College basketball weekend previews, Feb. 11, 2011

Published February 10, 2011 5:00am ET



PLAYERS TO WATCHJohn Jenkins The guard for No. 23 Vanderbilt, who averages 19.2 ppg, takes his best shot at extending the woes of No. 18 Kentucky, which has lost four of its last five road games in the SEC. Last year, Jenkins hit a late 3-pointer, but it wasn’t enough as Kentucky won in Nashville, 58-56. (Sat., 1 p.m., CBS) Damian Saunders The 6-7 defensive beast leads upstart Duquesne (16-6, 8-1) at home against perennial A-10 power Xavier (17-6, 8-1). When the Dukes upset the Musketeers two years ago, it broke their streak of 24 straight losses against ranked opponents. Duquesne has not been to the NCAA tournament since 1977. (Sat., 2 p.m., ESPNU) Jordan Taylor The junior guard leads No. 13 Wisconsin (18-5) against No. 1 Ohio State (24-0). Taylor (17.7 ppg) teams with F Jon Leuer (19.4 ppg) to give the Badgers one of the top scoring duos in the Big Ten. Last year when the Buckeyes visited Madison, they shot 32 percent in a 65-43 loss. (Sat., 2 p.m., ESPN) Kawhi Leonard Last year in the Mountain West title game, the San Diego State forward had 16 points and 21 rebounds in a 55-45 victory at UNLV. Earlier this year, Leonard had similar numbers (15 and 17) in another physical game won by the Aztecs. UNLV (18-6) takes another shot at No. 6 San Diego State (24-1). (Sat., 8 p.m., CBSCS) Travon Woodall With Ashton Gibbs injured, Woodall has moved into the lineup for No. 4 Pittsburgh. He scored 12 points Monday in a win at West Virginia. The Panthers travel to No. 9 Villanova, which suffered a jolting loss Wednesday, surrendering a 4-point-play in the final second at Rutgers. (Sat., 9 p.m., ESPN)

LOCAL GAMES


Virginia at Florida State

Where » Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Fla.

When » Saturday, 3 p.m.

Radio » 570 AM

After losing in overtime at Miami 70-68 on Tuesday night, Virginia (12-11, 3-6) returns to Florida, looking to snap its four-game road losing streak and cure its free-throw shooting woes. The Cavaliers made only nine of 22 against the Hurricanes. Florida State (17-7, 7-3) ranks No. 1 in the nation in field goal defense (36.4 percent). Virginia has lost four straight to FSU and has not won in Tallahassee since 2001.

Colgate at American

Where » Bender Arena

When » Saturday, 3 p.m.

Radio » 1050 AM

American (16-8, 6-3) lost to Bucknell for the fourth straight time, 66-60, on Wednesday, and fell two games behind the first-place Bison in the Patriot League. Bucknell (17-8, 8-1), which held AU’s top scorer Vlad Moldoveanu to nine points, plays its next three on the road. Colgate (6-18, 3-6), which is in a three-way tie for last place, lost to AU 66-57 last month as Moldoveanu had 26 points and nine boards.

Lafayette at Navy

Where » Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Md.

When » Saturday, 7 p.m.

Radio » 1430 AM

Navy (8-17, 3-6), coming off two losses by a combined 41 points, and tied for last place in the Patriot League, tries to right the ship against Lafayette (10-14, 5-4), led by Jared Mintz (15.8 ppg), a 6-9, 245-pound senior. The Leopards edged the Midshipmen last month 76-73 and are the only team in the conference that Navy has not beaten over the last two seasons.

Howard at N.C. A&T

Where » Corbett Sports Center, Greensboro, N.C.

When » Saturday, 4 p.m.

Sophomore Mike Phillips (26 points) led the Bison to their third victory in four games 65-53 over S.C. State on Monday. Howard (5-18, 3-7) has a score to settle with N.C. A&T (10-14, 5-5), which lost twice to the Bison last season, before upsetting them in the first round of the MEAC tournament. N.C. A&T is the top scoring team in the MEAC (73.0 ppg), led by 6-9 senior Thomas Coleman (17.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg).

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