ESPN brings us Rivalry Week next week, the annual week-long event showcasing some of our favorite in-conference showdowns. Some years the Duke/Carolina tussle is worth the hype, and some years the attention deserves to be squarely on another dynamic rivalry. Based on what we’ve seen this year, with some additional factors in play, I have decided to rank the following seven ESPN televised rivalry games in order of least intriguing to “can’t miss.” Really, none are worth missing, but you know what I mean. Someone has to dwell in the cellar when rankings are involved.
7.) UConn @ Syracuse (Wednesday, 7 pm, ESPN)–This is normally a titanic matchup but UConn’s struggles are well-documented this year. Two different circumstances would make this much higher on this list. 1.) UConn coach Jim Calhoun back on the sidelines (he might be back, but it’s still unlikely) and 2.) the game being in Storrs, Connecticut instead of Syracuse. If this were a home game for UConn it would give the casual viewer of this rivalry (myself) more reason to tune in and see if the home crowd could carry UConn to victory. As it is now though this is all set up for Syracuse to continue their assault on the Big East.
6.) Tennessee @ Vanderbilt (Tuesday, 7 pm, ESPN)–Most people around the country probably don’t realize A.) that the state of Tennessee actually really likes basketball (UT women…) and B.) Vanderbilt, particularly, takes their basketball team seriously. Vanderbilt is currently tied with Kentucky for 1st place in the East, and Tennessee is just one game back. While some of the other rivalries on this list are out of state, this rivalry is an intrastate bragging rights battle. The heat in this rivalry has been cranked up since Bruce Pearl and Kevin Stallings began squaring off against one another. Let’s see if UT can dust off Memorial’s Magic.
5.) Duke @ North Carolina (Wednesday, 9pm, ESPN)–A Duke or North Carolina fan will probably try to sell you “this is why it’s the best rivalry” no matter what happens in this contest next week. But on paper here is what this rivalry is this season: A second-tier Duke team facing a below vintage North Carolina team (that was nice on my part). You will have to watch this game with one earplug in to keep yourself from believing that the winner of this game will use it to fuel a late-season charge towards the national championship. But, with all my caveats said, this is a rivalry game worth watching to see if a near lifeless UNC squad can play with an intensity that has so far lacked this season. You can bet the UNC fanbase is hoping this is the game that rallies all their talent. If Carolina pulls it out in dramatic fashion UNC will remember this game in a way in which Duke views the Jeff Capel memories of 1995–so that in itself creates a nice storyline for the game.
4.) Purdue @ Michigan State (Tuesday, 9pm, ESPN)–Purdue is dominated with experience in the starting lineup, so nerves in hostile territory do not apply here–one reason this should be an excellent game. The Breslin Center is one of america’s best venues, so the “Izzone” student section will no doubt be rocking. You have to expect this veteran Purdue squad to be licking their chops to tackle the beast that is Sparty in East Lansing, and thus cut into MSU’s lead in the Big 10 standings. There is plenty of motivation for Purdue, and time is running out to make a move to the top of the standings. The one drawback to this game is the potential absence of MSU point guard Kalin Lucas, but news out of Lansing this morning is that his ankle injury is not serious and he may even play this weekend. That sounds pretty good for his chances to play in this rivalry game Tuesday night. The Big 10 offers up low-scoring games far too often, but a Purdue/MSU matchup is still very much a marquee attraction.
3.) Kansas @ Texas (Monday, 9pm, ESPN)–Reason #1 to watch this game? How about because both teams have been ranked #1 this season and both teams have been on the short-list as national championship contenders all season long. Texas’ recent “slump,” losing three out four games, kept this from being a bit higher. What Texas team are we going to see? Still, there is plenty of NBA talent on the floor in this one and if Texas has any hope of winning the Big 12 this is a must win game. With a Kansas win the Jayhawks will have a stranglehold on the #1 national ranking and make it clear that they are the team to beat in the NCAA tournament. We should expect to see lots of intensity in this game….from players and fans.
2.) Tennessee @ Kentucky (College Gameday) (Saturday, 9pm, ESPN)–Kentucky sold out all available tickets for the Gameday event nearly two weeks ago. Tennessee may not care though. This is the same program that has finished ahead of Kentucky in the Eastern division for four straight years. It seems that when you put John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins on the national stage they do something special. They play better. So it will be interesting to see if the highlight reel plays are once again on display when the lights shine bright on Rupp Arena. You can’t watch Kentucky and not feel like you’re watching a college version of the Laker’s “showtime” era. At any moment a freakish athletic feat could invade your television screen. With the division lead possibly on the line, and ghosts of SEC East past in need of slaying, this game should needle past insanity on the crowd decibel meter.
1.) Villanova @ West Virginia (Monday, 7pm, ESPN)–The first game of the Rivalry Week lineup is my vote for game of the week. Which is the nation’s best basketball conference? The Big East. Which teams sit atop the Big East standings? Villanova is perfect at 9-0, while West Virginia is 7-2. If Villanova can keep from being hit with batteries or lead-weighted frisbies, this has all the makings of a great rivalry game. Seriously WVU fans, control yourselves. It’s embarassing. Outside of fan madness and standings within the conference, I am interested in this game for one real reason: just how good is Villanova? At the midway point of the college season we have identified four teams that would easily warrant the four number one seeds in the NCAA tournament if it started today: Kansas, Syracuse, Villanova and Kentucky. That really isn’t debatable. I’ve heard and seen much more about the other three than I have Villanova, who is quietly pasting people while flying at least a little bit under the “stud” radar. I want to know if the Wildcats can go into the heart of the West Virginia mountains, face an unruly (and semi-moronic) WVU crowd, and come out of the game pooping gold. We will all have an idea of how lethal Villanova is on Monday night!
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