Games of intrigue 11.1

By Paul Casey Gotham

A glance at some of the interesting tilts on this week’s college basketball slate.

Wisconsin at Michigan State – Tuesday

A week ago, the Spartans appeared on their usual track – playing a tought schedule and taking their losses early in the year. Then they fell at Penn State. Wisconsin is usually a team that goes undefeated at home and takes what it can get on the road. Can the Spartans stand in the way of the Badgers?

BYU at Utah – Tuesday

This game does not capture the national attention like Carolina-Duke, but Cougars versus Utes is THE game in the state of Utah. Something about Mormons versus the secular. Throw out the records.  Utah can get significant redemption for their 7-9 ledger with a victory over the Cougs.  Only three of Utah’s opponents have shot better than 42 percent this year. Who draws the assignment of chasing Jimmer Fredette?

Pittsburgh at Georgetown – Wednesday

After starting 8-0, the Hoyas are 4-4 of late. West Virginia went into the Verizon Center and hung a loss on the JT3’s club. The Hoyas looked disoraganized late in the game. The Panthers have had some close calls of late (beat Providence by 4 and Marquette by 8).

Duke at Florida State – Wednesday

Duke’s first road game OUTSIDE the state of North Carolina. FSU’s Chris Singleton is capable of carrying a team. Florida State is number one in the nation for field goal percentage defense. Duke is the number one offense in the ACC.

Purdue at Minnesota – Thursday

After winning 11 of 12 to start the year, the Gophers have dropped three of four since. All of the losses were on the road. Can the Gophers catch the Boilermakers at “The Barn?”  Al  Nolen will need to slow Purdue’s E’Twaun Moore. JaJuan Johnson versus Ralph Sampson III in the paint should provide a truth serum for one or the other.

Virginia Tech at North Carolina – Thursday

Both teams are in need of a signature win. Va. Tech has stayed afloat long enough with a trio of injuries. Have they found their identity? Do the Tar Heels have an identity?

Iona at Rider – Friday

Both teams are 4-1. The winner will keep pace with first-place Fairfield. Iona’s Mike Glover is as talented a forward as there is in the country. Rider’s front line of Mike Ringgold and Brandon Penn are difficult to keep in check. Rider’s Justin Thompson is laying claim to being the best point guard in the conference.

Maryland at Villanova – Saturday

The Terps are a work in progress. Any day now, Jordan Williams is going to grow up and become the complete player Gary Williams needs. Adrian Bowie and Sean Mosley will have to handle Villanova’s press. Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher grab the headlines for Villanova, but Maalik Wayns keeps the ball moving on the offensive end.

Dayton at Xavier – Saturday

No love loss here. The I 75 showdown will reconvene at the Cintas center.  Dayton’s Chris Wright leads the Flyers south for the first of two between rivals. Wright versus Jamel McLean in the paint: strength versus guile. Wright can score from 15′. His future seems to be in the NBA. McLean has developed a crafty back-to-the-basket game.

Notre Dame at St. John’s – Sunday

Contenders, pretenders and return to sender. St. John’s looked like a contender when they trimmed Georgetown. Notre Dame offered no elixir for their hangover knocking off the Johnnies in South Bend five days later. Familiarity and contempt might melt the snow from the Madison Square Garden roof as Big east foes meet for their second time in eight days. Notre Dame is in search of its first true road win.