Chase Swaringen

College basketball is officially underway and each weekend brings a full slate of excellent matchups from around the nation. On this weekend edition of what to watch for, I break down which matchup to watch, players to keep an eye on, and an upset of the weekend.

Matchup of the Weekend:

#11 Cincinnati vs. #21 Xavier (December 2nd), This crosstown matchup between two Cincinnati based schools has the atmosphere of a high school rivalry game every year. Xavier will host the Bearcats, who put their unbeaten record on the line. Expect this one to be a dogfight from the very beginning as these two teams have a knack for getting into some extracurricular activities when playing against each other.

Player to Watch:

Collin Sexton, Alabama vs. UCF. As a freshman, Sexton is fifth in the nation in scoring with 24.7 points per game. In the Crimson Tide’s matchup with Minnesota, Sexton scored 40; bear in mind Alabama was playing with 3 players for a portion of the second half. What’s most exciting about this full-sided matchup for Sexton is it’ll showcase his ability to get in the lane and finish through contact, especially when up against UCF center Tacko Fall.

Upset Alert: 

Seton Hall defeats #17 Louisville (December 3rd). The Cardinals have had one heck of an offseason and they still haven’t shaken off the dust quite yet. An early season loss to Purdue showcased their inability to defend the paint and Angel Delgado for Seton Hall may just be college basketball’s best big man. The Louisville crowd could go home disappointed after this one. Seton Hall – 83 Louisville – 75