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Weekend Preview: Saturday is the best slate of games this season

Marcus Smart

FILE - This Nov. 28, 2013, file photo shows Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart (33) putting up a three-pointer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue at the Old Spice Classic tournament in Kissimmee, Fla. Two months into the season, it hasn’t been all about the freshman. Yes, some have lived up to the billing, but many of the players who’ve had the biggest impact so far are ones who have been around for a while.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Phelan M. Ebenhack

Andrew Wiggins Marcus Smart

AP photos

GAME OF THE WEEKEND: No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 15 Kansas, 4:00 p.m.

This is going to be a doozy. Let’s start with the obvious: Oklahoma State and Kansas are the two best teams in the Big 12. And while the preseason luster of Marcus Smart vs. Andrew Wiggins (who, at the time, were considered the two favorites to win National Player of the Year) has faded a bit, there is still a bit of animosity there. Marcus Smart called out this year’s freshmen class in the preseason. He also infamously did a back-flip after the Pokes knocked off Kansas in Stillwater last year. Add in the intrigue of Bill Self being a graduate of Oklahoma State and, well, you have your pick of storylines heading into this one.

The basketball should be just as intriguing, although I think that Oklahoma State is going to have some trouble with Kansas for one reason: Joel Embiid. He may actually have the highest ceiling of any prospect in this draft class, and as a 7-footer with a low-post game, he is going to give an Oklahoma State team lacking in post front court depth problems. Travis Ford is really going to feel the loss of Michael Cobbins on Saturday.

THE OTHER GAME OF THE WEEKEND: No. 22 Pittsburgh at No. 2 Syracuse, Sat. 4:00 p.m.

Since having one intriguing game on the docket at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday isn’t enough, why don’t we just go ahead and have the two best teams in the ACC square off at the same time as well. That’s right, I said the “two best teams in the ACC”. Pitt and Syracuse, longtime Big East rivals, are now taking over Tobacco Road. Part of me loves this, part of it breaks my Big East-born-and-raised heart, but what I know for certain is that this matchup doesn’t have any shortage of storylines, either.

As far as the actual game is concerned, I think Pitt actually matches up fairly well with the Orange. Lamar Patterson is the prototype for high-post zone busters given his size and skill, James Robinson isn’t going to be flustered by Syracuse’s length and ability to force turnovers, and the Panthers can get to the offensive glass against the zone. But playing without Durand Johnson, one of their better perimeter shooters, is going to hurt.

FIVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:


  • Tennessee at No. 13 Kentucky, Sat. 12:00 p.m.: Kentucky isn’t going to have a chance to pick up too many quality wins in the SEC this season, and given their mediocre resume to date and a loss to Arkansas this week, they cannot afford to lose to a Tennessee team that is, quite frankly, desperate.
  • No. 25 Oklahoma at No. 12 Baylor, Sat. 2:00 p.m.: Oklahoma has a ton of perimeter talent but they don’t have much front court depth. Baylor has a loaded front line. Neither team plays any defense, and both have a number of highlight reel dunkers. Fundamentals may go out the window, but it will be fun.
  • Indiana State at No. 5 Wichita State, Sat. 4:00 p.m.: If the Shockers are going to lose to anyone in Missouri Valley play, it’s probably going to be Indiana State and Jake Odum, who already own a win at Notre Dame this season.
  • Michigan at No. 3 Wisconsin, Sat. 6:00 p.m.: Wisconsin might be a bit overrated at this point, while Michigan, sans Mitch McGary, looks like they are finally finding their stride.
  • No. 18 Louisville at UConn, Sat. 9:00 p.m.: It’s ironic, really. UConn and Louisville are incredibly similar. They both have an all-american lead guard, a talented-but-enigmatic back court mate, an inconsistent wing forward and a front line that could use some depth. Shabazz Napier vs. Russ Smith is going to be must-see TV.

WHO’S ON UPSET ALERT?


  • N.C. State at No. 23 Duke, Sat. 2:00 p.m.: Duke struggles defending quick, penetrating guards. N.C. State has Cat Barber and Tyler Lewis, not to mention one of the best scorers in the country in T.J. Warren.
  • No. 8 Iowa State at Texas, Sat. 4:00 p.m.: Iowa State is a team that is notorious for struggling in road games. Texas may not be a tournament team this year, but they are nowhere near as bad as was originally thought.
  • UNLV at No. 10 San Diego State, Sat. 6:05 p.m.: UNLV is talented and desperate for a big win. They have the size to matchup with SDSU, and if DeVille Smith, Bryce Dejean-Jones and Kevin Olekaibe play like they did Wednesday, the Runnin’ Rebels are dangerous.
  • No. 16 UMass at Elon, Sat. 7:00 p.m.: Elon is the best team in the SoCon, coming off of a win at Davidson on Thursday. UMass is talented and 15-1, but they’ve had a tendency to start slow and struggle to beat teams they’re better than of late.
  • No. 4 Michigan State at Illinois, Sat. 8:00 p.m.: Are the Spartans healthy? Because if they aren’t, they could lose to anyone. And for all of Illinois’ issues this season, they have two talented guards and they can get after it defensively.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

1) There are going to be three good games on the NBC Sports Network this weekend. There will be a double-header on Saturday, with George Mason heading to Rhode Island (12:30 p.m.) and Fordham visiting No. 24 Saint Louis (2:30 p.m.). On Sunday, there will be a CAA battle as Towson heads to Charleston at 3:30 p.m.

2) The Big Ten is going to churn out awesome matchups on a daily basis this season, and Minnesota at No. 14 Iowa at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday falls into that category. The Gophers looked great beating Ohio State at home. Road trips are a different story.

3) Doug McDermott continues his initiation into the Big East as No. 20 Creighton makes the trip to Providence on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

4) Florida State heads to Virginia at noon on Saturday in a game that will have some real implications in the ACC standings. Both the ‘Noles and the ‘Hoos are sitting at 3-1 in ACC play..

5) A pair of SEC teams with unblemished league records hit the road on Saturday: Texas A&M at Mississippi State, Sat. 1:30 p.m., and No. 7 Florida at Auburn, Sat. 4:00 p.m.

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