The new-look UNC-Duke rivalry, battle for Huge 12, Mountain West,
This weekend’s slate of basketball games includes matchups that will have ramifications in conference races and NCAA competition seedings on Choice Sunday.But North Carolina and Duke, the highlight clash of the weekend, boast the premier competition in males’s college basketball. Their initial conference of the 2022-23 season will be the first time the two teams have played without Mike Krzyzewski or Dean Smith on the sidelines in more than 60 years. It’s a can’t-miss out on contest. Here are the games to enjoy this weekend, and why.
Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Yes, Carolina and Duke have actually missed out on preseason expectations thus far. The Tar Heels started the season as the No. 1 group in America prior to a rough stretch cost them their national ranking. They’ve regrouped in league play, and will go into Saturday with four wins in their previous 5 games. Duke, on the other hand, continues to battle the injury bug. Jeremy Roach, in 2015’s NCAA tournament hero, recently returned after being sidelined by a toe injury, and Dariq Whitehead, the No. 2 recruit in the 2022 class per ESPN, has missed six games this season with foot and leg injuries.Editor’s Picks
1 Associated While there are no guarantees Duke-North Carolina will remain college basketball’s biggest competition under Jon Scheyer and Hubert Davis, both coaches have attracted elite recruiting classes for the upcoming season. Regardless of their difficulties, whenever Duke and North Carolina play it’s pure home entertainment. Sure, boasting rights are most likely the greatest reward on Saturday for a set of teams wanting to earn at-large berths in the NCAA competition, however it’s still the most significant game of the weekend.Score forecast: Duke 75, North Carolina 72 Other games that matter
Friday, 9 p.m. ET, FS1
In his most current Bracketology, Joe Lunardi lists the Broncos among his last 4 byes. A win over the Aztecs– who have Matt Bradley averaging 13.2 PPG– would not just boost the résumé for Boise State, it would provide the Broncos sole possession of top place in the Mountain West title race.Score forecast: San Diego State 72, Boise State 67< img alt =""src ="
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Saturday, noon ET, ESPN In a match between Huge 12 title contenders, the Jayhawks have actually gotten better from a three-game losing streak with wins over Kentucky and Kansas State. However the Cyclones, who were on the incorrect end of the best second-half comeback in Huge 12 history in Monday’s loss to Texas Tech, have actually lost 4 of their previous six.Score forecast: Kansas 75, Iowa State 72
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN In their first nine SEC games, the Tigers played three top-50 KenPom teams. But a matchup at Tennessee– coming off a loss at the Florida Gators on Wednesday– is the start of a stretch that consists of 7 top-50 KenPom groups in the next 9 games.Score prediction
: Tennessee 70, Auburn 65
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN Among the greatest competitions in college basketball is also a matchup between leading Wood Award contenders. While it’s challenging to picture any player capturing Zach Edey (22.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 2.1 BPG), Trayce Jackson-Davis (19.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.1 BPG) is going for it.Score prediction: Purdue 82, Indiana 77
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2 When Chris Beard was detained on a felony domestic violence charge in December and consequently fired, it appeared the Longhorns’ capacity as a Last Four team would concern an end. However acting head coach Rodney Terry has actually led them to a first-place slot in the Big 12– which they will keep if the Longhorns can earn a win versus a strong Wildcats team on the road.Score prediction: Kansas State 76, Texas 72
Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN The Zags have won the WCC regular-season championship given that 2001, with the exception of 2012, when the Gaels took it instead. Aidan Mahaney (14.7 PPG, 43% from 3) and the Gaels could repeat that feat this season, particularly if they can hand Gonzaga another WCC loss on Saturday.Score prediction: Saint Mary’s 74, Gonzaga 71