Saturday Roundup

As usual, Saturday is the best day for college basketball this week as we get some really important games taking place. And for the first time maybe all season, none of the two or three most important games are taking place in the Big East today.

This biggest game of the day is being played all the way out in Washington as the Huskies (14-4, 5-1) host UCLA (15-3, 5-1). Would you have predicted that on January 24th, Washington would be hosting the Bruins with a chance to earn sole possession of first place in the Pac-10? I sure didn't. The Huskies match-up pretty well personal-wise with the Bruins. Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon should be able to hang with Darren Collison and Josh Shipp. U-dub has a little more athleticism on the wings, but their advantage is going to come in the paint. UCLA doesn't have anyone that can match-up with Jon Brockman under the rim. Brockman struggled a bit with the length and athleticism of USC on Thursday, but UCLA doesn't have that same length. Expect a big day out of the big fella.

For Washington, they obviously need to keep Collison in front, keep Josh Shipp from getting good looks, etc. But more importantly right now, they need to get a hand up on Nikola Dragovic. Since being moved into the starting line-up five games ago, he has been on a tear. He is averaging 14.0 ppg while shooting 17-36 from three during that span. Collison and Shipp are going to get their's, but the Huskies need to limit scoring from the Bruin role player if they want to win.

As much as I like U-dub this year, I think UCLA gets this one. The Bruins are more experienced, especially in their back court (Shipp and Collison have gone to three Final Fours - can you get anymore experience) and know how to win. Case in point - Collison taking over the Washington State game down the stretch and leading a struggling UCLA team to the win. I also think Washington is a little bit too reckless offensively, and I see UCLA's defense taking advantage of that.

There are three other games with a lot of significance today as well:

• 3:30 PM: Memphis (15-3) @ Tennessee (12-5): Today's game doesn't have quite the same mystique as last year's match-up did, when it was #1 vs. #2. But that doesn't downplay the significance of this game. Both of these teams have struggled a bit this season after losing so much to the NBA/graduation. This game is going to turn into an offensive struggle a defensive battle, as both teams play good pressure defense and neither team is balanced offensively. It's going to come down to two things - who wins the rebounding battle and who can force turnovers. More directly, Tennessee needs to keep Memphis off of the defensive glass and force the Tigers perimeter players into turnovers and tough shots if they want to win. I think Tennessee does, and gets the W at home.
• 4:00 PM: Baylor (15-3, 3-1) @ Oklahoma (18-1, 4-0): It's time to see what the Bears are really made of!! I have been on the Baylor bandwagon all season, and it is time to see if they are as good as I've been preaching. These two teams are polar opposites, really. Oklahoma has an excellent front line made up of the Brothers Griffin, but their back court play has been inconsistent. Baylor has a loaded back court that goes four deep, but their front line is their question mark. If the Bears want to win this thing, they need to slow down Blake Griffin. Baylor does have some size inside in Kevin Rogers, Quincy Acy, and Mamadou Diene, and those three guy are probably going to need to use all 15 of their fouls in beating up on Griffin. The other thing I think Baylor needs to do is get OU tired. The Sooners are essentially just six deep. If the Bears can get out and run the floor while keeping the clock moving (fouls, travels, and other whistles stop the clock and allow the Sooners to catch their breath), I think they have a shot at this thing, especially since they have a very similar make-up to the Arkansas team that gave OU their only loss. I think Baylor springs the upset and moves into a first place tie in the league.
  
• 7:00 PM: UConn (17-1, 6-1) @ Notre Dame (12-5, 3-3): Notre Dame really needs this win as they have fallen to the middle of the pack in the Big East after losing two straight to Louisville and Syracuse. The Irish are going to have their hands full on the interior with the size of UConn's front line. But that mismatch works the other way as well. All three of the Irish front court players are perimeter oriented and can step out and knock down a jumper or put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. The Huskies big men are not the best perimeter defenders. I would imagine that Hasheem Thabeet would have to cover Luke Harangody, which should mean that 'Gody will have to spend a lot of time away from the basket shooting jumpers. The key for UConn is going to be their defense. They are so much more athletic than the Irish, and in order to win they need to impose their will and make ND uncomfortable with the ball. The Irish are basically a jump shooting team, and if the Huskies can get ND to have an off-night, they have a much better shot of snapping that Joyce Center win streak. I don't think they do it - ND wins.
  

The rest of the night's action, broke down by conference:

Big East:

• 12:00 PM: Villanova (14-4, 2-3) @ South Florida (7-11, 2-4): USF has been a tough out so far in the Big East - losing by 3 to WVU, 5 to Syracuse, and 13 (much closer than that) to Pitt. If Villanova isn't ready to play, they could be the team to actually get upset.
  
• 2:00 PM: DePaul (8-11, 0-6) @ Marquette (16-2, 5-0)
• 7:00 PM: Rutgers (9-10, 0-6) @ St. John's (10-8, 1-5)
  

Big Ten:

• 4:00 PM: Wisconsin (12-6, 3-3) @ Illinois (16-3, 4-2): Illinois's experienced back court should not be bothered by the defense of Wisconsin.
• 6:00 PM: Iowa (12-7, 2-4) @ Penn State (15-5, 4-3): The Nittany Lions have been on a roll this year. This is one of those "must-win" games in conference play.
• 8:00 PM: Northwestern (10-6, 2-4) @ Michigan (13-6, 3-4): Michigan has been struggling of late while Northwestern has been playing much better. The Wolverines really need this win to get back on track.
  

SEC:

• 1:05 PM: Auburn (11-7, 1-3) @ Arkansas (12-4, 0-3)
• 3:00 PM: Kentucky (15-4, 4-0) @ Alabama (12-6, 2-2): Really good chance for Alabama to get their season headed back in the right direction.
  
• 6:00 PM: Mississippi State (13-6, 3-1) @ Georgia (9-9, 0-3)
• 8:00 PM: Xavier (16-2) @ LSU (15-3): LSU is still looking for a signature win this season. The Tigers are undefeated this season at home, but Xavier is an experienced, well-coached team. It should be fun to see Tasmin Mitchell go up against Derrick Brown.
• 8:00 PM: Mississippi (10-8, 1-3) @ South Carolina (12-4, 2-2)
  

Big XII:

• 1:30 PM: Texas Tech (11-7, 1-3) @ Missouri (16-3, 3-1): This game has a chance to reach the 100's as both teams love to play an uptempo style and score a lot of points.
  
• 2:00 PM: Kansas (14-4, 3-0) @ Iowa State (12-6, 1-2): Craig Brackins is one of the best players you've never seen play. This one's on ESPN, so if you get a chance be sure to tune in.
  
• 4:00 PM: Oklahoma State (12-5, 1-2) @ Nebraska (12-5, 2-2): This game pits two teams that play very contrasting styles - Nebraska is a defensive team in the mold of Washington State while Oklahoma State likes to run more and shoot three's.
  
• 6:00 PM: Kansas State (11-7, 0-4) @ Colorado (8-9, 0-3): Does anyone care?
  
• 8:00 PM: Texas A&M (15-4, 1-3) @ Texas (13-4, 2-1): The Aggies are looking to get back on track after falling to 1-3 in the league. Texas has struggled a bit of late, but blew out Texas Tech when they moved Justin Mason off the ball and used Dogus Balbay and AJ Abrams more at the point.
  

ACC:

• 12:00 PM: Maryland (13-5, 2-2) @ Duke (17-1, 4-0): Maryland always plays Duke tough, but I just don't see the Terps having enough this year. Greivis Vazquez is a good player, but he does not strike me as the kind of kid that is going to lead his team to victory against the hated rival Dookies.
• 2:00 PM: NC State (10-6, 1-3) @ Boston College (14-6, 2-3): Tyrese Rice should have a field day against the weak back court of the Wolfpack.
• 4:00 PM: Florida State (15-4, 2-2) @ Virginia (7-8, 1-3): If Florida State is serious about making an NCAA tournament run this year (which they are more than talented enough for), then they need to take care of games like this. The Seminoles are bigger, more athletic, and just plain better than UVA. It may be on the road, but road wins in conference are the games that prove your merit as an at-large.
  

Pac-10:

• 6:00 PM: Houston (12-4) @ Arizona (11-8)
• 6:00 PM: Oregon (6-13, 0-7) @ Cal (15-4, 4-2): Cal has to win this game. Getting swept at home by the Oregon schools would be devastating for their Pac-10 and NCAA hopes.
• 6:00 PM: USC (12-6, 3-3) @ Washington State (11-7, 3-3): Both teams badly need this win. I think USC is going to struggle against Washington State, especially if Dwight Lewis doesn't play. When you go up against a good defensive team, a talented PG is so important. Daniel Hackett isn't the answer.
  
• 10:00 PM: Oregon State (7-10, 2-5) @ Stanford (13-3, 3-3): The Beavers have proven that you have to come ready to play against them.
  

Everyone else:

• 12:00 PM: Niagara (14-5, 5-2) @ Siena (14-5, 8-0)
• 2:00 PM: UW-Milwaukee (12-7, 7-2) @ Butler (17-1, 8-0)
• 2:00 PM: NJIT (1-18) @ Longwood (9-10): NJIT just broke a 51 game losing streak. Is two in a row too much to ask?
• 4:00 PM: Utah (12-6, 3-1) @ UNLV (15-4, 3-2)
• 4:00 PM: George Mason (14-4, 7-1) @ VCU (14-5, 7-1): Huge game in the CAA for first place in the league.
• 7:00 PM: Northeastern (12-6, 7-1) @ Old Dominion (11-7, 4-4): GMU and VCU will be keeping an eye on this one as well.
• 7:00 PM: Wofford (7-8, 3-3) @ Davidson (15-3, 8-0)
• 8:00 PM: Gonzaga (13-4, 4-0) @ Loyola Marymount (1-19, 0-4)
• 9:00 PM: San Diego State (13-4, 3-1) @ BYU (14-4, 2-2)
• 12:05 AM: Utah State (18-1, 6-0) @ Hawaii (9-9, 1-5)