Preview Roundups
December 05, 2014
Duquesne at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh is set to renew hostilities with crosstown rival Duquesne in the 83rd edition of the City Game at the Consol Energy Center on Friday. The Panthers have stumbled out of the starting blocks having dropped three of their last five games - including an 81-69 loss to Indiana on Tuesday as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. "We have played a difficult schedule early on," coach Jamie Dixon admitted to reporters. "But we're going to do a better job and we're going to get ready for Duquesne."
Florida International at Louisville 7:00 PM ET
No team has won more games the past four seasons than Louisville, and the fifth-ranked Cardinals are piling onto that total through the first month of this season. Louisville hosts Florida International on Friday looking to improve to 7-0 and win its 103rd game since the start of the 2011-12 season after Tuesday’s impressive 64-55 victory over No. 13 Ohio State.
Yale at Connecticut 7:00 PM ET
Connecticut and Yale renewed acquaintances for the first time in a decade last season and the result was a familiar one for the eventual national champions against an in-state foe. The Huskies look to extend their winning streak over the Bulldogs to 14 games on Friday at home in the 67th meeting between the schools. UConn downed a feisty Yale team 80-62 last November and has won 68 straight games against in-state opponents – a streak that dates back to 1986.
Texas at Kentucky 7:00 PM ET
Top-ranked Kentucky expects to receive a test when No. 7 Texas pays a visit in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Friday. The Wildcats of the SEC have rolled to seven straight victories, all by at least 19 points with an average winning margin of 34.4. The Longhorns of the Big 12 also have won seven consecutive contests, including three victories of more than 30 points and an average winning margin of 20.
Wyoming at Southern Methodist 7:00 PM ET
SMU hopes to continue a two-game winning streak as the Mustangs host unbeaten Wyoming on Friday. Nationally ranked in the preseason, coach Larry Brown's SMU squad lost three of its first five games but has won its last two fairly easily at home. But the Mustangs will have a big test in the Cowboys, who are venturing away from home for the first time this season.
Providence at Boston College 7:00 PM ET
Providence and Boston College were charter members when the Big East Conference formed in 1979 and despite BC departing for the ACC in 2005, the rivalry remains intact. The Friars on Friday try to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they take the one-hour bus ride to Boston for the 109th renewal with the Eagles. Providence was 6-0 for the second consecutive year and ranked 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll before losing at No. 1 Kentucky 58-38 on Sunday.
Western Carolina at Minnesota 7:00 PM ET
Minnesota fans have to be wondering what Andre Hollins has planned for an encore after lighting it up from 3-point range in Tuesday's win over Wake Forest. The senior guard will look to build upon a career-best 27-point performance as his Golden Gophers kick off a seven-game homestand against the Western Carolina Catamounts. Hollins knocked down seven 3-pointers in the 84-69 triumph while adding seven rebounds in an efficient 34 minutes.
Coastal Carolina at Auburn 9:00 PM ET
Auburn has alternated wins and losses through its first six games, and the Tigers hope to continue that trend – at least for one more game – when the Tigers host Coastal Carolina on Friday. A sporadic offense has contributed heavily to Auburn’s inconsistent start: the Tigers have averaged 46 points in their three defeats, including Wednesday’s 46-44 loss at Texas Tech, while averaging 86.3 points in their trio of victories. KT Harrell has scored 20 or more points four times in six games.
Florida at Kansas 9:00 PM ET
A win over Kansas last year served as a springboard for Florida’s 30-game winning streak, but a similar result and run seem unlikely this time around as the Gators try to avoid falling under .500 for the first time in 16 years on Friday when they visit the 11th-ranked Jayhawks in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Florida concluded the 1997-98 season with a 14-15 mark in coach Billy Donovan’s second season – the last time the school finished with fewer than 20 wins.
Missouri at Oklahoma 9:30 PM ET
When No. 20 Oklahoma hosts Missouri on Friday in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge game, coach Lon Kruger hopes the Sooners’ former conference rival receives a rude and raucous reception. “It’s the night before the Bedlam football game, and we need the Lloyd Noble Center filled and rocking,” Kruger wrote in an open letter to fans on the school’s athletic website. “… Please plan on being at the game early this Friday and making a lot of noise.”