I bet you thought this was going to be a picture of Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague, or Michael Kidd Gilchrist, didn’t you?
Thursday 1/19/12
#8 North Carolina at Virginia Tech (College Basketball)- 9:00 PM on ESPN
Will the Tar Heels be able to put Saturday’s meltdown against Florida State behind them? They were absolutely embarrassed by a very mediocre, offensively challenged team, now how will they respond? The Hokies are very similar to the Seminoles. They have a similar record, they have similar offensive stats and the game is in their gym. Will Ole Roy have to pull his squad off the floor to avoid another bum-rush? If UNC loses this one, you might as well pencil them in as a two seed in the tournament.
Vanderbilt at Alabama (College Basketball)- 7:00 PM on ESPN
Kevin Stallings has been pissing and moaning about games like this lately, so we should all tune in to watch the ‘Dores visit the Tide and then see if there are any ill effects Saturday. Both teams have identical 13-4 records while Bama is 2-1 in the SEC and Vandy is 3-0. Both were ranked in the top 25 when the season began and as of now both are out due to some bad losses. Can they continue to improve and TRY to challenge Kentucky for the league title?
Lakers at Heat (NBA Basketball)- 8:00 PM on TNT
Kentucky’s #1 NBA fan has been without his running mate (Dewayne Wade) for the past few games, but his heat have not missed a beat. They welcome the LA Lakers, a team that saw Kobe Bryant score over 40 points in four straight games. Tune in to see the elite of the NBA go head to head, as LeBron James tries to establish himself as the League’s best player, while Kobe wants to show us all that he still has the rights to that title.
Friday 1/20/12
Underworld Awakening (Nerdy Vampire vs. Werewolf Movie with Hot Chick as the Lead Character)
Well, at least it’s not Twilight and at least it has Kate Beckinsale in leather. I don’t think I’ll be checking this one out, but hey, it might be better than it looks. Probably not.
Saturday 1/21/12 (My 30th Birthday)
Alabama at #2 Kentucky (College Basketball)- 12:00 PM on CBS
The reason I have Darius Miller’s photo at the top of this post is because I really thought his fast scoring barrage really set the pace for the Wildcats against Arkansas on Tuesday night. Miller set the tone and the Cats never looked back. Alabama does not play the fast paced, up and down game that Arkansas plays, but they have some big time athletes on the squad. JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell are NBA guys that play on a talented and tough team. They have no big time marquee wins, but they have been solid all season long.
But Kentucky hit a gear that we have not seen since before the North Carolina game. Was it the pace? Are the players finally getting their confidence back? Has Teague figured it out? I’m not sure what the answer is, but I know Saturday is going to be a lot of fun if they play the same way they did on Super Tuesday.
#5 Missouri at #3 Baylor (College Basketball)- 2:00 PM on ESPN
The Bears met their first loss at Kansas versus a very improved top 10 team. Baylor is extremely talented and young (second only to Kentucky) and can beat anyone in the country at home. Missouri’s lone loss came at an up and down Kansas State, somewhere Baylor won earlier this season.
#21 Louisville at Pittsburgh (College Basketball)- 9:00 PM on ESPN
You want a good laugh for the day? ESPN College Game Day is at Pittsburgh on Saturday for what was supposed to be a top 15 Big East match up. What they have instead is a 2-4 in the Big East Louisville team against 0-6 in the Big East Pitt. Talk about a snoozer. Nothing can make this game exciting. Well, Erin Andrew helps. Look for the Panthers to get their first league win as Louisville falls to 2-5 and further towards the NIT.
Saturday 1/22/12
Ravens at Patriots (NFL Playoff Football)- 3:00 PM on CBS
Two years ago Ray Rice scored on the first play from scrimmage in New England and the route was on. The Ravens stopped the Pats short in the Playoffs and now it’s time for revenge. Tom Brady is playing on another level, but if there is a defense that can stop him, it’s Ray Lewis and Baltimore. But, Baltimore’s D is getting old while Brady’s tight ends are young and talented. The Pats are about to make a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Giants at 49ers (NFL Playoff Football)- 6:30 PM on Fox
There may not be a scarier team in these playoffs than the Giants. Memories of Eli’s first Super Bowl run are starting to arise as his G-Men knocked off the defending champion Packers at home. The 49ers are the surprise team of the NFL this season and Jim Harbaugh has them playing like Joe Montana’s boys. No matter how much San Fran has improved, the Giants will be in line for a rematch with the Patriots in the Biggest Game on the Planet.