WASHINGTON — Late January means a handful of things:
- I certainly hope the tree is down, especially after last weekend’s blizzard.
- Tagalongs and Samoas should be on the horizon as Girl Scout Cookie orders have been placed.
- We’re deep into college hoops season and can finally look towards the tournament and the at-large bubble starting next week. The fun gets underway early again this weekend with an Atlantic 10 showdown.
Friday:
VCU (15-5, 7-0 Atlantic 10) at Davidson (12-6, 4-3), 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
A classic matchup of defensive grit against offensive firepower. The Rams are dominating A-10 play, thanks to a suffocating defense that notches 9.9 steals per game and owns a turnover margin double that of their closest competitor. The Wildcats boast Jack Gibbs, who’s only scoring 25 points per game against conference foes. Davidson is a different team at Belk Arena, as coach Bob McKillop’s team has yet to lose at home this winter.
Saturday:
#11 Virginia (16-4, 5-3 ACC) at #16 Louisville (17-3, 6-1), 1 p.m. (CBS)
Do we give the Cavaliers credit for winning on the road in the ACC? I mean, it was at sad-sack Wake Forest, and they needed 9 points in the final 15 seconds (including a banked home, buzzer-beater prayer) to get it done. The Cardinals will provide a much tougher test, and KFC Yum Arena will provide a much tougher environment (despite the fact that you get two free sides with every basket).
Navy (15-6, 6-2 Patriot League) at Holy Cross (8-12, 3-6), 1:05 p.m.
How did the Midshipmen lose to last place American? In Annapolis? More head-scratching than Keenan Reynolds not being invited to New York for the Heisman Ceremony. Just like airing it out wasn’t the football team’s forte, the basketball Mids’ Achilles heel is 3-point shooting (or lack thereof): they were just 2-11 against AU and are under 30 percent as a team on the season. They beat the Crusaders by 5 at home earlier this winter…thanks to a +16 rebound advantage.
American (4-15, 2-6 Patriot League at Colgate (10-10, 6-3), 2 p.m.
Break up the Eagles! Two straight wins for coach Mike Brennan’s team has seen the emergence of Delante Jones. The freshman from Lynchburg scored 23 points in each of their two victories and could be the help senior Jesse Reed needs if AU is to surge up the standings. The Eagles managed just 37 points in the first meeting between the two schools.
Howard (10-10, 4-1 MEAC) at Morgan State (3-15, 1-4), 4 p.m.
James Daniel III is back…and with a vengeance. Division I’s leading scorer notched 24 points in the Bison’s win over Bethune-Cookman. Bad news for a Bears team that has just one victory since Thanksgiving.
Georgetown (13-8, 6-2 Big East) vs. #10 Providence (17-4, 5-3), 8 p.m. (FS1)
The Friars boast a classic 1-2 punch in guard Kris Dunn (17 points and 7 assists per game) and forward Ben Bentil (20 points and 8 rebounds) which is certain to put pressure on a Hoyas D that is improving (they held the Big East’s best 3-point shooting team Creighton to 4-21 outside the arc Tuesday). One major concern is taking care of the ball: the Friars lead the conference in turnover margin, while Georgetown is second-to-last in the league.
Sunday:
George Washington (15-5, 4-3 Atlantic 10) at George Mason (7-13, 1-6), 12 p.m. (NBCSN)
The Colonials allowed Richmond to shoot 60 percent from the field and 11-19 from three point range in a double-overtime loss to the Spiders. Not the best night for Tyler Cavanaugh to have his worst shooting night of the season (5-17 from the field). GW now prepares for a Patriots team that has offensive issues (last in the A-10 in shooting and turnover margin). Prepare for a big battle on the boards between the conference’s top two rebounding teams.
#8 Maryland (18-3, 7-2 Big Ten) at Ohio State (14-8, 6-3), 1 p.m. (CBS)
The Terps are still coming down from the high of knocking off #3 Iowa in College Park, while the Buckeyes are still smarting from a 100-65 drubbing at Xfinity Center January 16. OSU is a product of its conference schedule — they’ve looked fantastic against Minnesota and Penn State while appearing pedestrian against Indiana. Still…the Terrapins are less than awesome away from College Park, just 2-3 on the road this season.
Richmond (11-8, 3-4 Atlantic 10) at St Bonaventure (12-6, 4-3), 3 p.m.
The Spiders shot the lights out in Foggy Bottom. Can they keep it up in Alleghany against a Bonnies team that has dropped three straight? One game separates fourth from ninth place in the A-10’s growing middle class.
Virginia Tech (12-9, 4-4 ACC) at Pitt (16-4, 5-3), 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
That maroon and orange star you see flaming on its way toward the earth? The formerly first-in-the-conference Hokies, ladies and gentlemen. The scrappy bunch from Blacksburg takes a break from facing Top 25 teams to visit a school on the fringe of the rankings. We’re still awaiting the Panthers’ explanation for how they lost by 17 at home to NC State. Buzz Williams’ team held their own on the glass against the ACC’s best rebounding team in Louisville — they have to do so again Sunday if they’re going to rebound from a three-game losing streak.
