavier Henry is all about, and I have a feeling this will be the only year we’ll see him in a Jayhawk’s Jersey.
December 19 UNC vs. Texas – I love it that Texas did not go soft in the schedule, but instead they have it laden with tough match ups with potential championship caliber teams. This is a dream game that I would have never imagined other than in the finals, but now it’s only a month away!
December 9 Kentucky at UCONN – This is a tough game for Kentucky that comes only 4 days after they play UNC at home. Will such a young team be able to handle their emotions for 2 prime time games in such a short period? Just another step in the maturation process.
December 22 Texas vs. Michigan St – This is the year for the Big Ten to prove they can compete with the big boys and this is a statement game for us. Texas is loaded with talent and if Michigan St. can gut out a victory, it will put the Big Ten back on top.
January 2 Kentucky vs. Louisville – Patino vs. Calipari, battle of the Italian stallions for Italian supremacy. I’m not sure which will better, that talent on the court or both coach’s hair in this game… I know my friend Pete can’t wait to see these guys duke it out.
January 16 Michigan St at Illinois – This is the chance for the young Illini team to prove themselves against the perennial powerhouse of the Big 10. There’s no doubt that IL will be up and coming with ridiculous recruiting classes for years to come, so I can’t wait to watch the freshman class mature before our eyes in this game.
January 19 Purdue at Illinois – Another big game for the young Illini team, only 3 days after their big match up against MSU. Both are at home, where the Illini play good ball, so I’m eager to see if the young squad can keep up their emotions for back to back games.
January 23 Texas at UCONN – I love UCONN because they are so well coached by Jim Calhoun that they make every game worth watchinig. Although they no longer have the big gorilla, Thabeet, in the middle… they’re still a very talented squad with senior leadership. I’m picking them as one of my pre season sleepers so this is their chance to show off on the national stage.
February 8 Kansas at Texas – This is my preseason pick for the national championship game and we’re lucky enough to get a preview in early February! These could be the two deepest teams in the NCAA and both feature explosive freshman that will surely be the difference makers. This is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and there’s no way it will disappoint.
February 10 UNC vs. Duke – Does this even need any explanation? The best rivalry in sports… only 8 miles separate these schools which means always a ruckus crowd. The only person more excited for this game is Dick Vitale, who I think has a hard on for every Duke player that has ever lived. I swear, he nuts his pants every time he broadcasts a Dukie game.
February 10 Syracuse at UCONN – Whenever these teams play, it’s a battle for the ages. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us this year, especially following their classic 6 OT game last year that is still one of the best games I’ve ever watched.
February 27 Purdue at Michigan St – One day after my birthday, I can’t wait to watch this match up that will most likely decide the winner of the Big 10 conference.
Of course these are not the only big games of the season, but they are just a few that stand out to me right now. These are pivotal match ups that will be a preview of what’s to come next March. Mark these dates on your calendar, because you don’t want to miss these games. I know I won’t.
More college basketball previews and predictions coming soon…. I can’t believe it’s finally starting!!
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