College Hoops Viewing Guide For Wednesday, December 21, 2016

This list of games is not exhaustive by design. For a full schedule and more specific information about coverage—particularly for ACC RSN, ASN, CSN, and FSN games—visit Matt’s College Sports on TV Website.

If you’re only able to listen today, check out TuneIn’s college basketball lineup.

All times are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

Logos from SportsLogos.net.

South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, Day One

Both games are streaming.

	UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (1-7) vs. Iona Gaels (7-3) 3:15 p.m.
	Towson Tigers (7-4) vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (9-2) approx. 5:30 p.m.

While UC Santa Barbara is having a disappointing season, Iona, Nevada, and Towson will all challenge for their respective league titles, with the Wolf Pack looking like the Mountain West favorites here in mid-to-late December.

Hall of Fame’s Birthday Of Basketball

CBSSN will air both games.

	Fairfield Stags (5-4) vs. Boston College Eagles (6-5) 6 p.m.
	Oklahoma Sooners (6-4) vs. Auburn Tigers (8-2) approx. 8:30 p.m.

While the first game between Fairfield and Boston College will have limited national impact, the same can’t be said for the nightcap. Auburn, which lost to BC in the Under Armour Reunion last Monday, plays both Oklahoma and UConn on a New England road swing. Win both, and the Tigers, now with Austin Wiley in their frontcourt, will give their résumé a nice boost before SEC play.

No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats (10-1) at No. 10 Louisville Cardinals (10-1), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

With Christmas Eve falling on Saturday, this game was moved up to midweek for the first time in many years. Louisville hasn’t defeated Kentucky since 2012’s meeting at Rupp, and last season’s 75-73 Wildcat win was one of the games of the year (though it wouldn’t crack the top five of this season’s list). Can Malik Monk keep up his hot shooting, especially in a true road environment?

Illinois Fighting Illini (9-3) vs. Missouri Tigers (5-5) at St. Louis, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Mizzou last won Braggin’ Rights in Frank Haith’s penultimate season in Columbia (2012-13). Even though the Fighting Illini have been a bit inconsistent at times this season, don’t expect the Tigers to break the streak tonight.

Vermont Catamounts (8-4) at No. 13 Butler Bulldogs (10-1), 7 p.m. (FSN)

Fresh off a big win over Indiana in the Crossroads Classic, the Bulldogs will look to tame the America East favorite Catamounts, who are 0-3 in games against power conference foes this season.

Little Rock Trojans (9-3) at Florida Gators (8-3), 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

Again, I will be missing most of tonight’s other action, as I will be in Gainesville for the re-opening of O’Dome—the conclusion of Florida’s long November and December on the road.

Oakland Golden Grizzlies (9-2) at Michigan State Spartans (7-5), 7 p.m. (BTN)

Both squads lost to Northeastern in a 48-hour span—the Spartans by eight on Sunday night at Breslin, the Golden Grizzlies by just a bucket last night.

St. John’s Red Storm (5-7) at Syracuse Orange (7-4), 7 p.m. (ACC RSNs/ESPN3)

Last season, the Orange fell to the Red Storm after following up a loss to Georgetown with a win over Colgate. This year, Syracuse faces their former Big East rivals after losing to the Hoyas and running past Eastern Michigan. Tyler Lydon’s (achilles) availability tonight will be crucial for the hosts.

Vanderbilt Commodores (6-5) at Dayton Flyers (7-3), 7 p.m. (Spectrum Sports Ohio/A 10 on Facebook Live)

Last season, the Flyers won by five in Nashville in a meeting of eventual NCAA teams. Both could use the win tonight, though Dayton might be in more dire need, thanks to Saturday’s failed rally against Northwestern.

Texas Southern Tigers (4-8) at No. 4 Baylor Bears (11-0), 7:30 p.m. (FS Southwest/FCS Central)

The Tigers, losers of seven in a row, visit the Bears for the third season in a row—with Baylor winning both of those meetings.

Northern Iowa Panthers (5-5) at No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels (10-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Panthers have won just twice since topping Oklahoma in the semifinal of the Tire Pros Invitational back on November 18th. Don’t expect a repeat of UNI’s stunning 71-67 win in Cedar Falls from last season.

UAB Blazers (6-5) at Texas Longhorns (5-5), 8 p.m. (Longhorn Network)

The struggling Longhorns will look to build on Saturday’s failed late rally against Arkansas, while the Blazers have not won consecutive games all season. They’re coming off an OT home win over Southern.

Clemson Tigers (8-2) at No. 22 South Carolina Gamecocks (9-1), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

Sitting 26th, the Tigers outrank the Gamecocks by six spots in KenPom. South Carolina has won the last two in this series, but Clemson will have a great chance to break that streak if Sindarius Thornwell continues to sit out for S.C.

No. 12 Virginia Cavaliers (9-1) at California Golden Bears (9-2), 10 p.m. (ESPN2)

A day shy of one year ago, the Cavaliers needed OT to pick up a 63-62 win over the Golden Bears in Charlottesville.

Western Michigan Broncos (3-7) at No. 2 UCLA Bruins (12-0), 11 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National and Los Angeles)

On Sunday, the Broncos couldn’t hold on at Washington, falling 92-86. Don’t expect things to go any better for WMU against Lonzo Ball and company.

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