Apologies for the lame start to Rivalry Week. I was involved in a fairly nasty wreck this morning and the resulting fun has occupied most of the day.
Long story short: Kristin Cavalier is dead, I'm super sore, and the uninsured driver who blew through a stop sign on Vine Street has tainted my Winter Break just a tad.
Ob-La-Di.
Minnesota at Wisconsin (7:00/ESPN2)
Basketball you have to appreciate, but can never really enjoy. The Pianist of Division 1 hoops.
DePaul at Cincinnati (7:00/ESPNU)
A rematch of the classic 9/16 2009 Big East Tournament opener. I'm joking. Boot DePaul.
Coppin State at Basketball Academy of Lexington (7:00/FSN)
A final tune-up for BAL before the season-finale against their in-state arch-rival on Dec. 31. After that, the Academy turns its attention to its real season, which begins in late May.
Albany at Xavier (7:00/FS Ohio)
A cool story this week as Albany's head coach offered Xavier's leading scorer Mark Lyons, who was snowed in while visiting his home in New York, a ride on the team bus back to Cincinnati.
South Florida at Seton Hall (7:00/Big East Network/SNY/MASN)
The downside to conference play starting is that these games are starting too.
North Carolina vs. Rutgers (9:00/ESPN2)
This is your night, ACC fans. Get all your chest-thumping out before the new year.
Providence at Syracuse (9:00/ESPNU)
Bryce Cotton is practically 1/5 Cardinal, which means Providence has a significantly better chance of pulling this upset than the rest of the nation realizes.
Pepperdine at Alabama (9:00/CSS)
Yuck.
Long Beach State at UC-Santa Barbara (11:00/ESPNU)
The Big West and my sleep timer begin their on-and-off three-month relationship.