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Myron Medcalf, ESPN writer
It’s never easy for college basketball to get the proper attention it deserves during the December sports slate.
Some coaches have even suggested moving the season so that it begins in January and ends later in the year. Why? Because college football, the NFL and the NBA tend to hide everything that happens at the end of each calendar year.
But the best way to shed some light on college basketball is to give people captivating games before collegiate play reaches the next level.
That’s why we’re grateful to the coaches, athletic directors and basketball operations staff who continue to deliver NCAA Tournament-like games before Christmas.
Arizona’s game against Purdue in Indianapolis on Saturday could be a preview of the Final Four. Kentucky and North Carolina — the two blue-blood teams — will square off in Atlanta, and the winner will secure a win that will be important in Selection Sunday. Meanwhile, Dan Hurley and UConn will face another national title contender a week before league play begins in the Big East, one of the top conferences in America.
Bronny James and company will hit the road against Auburn on Sunday. USC’s NET rating (86) suggests that Andy Enfield’s team is an afterthought for the selection committee at the moment. Michigan State understands. Entering a game against Baylor this weekend, Tom Izzo is coaching a team on pace to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997.
Yes, the NFL is strong. The NBA is rolling, and college football is starting soon.
But take a look at this weekend’s lineup. College basketball is trying to prove that it’s worth watching, too.
All odds from ESPN BET.
0:20
Donovan Clingan gets the block and the bucket on the other end
Donovan Clingan gets the block and the bucket on the other end
No. 5 UConn (9-1) vs. No. 10 Gonzaga (8-2)
Friday, 10 p.m. ET, Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off, Seattle, ESPN2
The Big East has three teams in the top 10. But even knowing the tough Big East schedule ahead didn’t stop Dan Hurley from creating a challenge for a non-conference schedule. Friday’s game against Gonzaga will be UConn’s third game against a top-10 opponent…this month. But the Huskies may not have to worry. They are hitting 64.2% of their shots inside the arc, which is No. 1 in the country. Donovan Clingan also leads the defense that has held opponents to 40.7% inside the arc.
Since 2012, Mark Few’s Gonzaga teams have failed to make at least 37% of their 3-point attempts in a season just once. This year’s team, led by 6-foot-9 forward Graham Icke, is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. These shooting issues could be the difference here.
Medcalf selection: Yukon 83-78; Anti-spread: Yukon (-3.5)
0:18
RayJ Dennis gets the job done on both sides of the ball for Baylor
RayJ Dennis steals the rock and makes a great basket for the Bears.
Saturday, 2 PM ET, Detroit, Fox
When his team struggled against Duke in the Tournament of Champions Classic last month, Tom Izzo said he wasn’t worried about the offensive challenges because the Spartans were shooting well. He said they would eventually start to fall. But the Spartans have connected on just 29.5% of their 3-point attempts so far. Tyson Walker was the only reliable scorer. With five defeats in nine matches, they are desperate for a special win.
Enter undefeated Baylor, a team that led the nation with 46.1% shooting from 3. RayJ Dennis, the former Toledo star who won MAC Player of the Year honors last season, was one of America’s most influential transfers.
Should Baylor win? Yes. But Tom Izzo’s team hasn’t been this desperate in years — don’t count them out yet.
Medcalf selection: Baylor 80-73; Anti-spread: Baylor (-3.5)
0:15
PJ hall with huge objects on the edge
PJ hall with huge objects on the edge
Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN Plus
Brad Brownell is annually included on every preseason hot seat list. It always feels like Clemson’s coach is struggling with his job. When his team missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year in 2022-23, the buzz around his future intensified. But Brownell thrives in these moments. His team is currently undefeated and boasts a top-15 net ranking. PJ Hall, the Tigers’ 6-10 big man, is one of the most dominant players in the country.
But conversions by David Jones and Javon Quinerly combined to score 53 points in Memphis’ 81-75 win over top-ranked Texas A&M on the road. This duo is shaping up to be one of the strongest duos in the country. In the win, the Tigers’ defense of All-American prospect Wade Taylor IV — holding him to just nine points — was equally impressive.
Medcalf selection: Memphis 77-72; Anti-spread: Memphis (-3.5)
0:35
Omar Ballou’s block is setting up Caleb Love 3
Arizona went up to 18 when Omar Ballou hit a layup from AJ Storr, leading to a Caleb Love 3-pointer.
No. 1 Arizona (8-0) vs. No. 3 Purdue (9-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, Indianapolis, Peacock
Caleb Love’s continued growth as the leader of the best team in America is an important development in this game. The former North Carolina star made 55% of his shots inside the arc. He’s made 38% of his 3-point attempts in the last two games. His speed helps Arizona play with a top-five pace.
The Wildcats will try to disrupt Purdue and Zach Edey the way every opponent has so far. They’ll play fast, stretch the floor (they’ve hit 39% of their 3-point attempts this season) and hope they can put Eddie in a pickle defensively.
But Eddie is also faster this season. He lost 10 pounds over the vacation. Purdue is also 7-0 in games that included 75 or more possessions. So the idea that opponents can overtake a jackpot winner 7-4 in a fast game is more conceptual than realistic. It is not clear how to stop Edey & Co. But Arizona is designed for this task.
Medcalf selection: Arizona 86-82 Anti-spread: Arizona (-1.5)
0:16
Red Shepard with bucket and-1
Red Shepard with bucket and-1
Saturday, 5:30 PM ET, CBS Sports Classic, Atlanta, CBS
Depth on both sides will be pivotal in this.
In his team’s 81-66 win over Penn on Saturday, a game that featured some unexpected upsets for the Wildcats, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham came off the bench in place of John Calipari. There’s a lot of debate about Kentucky’s starting line and whether these two freshmen deserve to break that streak, but analytics show that, more than anything else, they can give Kentucky a spark that Calipari hasn’t had in years. According to EvanMiya.com, Kentucky is averaging 116.1 points per 100 possessions and holding opponents to under 84 points per 100 possessions when both are on the floor.
With Armando Bacot back, Hubert Davis has crafted a team that ranks seventh in adjusted offensive efficiency on KenPom, a year after the Tar Heels ranked 51st. UNC’s starting five is an explosive offensive unit that scored 100 points in a win over Tennessee last month. But Davis has yet to find consistency on the bench. This group has combined to score just 16 points over the past two games. That might be the difference here.
Medcalf selection: Kentucky 87-83 Anti-spread: Kentucky (+1.5)
0:21
Bronny James secures the chase block just like his father
Bronny James does his best impression of his father, LeBron, by chasing down the USC Trojans.
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, on ESPN
The hype surrounding Bronny James’ first collegiate match on Sunday did not result in a win. Sure, the hype may have made for an emotional game for the Trojans in their first home loss to Long Beach State since 1987, but now is the time to address the ongoing issues. The team committed turnovers on 23% of its possessions. Kobe Johnson had five, and Isaiah Collier, the projected No. 1 pick in ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft, had three. They’re also not a great three-point shooting team, having given up 173 points over the past two games. More than anything, in his first game on the road, James should get a chance to showcase his defensive tools. Maybe this is where he’s more willing to help now.
Meanwhile, Auburn hopes to bolster its resume with a win and actually play to its full potential. The same team that scored 104 points in a win over Indiana on Saturday also lost a road game to Appalachian State. But five-star recruit Aden Holloway (24 points against the Hoosiers) looked comfortable in that game and should be a threat on Sunday.
Medcalf selection: Auburn 82-76; Anti-spread: Not available at time of publication
Season totals
Medcalf picks straight up: 14-5
Anti-spread: 9-10
College basketball fans have an exciting lineup to look forward to this week, with marquee matchups including Arizona facing off against Purdue and UConn taking on Gonzaga. Additionally, the Bronies, led by their star player, will be hitting the road for what promises to be an electrifying game. With so much action to keep an eye on, basketball enthusiasts will surely be in for a thrilling week of hoops.