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spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08.appFooter = "Source: Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News";
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spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","","Texas' D.J. Augustin drives by UCLA's Alfred Aboya.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071202/071202_texUcla_vlg8p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Gus Ruelas", "AP", "279", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "Around here, we have been preaching for years that loading up on big-time non-conference opponents and then diving into a big-time league schedule is no way to win a national championship. Coaches love to say a rugged schedule makes their teams tougher. Fans love to hear such talk. The media love to print it. But it's fiction. It would appear coaches finally have gotten the message. Pick through the schedules that have been released to date and you will find few heavyweight non-league games outside of those that might (or might not) occur in multi-team tournaments such as the Maui Invitational or NIT Season Tip-Off.
So it'll be that much more important to clear your schedule for these heavyweight showdowns";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","Duke at Purdue","Duke's Kyle Singler.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SPORTS/080308/g-spt-080308-singler1-9a.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Kevin C. Cox", "Getty Images", "248", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Dec. 2, Mackey Arena
Time: 9 p.m.
Why: This is a rare opportunity. The Blue Devils don't ordinarily spend a lot of time on the road for non-league games, and when they do they like to squeeze it in after ACC play has begun. Wait'll they get a load of the Paint Crew, the black-clad screamers who've restored the magic to one of the game's storied venues. ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","North Carolina vs. Michigan State","North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/2007/Dec/071227/080102-Tyler%20Hansbrough-vmed-8p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Gerry Broome", "AP", "291", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Dec. 3, Ford Field, Detroit
Time: 9:15 p.m.
Why: Could this be a Final Four preview? In every sense of the word, yes. The Tar Heels figure to be there in the spring. The Spartans most certainly could make it. And the \"there\" we're talking about, indeed, will be Ford Field. Let's hope an April rematch, if it develops, won't seem anticlimactic. ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","UCLA at Texas","UCLA's Darren Collison.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080323/080323-collison-hmed-8p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Kevork Djansezian", "AP", "273", "334", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Dec. 4, Erwin Center
Time: 9 p.m.
Why: There doesn't seem to be a ton of preseason adoration for either the Longhorns or Bruins because each program lost stars to NBA early entry. Did you know there are six returning starters from these two teams that earned a combined 66 victories? ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","USC at Oklahoma","Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080126/080126-blake-griffin-vmed-4p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Rod Aydelotte", "AP", "239", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Dec. 4, Lloyd Noble Center
Time: TBA
Why: These \"challenge series\" that have sprung up between conferences are fairly trite, but right now they're producing about the only good non-league, on-campus matchups during the pre-conference part of the season. This game could feature two of the top half-dozen picks in the 2009 NBA draft: OU power forward Blake Griffin and USC wing DeMar DeRozan. ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","Connecticut vs. Gonzaga","Connecticut's Scott Robinson, right, celebrates with Hasheem Thabeet.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080216/080216-conn-vlrg-1p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Scott Audette", "AP", "290", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Dec. 20, Key Arena, Seattle
Time: 4 p.m.
Why: If thereʼs one thing that might be missing from the Zags potentially making a Final Four run, itʼs that sense theyʼll back down neither physically nor mentally along the way. Some call it \"toughness,\" but it's more esoteric than that. It's really closer to hunger. Against a team with UConn's talent, Gonzaga either will discover that quality or suffer the consequences. ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","UNLV at Louisville","Louisville's Terrence Williams.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/COVER/080327/g-080327-cvr-louisville-vert-10p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Kevin C. Cox", "Getty Images", "264", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Dec. 31, Freedom Hall
Time: 6 p.m.
Why: OK, quick scheduling lesson: Never be the coach who agrees to a road game on Dec. 23 or New Year's Eve. Your guys do not want to be there. But if you make this mistake, we'll be happy to watch. ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","Davidson at Duke","Davidson's Stephen Curry.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080323/080323-curry-vmed-3p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Chuck Burton", "AP", "298", "194", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Jan. 7, Cameron Indoor Stadium
Time: 7 p.m.
Why: So many people wondered why All-American Stephen Curry did not wind up in the ACC. Well, here's a chance for him to experience the ultimate in ACC road games. The Cameron Crazies have four months to figure out something clever to chant at him. That ought to be enough time. ";
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i++] = new Array("","Memphis at Tennessee","Memphis' Joey Dorsey fights for a rebound against Tennessee in Memphis' loss last season.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SPORTS/080223/g-080223-spt-memphis-8p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Joe Murphy", "Getty Images", "269", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_BKC_Games_to_watch08[i-1].body = "
Date, place: Jan. 24, Thompson-Boling Arena
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Why: The Tigers went all the way to the NCAA championship game last year, but Vols fans still laugh about their consecutive victories in this series. Tennessee is one program that loaded up its schedule, with games against Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette and whatever comes in the Old Spice Classic. Good thing the SEC isn't what it used to be
";
// END editorial data