While college football dominates many Saturdays, this Saturday, college basketball takes center stage. This weekend’s college basketball games are perfect for relaxing in front of the TV.
Here’s a rundown of some of the matchups set to take place this weekend in college basketball:
Tennessee is led by Chaz Lanier, who is averaging 19.1 points per game and is a major reason for the team’s high ranking. He is recognized as their most natural scorer. Lanier burst onto the scene during his senior year at North Florida, and he’s poised to improve further as SEC play begins for Tennessee. He ranks among the best pure scorers in college basketball.
If Tennessee hopes to secure a win against Illinois, they will require Lanier to perform at his best and maintain focus.
It’s mid-December, and no game is bigger for Illinois than facing the No. 1 team at home to enhance their resume.
Gonzaga takes another trip this week, this time to Madison Square Garden to take on the Uconn Huskies in a major tilt early in the season. Gonzaga is coming off a loss in Seattle where they suffered an overtime defeat against Kentucky.
Gonzaga has shown early in the season that they are the real deal, scoring wins over prominent teams like Baylor, SDSU, Arizona State, and Indiana. The team is led by Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike, a true frontcourt weapon for Mark Few.
Additionally, former Arkansas guard Khalif Battle has settled nicely into Few’s offense, while Nolan Hickman has also played a significant role in their success.
A win over the defending national champs UConn will play a significant role in determining where this Gonzaga team can go later in the season. Gonzaga needs a bounce-back game, especially with the loss from Kentucky still weighing on their minds. This should be one of the most exciting matchups to watch this weekend.
Creighton vs. Alabama has become quite the rivalry in college basketball. Creighton has been on quite an up-and-down season so far at 7-3, experiencing setbacks with losses against Nebraska and San Diego State, but they recently pulled off a stunning upset against then No. 1 Kansas at home.
As for Alabama, it’s been a mix of pure fun and entertainment. They’ve faced a tough non-conference schedule, with losses to Purdue and Oregon but also notable wins against Houston, Illinois, and North Carolina. Now, they have another opportunity to secure a solid win at home on Saturday night against Creighton. Both teams have been hit hard by injuries early in the season.
Creighton lost Pop Isaacs for the remainder of the season, while Alabama also had to deal with the loss of Latrell Wrightsell Jr. How each team responds to these challenges remains to be seen. Regardless, both squads still possess the talent to make strong runs in the conference and tournaments ahead—should be an exciting game!
Buckle up and strap in. This weekend should be a fun one. For once, college basketball will take the stage instead of college football.
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