25 NCAA Basketball Games That Will Be More Exciting Than UNC-Kentucky Was

When North Carolina and Kentucky played a game that featured two top-five teams, the world watched one of the best games of the season.

These 25 games will top even that performance, even though it gave us March Madness in December.

When Indiana topped Kentucky, we saw another game that compared to their match-up with Indiana, yet there are 25 games left on the schedule to top that early December game.

This college basketball season is better than the last few because we are watching more talented future NBA players. With the NBA lockout looming many players who were ready for the next level decided to stay in college rather than risk taking a season off.

Because of these great players hanging around, the balance of power in college basketball has given us many elite teams that have quite a few match-ups with each other.

Some of these 25 games feature powerhouses, while others will be determined by buzzer-beaters and give us an early taste of March Madness.

Kentucky at Louisville

Date: December 31, 2011

Time: 12:00 PM EST

Place: Rupp Arena

John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats brought in four more elite recruits in Anthony Davis, Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer. These four join a Final Four team from last year that still has Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller.

Louisville, on the other hand, has a 16-member team that is very deep and has overcome their injuries to start 11-0. Led by point guard Peyton Siva and leading scorer Kyle Kuric, this team is now ranked No. 4 in the country.

Assuming that these two teams don't lose before this match-up, we will see No. 3 versus No. 4 in Kentucky on New Year's Eve.

Ohio State at Indiana

Date: December 31, 2011

Time: 6:00 PM EST

Place: Assembly Hall

After shocking No. 1 Kentucky on their home floor and reaching the Top 25, the Indiana Hoosiers look to upset another highly touted team in Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 2 in the country and they will face another Top-25 test against Indiana on New Year's Eve.

This match-up will feature a healthy Jared Sullinger—if he doesn't have another injury—against Indiana's formidable frontcourt led by Cody Zeller.

In a battle of bigs, Indiana will look to shock the world once more.

Baylor at Kansas

Date: January 16, 2012

Time: 9:30 PM EST

Place: Phog Allen Fieldhouse

When Kansas hosts Baylor, we will see a fight between two of the best teams in the Big 12.

Baylor has jumped out to an undefeated start and now have their entire frontcourt playing, which consists of future NBA players Perry Jones III, Quincy Acy and Quincy Miller.

All three of these guys are big, athletic freaks who run the floor well and can dominate any team in the country up front, except for possibly North Carolina or Kentucky.

Kansas has had a bit of a rough start losing to Kentucky and Duke early in the season. Then, after suffering a home loss to an unranked Davidson team, they are going to fall in the rankings.  

Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson lead this team and will be key to securing a victory when the two teams host the Bears.

In a crucial Big 12 matchup to determine the best teams in the conference, we should see a thrilling finish.

Wisconsin at Michigan

Date: January 8, 2012

Time: TBD

Place: Crisler Arena

When No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 20 Michigan square off in Michigan, we will see Big Ten basketball at its finest.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Michigan have defended their home court well, but have lost once at a neutral site against Duke and in their only road game against Virginia by 12.

Michigan has a good team led by their great backcourt and will look to challenge Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, have Jordan Taylor who can get hot at any moment, and they use their suffocating defense. The Badgers have not won a game against a Top-25 opponent this season, going 0-2 against North Carolina and Marquette.

This game will be a very low-scoring game because of Wisconsin's ability to shut down Michigan  and their inability to blow out good opponents. It could even come down to a final shot.

Xavier at Memphis

Date: February 4, 2012

Time: 1:00 PM EST

Place: FedEx Forum

Xavier and Memphis may be the best mid-majors in college basketball this year, and they square off in early February.

Xavier is ranked No. 14 in the AP Rankings. They have climbed this high because of point guard Tu Holloway, who is averaging 17.6 points and 4.9 assists per game. Memphis is led by Will Barton, who is 20.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Barton and Holloway may not match-up against each other during the course of the game, but both teams boast stars and some of the most prolific scorers in the country. With Memphis having home-court advantage, this game could come down to the wire.

Wisconsin at Michigan State

Date: February 16, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Place: Jack Breslin Student Events Center

In a Big Ten battle Wisconsin and Michigan State will be jockeying for position in the conference standings when the two meet up.

After Ohio State secures the top spot, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois are all clustered and going for the second seed in the conference tournament.

This is a crucial game for the Spartans, as a loss at home would set them behind the Badgers. They must shut down shooting guard Jordan Taylor, who remains one of the biggest scoring threats in the country. The Spartans must also find a way to beat Wisconsin's stingy defense, which will be determined to hold a conference foe to under 60 points.

This game should come down to Michigan State's offense. This is particularly true if Draymond Green can have a big night, as he is leading the team in points, rebounds and assists per game.

Mississippi State at Florida

Date: January 28, 2012

Time: 1:30 PM EST

Place: Stephen C. O'Connell Center

Mississippi State remains one of the most underrated teams in the SEC.

When you think about SEC basketball, you immediately think Kentucky and Florida, and possibly Vanderbilt before the Bulldogs. Mississippi State is ranked No. 18 in the country, however, and they are quietly building a team that could compete for a top spot in the SEC tournament.

Led by point guard Dee Bost and big man Arnett Moultrie, this team has two stars and is balanced after that. They have a lot of talent and have overcome an early-season loss to Akron to win 10 straight games, including against No. 18 Texas A&M and No. 16 Arizona.

Florida has also beaten the Aggies and Wildcats this season, and have defended their home court—their only two losses came on the road to Syracuse and Ohio State, the top two teams in the country.

The Gators also have the third-best offense in the country, and this game could come down to who has the ball last since both teams have explosive attacks.

Pittsburgh at Marquette

Date: January 14, 2012

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Place: Petersen Events Center

When Ashton Gibbs leads a talented Pittsburgh Panthers team to the Bradley Center to take on Marquette, we will see yet another middle-of-the-pack battle in the Big East. But, it's is still worthy of a national stage.

Marquette's Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder make up a great offensive tandem, combining for 36.5 points per game. Point guard Junior Cadougan keeps their offense flowing and gives them continuity that should help them keep this game against Pitt very close.

These two should play an intense game that comes down to the wire.

Missouri at Kansas

Date: February 25, 2012

Time: 4:00 PM EST

Place: Phog Allen Fieldhouse

Despite losing three games so far this season, the Kansas Jayhawks will be able to keep their game against Missouri close. Their home fans will give them an edge, and Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson will be able to put up some serious points.

Marcus Denmon and Kim English led the Missouri Tigers to an 11-0 start, combining for 35.6 points per game. They are among several key player for the Tigers who need to step up to beat Kansas on the road.

This game should decide one of the top seeds in the Big 12. And with the season winding down, this could be crucial for one or both teams.

Uconn at Georgetown

Date: February 1, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Place: Verizon Center

It's amazing how many games from the Big East feature two ranked teams, and we have yet another.

Without Kemba Walker, the Connecticut Huskies needed a go-to guard, and Jeremy Lamb has filled that role. The Huskies also kept Alex Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier, and they were joined by highly touted freshmen Andre Drummond, DeAndre Daniels and Ryan Boatright.

The Georgetown Hoyas have climbed to No. 16 in the nation, due to their core of Jason Clark, Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims—the trio combine for 42.8 points per game. They should be able to handle UConn for most of the game, and this could come down to the fact that Georgetown is one of the best teams at home in the country.

Baylor at Missouri

Date: February 11, 2012

Time: 1:30 PM EST

Place: Scottrade Center

The Baylor Bears are led by their Big Three up front in Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller and Quincy Acy. I've said it before and I'll say it again—this is arguably the best frontcourt in the nation.

These guys are all big, skilled and athletic, and they make Baylor one tough team to beat.

Missouri, on the other hand, relies on seniors Marcus Denmon and Kim English to get the job done for them.

Both teams are undefeated and have proved that they are Top-10 teams.

Marquette at Uconn

Date: February 18, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM EST

Place: XL Center

Marquette's Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder will have to be big if the team is to beat a stacked UConn team in Connecticut.

DJO and Crowder combine for 36.5 points per night and might need more than that. Jim Calhoun's Huskies are led by Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond, Alex Oriakhi and DeAndre Daniels. Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright also help make this team a Top-10 talent.

These teams will be in the thick of things in the Big East and NCAA tournament come March, and this game could decide which gets a better ranking.

Louisville at Marquette

Date: January 16, 2012

Time: 3:30 PM EST

Place: Bradley Center

Louisville is an elite team that is ranked among the top programs in both the Big East and the country as a whole. They will, however, be challenged when they travel to take on Marquette in a very tough road test.

With Rick Pitino's deep 16-man roster, the Cardinals can adjust to take on any team. And, led by Peyton Siva, their offense will never be surprised. This team is ready for anything but will have to face not only a talented Marquette team and a very hostile environment.

Marquette's home fans will be rockin' for this game against Louisville. Knocking off a top-ranked team is difficult, yet not impossible. Louisville is an elite team, but Darius-Johnson Odom and Jae Crowder can beat them, and they will certainly put up a good fight.

North Carolina at Virginia

Date: February 25, 2012

Time: 4:00 PM EST

Place: John Paul Jones Arena

Roy Williams and North Carolina do not have a lot of tough games against the ACC this year because the conference is so weak. However, the Virginia Cavaliers are the third-best team in the conference and will give them a test when the two play.

The Tar Heels are stacked after having every started return from a year ago when they made the Elite Eight. With five NBA-ready starters and two freshmen who will soon be playing professionally, this team was the consensus No. 1 in the country at the beginning of the year.

Virginia, on the other hand, isn't ranked, but defend their home-court well. With big man Mike Scott, this team has already defeated a Top 25 team in No. 15 Michigan. They won that game by 12, and it was part of their current winning streak. The Cavaliers are 10-1 this season.

This game should be crucial in ACC standings. And, if Virginia is going to upset North Carolina, it will be at home.

Syracuse at Louisville

Date: February 13, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Place: KFC Yum! Center

When No. 1 Syracuse and No. 4 Louisville meet this season, it could be for the Big East crown. These teams are the best in the conference and have proved it multiple times.

Jim Boeheim's tough 2-3 defense has Syracuse atop the AP Rankings. Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine lead a talented team that is tough from top to bottom.

Rick Pitino's Cardinals are deep, with 16 players on the roster, and they have overcome early injuries to start the season undefeated.

When these teams meet in February, it could hold serious implications in both the Big East standings and NCAA tournament rankings.

Kentucky at Florida

Date: March 4, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM EST

Place: Stephen C. O'Connell Center

John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats are ranked No. 3 in the country due to yet another incredible recruiting class, highlighted by Anthony Davis.

Davis is a huge center who has been a beast in the paint at both ends of the floor.

When the Wildcats head to Florida to take on the Gators and their prolific offense, it should be a Top 10 battle when the rankings come out. In early March, this could decide the SEC's top seed and should come down to the wire.

I would favor Kentucky in this one because Anthony Davis can match up with Patric Young, and they are deep enough at guard to shut down Florida's attack. However, home-court advantage should help Florida and this will be a close game.

California at UNLV

Date: December, 2011

Time: 5:00 PM EST

Place: Thomas & Mack Center

After upsetting No. 1 North Carolina, UNLV found itself on the college basketball map, and they are now ranked No. 21 in the country. Despite losses to Wichita State and Wisconsin on the road, the Runnin' Rebels have defended their home-court well.

When UNLV hosts California, they will have the best team in the Pac-12, led by Jorge Gutierrez and Allen Crabbe. Cal has only lost to Missouri and San Diego State this year, and they have not won on the road yet.

This game takes place tomorrow, so you'd better have your popcorn ready. These two teams are evenly matched, with Cal actually having a slight advantage in my mind. Either way, this game will be very competitive.

Uconn at Louisville

Date: February 6, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Place: KFC Yum! Center

The Connecticut Huskies bring one of the best starting fives of them with to Lousville when the two teams meet.

Jim Calhoun's team won the NCAA tournament last year and they are even better this year. Despite the loss of Kemba Walker, they brought back Jeremy Lamb and Alex Oriakhi. And they brought in three great freshmen in Andre Drummond, DeAndre Daniels and Ryan Boatright.

The Louisville Cardinals, on the other hand, are a deep, well-rounded team. Rick Pitino's crew are undefeated for a good reason, and they won't go down without a fight.

This game could be for a top seed in the Big East tournament, and a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. No team will let this game slip by them easily.

Syracuse at Uconn

Date: February 25, 2012

Time: 9:00 PM EST

Place: XL Center

As I've said on the previous slide and a few others, the UConn Huskies are stacked. By now you also know that Syracuse is the No. 1 team in the country and are led by Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine.

These two teams are two of the best in the Big East, and they were ranked No. 4 and No. 5 in the preseason poll.

These teams are evenly matched. And, with the Big East crown potentially on the line, they will provide some fireworks in late February.

Ohio State at Wisconsin

Date: February 4, 2012

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Place: XL Center

In the battle for the Big Ten crown Ohio State travels to Wisconsin in a game that should be able to clinch them a conference title.

The Buckeyes are led by their inside-outside combo of Jared Sullinger and William Buford. When healthy, Jared Sullinger is the best player in the country. But staying healthy has been a struggle for him this season.

Sullinger and Buford helped lead this team to a 32-2 record last season.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, has the best defense in the country. They play tight, aggressive defense but they don't let their teammates get burned easily. They also have shooting guard Jordan Taylor, who is one of the most prolific scorers in the nation.

These two teams should be atop the Big Ten standings when they meet, and this could be an early game to decide the best team in the conference.

Missouri at Texas A&M

Date: February 18, 2012

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Place: Reed Arena

Missouri's undefeated start has come thanks to a balanced lineup led by Marcus Denmon and Kim English. By now, you know that they are a great team, but what you don't know is that they are very vulnerable.

Texas A&M typically plays a man-to-man defense because they have Khris Middleton, the best defender in the country. Middleton can play any position on defense—unless the opposing team has a huge center—but he can shut down either Denmon or Enlgish.

They also have four other great defenders on the floor at any given time, and handling the other won't be a problem.

Middleton is also the team's best offensive player. With his huge impact, and with a roaring fanbase behind them, the team will give Missouri one heck of a fight.

Indiana at Wisconsin

Date: January 26, 2012

Time: 9:00 PM EST

Place: Kohl Center

Indiana has a balanced attack led by big men Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo. They pulled off a great upset over No. 1 Kentucky at home, and they will be looking to use that advantage again against Wisconsin.

Wisconsin's defense is the best in the nation and they also have prolific scorer Jordan Taylor. They also have Jared Berggren, who is averaging 12.3 points per game, while Taylor is being focused on by other teams.

Indiana and Wisconsin may be battling for second place in the Big Ten when they meet, and the important game will be in late January, when the favored Badgers must play on the road.

Florida at Vanderbilt

Date: February 28, 2012

Time: 9:00 PM EST

Place: Memorial Gym

Florida's amazing offensive attack, led by four talented guards and athletic big man Patric Young, will face yet another offensive powerhouse in Vanderbilt.

Florida's Brad Beal, Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker and Mike Rosario make up a crowded yet talented backcourt. They help Florida reach 86.1 points per game, which is the third-most in the nation.

Vanderbilt has the inside-outside combo of Festus Ezeli and John Jenkins to back their team.

Ezeli is a defensive stopper and can shut down Young, but he can also rack up points. Even if Ezeli isn't on his game, the Commodores also have Jeffery Taylor, who averages 18 points per game.

This game will be an important one in SEC play, and should come down to the wire since the teams are so evenly matched.

Louisville at Pittsburgh

Date: January 21, 2012

Time: 9:00 PM EST

Place: Petersen Events Center

In our final Big East contest, we feature Louisville and Pittsburgh. By now you already know about each team—Louisville is deep and undefeated, while Pitt has lost a lot of talent but is led by Ashton Gibbs.

When two teams in the Top 10 meet it is always important, and it is conceivable to have Pitt climb into the Top 10 in the next three weeks.

These teams may be competing for a top seed in the Big East tournament and in the NCAA tournament, so this game will be crucial.

This game will come down to the wire, as Pitt will be helped by its raucous fans at home, despite being the lesser of these two powerhouses.

North Carolina at Duke

Date: March 3, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Place: Cameron Indoor Stadium

When Duke and North Carolina renew college basketball's best rivalry for the second time this season and in Cameron Indoor Stadium, we will see two top teams square off in a game that should decide the best team in the ACC.

North Carolina's stacked roster consists of future NBA studs like Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Kendall Marshall, James McAdoo, Dexter Strickland and P.J. Hairston.

Duke has a deep, balanced roster led by sensational freshman Austin Rivers.

In a battle between two great coaches in Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewsi, we will see the early part of March Madness. Duke and UNC always give us great basketball. And, because UNC is heavily favored, the best game will come in Cameron Indoor.

Josh Schoch is an aspiring sportswriter dedicated to bringing you everything related to college basketball, college football, the NFL, NBA, MLB and much more. Follow him on Twitter.