College Basketball: Holiday Hoops Preview
on-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 20 – MGM Grand Showcase
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV (doubleheader begins at 9pm on ESPNU)
Washington vs Oklahoma
UNLV vs Utah
A series of surprise results early in the season has led to this showcase being a destination for college basketball fans as three ranked teams will take the floor on the Vegas strip. The nightcap features the hometown hosts from UNLV tangling with Utah and their pair of NBA prospects, Delone Wright and Jakob Poeltl. A win for the Rebs could put UNLV in the at-large conversation at season’s end. Utah will be looking to build on the confidence they gained from pushing Kansas to the brink in their last contest.
The first pairing of the night is expected to yield the most fireworks. Oklahoma and Washington are both off to fast starts that have included big wins and the emergence of unlikely stars. Shawn Kemp Jr. is starting to show glimpses of his father’s athleticism around the hoop. Nigel Williams-Goss was one of the Pac-12’s best freshmen last year, but as a sophomore, he is starting to make the leap towards being an all-conference type of player as he leads the team in scoring.
Oklahoma depends on the dynamic Buddy Hield and his backcourt mate Isaiah Cousins for a good portion of their scoring, but the team is defined by frontcourt players like Ryan Spangler and TaShawn Thomas. The Sooners always look like a football team on a basketball court, which will lead to an interesting contrast of styles between them and Washington. The Huskies push the tempo, but they also utilize the talents of seven-footer Robert Upshaw. His shot-blocking and rim protection has been a revelation for the Huskies, and it could be a difference-maker in Vegas if he is able to neutralize OU’s interior scoring threats.
KEY TO THE GAME: Buddy Hield will score his points, but who will be the second and third option for the Sooners? Washington is deep and balanced. Beating the Huskies will take a total team effort, and that likely means an extended contribution from someone like Jordan Woodard.
KEY TO THE GAME: Utah has the best big man and the best guard on the court. However, UNLV does have plenty of depth and team athleticism. The Rebs must play their best defensive game of the year if they hope to pull the upset.