The Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament was drawn up to pit No. 3 Louisville against No. 24 North Carolina in the final, and that’s exactly what is going to happen. The Cardinals downed Fairfield and the Tar Heels survived a test from Richmond in the semifinals on Saturday to reach the championship game.
College basketball schedule: Louisville vs. North Carolina highlights Sunday Top 25 action
The Hall of Fame Tip-Off concludes with a matchup between the defending National Champions and a North Carolina team with something to prove.
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
So with those two battling in Uncasville and other early-season tournaments continuing around the country, here’s a look at the full slate of Top 25 games on Sunday. All times Eastern:
No. 19 New Mexico vs. Davidson (Charleston Classic Third-place Game, noon, ESPNU)
The Lobos fell victim to Chaz Williams and UMass in the semifinals and will have to settle for the consolation game at the Charleston Classic. They'll face Davidson, which got clobbered by Clemson in the semifinals. The Wildcats' lone victory this season was over Georgia in the tournament's opening round. Davidson is led by De'Mon Brooks, who has put up almost 17 points per game so far this season.
No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 24 North Carolina (Hall of Fame Tip-Off Championship, 1 p.m., ESPN)
The game of the day tips off Sunday afternoon from Connecticut. North Carolina already needs a statement win after losing to Belmont last week and getting all it could handle from Holy Cross and Richmond. A loss could put the Tar Heels out of the Top 25, while a win would be a huge momentum boost with a tough stretch coming up. Meanwhile the Cardinals have not been challenged this year and will be facing their toughest test of the early season.
Georgetown vs. No. 10 Virginia Commonwealth (Puerto Rico Tip-Off Fifth-place Game, 2 p.m., ESPNU)
The fifth-place game features two more teams in need of a quality win early on. VCU was dismantled by Florida State in the first round in Puerto Rico while Georgetown was upset by Northeastern. Both the Rams and Hoyas rebounded with wins in the tournament's second day and will look to make it two in a row. Treveon Graham leads VCU in scoring and rebounding. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera has been the somewhat surprising leader for Georgetown, though Markel Starks isn't far behind.
Vermont vs. No. 6 Duke (6:30 p.m., ESPNU)
The Blue Devils probably won't struggle much on Sunday as they go for their fourth straight win. Duke has averaged 93 points per game, good for ninth in the country this season, behind Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood. They are each averaging over 20 points per game. Vermont, meanwhile, is one of the nation's worst scoring teams, putting up just 63 per game. Clancy Rugg's 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds lead the Catamounts.
Charlotte vs. No. 14 Michigan (Puerto Rico Tip-Off Championship, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2)
Charlotte might not be the championship opponent that Michigan expected heading into the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, but the 49ers do present a stiff test for the Wolverines. Charlotte defeated Kansas State, then a Northeastern team that had knocked off Georgetown, to reach the title game. The 49ers are balanced, but not very deep, with five players averaging double-figures and only eight players who have scored all season. Michigan lost to Iowa State last week but rebounded with a pair of wins to start this tournament. Nik Stauskas had 26 points in the Wolverine's overtime victory over Florida State in the semifinals.
San Francisco vs. No. 17 Oregon (8 p.m., PAC-12 Network)
The Ducks go for win No. 4 this season when they host the Dons in Eugene. Joseph Young has established himself as one of the best guards in the Pac-12 through Oregon's first three games. His 26.7 points per game put him 10th in the nation in scoring. San Francisco counters with a talented frontcourt, led by Kruize Pinkins and Mark Tollefsen. The Dons are 2-2, coming off a one-point win over Montana on Friday.
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