ESPN should send a Thank You card to Kemba Walker and Jim Calhoun. They made the network’s first Big Monday of the 2010-11 college hoops season a Top 10 showdown. (Tips at 8:30 p.m. ET)
Most of us doubted the Huskies would be a Big East contender, yet here they are, unbeaten and ranked No. 4 in the polls and ready for a road game against No. 6 Pitt. Walker’s been the driving force, scoring a ton (26.6 a game) and doing it efficiently. But the defense ain’t so hot.
The Panthers counter with one of the nation’s most balanced and deepest rosters, led by Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker and Gilbert Brown. They comprise the nation’s most efficient offense, but the defense ain’t so hot.
Sounds like fun, right?
Penn State at Indiana: Both teams have lost two straight and been largely underwhelming this season. Neither are going anywhere in the Big Ten race and will be lucky to finish above .500. So why give a fig about this game? Talor Battle could use the attention. The Penn State guard doesn’t deserve a team like this.
Fordham at Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have lost to Kennesaw State and Siena this season. Dropping a home game to Fordham would be the end of Paul Hewitt’s tenure. It probably won’t happen, but I’m not ruling it out.
(All times ET)
EAST
Connecticut at Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.
SOUTH
Fordham at Georgia Tech, Noon
Delaware St. at Clemson, 7 p.m.
Southern U. at LSU, 7 p.m.
IUPUI at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:05 p.m.
Morgan St. at Louisville, 8 p.m.
George Washington at UAB, 8 p.m.
Mobile at South Alabama, 8:05 p.m.
MIDWEST
Penn St. at Indiana, 6:30 p.m.
N. Illinois at Missouri, 8 p.m.
Tenn.-Martin at Ohio St., 8:30 p.m.
FAR WEST
Nevada at Portland, 10 p.m..
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