Can West Virginia pull down another big score? The Mountaineers have had one of the biggest variances in the Big 12 this year, as they’ve taken down Kansas, Arizona and Iowa State. They’ve also managed to lose to Kansas State and Arizona State, two of the weaker sides in the league.
It’s rare when you can say Gonzaga is seeking revenge. It’s even rarer when the Bulldogs are looking for revenge on a conference rival. But with Oregon State in the West Coast Conference now, the Bulldogs have a tougher slate than most years.
It’s the border battle between two of the SEC’s strongest programs, and Kentucky really finds itself needing a win. The Wildcats have dropped two in a row, and the SEC title is starting to look more like a pipe dream in Lexington.
This is a rematch Duke has waited 10 months for. It’s also one that has the potential to get ugly.
Four strikeouts on the road have done nothing to help Iowa’s cause. The Hawkeyes’ rout of Indiana now seems so long ago, especially with the Hoosiers proving they’re nothing special.
Is anyone going to be able to beat UCLA? The Bruins face their toughest road test in the Big Ten to date (although they’ve still got to go across town to USC) in Maryland, with the Terps holding a history of upsetting the apple cart in this league.
As usual, Houston is off to a fantastic start in league play. And just as commonly, the Cougars are getting no credit for it. Houston doesn’t have a single bad loss on its resume, taking overtime defeats to Alabama and San Diego State, along with a five-pointer against Auburn.
Take everything you know about Iowa from football season, flip it on its head, and you essentially have Iowa basketball. While the Hawkeyes are a three-hour sleeping pill on Saturdays in September, they hit the gas in a big way on the hardcourt.
If you’re not a fan of high-powered offenses like Maryland and Illinois, this is the game for you. Saint Mary’s can be a beautiful thing to watch, if you enjoy a team that runs its offense, sticks to its plans and seldom panics.