5 things to watch this week
Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009 11:22 PM
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5 things to watch
West Virginia’s primed for what could be its biggest season since Jerry West took the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA title game. If Devin Ebanks is around, that is.
Ebanks, a 6-9 sophomore, is the team’s best defensive player and top rebounder, but was held out of the team’s opener against Loyola (Md.) because coach Bob Huggins said the forward had some “personal issues to work through.” He declined further comment.
West Virginia doesn’t play again until it plays the Citadel on Nov. 24, which gives Ebanks plenty of time to work through those issues. Until his situation is resolved, here are five more stories to watch this week.
Ed Reinke/AP |
John Wall is the nation's top freshman.
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Let the hype begin!
Two heralded freshmen make their debuts Monday: Kentucky’s John Wall and Cincinnati’s Lance Stephenson. Expect fireworks from both.
Wall sat out the Wildcats’ opener on Friday, which let fellow freshman Eric Bledsoe show off his quickness, but his seven turnovers dampened it a bit. That won’t happen with Wall. Not that UK coach John Calipari plans to force the issue. He’s using both when he can, whenever it suits the ‘Cats.
"If you have your two guys, who are your best two players, you figure out how to play them together," Calipari says. "That is what we'll try to do. The greatest thing is they'll have to figure out more than I do."
Stephenson has a similar situation at Cincy, where senior Deonta Vaughn is the established scoring presence and team leader. But Stephenson, a 6-6 guard, is going to be spectacular and will have th ball plenty. Whether that pair is good enough to push the Bearcats into the Top 25 is another story.
Break out a Red Bull (or 3)
ESPN’s 24-hour hoops marathon kicks off Tuesday at Midnight with UCLA vs. Cal-State Fullerton and continues throughout Tuesday. It’s a true test of your hoops-watching ability. (Complete schedule is here.)
After all, how many people are going to be awake for the 4 a.m. ET matchup between Northern Colorado and Hawaii? (Not counting the folks at Rush the Court, who are live blogging the whole thing. That can’t be healthy…)
The highest-profile games are the primetime matchups: Kansas vs. Memphis (10 p.m., ESPN), Gonzaga vs. Michigan State (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Arkansas vs. Louisville (7:30 p.m., ESPN2).
But the one you shouldn’t overlook is Northeastern vs. Siena (Noon, ESPN). The Saints are in our Top 25, while Northeastern has perhaps the best player you’ve never heard of, Matt Janning. It’s a lock to be the Mid-Majority’s “Game! Of! The Night!”
Watch the right Carolina on Thursday
Ignore the Dolphins-Panthers NFL game. Why try to find NFL Network when North Carolina and Ohio State will be playing on ESPN2?
The Heels (3-0) are primed for an upset, too. They’re coming off an 88-77 win over Valparaiso, but blew most of a 24-point lead in the process. They’re young and commit a lot of turnovers. It all worries coach Roy Williams.
"We have no chance in New York if we play this kind of basketball," Williams said Sunday.
Ohio State has all-everything Evan Turner, solid role players and a center in Dallas Lauderdale whose health is improving every day. I’m thinking the Heels are headed for a fall.
The lead-in – Syracuse vs. Cal – doesn’t have the same cachet, but it’s a good chance to East Coasters to see just how fast Bears PG Jerome Randle is. Orange fans will think Jonny Flynn went back to college.
Every game matters
Seton Hall beat St. Peter’s by a bucket. Two days later – and with Jeremy Hazell solving his scoring issues – the Pirates walloped Monmouth. So what’s in store for them Friday at Cornell? The Big Red opened their season with a win at Alabama and are seeking their third straight Ivy League title this year.
Can Penn State get by Robert Morris on Monday? Sure, the Colonials got smacked over the head by Syracuse in their opener, but they return three starters from last season’s NEC champs and shouldn’t be a pushover. If the Nittany Lions expect to jump from the NIT to the NCAAs this season, games like this are key.
Northwestern doesn’t have forward Kevin Coble for its big matchup Wednesday against Butler. The Bulldogs beat Davidson Saturday in what proved to be a bigger test than most would’ve expected. Northwestern isn’t one of the Big Ten’s top teams, but they do have NCAA tournament aspirations.
Nevada bragging rights at stake
OK, it’s not a national story. Doesn’t mean it’s not a great game.
Both teams warmed up for it with cupcakes. Behind forward Luke Babbitt (26 points) the Wolf Pack trounced Montana State. The Rebs handled D-II Pittsburgh State. Wednesday’s game is the start of several résumé-building matchups for a couple of teams trying to return to the big dance.
Surely the state can place at least one squad in the NCAAs…
Follow me on Twitter (@BeyndArcMMiller) and get more college basketball news at NBCSports.com.
