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Wednesday’s slate and what to watch

spt-111228-henry-sims

Mike Miller

When can a game on Saturday take the luster off another matchup later in the week? When it’s Georgetown-Louisville.

The Cardinals (12-0) open Big East play tonight against the Hoyas, who are no slouches themselves. They’re 10-1 and have only lost to Kansas on a neutral court. A Hoyas win would give Louisville its first loss heading into Saturday’s showdown against Kentucky, which would be a small bummer for a national TV audience.

It’s a small thing, to be sure. Nearly every college hoops fan and everyone within the state of Kentucky will be watching. But perhaps the game garners a tad more interest if one’s unbeaten. Just sayin’.

(All times ET; TV info from HDSportsGuide.com)

Georgetown at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
So how would the Hoyas knock off the Cards? Star with center Henry Sims, the Big East’s most improved player. The 6-10 senior is JTIII’s dream big man, capable of scoring, rebounding and finding the open man. (Check that ARate!) He and the rest of Georgetown’s efficient scorers will have their hands full against Louisville’s pesky, harassing defense. The difference – as usual – will probably be Russ Smith’s shot selection.

Indiana at Michigan State, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
Are these the best teams in the Big Ten after Ohio State? It’s possible. (Wisconsin scoffs.) The Spartans (11-2) haven’t lost since Nov. 15, while the Hoosiers (12-0) haven’t lost, period. Expect Michigan State to make life miserable for Indiana center Cody Zeller and force the other Hoosiers to step up their games. That happens, I like Tom Izzo’s chances.

Mississippi State vs. Baylor, in Dallas 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Another unbeaten team – Bears are 12-0 – gets tested in a game that should be brutal down low. Between Miss State’s Arnett Moultrie, Renardo Sidney and Wendell Lewis, Baylor’s frontcourt of Perry Jones, Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones will actually be the smaller group. For once. It’s not a huge difference, and it’s mostly in bulk. Maybe that means the guards will decide the game.

Missouri State at Creighton, 8 p.m. (The Valley, FCS Central, FSMidwest)
Leave it to the Valley to schedule a killer matchup this early in the season. Most nights this would be the game to watch. (Curse those unbeatens!) Anything that features Doug McDermott going against Kyle Weems is must-see TV.

EAST
American U. at Mount St. Mary’s, 4 p.m.
Loyola (Md.) at Bucknell, 7 p.m.
Quinnipiac at Colgate, 7 p.m.
Bowling Green at Duquesne, 7 p.m.
UAB at George Washington, 7 p.m.
Monmouth (NJ) at Lafayette, 7 p.m.
Columbia at Marist, 7 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson at NJIT, 7 p.m.
UMBC at Niagara, 7 p.m.
Morgan St. at Saint Joseph’s, 7 p.m.
Lehigh at St. Peter’s, 7 p.m.
Cornell at Stony Brook, 7 p.m.
Seton Hall at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at Temple, 7 p.m.
Villanova at West Virginia, 7 p.m.
Binghamton at Canisius, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfield at Drexel, 7:30 p.m.

SOUTH
UNC Asheville at W. Carolina, 6 p.m.
Siena at FAU, 7 p.m.
CCSU at Florida A&M, 7 p.m.
Georgetown at Louisville, 7 p.m.
Army at Presbyterian, 7 p.m.
Liberty at Richmond, 7 p.m.
Wofford at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
Erskine at Charleston Southern, 7:30 p.m.
Albany (NY) at Maryland, 8 p.m.
Lamar at Kentucky, 8:30 p.m.
UConn at South Florida, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST
Northwestern at Ohio St., 5:30 p.m.
Indiana at Michigan St., 7:30 p.m.
Wichita St. at Bradley, 8 p.m.
Missouri St. at Creighton, 8 p.m.
Oakland at N. Dakota St., 8 p.m.
IPFW at S. Dakota St., 8 p.m.
S. Utah at South Dakota, 8 p.m.
Cleveland St. at Toledo, 8 p.m.
Indiana St. at Drake, 8:05 p.m.
Oral Roberts at UMKC, 8:05 p.m.
Morehead St. at SE Missouri, 8:30 p.m.
Purdue at Iowa, 9:30 p.m.

SOUTHWEST
NC A&T at Houston, 3 p.m.
Oklahoma St. vs. SMU at American Airlines Center, Dallas, 6:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Arkansas, 8 p.m.
Texas A&M-CC at Rice, 8 p.m.
Samford at Sam Houston St., 8 p.m.
UC Riverside at UTSA, 8 p.m.
Huston-Tillotson at Texas St., 8:30 p.m.
Mississippi St. vs. Baylor at American Airlines Center, Dallas, 9 p.m.
Mercer at Tulsa, 9:30 p.m.

FAR WEST
New Orleans at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Portland at Gonzaga, 9 p.m.
Portland St. at Montana, 9 p.m.
E. Washington at Montana St., 9 p.m.
New Mexico at New Mexico St., 9 p.m.
Cedarville at Nevada, 10 p.m.
Cent. Arkansas at UNLV, 10 p.m.

TOURNAMENTS

Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational
At El Paso, Texas
First Round
Ark.-Pine Bluff vs. Jacksonville St., 6:30 p.m.
Colorado St. at UTEP, 9 p.m.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.