The semester is ending, but basketball season is just getting started. These are the top games to watch over the break:
Texas at No. 6 Wake Forest
Dec. 18, 1 p.m., ESPN
Wake Forest will have revenge on its mind as it welcomes the Longhorns to Winston-Salem, N.C. Texas began Wake's tailspin last year by beating the then-No. 4 Deamon Deacons 94-81 in Austin. The loss was Wake's first of the season and the first in a four-game skid for Skip Prosser's club.
Texas' ability to hang with Wake will largely depend on the way Daniel Gibson responds to his first matchup with a great point guard. Wake Forest's Chris Paul is a Wooden Award candidate, but the team is currently led in scoring by Justin Gray. Gray scored a game-high 27 points in last year's loss.
Memphis at Texas
Jan. 6, 8 p.m., ESPN 2
John Calipari will bring his young and talented team to Austin early in 2005. The Tigers have jumped to a 5-2 start, including a win over Purdue. Memphis will come into the contest battle-tested, as it has already faced Maryland and Syracuse and will have faced Pitt before traveling to Austin.
Memphis is led in scoring by junior forward Rodney Carney, who averages just fewer than 20 points per game.
Baylor at Texas
Jan. 9, 2 p.m., FSNSW
It doesn't look like a noteworthy game, but with Texas' yawnable non-conference schedule, the beginning of Big 12 play is something to look forward to.
Baylor earned respect from just about everyone last season, when Scott Drew fielded a competitive team of nobody's following the ugly Patrick Dennehy situation in Waco. This year's team doesn't look any better, after losing by 15 to Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday.
Regardless, the game marks the start of Big 12 basketball.
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