Topic: CBB 1/7 - 1/13
Conference play begins in earnest for just about every school this week. Here's your checklist. All times Eastern.
Tuesday
Bradley at S. Illinois, 7pm (ESPNU) - The top two voted on by the media to pace the MVC. Southern Illinois has struggled OOC and now needs to save face in conference or their string of NCAA appearances will end. Bradley already has two MVC losses and has also put themselves behind the eight-ball.
Georgetown at Depaul, 9pm (ESPNU) - Depaul was bad OOC, but came into Big East play with a big win over a ranked Villanova team. Georgetown needs to assert itself as the beast of the east. Depaul starts conference play with a rare three straight home games.
Wednesday
Rhode Island at Dayton, 7pm (CSTV) - A late addition to the CSTV schedule as it will be televised locally in Dayton and may be the biggest home game the Flyers have had in a few year as both teams come in ranked.
Arizona at Arizona St., 9:30pm (FSN Arizona) - Arizona St. is much improved while UA keeps rolling under Kevin O'Neill. The PAC-10 still does it right, the only major conference that has a true home-home, round-robin schedule.
Thursday
Washington St. at USC, 11pm (FSN HD) - OJ Mayo's national FSN debut vs. the #4 team in the country. OJ is no doubt one-n-done, but Tim Floyd will have USC as an up-n-coming team the next few years.
Saturday
Washington St. at UCLA, 2:30pm (FSN HD) - Game of the week by far with two top five teams in the same conference. If you can get a viewing of WSU on Thursday, consider it a study break for the Cougars since that's likely your first impession of them. Here's their midterm against a Final Four team.
Arizona at Houston, 3pm (ESPN2) - Everyone is getting their digs at Kentucky this year, but this is another chance for the Cougars to make an impression on a national stage as they'll have limited opportunities in C-USA play.
