The only thing (ONLY thing) good about the brutal winter weeks of January and February are the televised conference showdowns on display each and every weeknight that we all get to wind down with. We’re not fully there, but Michigan State/Wisconsin Tuesday night is a monster step in the right direction.
No. 10 Michigan State at No. 18 Wisconsin Highlights Tuesday’s College Hoops Slate
We’ve officially reached the new year, which means the time for weeknight conference showdowns is upon us.
Here’s your full television lineup:
Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State (6:30/Big Ten Network)
The Big Ten Network is like the local Fox affiliate that starts its evening news at 4 or 4:30. I see exactly what you’re doing here, I’m not sure if I’m OK with it, and yes, I’m probably going to watch with dinner until the other games start.
No. 10 Michigan State at No. 18 Wisconsin (7:00/ESPN2)
The Spartans are 13-0 since losing to Duke and North Carolina to begin the season, but none of those wins have come on the road. On top of that, Michigan State hasn’t won in Madison in more than a decade and its last three losses at the Kohl Center all were by at least 15 points. The Badgers, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from an ugly home loss to Iowa on New Year’s Eve.
No. 11 Louisville at St. John’s (7:00/ESPNU)
It was a rough end of 2011 for Louisville, which started off Big East play with a home loss to Georgetown and then fell by seven to hated rival Kentucky three days later. The Cards will look to right the ship tonight against a young St. John’s team that has been playing much better in recent weeks.
UAB at No. 13 Florida (7:00/Fox Sports)
It’s the final non-conference game of the season for Florida, which has still yet to taste defeat at home. UAB began the season 2-7 but has since reeled off three straight wins.
No. 8 Connecticut at Seton Hall (7:00/SNY/MASN)
The Pirates were crushed last week by Syracuse, but still own a surprisingly impressive 8-0 home record to go with an overall mark of 12-2. Much of the reason for that has been the play of big man Herb Pope, who's averaging 18.6 points and 10.9 rebounds in his senior season. UConn freshman center Andre Drummond caused a bit of a stir earlier this week when he said that he didn't know who Pope was, but later clarified on Twitter by saying he hadn't seen Seton Hall play at all and thus didn't know who any of the Pirates were. If you like post battles, this will be a must-watch.
Oklahoma at No. 7 Missouri (8:00/FS Midwest)
The Tigers will put their undefeated mark on the line against Oklahoma in the Big 12 opener for both teams. The Sooners have quietly posted a 10-2 record with their only two coming at Cincinnati and to Saint Louis in a game played in Anaheim. Mizzou has won the last five meetings in this series.
Alabama at Georgia Tech (9:00/ESPNU)
The Crimson Tide are 0-2 on the road this season, but Georgia Tech is reeling after back-to-back embarrassing losses at the hands of Mercer and Fordham. It would seem like a quality loss on paper because of the weight the Tech program still carries, but this is a game ‘Bama can’t afford to lose heading into SEC play.
SMU at Ole Miss (9:00/Fox Sports)
The young Rebels have lost three-straight non-conference games for the first time in head coach Andy Kennedy's six-year run with the program. Ole Miss will again be without Murphy Holloway - the SEC's third-leading rebounder - who will miss a second consecutive game because of a high-ankle sprain.
Wyoming at Utah Valley (9:00/FCS Pacific)
If you hear that it’s like a one-point game with ten seconds left and there’s nothing else on TV, now you’ll know that this is an option. You’re welcome.
See More:
