This week’s must-watch males’s faculty basketball video games embrace Duke, North Carolina

Positive, faculty soccer and the NFL will take heart stage this week. However faculty basketball will function a powerful slate of video games, too — together with the ultimate run of the ACC/Large Ten Problem on the ESPN household of networks.

Do not know what to look at? No worries. We’ll make it easier to establish the 4 video games you possibly can’t miss this week, and even provide a number of predictions, too.

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Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN (ACC/Large Ten Problem)

Coach Okay is not strolling by means of that door, of us. And that is high quality with Jon Scheyer, who understands the scrutiny he faces because the successor to the sport’s all-time winningest coach. However losses to Kansas on the Champions Basic and Purdue on the Phil Knight Legacy occasion over Thanksgiving weekend showcased the rising pains of a Duke staff that hasn’t been wholesome a lot of the season, and has solely related on 29% of its 3-point makes an attempt — one of many worst marks in America. This week, the Blue Devils face an Ohio State staff that scored 80 factors in a win over Texas Tech (nineteenth in adjusted defensive effectivity on KenPom) final week. Freshman Brice Sensabaugh (15.8 PPG, 46.2% from 3) is one in all 5 Buckeyes averaging a minimum of 9.2 PPG.

Prediction: Duke 73, Ohio State 69

Wednesday, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN (ACC/Large Ten Problem)

Getting into this season, it was straightforward to see the potential pitfalls in North Carolina’s late-November/early-December schedule. However the former No. 1 squad will fly to Bloomington, Indiana, determined to land a high quality non-conference win following losses to each Iowa State and Alabama (4 overtimes!) after practically dropping a recreation to Portland on the Phil Knight Invitational. Hoosiers star Trayce Jackson-Davis (18.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG) appears just like the All-American he was projected to be coming into 2022-23, and leads a staff that is shot 38.3% from 3 to date. For a UNC squad that additionally has upcoming matchups in opposition to Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Michigan earlier than Christmas, the preseason hype about its nationwide title hopes might evaporate earlier than New Yr’s if it does not discover some momentum quickly.

Prediction: North Carolina 77, Indiana 74

Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Chris Beard lured former Iowa State standout Tyrese Hunter to Austin after a number of Energy 5 faculties had pursued him final summer time. And the addition has modified this system. With Hunter on the ground this season, the undefeated Longhorns have, per hooplens.com, made 67% of their photographs contained in the arc and held their opponents to simply 60 factors per 100 possessions. (For comparability, the Milwaukee Bucks, who’ve the highest protection within the NBA, have held their opponents to 106.5 factors per 100 possessions this season.) However, Creighton is stacked with expertise — Ryan Kalkbrenner (16.1 PPG) is one in all 5 Bluejays averaging a minimum of 12.0 PPG — and is top-20 nationally in turnover charge.

Prediction: Texas 75, Creighton 70

Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock TV

Each of those groups have quite a bit to supply — And some issues to handle. 5-star recruit Keyonte George (14.8 PPG, 5.0 APG) has been key for a Baylor staff ranked second in adjusted offensive effectivity on KenPom. However the Bears have additionally surrendered 70 or extra factors of their first six video games, together with their 86-79 loss to Virginia within the Continental Tire Problem. For Gonzaga, Drew Timme (20.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG) is chasing the Wood Award once more because the chief of a squad with Last 4 aspirations. However, the Zags’ losses to Purdue and Texas counsel the staff wants its guard play to considerably enhance to compete with the perfect groups in America.

Prediction: Baylor 80, Gonzaga 78