Image Courtesy: UConn Athletics
December 1
6.Houston (7-0) @ Xavier (4-3) (Big 12/Big East Battle)
6:30 PM ET, FS1
Houston and Xavier must build up their nonconference resumés with wins before they play tough league schedules in the Big 12 and Big East, respectively. Baylor transfer LJ Cryer (15.8 points per game) has shined for Houston since transferring from the Bears. For Xavier, Desmond Claude leads the way averaging over 16 points and 3 assists. The Musketeers fell to Oakland in a buy game, 78-76, so they will be looking to bounce back from a loss. In what should be a great defensive battle, coaching decisions in game by Houston’s Kelvin Sampson and Xavier’s Sean Miller should play a huge part in this game. Projected Score: Houston 72, Xavier 63
4.Connecticut (6-0) @ 5.Kansas (5-1) (Big 12/Big East Battle)
9 PM ET, ESPN2
A battle of the last two national championship comes in the annual Big 12/Big East Battle between the reigning champs UConn and the 2022 champs Kansas. Both teams are putting themselves in great position for high seeds in the NCAA Tournament with difficult schedules. The Huskies won the Empire Classic with relative ease after wins over Indiana and Texas while Kansas has been battle tested and finished third in the Maui Invitational after wins over Chaminade and Tennessee but a loss to Marquette in the semifinals. If the Jayhawks can get star big man Hunter Dickinson (21.2 points, 12.7 rebounds a game) and two way star Kevin McCullar (18.2 points and 8 rebounds a game) going they will be hard to beat. However, they will be challenged by UConn, a team looking to win back to back national titles. Alex Karaban (16.8 points a game) and Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer (15.8 points a game) continue to lead the Huskies through a great season so far. They will be tested like they have not been this season against the Jayhawks on the road in Lawrence. Projected Score: Kansas 77, Connecticut 76
December 2
11.Gonzaga (5-1) vs. USC (4-2) (Las Vegas)
10 PM ET, ESPN
Both Gonzaga and USC need to get on a roll as they enter December with the Bulldogs’ fifth place finish in Maui and USC falling to Oklahoma in the finals in San Diego. USC must make up for their weaknesses inside against a strong Gonzaga front court with backcourt duo of senior Boogie Ellis (21.3 points and 3.6 assists per game) and freshman Isaiah Collier (18.2 points and 4 assists a game). Gonzaga forward Anton Watson has broken out this season, scoring almost 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. In addition to Watson, Creighton transfer guard Ryan Nembhard has been fantastic this season, scoring 11.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. A win for Gonzaga over the Trojans can vault them back into the AP top 10. Projected Score: Gonzaga 84, USC 77
December 5
13.Florida Atlantic (5-1) vs. 24.Illinois (5-1) (New York City) (Jimmy V Classic)
6:30 PM ET, ESPN
Florida Atlantic bounced back from their loss to mid-major Bryant with three wins in the ESPN Events Invitational. Russian native Vladislav Goldin (14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game) has led the Owls inside. Last season’s March Madness stars Johnell Davis (14.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game) and Alijah Martin (11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) have helped the Owls’ balanced attack offensively. Defensively, FAU gets stops when they need to get them. This will be very necessary when they have to deal with Terrence Shannon Jr. (19.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game) Illinois’ star. The Owls must rotate defensive match ups on him to make the Illini give the ball to others offensively, namely forward Dain Dainja (10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game) and guard Luke Goode (8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game). Having beaten Rutgers to open Big Ten play and with games against Tennessee and Missouri coming up, Illinois could use a win over the Owls. Projected Score: Florida Atlantic 73, Illinois 71
16.Texas (5-1) @ 3.Marquette (5-1) (Big 12/Big East Battle)
8 PM ET, FS1
Marquette can add to its great resumé that already has wins over Illinois, UCLA, Kansas with a loss to Purdue against Texas. The Golden Eagles’ trio of guards Kai Jones (16.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game), Tyler Kolek (13.5 points and 5.5 assists per game), and forward Oso Ighodaro (15 points and 7.3 rebounds a game) powers them to wins. It will be up Texas’ Kadin Shedrick (14.3 points and 4.8 rebounds a game) and Max Abmas (13.6 points and 3.8 assists per game) to counter the toughness of the Golden Eagles. It would be huge for the Longhorns to win this game after losing to Marquette’s Big East foe UConn in the Empire Classic final to strengthen themselves for March with a month until Big 12 play. Projected Score: Marquette 83, Texas 73
17.North Carolina (5-1) vs. 4.Connecticut (6-0) (New York City) (Jimmy V Classic)
9 PM ET, ESPN
The offense of North Carolina looks so much more balanced than it did a season ago when the Tar Heels were picked number one in the pre-season AP poll. Veteran guard RJ Davis, Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram, and injured Notre Dame transfer Cormac Ryan have supported star big man Armando Bacot, who struggled at times in games at the Battle 4 Atlantis. To continue to limit Bacot, center Husky guards Alex Karaban and Cam Spencer will look to match Tar Heel perimeter players while sophomore big man Donavan Clingan (12.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game) will look to play big. A win for the Tar Heels will continue their quality play with Kentucky coming up in the CBS Sports Classic before Christmas while UConn will look to either get their second straight win over an AP Top 25 team or bounce back after a loss to Kansas depending on that result. Projected Score: Connecticut 84, North Carolina 80
