10 key males’s school basketball video games to look at in December

We are 4 weeks into the 2025-26 males’s school basketball season, and we have had our fair proportion of surprises. As anticipated, all eyes had been much less on the standard MTEs (exempt multiteam occasions) and extra on the power-packed Players Era Festival with high contenders getting upset. The early nonconference matchups had been extra telling and aggressive than anticipated — welcome to the 1-seed group, Arizona.

Now, the tournaments are over because the calendar turns to December and convention play approaches — or, as within the case of the Big Ten, is already right here.

And any month that begins with the ACC-SEC Challenge (Tuesday and Wednesday on ESPN networks) is not going to be missing for compelling nonconference matchups.

Here are the “can’t miss” encounters for the second month of the season.

Tuesday | 7:30 p.m. ET | ACC/SEC Challenge | Durham, North Carolina | ESPN

The defending champions opened their season with a loss to Arizona however have slowly been rounding into type. The Gators swept in-state rivals Florida State and Miami, and will deliver a excessive stage of confidence into Durham. The Blue Devils, in the meantime, have principally performed cupcakes up to now, but additionally seemed the a part of a Final Four contender with double-digit wins over Texas and Kansas on the Champions Classic. We like Duke to stay undefeated.

Tuesday | 9 p.m. ET | Lawrence, Kansas | ESPN2

Welcome to the again finish of a Tuesday evening doubleheader that includes 4 powerhouses with a mixed 18 nationwide titles. If Darryn Peterson is again for the Jayhawks, they may very nicely prevail on the Phog. If not, search for UConn’s veterans to paved the way to a monumental highway victory. It does not get higher than Cameron Indoor Stadium and Phog Allen Fieldhouse back-to-back.

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Kansas Jayhawks vs. Duke Blue Devils: Game Highlights

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Duke Blue Devils: Game Highlights

Wednesday | 7 p.m. ET | ACC/SEC Challenge | Fayetteville, Arkansas | ESPN

After final yr’s drubbing, the ACC has an opportunity regain some floor on this season’s Challenge. The Cardinals ought to be 7-0 heading to Bud Walton Arena, and we like them to make it 8-0 in opposition to John Calipari’s Razorbacks group in his second yr. Put Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. on the lengthy checklist of actually excellent freshmen in school basketball. The 6-foot-5 Orlando, Florida, product is taking the ‘Ville from good to nice.

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Louisville Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: Game Highlights

Louisville Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: Game Highlights

Friday | 7:30 p.m. ET | Cincinnati | TNT

The Cintas Center can be rocking for one in every of school basketball’s nastiest rivalries. Cincinnati is the higher group on paper, however search for coach Richard Pitino to prevail with Xavier in his first style of the Crosstown Shootout.

Saturday | 12 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Indiana | CBS

Purdue and Arizona have been the 2 most spectacular groups within the season’s first month. As Iowa State heads to Mackey Arena, the Cyclones are lurking not far behind Arizona and Houston in a crowded Big 12. A win right here could be monumental for them — however it’s most likely to not be as we predict the Boilermakers maintain serve at house.

Florida Gators vs. UConn Huskies

Dec. 9 | 9 p.m. ET | Jimmy V Classic | Madison Square Garden | ESPN

The three most up-to-date nationwide championships are represented within the second sport of this yr’s Jimmy V doubleheader in New York (BYU meets Clemson, a key sport for the Tigers, within the opener). Give a small edge to UConn in its Madison Square Garden house away from house.

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Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators: Game Highlights

Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators: Game Highlights

Dec. 11 | 8 p.m. ET | Ames, Iowa | FS1

On-campus rivalry video games are what school basketball is all about. The Hawkeyes might be overachievers in Ben McCollum’s first yr, however a win of their first journey to Hilton Coliseum post-Fran McCaffery is perhaps an excessive amount of to ask.

Dec. 13 | 8 p.m. ET | Saint Louis | ESPN+

This is strictly the kind of sport high packages exterior the Power 4 and Big East ought to be enjoying (discover how we averted the “mid-major” misnomer). Both groups had a powerful first month, each have official at-large hopes — however solely the Billikens can be on the lookout for revenge after the Dons blasted them final season in San Francisco.

Dec. 14 | 6 p.m. ET | Idaho Falls, Idaho

Another piece of sensible scheduling by two packages which have mastered the artwork, and it is no coincidence they’ve mixed for seven NCAA event bids previously 4 years. The Gaels have dropped tight ones previously two visits to Idaho Falls, in order that they determine to show the tables in some unspecified time in the future.

Dec. 20 | 12:30 p.m. ET | CBS Sports Classic | Atlanta | CBS

Think Big Blue Nation will discover its approach to Atlanta to greet former coach Rick Pitino? Yes, Kentucky may have extra followers, however Pitino may have the higher group when school basketball resumes after the December examination break.