Watch Grid: 12/2-12/8

We're back to regularly scheduled Watch Grids here, where I don't have to look up the schedule every single day and can instead do an entire week at once. I also can go back to just typing team names and not having to constantly look up what country a game is being played in and whether or not there are more games after that one not currently being listed. Anyways, here's this week's grid:

Monday, December 2nd

Nothing too notable today. The Big Ten/ACC Challenge kicks off with some mid-level games, before the really interesting ones happen later in the week.

Tuesday, December 3rd

Now that's more like it. While Kenpom has both Louisville and Michigan State as pretty significant home favorites, there's still a lot of preseason projections worked into those predictions, which don't yet fully account for a vastly over-performing Michigan and a slightly under-performing Michigan state (relative to preseason expectations).

Wednesday, December 4th

The fun keeps rolling tonight, as Virginia's historically dominant defense and historically slogging tempo faces their first top 50 team of the season. Will Purdue get to 50 points? Kenpom says no. The late shift might give us our game of the week, as undefeated OSU heads to Chapel Hill for what should be an awesome matchup. But if my theory of Ohio State living out the exact plot of last year's Michigan team holds up, the Buckeyes should win in a blowout.

Thursday, December 5th

Aaaand the challenge is over so there are no good games tonight.

Friday, December 6th

Friday has potential to be interesting, with those weird December conference games happening in the Big Ten and ACC. Duke lost in Blacksburg last year but is a bigger favorite this year, and Michigan-Iowa on a Friday night always has weirdness potential. Meanwhile I have no idea why TCU is playing a game in their home city but not on their home court and I don't feel like looking it up.

Saturday, December 7th

Well look at that, our first loaded Saturday slate! The early game between Baylor and Arizona is probably the most interesting game of the day, with two teams that look greatly improved from last year. NC State/Wake might be a matchup of 2 NIT teams, but it's the best we've got in the early afternoon window. I'm particularly interested in finding out if Indiana is any good as they travel to Madison, since the best team they've played so far this year (by far) is Louisiana Tech. Colorado taking their undefeated record into Phog Allen will probably not go well for them, but stranger things have happened. Finally, ending the night with watching Markus Howard need to score 40 points on 30 shots is always recommended.

Sunday, December 8th

We finish off the week with some rare Sunday evening excitement. UNC/Virginia is always a fascinating clash of styles (although after watching Michigan's defense handle the Tar Heels, I have a feeling Virginia is going to suffocate them). Gonzaga heads to Washington, who really shouldn't be ranked, but will still give the Bulldogs a solid test. And if after all that you still want one more game, enjoy the bizarre experience of Iowa State and Seton Hall playing each other for the second straight game (The Pirates won the 5th place game in Atlantis before traveling back to New Jersey for a previously scheduled matchup).