Game of the Week
Ohio State vs North Carolina (Chicago, Illinois)
Most OSU fans would agree that they haven’t beaten anybody in their 8-1 start. All eight games have come in Columbus and the one loss was not only their best competition but also on the road. Of the teams ranked in the top 15 (OSU is 12th), they might have the most unknowns about them. Playing in Chicago won’t be a true road game, but at least it will give them another crack at staying in a hotel away from the creature comforts of home. As for UNC, no one would confuse them with Louisville, but they are a ranked team and athletic. They cannot shoot worth a lick, but their raw athleticism and size still make them a tough out. This game should give us a better idea about who the real Ohio Stat team is.
Saturday, 1 / noon, CBS
Monday / Tuesday – No Games
Wednesday Slate
Best Game – Michigan Stat vs Eastern Michigan, 9 / 8, BTN – The EMU Eagles are a MAC league contender and living up to that billing in an 8-1 start. Included in their victories was the upset in Ann Arbor. They are giving up just 55.9 ppg, good for 17th in the nation, while MSU is scoring 76.3, good for 50th. If this turn into a game like the one in Ann Arbor (UM scored 42 points) then the upstart Eagles have a shot.
Illinois vs Hampton, 7 / 6, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – Illinois’ hot start has been chilled completely with back-to-back losses and three losses in four games. They get a good opportunity to work out the issues that have plagued them the last few weeks against a 4-5 minor conference foe.
Northwestern vs Central Michigan, 8 / 7, No TV – The Chips are 6-1 but haven’t played anybody. NU is 6-3 but is pretty shaky looking. As a point of comparison against Miami (OH), a fellow MAC team for CMU, Northwestern won just 55-46. NU’s level of talent means that any team that limits turnovers and fouls, plays good defense, and shoots a respectable percentage can knock them off. Could be an opportunity for a huge win for the CMU program.
Ohio State vs North Carolina A&T, 7 / 6, BTN – The Aggies are just 1-10 on the season. Should be a simple tune up before the North Carolina game.
Thursday – No Games
Friday Docket
Minnesota vs Seattle U, 8 / 7, BTN – The 4-5 Redhakws are a recent addition to the D-1 ranks, returning in 2009. The basketball rich school is a ways off from the glory days of the 1950s when they played Kentucky in a title game but if Gonzaga can be a national player, there is no reason why Seattle U can’t be on too down the line…just not in Minneapolis Friday night.
Saturday Schedule
Best Game – OSU vs UNC (see above)
Indiana vs Butler (Indianapolis), 2:30 / 1:30, Fox Sports 1 – Other than the absurdity of the game being in Butler’s home city but it being classified as a neutral site with IU “hosting,” I love this matchup. Butler is the real deal again at 8-2. Their only losses are to a good Oklahoma team and on the road against a nice Tennessee club. This is countered by wins against UNC and Georgetown. IU is 8-2 but unable to crack the polls yet (20 point losses to Louisville will do that) but have knocked off Pitt and SMU. This will be a great game.
Illinois vs Missouri, 2 / 1, ESPN2 / WatchESPN app – This fun rivalry has a bit of the bite taken out for this season. Missouri has limped to a 5-5 mark so far with a new coaching staff. Worse, their losses haven’t even been close. 19 to Arizona, 21 to Purdue, 19 to Oklahoma and 16 to Xavier. Only the 8 point loss to UMKC was within 10 but that raises the question, why are you losing to UMKC? Illinois has a chance for a real confidence-booster if they go 2-0 this week and hammer a weak Mizzou club.
Iowa vs Northern Iowa (Des Moines), 7:30 / 6:30, BTN – UNI missed a chance to have their best start in school history at 10-0 but lost in a double overtime thriller at VCU. Their best player, Seth Tuttle, was a no show in that one and they still could have won it. UNI is a deep team, a well coached team and fairly experienced team. I’m not sure any of those three complements can be paid to the Hawkeyes. Iowa is the large team, but they took no benefit from that fact in the waxing by Iowa State. Feels like UNI will be able to run circles around Iowa.
Michigan vs SMU, noon / 11, ESPN 2 / WatchESPN app – Neither team expected to have 3 and 4 losses at this point but this is where they sit. SMU has faced three tough teams (Gonzaga, Indiana, Arkansas) and came up empty handed despite two of the three being tight games. Michigan lost a tight one to Villanova early on but after a 6-1 start they have dropped three in a row to NJIT, EMU and a spanking at Arizona. It feels like hyperbole to say that this game in December will affect an at-large resume, but it isn’t. Neither has a very good non-conference win and they way they are playing, neither will win their league. If they both enter March with about 20 wins, then this head-to-head could sway the committee.
Michigan State vs Texas Southern, 5 / 4, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – Tx So is 1-7 on the year…so, um, good luck boys.
Northwestern vs Western Michigan, 3 / 2, BTN – Basically everything I said about the NU-CMU game applies a few days later against Western.
Penn State vs Drexel, 2 / 1, No TV – Did you know PSU is 10-1? They haven’t played anyone yet and at 2-6 Drexel will be some more cannon fodder, but the Lions are gaining experience and confidence. Very fun under-the-radar good story for an often beleaguered basketball program.
Purdue vs Notre Dame (Indianapolis), 5:15 / 4:15, BTN – A fun little even with the four big Indiana schools this weekend. Purdue is 8-3 but they are a pretty up-and-down club with no signature wins. The Irish are 10-1 and nationally ranked. Irish should be able to win with relative ease.
Rutgers vs St. Francis (PA), 2 / 1. No TV – RU has been miserable to watch in this 6-4 start but 4-4 Red Flash are downright terrible. Rutgers should be able to win this one…should.
Sunday Showdown
Maryland at Oklahoma State, 2 / 1, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – The Pokes are 8-1 but haven’t played anybody and their one loss was an ugly 75-49 beat down by the hands of…South Carolina!? Still, Gallagher-Iba Arena is never an easy trip. This should be a good road test for the Terps since they do not have a true road game under their belt yet this season.
Big Ten and Counting 