New Year's Basketball??? I Say a Big YES!!

I know most of you are looking forward to college football and the Bowl series over the next several days, however, I am salivating over the college hoops that is on tap during that time period.

Tonight 12/30:
Northwestern at Illinois -- we start with a little warm-up from the B10. I know what you are thinking Northwestern is the doormat of the B10, how can this be a good game. Not anymore friends, even without their start player, Kevin Coble, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury, this team is 10-1 and playing very good basketball. They have 3 players scoring in double figures, including Jr. guard Michael Thompson averaging 16.7 ppg. They have wins over Notre Dame, NC State and Stanford. Their only loss is was to #23 Butler. Illinois is a bit of a work-in-progress this year with two starting freshman, but have shown flashes of being a very good team in wins over Clemson and Vandy. Oh, and let's not forget that this is an in-state rivalry. I will take the Illini at home in a close game.

Tomorrow 12/31:
Now things start to really heat up...we start with
#15 Ohio State at Wisconsin 2PM ET -- The Buckeyes take their 10-2 record into the Kohl Center. Bo Ryan is a master at coaching up unknown guys into a formidable defensive juggernaut. Just ask Mike Krzyzewski, who took his #7 Duke team in there for the B10/ACC challenge and came away with an L. If the Buckeyes had Evan Turner back, I think they could steal this one, but without him I give the edge to Bo Ryan to find a way to win.

#14 Tennessee at Memphis 4PM ET -- Then we get the battle of Tennessee when the Volunteers travel down the road to Memphis for some BBQ and Blues. This game has been very entertaining the last several years. It may have lost a bit of its luster with the Calipari's exit from Memphis, but the Tigers have a good team that only lost by 2 to #1 Kansas earlier in the season. I look for this one to be competitive but if Tennessee can show a little offensive discipline, they should pull this one out.

Are we done yet...oh no my friend not by a longshot...next up
St John's at #13 Georgetown -- What looked like a blow-out prior to the season, has become a very intriguing match-up. The Red Storm are 10-2 including wins over #19 Temple and Georgia. They also played Duke fairly win losing by 9 at Cameron. I do think Georgetown will win this one at home but I am looking forward to seeing both of these teams play (for the first time this year).

We end the night out west...
Oklahoma at #22 Gonzaga -- No one can accuse the Zags of padding their schedule. They have played a monsterous schedule to a 9-3 record so far. They have wins over Wisconsin and Cincinnati and their three losses are very respectable including Mich State by 4, Wake Forest by 2 and Duke in a laugher. Oklahoma probably will not be in this one in the second half and I think the Zags will record another BCS conference win.

Surely, that is all...nay nay, I say... how about the grandaddy of them all on New Year's Day. Strap in for a battle of unbeateans...
#6 West Virginia @ #4 Purdue --- WOW. This should be a colossal battle. WVU would fit well in the smashmouth Big 10 and there will be some bumping going on in the paint in this one. WVU has a couple battleships down low in Da'Sean Butler and Kevin Jones. They weigh nearly 500 pounds combined. Purdue will counter with the finesse of Robbie Hummel and my pick for B10 player of the year JuJuan Johnson. Then, we have Devin Ebanks vs E'Twuan Moore. Wow, what more could you ask for. I guess Purdue has the slight edge with the homecourt advantage but either of these teams could win this game and either or both could end up in the Final Four next March. Sit back and enjoy this one!!!

Then of course on Saturday it is back to normal weekly college hoops. How about these plum weekend matchups:
(11-2) Pitt @ #5 (13-0) Syracuse 12PM ET -- Can Jamie Dixon hand Boeheim's surprising Orangemen their first loss? I don't think so in Syracuse, but crazier things have happened in college hoops.

#22 (9-3) Gonzaga vs. Illinois in Chicago 1PM ET -- On paper, you would give the Zags the edge this year. But Illinois has an unbelievable record playing in Chicago dating back to when the B10 tournament was played there. Anything can happen in this one.

(9-3) Louisville @ #3 (14-0) Kentucky 3:30PM ET -- Think the stakes aren't high in this in-state rivalry this year?!! Louisville is 9-3 and Pitino would love to steal Calipari's thunder and take this annual classic.

#1 (12-0)Kansas @ #19 (10-2) Temple 5:30PM ET -- I would bet Bill Self felt a lot better about this game when they were scheduling it this summer. Temple looks pretty good now with wins over Villanova, Seton Hall and Penn State. Their two losses were by a combined 8 points to Georgetown and St. Johns. You know Temple will work to keep this score in the 50s while Kansas will be shooting for the 70s.


It is going to be some holiday weekend for college hoops. Come do the dark side and forget about football -- strap in for some explosive hoops this weekend!!