20 Must-Watch Games of 2014-15 College Basketball Season
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The college basketball season is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to analyze which teams have the best chance to win it all. Here are the 20 must-watch games of the 2014-15 college basketball season. This list only includes non-conference matchups.
20. Minnesota vs. Louisville: Nov. 14 (U.S. Air Station in Puerto Rico)
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20. Minnesota vs. Louisville: Nov. 14 (U.S. Air Station in Puerto Rico)
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A family affair will ensue this Friday as Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals face Richard Pitino and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Both teams have recently won championships, with Louisville winning the 2013 NCAA Title and Minnesota winning the 2014 NIT title.
19. Texas vs. UConn: Nov. 30
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19. Texas vs. UConn: Nov. 30
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This game in Stoors features a matchup between two top guards, as UConn's Ryan Boatright faces Texas' Isaiah Taylor. Both of these teams will be heavily inexperienced due to graduation losses and youth on both sides.
18. SMU vs. Gonzaga: Nov. 17
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18. SMU vs. Gonzaga: Nov. 17
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SMU missed out on the NCAA tournament last season due to a weak non-conference schedule. Larry Brown changed that this year with a road test against Gonzaga early on. This game would have been more interesting if Emmauel Mudiay was with SMU instead of overseas.
17. Wichita State vs. Memphis: Nov. 14 (In Sioux Falls, SD)
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17. Wichita State vs. Memphis: Nov. 14 (In Sioux Falls, SD)
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Two of the winningest regular season teams face each other as the Wichita State Shockers take on the Memphis Tigers. The Shockers are coming off a perfect regular season, while Memphis seemingly wins 30 games a year. The Shockers lost Cleanthony Early to the NBA, but still retain All-American candidates Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker.
16. Virginia vs. VCU: Dec. 6
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16. Virginia vs. VCU: Dec. 6
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The battle for best team in the state of Virginia will be on Dec. 6, with Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers traveling to face Shaka Smart's VCU Rams. In the ultimate contrast of styles, Virginia and their veteran leadership will try to slow the game down against VCU's havoc defense and up-tempo offense.
15. Ohio State vs. North Carolina: Dec. 20 (CBS Sports Classic In Chicago)
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15. Ohio State vs. North Carolina: Dec. 20 (CBS Sports Classic In Chicago)
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Both the North Carolina Tar Heels and Ohio State Buckeyes have lost some of their luster following some subpar seasons, but look to bounce back in 2014. The Buckeyes will have to find a way to slow down Marcus Paige at the point without defensive stalwart Aaron Craft, who graduated last year.
14. Texas vs. Kentucky: Dec. 5
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14. Texas vs. Kentucky: Dec. 5
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When Kentucky and Texas matchup on Dec. 5 as part of the SEC-Big 12 challenge, this game will decided in the paint. Texas' frontcourt of Jonathan Holmes, Cameron Ridley and Myles Turner takes on a deep Kentucky frontline featuring first-round prospect Willie Cauley-Stein.
13. Syracuse vs. Villanova: Dec. 20
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13. Syracuse vs. Villanova: Dec. 20
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A matchup between former Big East opponents is always a must-see game. This year, the Jim Boeheim's Syracuse Orange travel to Philadelphia to take on Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats. This will be the second time these two former league rivals go toe-to-toe since the conference disbanded, as the Orange pulled away with a 78-62 victory at home last year.
12. Arizona vs. Gonzaga: Dec. 6
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12. Arizona vs. Gonzaga: Dec. 6
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Despite losing Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson to the NBA, the Arizona Wildcats have plenty of NBA talent in their starting five. On the other side, Gonzaga will field one of the best rosters in program history, with players like Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell and Przemek Karnowski returning. The Zags will also have revenge on their minds after losing to the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament last year 84-61.
11. Kentucky vs. UCLA: Dec. 20 (CBS Sports Classic In Chicago)
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11. Kentucky vs. UCLA: Dec. 20 (CBS Sports Classic In Chicago)
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The two most stories programs in college basketball face each other on Dec. 20 as the UCLA Bruins face the Kentucky Wildcats in the CBS Sports Classic. The Bruins will try to replace three NBA first-round picks from the year before, while Kentucky will try to find replacements for Julius Randle and James Young.
10. UConn vs. Florida: Jan. 3
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10. UConn vs. Florida: Jan. 3
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Last season, the Florida Gators all three games all year, but two were to the Huskies, including a Final four matchup. This year, the Huskies, who will be without Shabazz Napier, look to defeat the Gators again, this time in Gainesville.
9. North Carolina vs. Kentucky: Dec. 13
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9. North Carolina vs. Kentucky: Dec. 13
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Last year's matchup between these two programs saw North Carolina topple Kentucky in Chapel Hill. This season, the rivalry moves to Rupp Arena, and the game will be decided in the backcourt. Kentucky's Harrison Twins will try to slow down Marcus Paige, one of the quickest players in the country.
8. Syracuse vs. Michigan: Dec. 2 (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
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8. Syracuse vs. Michigan: Dec. 2 (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
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In 2013, these two teams met in the Final Four with Michigan defeating Syracuse. A lot has changed for Michigan, who will be without Mitch McGary, Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III, who each went to the NBA. The Orange will also have to replace a first-round pick in Tyler Ennis and their leading scorer from a year ago in C.J. Fair.
7. Duke vs. UConn: Dec. 18
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7. Duke vs. UConn: Dec. 18
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UConn won its fourth national championship in 15 years this past April, and Duke played a part in two of those. In 1999, the Huskies defeated Duke in the national championship game. Five years later, the Huskies downed the Blue Devils in the Final Four. When they meet on Dec. 18 in Izod Center, it’ll mark the 10th time these iconic programs have played each other.
6. Florida vs. Kansas: Dec. 5 (SEC-Big 12 Challenge)
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6. Florida vs. Kansas: Dec. 5 (SEC-Big 12 Challenge)
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Florida and Kansas meet once again this season, this time in Allen Fieldhouse. Last season, the Gators won 67-61, a game that started a 30-game winning streak and a Final Four berth. Both teams will be trying to replace several impact players from last year, but Bill Self and Billy Donovan are two of the best coaches in the country.
5. Arizona vs. Michigan: Dec. 13
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5. Arizona vs. Michigan: Dec. 13
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Last season, Michigan nearly dethroned the No. 1-ranked Wildcats in Crisler Arena, and will try to avenge last season's loss this year. This game will come down to Arizona's stingy defense vs. John Beilein's three-point heavy offense.
4. Duke vs. Wisconsin: Dec. 3 (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
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4. Duke vs. Wisconsin: Dec. 3 (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
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The ACC/Big Ten Challenge’s premier game will pit two top-5 caliber teams against one another as the Blue Devils head to the Kohl Center to take on the Badgers. Not only does this matchup feature two conference favorites, it also provides one of the best individual matchups of the season, with Wisconsin senior big man Frank Kaminsky going up against the nation’s top freshman in Jahlil Okafor.
3. Duke vs. Michigan State: Nov. 18 (Champions Classic)
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3. Duke vs. Michigan State: Nov. 18 (Champions Classic)
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The Duke Blue Devils will be a relatively young team heading into this season, while Michigan State returns a lot of veteran leaders. After losing Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood to the NBA, the Blue Devils reloaded with Okafor and Tyus Jones. Michigan State lost three starters and will rely on Branden Dawson, Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice to get the job done.
2. Kentucky vs. Louisville: Nov. 27
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2. Kentucky vs. Louisville: Nov. 27
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Kentucky and Louisville is easily the best rivalry in college basketball today. Both teams have won championships in the past three years, and have some of the best players in the country. This game will come down to post play with Louisville's Montrezl Harrell battling a massive UK frontline.
1. Kansas vs. Kentucky: Nov. 18 (Champions Classic In Indianapolis)
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1. Kansas vs. Kentucky: Nov. 18 (Champions Classic In Indianapolis)
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The Jayhawks and Wildcats meet in the nightcap of the Champions Classic just four days after the college basketball season begins. Kentucky returns several key veterans and added four McDonald’s All Americans to the roster. Kansas, however, also has a talented team with Wayne Selden and Perry Ellis. These two teams met in the 2012 National Championship game with Kentucky defeating Kansas.
Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer forwww.RantSports.com. Follow him onTwitter, like him onFacebook or add him to your network onGoogle+.
Marcus Paige hit the game-winning shot Saturday against Louisville, but see why he needs to be better more consistently in order for the Tar Heels to truly contend. Read More
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