Top 5 Men’s Basketball Game Breakdowns 11/18-11/20
While there are no true matchups between a pair of top 25 teams on this weekend's agenda, there are some contests that could prove quite interesting. How does Duke fare now that Mike Krzyzewski has his record-breaking victory? How will Butler fare when it welcomes its highest-ranked opponent in nearly 20 years? Why isn't Butler ranked itself? Will the Penn State-Kentucky game be closer than anticipated? This weekend features a few games that will whet the appetite of college hoops fans.
DAVIDSON AT No. 5 DUKE (6 p.m. Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina)
The pressure is off coach Mike Krzyzewski, who picked up his 903rd career victory in front of a packed Madison Square Garden house that included Bob Knight, the coach whose record Coach K broke during Duke’s 74-69 win over Michigan State. Duke has won 87 of the 104 meetings between these two teams, including a 22-1 record with Krzyzewski coaching Duke. Also not a good sign for Davidson: The Wildcats are 13-78 when facing ranked opponents, 8-53 against teams in the top 10, and they have dropped the last seven contests against teams of this caliber. Davidson comes in with a 2-0 record that includes a 111-64 win over Guilford and a 74-61 win over Richmond. Duke is 3-0 this season, including single-digit wins over Belmont and MSU and a 96-55 win over Presbyterian.
MIAMI, OHIO AT No. 16 XAVIER (7 p.m. Friday at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio)
A big battle between Cincinnati-area schools takes place Friday night when a Mid-American Conference opponent goes up against the Atlantic 10. Xavier holds a narrow 51-47 edge over Miami in the all-time series, including a 75-64 upset win by Miami on Dec. 1 of last year. Guards Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons are averaging 24 and 21.5 points per game, respectively, with Holloway at six assists a game and Lyons at 5.5 rebounds. Xavier’s magic number is 63, as in amount of points the defense held its opponents to in two victories over Morgan State (74-63) and IPFW (86-63). Miami needed overtime for a 72-67 win over Dayton. Forwards Julian Mavunga and Bill Edwards have combined for 31 points per game.
PENN STATE VS. No. 2 KENTUCKY (Noon Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut)
The Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament gets underway at high noon with what could be an interesting game between Big Ten and Southeastern Conference rivals. It has been nearly 11 years since the last meeting between the schools, won by Penn State 73-68 in November 2000. Otherwise, Kentucky holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series between the teams. Penn State has lost nine of 10 times against teams with the runner-up ranking. Look out for Penn State’s Tim Frazier, whose 20.7 points and 8.7 assists per game are tops among Big Ten schools. The Nittany Lions have wins over Hartford, Radford and Long Island. Kentucky bombed Marist 108-58 before beating Kansas 75-65 in its first big test of the season. The Wildcats take this 2-0 record up against Penn State.
No. 6 LOUISVILLE AT BUTLER (2 p.m. Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana)
It is interesting why Butler is not ranked, given its two previous trips to the national championship game, but the Bulldogs simply have to prove themselves every year. This is the highest-rated team to visit Butler since 1992, when North Carolina won 103-56. How times have changed. Butler plays teams much closer now than it did before. Louisville beat Butler 88-73 last year, but the teams are tied at 5-5 in the overall series and are 2-2 in Indianapolis. Where Louisville spreads out its scoring, led by forward Shane Benahan and his 12 points and 12.5 rebounds per game and guard Peyton Siva’s 10.5 points a game, Butler relies on forward Andrew Smith and his 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and guard Chrishawn Hopkins’ 17 points a contest. Louisville has beaten Tennessee-Martin and Lamar while Butler has lost to Evansville and beaten Chattanooga.
SOUTH ALABAMA AT No. 19 FLORIDA STATE (3 p.m. Sunday at Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida)
Separated by Interstate 10 and a few hours’ distance, this rivalry is the last game on Florida State’s schedule before traveling to The Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. South Alabama has trips to Florida State and LSU before four straight home games in Mobile, and Florida State will be in The Bahamas for three straight days over Thanksgiving weekend. South Alabama improved to 1-1 with a 74-63 win over Mobile, led by 18 points and 14 rebounds from Augustine Rubit. Florida State is now 3-0 following a 79-66 win over Stetson as Okaro White scored 18 points and 16 points from Deividas Dulkys.
Men's Basketball Games of the Week Breakdown Page
