SEC Set Your TiVo will take a look ahead at each week’s key games. See bottom of the post for the Official RTC Star System.
The SEC non-conference basketball schedule heads into Thanksgiving by finishing up its early season tournaments. Those already back from their tourney travels kick off the holiday week with an easy-as-pie opponent. Which games this week are the turkey meat and which are the store-bought cold bean salad that stays unserved on the kitchen counter?
Tennessee vs. #6 Duke (at Maui Invitational) – Monday, Nov. 21st 5:30 PM EST on ESPN2 (***)
Tennessee vs. #13 Memphis or #14 Michigan – Tuesday, Nov. 22nd 2:00 PM (or 7:00 PM) EST on ESPN2 (or ESPN) (****)
Tennessee vs. UCLA/Chaminade/#15 Kansas/Georgetown – Wednesday, Nov. 23rd (Time and TV TBD)
As the sole SEC representative in this year’s EA Sports Maui Invitational, Tennessee faces quite the gauntlet. First up are the Blue Devils, whose outside shooting (42% 3FG) and size advantage in 6’11” forwards Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly will be a significant advantage. The Volunteers will either need to find a way to score inside or keep riding a hot 3-point shooting streak (26 of 53 in two games) to find the exit with a victory. Memphis and Michigan have youthful teams that share a ghost-like quickness. Tennessee won’t out-shoot the Wolverines from deep and can’t out-run Memphis so Cuonzo Martin might have make some magic happen with his forwards in order for the Vols to overcome either team.
Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin really wants his team to stop shooting the magic potions. (Photo via AP Photo/The News Sentinel, Adam Brimer)
With one victory in Maui before Wednesday, Tennessee will find a key that helps open the door to an NCAA Tournament bid. With two straight losses, the Vols would likely face UCLA or Chamiade on Wednesday and their NCAA chances in trouble early in the season. Tuesday’s game will be probably the best to watch especially if in-state rival Memphis is involved.
TCU vs. Ole Miss (at Paradise Jam in U.S. Virgin Islands) – Monday, Nov. 21st 6:00 PM EST on FCS (**)
Though the weather is warm in the Virgin Islands, the shooting for TCU and Ole Miss has been cold. TCU enters the third-place game of the Paradise Jam tournament through yesterday’s 66-53 upset by Norfolk State. The Horned Frogs shot just 25.4% FG for the game and allowed the Spartans to shoot 47.6%. Likewise Mississippi will be rebounding from an awful shooting (32.1% FG, 3-23 3FG) and defensive (55.8% FG Allowed) outing in Sunday’s 96-66 blowout by #19 Marquette. Senior forward Terrance Henry should be effective against TCU’s interior defense. The Ole Miss guards will need to have a more productive game — especially limiting turnovers — in order for the team to fly back home with the warm fuzzy feeling of victory.
#17 Vanderbilt vs. Oregon State (at TicketCity Legends Classic in East Rutherford, N.J) – Monday, Nov. 21st 9:00 PM EST on ESPN3.com (***)
Vanderbilt has a real problem with defense. In four games, they are allowing opponents to shoot 49.1% from the floor. Opponents are shooting slightly better than the Commodores from three-point range (32.8% to 32%) and have an effective field goal percentage of 53.4%. Enter Oregon State and junior guard Jared Cunningham, who has scored 72 points in the last two games including a 100-95 victory over Texas. It will be interesting to see if Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings can find the right personnel on his deep and experienced bench to slow down Cunningham and also limit the rest of the Beavers.
Wright State @ Florida – Monday, Nov. 21st 7:00 PM on ESPN3.com (*)
Mississippi Valley State @ South Carolina – Tuesday, Nov. 22nd 7:00 PM EST on FCS, ESPN3.com (*)
Radford @ Kentucky – Wednesday, Nov. 23rd 7:00 PM on ESPN Full Court, ESPN3.com (*)
South Alabama @ LSU – Wednesday, Nov. 23rd 8:00 PM on ESPN Full Court, ESPN3.com (*)
Who’s got the whipped cream? All of these games should be sweet victories for the SEC teams. You might want to check out South Carolina’s game if you’re into offensive indigestion.
#18 California vs. Georgia (at CBE Classic in Kansas City, Mo.) – Monday, Nov. 21st 9:45 PM EST on ESPN2, ESPN3.com (**)
Georgia vs. #22 Missouri/Notre Dame (at CBE Classic in Kansas City, Mo.) (**)
Tonight the Guard-heavy Golden Bears meet guard-heavy Bulldogs. Cal’s young bench has yet to be tested and might be its Achilles’ Heel, but Georgia is also not deep. California’s rebounding is not great but Georgia’s is worse (234th nationally in total rebounds). Georgia is going to have to be the hotter-shooting team if it wants to avoid the consolation game tomorrow and a probable match-up with Notre Dame.
Gerald Smith vs. Granny’s Red Velvet Cake – Thursday, Nov. 24th 11:30 AM (*)
You don’t want to watch this. It’s gonna be a massacre.