Preview Roundups
December 29, 2017
Louisville at Kentucky 1:00 PM ET
One of college basketball’s best rivalries adds another chapter Friday, when No. 15 Kentucky hosts Louisville. The past eight meetings between the in-state rivals have been decided by eight points or fewer, but Louisville has not won at Rupp Arena since 2008.
Cleveland St. at Michigan St 6:00 PM ET
No. 2 Michigan State looks to extend its 11-game winning streak when it hosts non-conference foe Cleveland State on Friday. The Spartans have been dominant at home, winning seven contests by an average of 30.4 points - including a 42-point rout of Long Beach State on Dec. 21, while the Vikings have dropped three in a row and five of their last six.
West Virginia at Oklahoma State 7:00 PM ET
Rebounding from a season-opening loss to Texas A&M with 11 consecutive non-conference victories would make most head coaches happy - but West Virginia's Bob Huggins wants to see more as his 10th-ranked Mountaineers kick off Big 12 play Friday night against host Oklahoma State. West Virginia cruised past Fordham last time out, but looked sloppy in the process - and that left Huggins far from impressed.
Youngstown St. at Indiana 8:00 PM ET
Indiana looks to win back-to-back games for the first time in over a month when it hosts Youngstown State on Friday. The Hoosiers bounced back from their disappointing 92-72 setback to Fort Wayne on Dec. 18 with an 87-59 victory against Tennessee Tech three days later to move back over .500. and they hope to avoid dropping six non-conference games in the same season since 2009-10.
Northern Illinois at Iowa 8:00 PM ET
Although turnovers have plagued it throughout the non-conference schedule, Iowa's most recent victory might have been a sign the team is learning how to overcome them. The Hawkeyes seek their fifth straight win overall Friday in their final tune-up before Big Ten play starts up again next week when they host Northern Illinois.
MD Baltimore County at Maryland 8:00 PM ET
Maryland hosts Maryland-Baltimore County in a rare meeting of in-state foes on Friday. The Terrapins have won all 13 of the previous matchups, but the teams have not squared off since 2002.
Stetson at Nebraska 8:00 PM ET
The lull that usually occurs around Christmas for most teams hasn't been a particularly enjoyable part of the year for Tim Miles at Nebraska recently, but the 2017-18 campaign has been mostly filled with good tidings so far for the sixth-year coach. The Cornhuskers hope to wrap up non-conference play on a three-game winning streak Friday when they host Stetson.
Baylor at Texas Tech 8:00 PM ET
No. 21 Texas Tech will find out off the bat if its non-conference performances has it ready for Big 12 Conference play. The Red Raiders host No. 17 Baylor - a program second-year coach Chris Beard would like to emulate - on Friday.
Kansas State at Iowa State 9:00 PM ET
Given the schedule that looms for Kansas State, Friday's Big 12 opener at Iowa State is a critical early-season contest. The Wildcats play a ranked opponent in eight of their next 10 games and need to pick up wins where they can get them, although the Cyclones are no pushovers with a nine-game winning streak of their own.
Kansas at Texas 9:00 PM ET
Following a strong finish to non-conference season, No. 11 Kansas kicks off Big 12 play Friday at Texas. Both teams have won three in a row and neither has lost a game by more than 10 points all season.
Utah at Oregon 10:00 PM ET
Oregon has won or shared the last three Pac-12
regular-season championships and is now eyeing a fourth with a retooled roster.
That pursuit begins Friday night when the Ducks tip off conference play with a
home game against Utah.
Washington at Southern California 10:30 PM ET
After climbing as high as No. 10 in the rankings following a 4-0 start to the season, the USC Trojans enter Pac-12 play on Friday night against visiting Washington unranked. But the Trojans, who went through a stretch that saw them lose three in a row and four of six games including a 103-93 home loss to Princeton, appear to have regained their momentum entering conference play.
Colorado at Oregon St. 11:00 PM ET
Colorado has yet to win a true road game and now
opens Pac-12 play with four of its first six away from Boulder. That
challenging stretch begins Friday night when the Buffaloes visit Oregon State.
Washington St. at UCLA 11:00 PM ET
After a tumultuous first two months of the season, UCLA carries some much-needed momentum into Friday’s Pac-12 opener against visiting Washington State. The Bruins’ capped a non-conference schedule marked by suspensions and extensive travel by recording a surprising 83-75 win over then-No. 6 Kentucky in New Orleans last Saturday.