4 college basketball games to watch in November

Despite the home-court advantage, this one could go either way, with the loser possibly getting revenge in April.

No. 4 Uconn at No. 5 Arizona (Nov. 18)

Reason: Likely Top Five Showdown

Speaking of March contenders, UConn travels to Arizona for what could be a second top-five matchup in two days. The contest begins a brutal eight-game stretch for the Huskies that features Duke, Illinois, No. 17 Kansas and No. 9 Virginia.

UConn’s Dan Hurley and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd are two of the best coaches in the country, and both are hungry to get back on the hardwood after heartbreaking finishes last season. UConn fell short of a national title against Michigan, while the Wildcats appeared to be the best team in the nation for a while before being bounced from the Final Four.

For the cherry on top, Arizona defeated the Huskies last November in Connecticut, so it’s safe to say Hurley wants revenge.

No. 19 Texas Tech vs No. 11 Louisville (Nov. 24)

Reason: High Stakes

Admittedly, Texas Tech-Louisville is simply a placeholder for the entire Players Era Championships, as there are bound to be higher-ranked matchups in the later rounds.

Nonetheless, the Cardinals have one of the best transfer portal additions in center Flory Bidunga and are looking to compete for an ACC title. This will be Louisville’s first gut check, while the Red Raiders will have already been tested after an early visit from Illinois.

The Players Era expanded to 24 teams this year and features two separate brackets. The tournament also offers programs NIL opportunities, meaning the stakes go beyond building a strong resume.

New Mexico at Santa Clara (Nov. 14)

Reason: Big for the Bubble

Sure, most fans don’t have this one circled on their calendars, but it’s a significant mid-major collision that the selection committee could point to on Selection Sunday.

New Mexico is favored to win the Mountain West, while Santa Clara is expected to win the West Coast Conference. Both programs expect to be dancing in March, but if either one isn’t crowned conference champions, it’ll likely be lingering on the bubble, and the result of this matchup could decide if it’s on the right side of it.

The Lobos won this game last year, but the Broncos held standout guard Jake Hall to just five points. They’ll have to do so again to have a chance at topping New Mexico this time around.