Indiana-Michigan State and the Must-See College Basketball Conference Openers

We've seen some exciting college basketball in the past two months. Indiana upset No. 1 Kentucky, Kansas overcame Ohio State and preseason ranked No. 1 North Carolina took on two early season losses. 

And the best part is it's all just beginning. Non-conference play is just wrapping up, and teams are settling down for conference play, which will start in the final days of December. 

Here are the conference openers you won't want to miss. 

ACC: Maryland vs. NC State

When: Sunday, Jan. 8; 6:00 pm ET

Where: North Carolina State (RBC Center)

Preview: North Carolina State (8-4) will host Maryland (8-3) to begin their conference play. The Wolfpack has lost all of their games to solid opponents (Stanford, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Indiana), and managed to stay in those games despite losing. 

Maryland (7-3) has yet to win against a tough opponent, and has dropped games to Alabama, Illinois and Iona. The Terrapins look to assert themselves in the ACC and will have to bring their best against a strong North Carolina State team.

Top Performers: 

NC State: C.J. Leslie: 13.1 PPG 6.3 RPG 2.4 BPG

Maryland: Terrell Stoglin: 21.5 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.0 APG

Broadcast: ESPN U

Big 12: Kansas State vs. Kansas

When: Wednesday, Jan. 4; 8:00 pm ET

Where: Kansas (Allen Fieldhouse)

Preview: No. 11 Kansas (7-3) will host Kansas State in their Big 12 conference opener. The Jayhawks fell early in the season to two Top 10 teams—Kentucky and Duke—and then were able to rebound and beat Ohio State. Kansas looks to get off to good start in the Big 12 in order to stay competitive with No. 7 Baylor and No. 8 Missouri. 

Kansas State (9-1) has done a good job of rebuilding after the loss of their star Jacob Pullen. They have only lost one game on the season, which was settled in double overtime, and have beaten No. 21 Alabama by 13 points. They'll give Kansas a run for its money in this thriller at Allen Fieldhouse.

Top Performers:

Kansas: Thomas Robinson: 17.4 PPG 11.8 RPG 1.2 BPG

Kansas State: Jamar Samuels: 12.1 PPG 7.0 RPG 1.0 SPG

Broadcast: Big 12 Network 

Big 12: Texas vs. Iowa State

When: Wednesday, Jan. 4; 9:00 pm ET

Where: Iowa State (Hilton Coliseum)

Preview: The Iowa State Cyclones (9-3) will host the Texas Longhorns (9-3) for both teams' first Big 12 conference matchup. Both teams have been flying under the radar due to their evasion of the Top 25, but they are both competitive teams that could make NCAA Tournament runs. 

Iowa State lost their only game against a Top 25 opponent (No. 15 Michigan), and has shown some inconsistency with losses to lesser teams in November. 

Texas may not have the most impressive lineup this year as they rebuild, but they have remained competitive this year. Two of their three loses were settled by five points or less and were to good opponents (Oregon State and NC State). The Longhorns may turn some heads in the Big 12. 

Top Performers: 

Iowa State: Royce White: 14.2 PPG 9.6 RPG 4.3 APG

Texas: J'Covan Brown: 19.0 PPG 4.3 APG 1.2 SPG

Broadcast: ESPN U

Big East: Georgetown vs. Louisville

When: Wednesday, Dec. 28; 7:00 pm ET

Where: Louisville (KFC Yum! Center)

Preview: This Big East Conference opener is set to be a thriller. No. 4 Louisville (12-0) may be ranked higher in the polls than No. 12 Georgetown (10-1), but the Hoyas have faced much more adversity this year and thrived against tougher opponents. 

Georgetown will be Louisville's toughest opponent of the year to date. The Cardinals barely escaped victorious against No. 19 Vanderbilt in overtime this season, and have yet to play any other Top 25 team. 

Top Performers: 

Georgetown: Jason Clark: 15.7 PPG 3.6 RPG 1.9 SPG

Louisville: Kyle Kuric: 13.3 PPG 4.5 RPG 1.8 SPG

Broadcast: ESPN 2

Result: 71,68 Georgetown

Big East: West Virginia vs. Seton Hall

When: Friday, Dec. 30; 9:00 pm ET

Where: Seton Hall (Prudential Center)

Preview: This will be the second Big East conference game for West Virginia (9-3) and Seton Hall (11-1). Amid the strength of the Big East this year, these teams will go unnoticed for the most part, but they are both great basketball teams. 

West Virginia is looking strong lately and almost upset undefeated No. 7 Baylor, but was defeated by two points in overtime. 

Seton Hall has yet to play any tough opponents, but will play No. 1 Syracuse in their conference opener on December 28. This game will be important for the Pirates, as they will take on No. 9 Connecticut for their next Big East matchup following this one.

Top Performers:

Seton Hall: Herb Pope: 20.3 PPG 11.4 RPG 1.5 BPG

West Virginia: Kevin Jones: 21.0 PPG 11.9 RPG 1.2 BPG

Broadcast: ESPN 2

Big Ten: Minnesota vs. Illinois

When: Tuesday, December 27; 7:30 pm ET

Where: Illinois (Assembly Hall)

Preview: Illinois (11-2) will host Minnesota (12-1) in the first Big Ten Conference game for both teams. This game carries more importance for Minnesota—they have yet to face a tough opponent and look to prepare themselves for No. 16 Michigan in the their second Big Ten game. 

Illinois has proven to be a Top 25-worthy team, and although they are not currently ranked, they have beaten No. 18 Gonzaga and lost by four points to No. 8 Missouri. 

Top Performers: 

Illinois: Meyers Leonard: 13.4 PPG 8.2 RPG 2.4 BPG

Minnesota: Rodney Wiliams: 9.8 PPG 4.8 RPG 1.6 BPG

Broadcast: Big Ten Network

Result: 82, 71 Illinois in double-overtime 

Big Ten: Indiana vs. Michigan State

When: Wednesday, Dec. 28; 7:30 pm ET

Where: Michigan State (Jack Breslin Student Events Center)

Preview: No. 17 Michigan State (11-2) will host No. 15 Indiana (12-0) for both teams' first Big Ten Conference game. This is set to be a very exciting game, as Michigan State has a very strong team that could deliver Indiana its first loss of the year. 

Indiana plays with outstanding passion, which propelled them to beat No. 1 Kentucky and climb their way up the Top 25. Michigan State will be the Hoosiers' toughest opponent since Kentucky, and will be arguably more difficult to defeat because the game is on the road.  

Michigan State has been cruising along since dropping two games in the beginning of the season to Duke and North Carolina. The Spartans are currently on an 11-game win streak and defeated No. 22 Gonzaga earlier in the month. 

Both teams are a roll, but one must lose.

Top Performers:

Michigan State: Draymond Green: 15.5 PPG 9.8 RPG 1.2 BPG

Indiana: Cody Zeller: 15.1 PPG 7.3 RPG 1.7 BPG

Broadcast: Big Ten Network

Result: 80,65 Michigan State

Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Indiana

When: Saturday, Dec. 31; 6:00 pm ET

Where: Indiana (Assembly Hall)

Preview: Bloomington, Indiana will be roaring as No. 15 Indiana (12-0) hosts No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) for their second Big Ten Conference game. 

Indiana will be coming off a tough road game against No. 17 Michigan State, and will be looking to upset No. 2 Ohio State just like they upset No. 1 Kentucky on their home court. 

Ohio State has only recorded one loss on the year, a game in which they didn't have Jared Sullinger on the court. The Buckeyes may prove to be too much for the Hoosiers, but the home crowd factor will play a big role in this exciting game.

Top Performers:

Indiana: Cody Zeller: 15.1 PPG 7.3 RPG 1.7 BPG

Ohio State: Jared Sullinger: 16.2 PPG 9.2 RPG 0.9 BPG

Broadcast: ESPN 2

Pac-12: UCLA vs. Stanford

When: Thursday, Dec. 29; 11:00 pm ET

Where: Stanford (Maples Pavilion)

Preview: Stanford (10-2) will host UCLA (7-5) in both teams' Pac-12 Conference opener. Stanford has presented themselves as a legitimate Pac-12 contender during their non-conference play: they beat a good NC State team and hung in there against No. 5 Syracuse. 

UCLA, the preseason favorite to win the Pac-12, has had its share of early season woes, but they have battled back and are now looking competitive again with five consecutive wins. The Bruins look to jump out ahead in the Pac-12 against a strong Cardinal team. 

Top Performers:

UCLA: Lazeric Jones: 13.3 PPG 3.8 APG 2.1 SPG

Stanford: Josh Owens: 12.7 PPG 5.4 RPG 0.5 BPG

Broadcast: Fox Sports Network

Pac-12: Oregon vs. Washington

When: Saturday, Dec. 31; 10:00 pm ET

Where: Washington (Alaska Airlines Arena)

Preview: Washington (6-5), who was ranked in the preseason Top 25, will look to set off on the right foot in the Pac-12 as they host Oregon (9-3)

Although Washington has lost to lesser opponents, they have remained competitive against Top 25 teams. The Huskies lost by two to No. 11 Marquette and lost by six to No. 6 Duke. Despite sporting a 6-5 record, Washington still has a good chance to win the Pac-12.

Oregon has yet to perform well against top teams and has fallen to No. 7 Vanderbilt, BYU, and Virginia. The Ducks will be put to the test against a solid Washington team that can score (79.7 PPG). 

Top Performers: 

Washington: Tony Wroten: 16.0 PPG 4.5 RPG 1.7 SPG

Oregon: Devoe Joseph: 14.3 PPG 3.3 RPG 1.7 SPG

Broadcast: ESPN 2 

SEC: Ole Miss vs. LSU

When: Saturday, Jan. 7; 1:30 pm ET

Where: LSU (Pete Maravich Assembly Center)

Preview: LSU (9-3) will host Ole Miss (9-3) to tip-off their SEC Conference play. Despite being overshadowed by SEC powerhouses Florida, Kentucky and Mississippi State, both teams have fared well in their non-conference play. 

Ole Miss will try to establish themselves as a serious SEC contender after dropping two straight games. Playing LSU will help them gauge how they will stack up against other top SEC teams.

LSU is now on a six-game win streak during which they defeated No. 10 Marquette by a comfortable margin. After losing two early season games, the Tigers have been almost unstoppable and will look to assert themselves in the SEC with a win over Ole Miss. 

Top Performers: 

LSU: Justin Hamilton: 11.8 PPG 6.8 RPG 1.3 BPG

Ole Miss: Dundrecous Nelson: 13.0 PPG 2.1 RPG 1.6 SPG

Broadcast: SEC Network

West Coast: BYU vs. Saint Mary's

When: Thursday, Dec. 29; 11:00 pm ET

Where: Saint Mary's (McKeon Pavilion)

Preview: BYU (10-3) will travel to California to take on Saint Mary's (11-2) for their first West Coast Conference game. Both teams are set to be neck-and-neck in the conference, and their first matchup against each other will set the tone for the West Coast Conference.

BYU has rebuilt well after losing Jimmer Fredette—one of the best players in the nation last year. After getting wiped out by No. 11 Wisconsin, BYU has been playing with a vengeance and almost handed No. 7 Baylor their first loss of the year.

Saint Mary's has not faced many tough opponents yet and will have to bring their "A" game against a scrappy BYU team. 

Top Performers: 

Saint Mary's: Rob Jones: 14.0 PPG 10.6 RPG 1.6 SPG

BYU: Noah Hartsock: 17.3 PPG 6.2 RPG 2.2 BPG

Broadcast: ESPN 2