6 Can't Miss Early Season League Conference Games

A few weeks ago we took a look at some can't miss out of conference games and as those games finish with tonight's border war (Mizzou vs. Ill), it is a good time to take a look at 6 early season conference games that will go a long way to determining the major conference races. These games have a tendency to get lost in the shuffle since they are during the holidays and matched up against bowl week and the NFL playoff push. So while you are sweating out your bowl poll and trying to determine the Wild Card weekend matchups don't forget about these college hoops games.

Big East: UConn @ Pittsburgh (12/27)

The first "Big Monday" features two teams ranked in the top 6, but this game will be in the shadows of the "Monday Night Football" Saints @ Falcons showdown. During one of UConn coach Jim Calhoun's many compliant filled rants he railed against the date of this game, but upon further review this might be a good time for the Huskies to visit Pittsburgh, as UConn is undefeated and playing well, while Pittsburgh is coming off a confidence shaking home loss to Tennessee. UConn is led by early player of the year candidate, Kemba Walker, who used his summer practicing against the US World Championship team to develop his shot and is averaging 27 pts/game. Pittsburgh has made defense their calling card under Jaime Dixon and defense is what let them down vs. Tennessee and Scotty Hopson. They will get another chance against Walker, if Walker has the type of games he had vs. Mich. St. and Kentucky in Maui UConn could get a huge road conference win and the upper hand in this conference. An under the radar barometer of this game will be UConn 6'9" sophmore forward Alex Oriakhi, who is averaging 11.4 pts and 10 rpg against Pittsburgh's senior center, Gary McGhee, who has developed a reputation as a NBA type interior defender.

Big Ten: Minnesota @ Michigan State (12/31)

Minnesota will enter conference play with only one loss, to Virginia in the ACC/Big 10 challenge along with three nice wins, St. Joe's, UNC, and WVU. They have the toughest early season schedule in the toughest conference with this game, which comes after a trip to Wisconsin on 12/28, and we will know more about this team before the first of the year than any team in the country. Minnesota is well balanced with 5 players averaging between 14.8 and 9.2 ppg, and is a veteran team with toughness and size that will be required traits to compete in East Lansing vs. a talented team that is searching for an identity. Michigan State has struggled by their standards, with a brutal early season schedule, but this team is too talented not to contend in March. Kalin Lucas has struggled coming back from achilles surgery and stunningly does not lead the team in points or assists/game and needs to get his team shots, as the Spartans have turned the ball over at a much higher rate than past Izzo teams. A determining matchup in this game will be the leading scorers of both teams, Minnesota's hard working 6'4" Blake Hoffarber against Michigan State's ultra-talented 6'5" Durrell Summers.

Pac 10: Washington @ UCLA (12/31)

The talent level of this conference is improved from last year, but the Mountain West will still get more tourney invites, so any chance to make a statement is much needed out west. Washington was close in Maui with last minute losses to Kentucky and Michigan State and UCLA has a win over BYU and was robbed at Kansas coupled with losses to Nova, VCU, and a bad loss to Montana. Washington is balanced and athletic led by PG Isiah Thomas, who leads the team in scoring and pushes the pace relentlessly. UCLA will counter by slowing the game at home and isolating 6'8" sophomore Tyler Honeycutt, who is averaging 15.5 pts and 8.4 rpg and seems to relish the spotlight of a big game. UCLA will try to defend their home court and a win would signal a chance at the tourney, while an early season road win at the Pauley Pavilion would cement Washington as the Pac-10's most dangerous team.

ACC: Miami @ Duke (1/2)

Any team that goes into Cameron and beats the unanimous #1 in the country will have achieved the biggest upset of the year, Miami and the rest of the mediocre ACC have about as much chance of achieving this feat as Michael Jordan does of being named NBA executive of the year. On this last Sunday of the NFL regular season we will get to see how Duke continues to evolve with the loss of PG Kyrie Irving and the development of Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins, who will now be counted on to contribute in his place. A competitive game would give Miami an early confidence boast to contend in a league with a Grand Canyon like drop off after Duke. Miami is tough in the post, so a good showing by Mason Plumlee would alleviate some Duke fears of being too overly relient on perimeter scoring.

Big 12: Kansas State @ Oklahoma State (1/8)

Kansas State will have pre-season All American Jacob Pullen back for this game and should have Curtis Kelly back as well, both were suspended this week for receiving improper benefits through a department store. The Wildcats have been unable to live up to the pre-season hype due to the inability to find a point guard and rebound the basketball. Pullen looks about as comfortable running the point as the new Tiger Woods does interacting through Twitter and Pullen's 3.8 apg lead the team by almost two assists, which has to be a huge concern for coach Frank Martin along with Curtis Kelly only pulling down 4 boards/game. Oklahoma State has benefited from an easy out of conference schedule with only a loss to VTech, and getting a disjointed KState team at home so early in conference play should be a big advantage for the Cowboys and leading scorer Marshall Moses, who has taken over as this year's James Anderson for coach Travis Ford.

SEC: Florida @ Tennessee (1/11)

Florida has been up and down from week to week and game to game, while Tennessee started out 7-0 with the most impressive wins in college basketball over Nova in MSG and Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh and then lost three in a row, two to mid majors. This game should be fun to watch as both teams want to run, Florida has two athletic big men in Vernon Macklin and Alex Tyus who excel in transition, and Tennessee will press Florida's turnover prone guards and rely on the inside/outside combo of Scotty Hopson and Brian Williams. Hopefully this game features the Florida team that held KSU to 44 points in a blowout win and the UT team that never let Pittsburgh get close, and not the Florida team that lost to Jacksonville and the UT team that lost to Charlotte.