College Hoops Week In Preview

Monday’s Five Biggest Stories
-We knew UCLA was going to have a down year this season, but this far down? After going to overtime against Cal State Fullerton, each team only scored three points in the first OT and then the Titans outscored the Bruins 8-5 in the second OT to defeat the Bruins 68-65 after two extra sessions. Aaron Thompson scored 22 to lead all scorers for CSF while Michael Roll and Malcom Lee each had 17 to lead UCLA.
-A young Kentucky teams are going to have some bumps in the road, and they had one of those last night against Miami of Ohio. But John Wall scored 19 to lead the Wildcats in his collegiate debut including the game winner as time expired as UK defeated Miami 72-70 to go to 2-0. Nick Winbush scored 26 to lead all scorers for the Redhawks.
-Villanova reached the final four last year and did not miss a beat against a very good Penn team last night. Frosh G Maalik Wayns led the Wildcats with 16 and 14 each from Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes and bigtime transfer Taylor King, four of six Villanova players in double figures in a 103-65 win over the Quakers.
-Heralded freshman Lance Stephenson had a forgettable debut, scoring just seven points and getting four rebounds in 22 minutes, but his Bearcats teammates picked him up. Deonta Vaughn had 15 and fellow frosh Cashmere Wright had 12 as Cincinnati held off Prairie View A&M 69-62.
-Stephen F. Austin made the tournament last season, but Minnesota made quick work with them, getting 15 each from Gophers star Lawrence Westbrook and Devoe Joseph as Minnesota rocked SFA 82-42. The Gophers had 10 players play at least 15 minutes for a deep Tubby Smith team.

Week In Preview
Tuesday- ESPN’s 24 hour coverage continues with 23rd ranked Clemson playing Liberty at 10 a.m. eastern, Northeastern at an excellent Siena team at noon, UALR at DeAndre Jordan and  Tulsa at 2 and Temple at Georgetown at 4. Pitt hosts Binghamton at 5:30 on ESPN2, followed by Arkansas and Louisville. Duke hosts Charlotte at 6 on ESPN followed by a great doubleheader featuring Gonzaga at Michigan State and Memphis and Kansas from St. Louis. Arizona State will be on ESPN2 at 11:30. Tennessee, Oklahoma, UConn and more will be on ESPN360.
Wednesday- Texas hosts Western Carolina as the only top 25 team playing. Butler plays Northwestern, Utah St is at Utah and Lance Stephenson and Cincinnati plays Toledo at 7:30 on ESPN360 as will Nebraska and Colorado.
Thursday- The Coaches Vs Cancer Classic has a doubleheader on ESPN2 from Madison Square Garden with Syracuse playing California at 7 and Ohio State against UNC after. Kansas hosts Central Arkansas on ESPN360 at 8 eastern and Kentucky will also be on 360. Dayton and Georgia Tech play in a battle of ranked teams as part of the Puerto-Rico tip-off at 11:30 followed by George Mason and Villanova at 2 on ESPNU. Penn State plays UNC-Wilmington in Charleston at 4:30 on the U, with Indiana and Ole Miss continuing from PR on ESPN2 at 5:30. A-10 sleeper LaSalle plays South Carolina in Charleston at 9:30 on ESPNU.
Friday- Tennessee, Purdie, DePaul, Northern Iowa, St Joe’s and Boston College are among the teams playing at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. Tournaments also begin in Daytona Beach and Albequerque. Vanderbilt plays at Saint Mary’s in the game of the day at 11:30.
Saturday- Rider already knocked off Mississippi State, they’ll try to win at Kentucky. Oklahoma will be at VCU and Duke, Illinois, Georgetown and Butler will also be in action. TCU-Nebraska, Siena-Temple and SIU will play at Nevada.
Sunday- Louisville hosts Morgan State at 1 on ESPN360 and Michigan State hosts Valparaiso. Missouri will also be on ESPN360 and NC State plays Auburn in Daytona Beach.
Monday- The Maui Invitational begins with Colorado and Gonzaga at 3 on ESPN2 followed by Cincinnati and Vanderbilt. Maryland plays Chaminade at 9:30 on ESPNU followed by Arizona and Wisconsin at midnight on ESPN2. The CBE Classic continues with Texas playing at Iowa and Pitt hosting Wichita State.