College basketball weekend preview: UCLA hosts Arizona in Pac-12 clash
With conference play well underway in college hoops, the contenders are beginning to separate themselves from the field.
There’s still a long way to go, of course, with plenty of challengers awaiting their chances to reel in the front-runners. Here are a few matters worthy of your attention this weekend as January rolls along.
Game of the weekend
No. 13 Arizona at No. 3 UCLA, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS
The Wildcats wrap up their L.A. road trip at legendary Pauley Pavilion, where the Bruins’ faithful will be a lot happier than they were at this time a year ago. Though Arizona’s résumé to date has no glaring losses, it could also use a boost from a quality road win. But this one won’t be easy to get. The Wildcats’ bench is dangerously thin with four starters averaging more than 30 minutes a game, and the Bruins love to push the pace with freshman sensation Lonzo Ball setting the tempo.
Player to watch
Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina
Conspicuous by his absence during a six-game stretch in which the Gamecocks went 3-3, the senior guard is back in the good graces of the university and coach Frank Martin. Suspended for what the school would only say was a violation of athletic department policy, Thornwell was reinstated as South Carolina began SEC play.
He is the Gamecocks’ leading scorer at 18.2 points a game, and his defensive presence was on display as well Wednesday night as the Gamecocks held Florida without a made three-pointer in a 57-53 South Carolina victory. The Gamecocks are 12-0 with Thornwell in the lineup, a streak that will be severely tested Saturday when they visit No. 5 Kentucky (6 p.m. ET, ESPN).
MORE HOOPS:
Previewing the top 10 college basketball games this weekend
No trick shot: Markelle Fultz rises from JV team to national star
Conference to watch: Big Ten
It’s fair to wonder as March draws closer just how deep the NCAA selection committee will go into what is usually one of the leagues that gets the most tournament bids. Fans of several teams around the B1G undoubtedly are quite nervous, including followers of usual powers Michigan State and Indiana. Those two projected standard bearers struggled in the pre-conference portion of their schedules and find themselves in need of every win they can get as they prepare to square off Saturday in Bloomington (4 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Spartans are coming off a damaging loss to Ohio State, and the Hoosiers narrowly avoided one thanks to a buzzer beater at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, have to bounce back quickly as they head to No. 22 Purdue Saturday (noon ET, BTN), and Wisconsin, the league’s highest-ranked team according to the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll voters, faces a road test at Minnesota (4:30 p.m. ET, BTN).
On the Sunday slate, Northwestern, still seeking that elusive first NCAA tourney appearance, must avoid a stumble at Ohio State (1 p.m. ET, BTN).
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK IN COLLEGE HOOPS
