5 college basketball games I’ve gotta see: Big 12, big passion and big opportunities

Get ready to find out what men’s college basketball means in Middle America.

It’s different when you roll through flyover country.

Big 12 basketball hysteria puts to shame anything the Pac-12 could reliably generate. Cincinnati? West Virginia? Iowa State? … Kansas?!

Arizona and Arizona State fans have no idea what they’re in for as they enter their first season in the Big 12: week-in, week-out passion for a sport that was passé in the Pac — even though it boasted powerhouse programs such as UCLA and Arizona.

To give you a sense of it, KU fans trace their roots to James Naismith. Naismith, the guy who invented the sport with a soccer ball and a couple of peach baskets, taught the sport to Phog Allen. Allen coached at Kansas, and from there, the Jayhawks have boasted the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Pierce and Joel Embiid.

With that, here are five games on the college basketball calendar that I’m eager to see:

No. 10 UA at No. 1 KU, March 8

It’s the last game of the regular season, showing that schedule makers know something about suspense.

UA basketball has the tradition and success to compete with anything the Big 12 brings. The Wildcats won’t be scared of the Mountaineers, the Bearcats or the Powercats (the name of K-State’s logo.)

This game has road trip written all over it. You haven’t seen college basketball until you’ve seen it through the Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

While we’re waiting for this one, however, Arizona Wildcats fans can warm up with No. 7 Duke on Nov. 22 and No. 22 UCLA on Dec. 14.

No. 8 Baylor at No. 5 Iowa State, Jan. 4

Here’s a top-10 matchup with something of a local connection. Baylor coach Scott Drew is the older brother of Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew. (The Hurleys aren’t the only siblings in the men’s college coaching ranks.)

This is one to watch on TV with family. It’s set for CBS, and it’s perfectly timed as a break from college football, which will be in the thick of playoff season.

Keep your eyes on bangin’ Baylor big…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-college-basketball-games-ive-140026983.html

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2024-11-09 14:00:00

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