Saturday at roughly 2 p.m., Louisville's Rick Pitino is going to strut onto the Rupp Arena floor ... and at that moment nothing else in the college basketball universe will matter.
|
|
| Taquan Dean is leading the Cardinals with 20.5 ppg this season. (Getty Images) |
OK, fine. Read about your crummy 10 games.
Saturday
No. 4 Louisville at No. 23 Kentucky: Pitino returns to Rupp, and he brings the kind of talent stockpile -- minus the experience -- that led to his NCAA title in 1996 at Kentucky. Still, after Kentucky's 26-point loss last week to Indiana, Pitino might not be the most unpopular coach in the building. Wildcats 73, Cardinals 61
No. 14 UCLA at Michigan: This is a throwback game to a time when both programs were national giants. Both are on the way back, with a combined record of 14-1. If you like guards, you'll love Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo vs. Daniel Horton and Dion Harris. Bruins 68, Wolverines 61
No. 24 Arizona at Utah: This is a throwback game to a time when both programs weren't national giants. Arizona is out of control and barely watchable, while Utah has the discipline Arizona lacks ... but not the talent Arizona has in abundance. Pick: Talent.
Ohio State at Iowa State: One of these teams is definitely going to play in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Both teams? Maybe, but losing this game isn't advisable. Iowa State can't stop Ohio State center Terence Dials, but Iowa State might not have to. Dials might just stop himself. Rise and shine, Terence Dials. This is your wake-up call. Pick: Sleeping Beauty.
Tennessee at No. 6 Texas: The Longhorns must be seething after their 31-point loss to Duke, and this is their first chance to vent. Tennessee, meanwhile, is undefeated but has played five straight mid-majors. Note to Texas: Guard Chris Lofton better than you guarded J.J. Redick. Pick: Burnt orange.
Virginia Tech vs. Stanford: Stanford has already proven it can't win at home (lost to UC Irvine) or on the road (losses at Montana and UC Davis). Hey ... maybe Stanford can win on a neutral site, like this one in Las Vegas! We're not sure, because the Cardinal can't guard Virginia Tech's Zabian Dowdell or Jamon Gordon. Pick: Not Stanford.
New Mexico State at UTEP: How does first-year Aggies coach Reggie Theus feel about UTEP (and New Mexico) fans? Here's what he told the Albuquerque Tribune on Dec. 2: "To be perfectly honest, Albuquerque fans and El Paso fans are very cocky. Our guys are sitting around and waiting to smoosh them in the face. ... I run into UTEP fans and Lobo fans all the time, and I just laugh because I tell everyone the same thing: 'Just enjoy it now because it's going to be short-lived.'" Pick: UTEP fans.
Sunday
Davidson at Syracuse: A classic case of David(son) vs. Goliath, and a game David could win if it were played at home or on a neutral floor. For that matter, Davidson is good enough to win at Syracuse ... if Syracuse hadn't already used up its allotment of home-game letdowns. Pick: Goliath
Xavier at Creighton: Xavier is one of the best teams from the Atlantic 10. Creighton is one of the best from the Missouri Valley Conference. This game has "NCAA Tournament bubble" written all over it. Too bad Nate Funk's injured shoulder might keep him out. If he can't play, it'll be Xavier bringing the funk. Pick: X to the A to the V ....
Miami at No. 21 North Carolina State: The ACC's gelatinous mass in the middle continues to take shape in the league opener for both. Miami point guard Anthony Harris (foot) is back after missing all three of the Hurricanes' non-conference losses. Is he good enough to lead Miami past the Wolfpack? Probably, if the game were played in Miami. Let's see ... where is this game being played? Pick: Raleigh.
