The college basketball season is about to move through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This means holiday tournaments in various places, including the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament held in the Bahamas. There are a number of tournament games on Thursday, Friday and Sunday which could be extremely entertaining and significant, assuming that the ranked teams don’t get upset in their quarterfinal and semifinal games, but since those matchups aren’t official yet, we can’t put them on the definitive list of top games for this week. Nevertheless, there are certainly some interesting games on the docket in the coming days.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Wednesday
This is a tournament game. The results of the semifinals of the Maui Invitational went final late Tuesday night, allowing for this game to be actualized, and not merely projected or hoped for. Wisconsin beat Tennessee in the quarterfinals and Georgetown in the semifinals. The win over Georgetown was actually more emphatic than the triumph over Tennessee. The Badgers destroyed Georgetown on the glass with their power and positioning. Wisconsin players are very rarely if ever caught in the wrong place on the court. That will come in handy against Wednesday’s opponent.
North Carolina breezed by Chaminade in the quarterfinals and then walloped Oklahoma State in the semifinals. Playing Chaminade (not a Division I team) enabled North Carolina to rest its starters and pace them for this tournament. That lack of extra strain showed up in the semis against Oklahoma State, as North Carolina took a 13-point halftime lead and quickly built it to 27 a few minutes into the second half. Oklahoma State cut the lead to 18, but North Carolina quickly rebuilt it to 25 and then 30 points in a laugher. The Tar Heels run the floor extremely well, but that will be tested by Wisconsin’s commitment to slower halfcourt basketball. Tempo will be a big factor here.
College Basketball Pick: North Carolina
Michigan State Spartans vs. St. John’s Storm
Wednesday
This is a first-round game in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Michigan State lost to the Arizona Wildcats and the Kentucky Wildcats and needs a signature win before too long to boost its resume. This is not such a game, but if Michigan State wins, it should play Louisville in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals, which would give them a chance to notch a big result. The game matters for St. John’s because it’s a chance for second-year coach Chris Mullin to test his team and – with a win – perhaps turn the corner as a program.
College Basketball Pick: Michigan State
Seton Hall Pirates vs. Florida Gators
Thursday
These teams could both be on the bubble on Selection Sunday. The Seton Hall Pirates figure to make the tournament this season, while the Florida Gators are a little less certain, but both teams could get a very valuable resume win if they can pull through here. The quality of competition will also enable coaches Kevin Willard of SHU and Michael White of Florida to better understand their rosters and what they truly have at their disposal.
College Basketball Pick: Florida
Virginia Cavaliers at Iowa Hawkeyes
Friday
This is a case of a top team going on the road to play a major-conference opponent. The Virginia Cavaliers are a better team than Iowa, but road campus games in the early part of the season are an invitation to disaster. Virginia is taking a big risk here, and Iowa hopes it can take advantage and get the kind of win which the committee will take note of in March. The Hawkeyes could set the right tone for their season here, so look for them to come away with the win.
College Basketball Pick: Iowa
SMU Mustangs at USC Trojans
Friday
The SMU Mustangs would have made the NCAA Tournament last season if not for NCAA violations. USC did make the NCAA Tournament after an absence of several years. Both teams expect to make the tournament this season, but a win over the other would provide needed leverage. SMU has already bagged a good win over Pittsburgh. USC doesn’t yet have a high-value win, so this would be a great place for the Trojans to start.
College Basketball Pick: USC
