Packed weekend: Arizona-Purdue, UConn-Gonzaga and Bronny strikes the roadway

• Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff WriterDec 15, 2023, 09:00 AM ET Close Covers college basketball

• Joined ESPN.com in 2011
• Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

It’s never ever simple for college basketball to get the proper attention it should have throughout the December sports slate.Some coaches have even recommended moving the season so that it begins in January and ends later on in the year. Why? Because college football, the NFL and the NBA tend to mask everything that takes place at the end of every calendar year.But the best method to shine some light on college basketball is to provide individuals captivating matches before conference play hits the next gear.Which is why we’re grateful to the coaches, athletic directors and basketball operations folks who’ve continued to offer NCAA tournament-like matches before Christmas.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Arizona vs. Purdue in Indianapolis on Saturday might be the sneak peek of a Final Four match. Kentucky and North Carolina– the supreme blue bloods– will fight in Atlanta, and the winner will secure a victory that will matter on Choice Sunday. On The Other Hand, Dan Hurley and UConn will face another national title contender a week before league play begins in the Big East, one of the top conferences in America.Bronny James & Co. will strike the road versus Auburn on Sunday. USC’s internet ranking(86 )suggests Andy Enfield’s group is an afterthought for the selection committee today. Michigan State comprehends. Entering a game against Baylor this weekend, Tom Izzo is coaching a team that is on pace to miss out on the NCAA competition for the first time because 1997. Yeah, the NFL is strong. The NBA is rolling, and the college football championship game will begin soon.But have a look at this weekend’s slate. College basketball is attempting to show that it deserves seeing, too.All odds from ESPN BET. play 0:20 Donovan Clingan gets the block and container on the other end Donovan Clingan gets the block and pail on the other end

No. 5 UConn (9-1)vs. No. 10 Gonzaga( 8-2)Friday, 10 p.m. ET, Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off, Seattle, ESPN2 The Big East features three top-10 teams

. But even understanding the upcoming arduous Big East schedule didn’t stop Dan Hurley from creating an onslaught of a nonconference schedule. Friday’s game against Gonzaga will be UConn’s 3rd game against a top-10 challenger … this month. However the Huskies may not have to worry. They’ve connected on 64.2 %of their shots inside the arc, No. 1 in the country. Donovan Clingan also leads a defense that’s held challengers to a 40.7%clip inside the arc.Since 2012, Mark Few’s Gonzaga groups have actually stopped working to connect on a minimum of 37 %of their 3-point efforts in a season simply once. This year’s squad, led by 6-foot-9 forward Graham Ike, is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Those shooting woes could be the distinction here.Medcalf’s pick: UConn 83-78; Versus the spread: Unavailable at time of publication play 0:18 RayJ Dennis gets it done on both sides of the ball for Baylor RayJ Dennis steals the rock and lays in an excellent basket for the Bears. Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, Detroit, Fox When his team struggled against Duke in the Champions Classic last month, Tom Izzo stated he wasn’t concerned about their offensive challenges since the Spartans were taking excellent shots. Eventually, they would begin to fall, he stated. But the Spartans have actually linked on

simply 29.5% of their 3-point efforts up until now.

Tyson Walker has been their only reputable scorer. And with five losses in nine games, they’re desperate for a signature win.Enter undefeated Baylor, a group that led the nation with a 46.1 %clip from 3. RayJ Dennis, the former Toledo star who won MAC player of the year last season, has been one of the more impactful transfers in America.Should Baylor win? Yes. However Tom Izzo’s team hasn’t been this desperate in years– don’t count them out just yet.Medcalf’s choice: Baylor 80-73; Versus the spread: Not available sometimes of publication play 0:15 Pj Hall with the huge stuff at the rim Pj Hall with the huge stuff at the rim

Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN Plus Brad Brownell is a yearly inclusion on

every preseason hot spot list. It always feels like the Clemson head coach is battling for his task. When his team missed out on the NCAA competition for the second year in a row in 2022-23, the buzz about his future heightened. But Brownell flourishes in these moments. His team is presently undefeated and boasts a top-15 web ranking. PJ Hall, the Tigers ‘6-10 huge man, is one the most dominant

forces in the country.But transfers David Jones and Jahvon Quinerly integrated to score 53 points in Memphis ’81-75 win over ranked Texas A&M on the roadway. That duo is forming into one of the most potent in the country. In the win, the Tigers’defense on potential All-American Wade Taylor IV– restricting him to simply nine points– was equally impressive.Medcalf’s pick: Memphis 77-72; Versus the spread: Not available at time of publication play 0:35 Oumar Ballo’s block establishes the Caleb Love 3 Arizona goes up 18 as Oumar Ballo knocks the AJ Storr layup, resulting in the Caleb Love 3-pointer. No. 1 Arizona (8-0)vs. No. 3 Purdue( 9-1, 1-1 Big 10)Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, Indianapolis, Peacock Caleb Love’s continuous development as the leader of the very best team in America is an

important advancement entering this game. The previous North Carolina star has actually made 55 %of his shots inside the arc. He’s linked on 38% of his 3-point attempts in

his past two games. His speed assists Arizona play at a top-five

tempo.Top stories of the week from Get unique access to countless premium posts a year from top writers. – Lowe: Draymond’s altering tradition “- Premier League title winner? My guess …” – NFL: Newest update to Kiper’s Big Board”More ESPN +content”The Wildcats will attempt to interrupt Purdue

and Zach Edey the way every opponent has so far. They will play fast, extend the flooring(they have actually connected on 39%of their 3-point efforts this season )and hope they can put Edey in a protective bind.But Edey is likewise quicker this season. He lost 10 pounds during the offseason. Purdue is also 7-0 in games that featured 75 possessions or more. So the concept that challengers
can simply skate past the 7-4 reigning Wood Award winner in a quick game is more conceptual

than factual. It’s not clear how to stop Edey & Co. But Arizona is developed for the task.Medcalf’s choice: Arizona 86-82 Against the spread: Unavailable sometimes of publication play 0:16 Reed Sheppard with the and-1 bucket Reed Sheppard with the and-1 pail Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Classic, Atlanta, CBS The depth on both sides will be essential in this one.In his group’s 81-66 win at Penn on

Saturday, a game that included some unanticipated turbulence for the

Wildcats, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham

came off the bench for John Calipari. There’s a lot of debate about Kentucky’s starting line and whether those 2 freshmen are worthy of

breaking it, however the analytics show that, more than anything, they can provide Kentucky a trigger Calipari hasn’t had in years. Per EvanMiya.com, Kentucky has actually balanced 116.1 points per 100 ownerships and held challengers under 84 points per 100 ownerships when both are on the floor.With the return of Armando Bacot, Hubert Davis has actually made a team that’s ranked seventh in adjusted offending effectiveness on KenPom, a year after the Tar Heels completed 51st. UNC’s beginning 5 is an explosive offending unit that signed up 100 points in a win over Tennessee last month. However Davis has actually not yet found consistency off the bench.

That group has actually integrated to score simply 16 points over the previous two games. That might be the distinction here.Medcalf’s choice: Kentucky 87-83 Against the spread: Unavailable at time of publication play 0:21 Bronny James protects chasedown block much like his daddy Bronny James does his finest impression of his father, LeBron, with a chasedown block for the USC Trojans. Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN The hype around

Bronny James ‘very first collegiate game Sunday did not lead to a

win. Sure, the buzz may have led to a psychological game for the Trojans in their very first home loss to Long Beach State since 1987,

and now it’s time to address the continuous problems. The group devoted turnovers on 23 %of its possessions. Kobe Johnson had five and Isaiah Collier, the projected No. 1 choice per ESPN’s newest NBA mock draft, had 3. It’s also not a terrific 3-point shooting team, and it has actually quit 173 points over the past 2 games. More than anything, in his very first road game, James must get the opportunity to showcase his defensive tools. That’s most likely where he’s most ready to assist right now.Auburn, meanwhile, intends to reinforce its résumé with a win and actually play to its potential. The same team that scored 104 points in a triumph over Indiana on Saturday has actually likewise lost a road game to Appalachian State. But first-class hire Aden Holloway(24 points versus the Hoosiers)looked comfy in that game and should pose

a hazard Sunday.Medcalf’s pick: Auburn 82-76; Against the spread: Unavailable at time of publication SEASON overalls Medcalf’s picks directly: 14-5 Versus the spread: 9-10