The ACC/SEC Challenge and the Big 12/Big East Battle highlight Week 4 of the men's basketball season. Here are the biggest games of the week.
Tuesday, Nov. 28: No. 8 Miami at No. 12 Kentucky | 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
No. 8 Miami travels to Rupp Arena to face No. 12 Kentucky to kick off the ACC/SEC Challenge. Both teams have top-notch guard play. Miami's roster features Wooga Poplar, Nigel Pack and Matthew Cleveland, while Kentucky is led by Rob Dillingham, D.J. Wagner and Antonio Reeves.
The coaching matchup is also something to watch. The Hurricanes’s Jim Larranaga and the Wildcats’s John Calipari are two of the most experienced and respected coaches in the game, which should set up a great strategic battle.
While Miami is the higher-ranked team, Kentucky playing at home makes the Wildcats the favorites here. It should be a very tight game.
Wednesday, Nov. 29: No. 10 Tennessee at No. 17 North Carolina | 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Another ranked-versus-ranked matchup in the ACC/SEC challenge features No. 10 Tennessee and No. 17 North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill. The Volunteers are coming off a two-loss performance in the Maui Invitational, but they played competitively against the top-10 competition they faced.
North Carolina is a one-loss squad and is looking very solid going into this game – its biggest so far this season. Tennessee has been led by Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht and veteran Santiago Vescovi, while North Carolina has proven stars R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot. The Tar Heels are favored slightly to win.
Wednesday, Nov. 29: No. 14 Texas A&M at Virginia | 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2
This game is on Virginia's campus, which should set up a raucous environment for the Aggies. Texas A&M suffered its first loss last Friday to Florida Atlantic in the ESPN Events Invitational, but it's still a very solid squad with high-quality players. Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV and Virginia's Reece Beekman highlight this matchup. This one will most likely be a defensive and high-pressure ballgame.
Wednesday, Nov. 30: Colorado at No. 20 Colorado State | 9 p.m. ET on CBSSN
This in-state battle takes place on the campus of No. 20 Colorado State. Both of these teams have been ranked during the season. Observers have taken notice of Colorado State after it beat then-No. 8 Creighton by 21. The Buffaloes suffered an overtime loss to Florida State, which is their only loss.
Wednesday, Nov. 30: No. 7 Duke at Arkansas | 9:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
The nightcap of Wednesday’s action features a clash in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Duke looks great early in the season with its lone loss being to No. 3 Arizona. Kyle Filipowski, Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor lead this team and they have all proven themselves so far this year. Arkansas has lost three games already but it's still a talented team with Tramon Mark and Trevon Brazile leading the way. Duke is favored but do not be surprised if the Razorbacks pull off the upset.
Friday, Dec. 1: No. 4 UConn at No. 5 Kansas | 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Inside Allen Fieldhouse, No. 4 UConn and No. 5 Kansas meet in what looks like the best game of the week. Both of these teams have played very well this season. The Huskies are undefeated and the Jayhawks have just one loss to then-No. 4 Marquette.
Kansas's big three of Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar Jr. lead Kansas, while Donovan Clingan, Alex Karaban and Tristen Newton are the stars for UConn. This game is a part of the Big 12/Big East Battle and it's the top matchup in the clash between the two conferences.
Saturday Dec. 3: No. 3 Marquette at Wisconsin | 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX
A rivalry game from Madison, Wisc., kicks off Saturday’s action when No. 3 Marquette visits Wisconsin. The Golden Eagles have looked incredible so far with their only defeat coming against No. 1 Purdue in the Maui Invitational final.
Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro look like one of the top duos in the country and coach Shaka Smart has his team looking like the top three team they are currently. Wisconsin has also looked good in the early going, following up two early losses with four straight wins. Chucky Hepburn, Tyler Wahl, and Ethan Crowl are the leaders of the Badgers, which are a veteran team for Greg Gard. This game is always a fun one to watch and it has often come down to the wire.
Saturday Dec. 2: USC vs. No. 11 Gonzaga | 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Late on Saturday night, USC and Gonzaga will meet in Las Vegas as a part of the Legends of Basketball Invitational. The Trojans were ranked early on in the season but after two upset losses to UC Irvine and Oklahoma, they find themselves outside of the AP Top 25.
They are still a very strong team, though, with Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis leading the way. Gonzaga is a one-loss squad with that one coming to No. 1 Purdue in the Maui Invitational quarterfinals. Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard have both looked good in the early season. The Zags are the favorites in this game.
Sunday Dec. 3: No. 15 Creighton at Nebraska | 4 p.m. ET on FS1
Rounding out the action for this week are No. 15 Creighton and Nebraska, which meet in an in-state rivalry. The Bluejays were previously in the top 10 but after a blowout loss against Colorado State, they have fallen in the rankings.
Nebraska is undefeated, although it has played several weak opponents. Kesei Tominaga is the star for the Cornhuskers and he's looking like an All-Big Ten type of player.
