The college basketball season involves a final flurry of activity this week before activity slows down on Sunday, Dec. 23, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Conference play will begin on the days after Christmas, so this is a final set of chances for teams to test themselves in non-conference play.
Buffalo Bulls at Syracuse Orange
Tuesday, December 18
This is a game between two top-25 teams. The Bulls defeated West Virginia earlier in the season and have played very efficient and confident basketball. Buffalo has four players who average double-figure scoring totals per game. The balance of the Bulls is why they won their first nine games of the season. Syracuse isn’t unbeaten, but the Orange did well to beat Georgetown on Dec. 8 after falling behind by 13 points in the first half. Tyus Battle has been sensational for Syracuse this season. He carried the team on his back in the second-half comeback win against Georgetown. He will be a load for the Bulls to handle in this game of New York State-based teams on Tuesday in the Carrier Dome.
UCLA Bruins at Cincinnati Bearcats
Wednesday, December 21
The Pac-12 hasn’t had a lot of big non-conference wins this season. UCLA will have a chance to get one in the state of Ohio this week. The Bruins survived a test from Notre Dame on Dec. 8, but that game was at home. Cincinnati, one of the favorites, along with Houston in the American Athletic Conference, should be a tougher test than Notre Dame, and this game is on the road for UCLA. The Bruins need something to boost their NCAA Tournament resume before they get into Pac-12 play. The Pac-12 might not offer a lot of opportunities for teams to register quality wins and improve their outlook for March Madness.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Duke Blue Devils
Thursday, December 20
This game is in Madison Square Garden in New York, and it is a game worthy of that famous arena. These two teams are in the top 15 of the country. Texas Tech has been excellent in regrouping after losing a number of players from last year’s team, especially NBA players Zhaire Smith and Keenan Evans. Chris Beard is showing that he is one of the best head coaches in the country. He will take his Texas Tech team into New York against Mike Krzyzewski and Duke’s army of elite freshmen, led by Zion Williamson. This game will have a tournament feel before the two teams go their separate ways. They both made the Elite Eight last season
Kentucky Wildcats vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Saturday, December 22
These two teams have been roughed up in non-conference play. They can both use a big win to improve their March prospects before Christmas. These teams are both young and unproven with a lot of pieces that don’t quite fit into their respective rosters. John Calipari and Roy Williams are trying to figure out which lineup combinations work. They have struggled to find the right rotations and starting fives in the first six weeks of the season.
Kansas Jayhawks at Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday, December 22
Last year, Arizona State won on Kansas’s home floor. Now the Jayhawks go to Tempe, Arizona, in the second half of this home-and-home series. Arizona State defeated Mississippi State, but lost to Nevada and could not secure other chances for critical non-conference wins. This game could eventually mean the difference between ASU making or missing the NCAA Tournament in a few months.
