ESPN's top ten most relevant college basketball rivalries for the upcoming season

**Crazyswordsman** · 07-02-2009, 08:35 PM

Honorable mentions:

Big XII vs. Baylor: Apparently this is a coaching thing, but somehow I never thought Baylor was the team to beat in the Big XII, especially with what Bill Self has done at Kansas.

Utah vs. BYU: I can understand him mentioning this, considering this is one of the more heated local derbies.

Indiana vs. Wisconsin: No, just no. Yes, I know Tom Crean and Bo Ryan will be facing off. Still, Indiana will suck until it can get that scandal stigma off its back and recruit again.

NIU-Illinois State: Should be somewhat interesting considering how the Valley final went last year, but if Creighton should get its act together....

Rutgers-Seton Hall: WTF? No, just no. Two of the bottom feeding Big East teams? Seriously.

Maryland-North Carolina: Considering Maryland nipped UNC in 3 of the last 4 meetings, maybe. But the mystique behind those times is Maryland was in a hole each time, and UNC was the top team in the country. If Maryland starts out ranked this year (like ESPN says, but ESPN isn't that trustworthy)....

USC-Arizona: USC is undergoing Mayogate (surprise, surprise) and won't be relevant this year unless they can pull what they did last year.

Butler-Cleveland State: Now THIS is what I'd like to see more of.

And for the ranked rivalries themselves:

10: Michigan-Purdue: Never heard of this. Frankly, I think Michigan-Ohio State will be bigger seeing as they will probably start the season off on similar notes (and besides it's Michigan-Ohio State), even though both teams are relevant again.

9: Kansas-Mizzou: YES, YES, YES, YES. I love this rivalry. And Mizzou is good again.

8: Cal-Stanford: Cal is gonna be really good this year, and Stanford is gonna suck. So no.

7: Bedlam series: Okie State is good again, and things are looking good in the Big XII.

6: Dayton-Xavier: Okay, since Miller bolted for Zona (which disappointed me; I wanted to see Xavier become a regular face), I don't know what's gonna become of this. Somehow, though, I think Cincy might be a better bet to beat Xavier now, but it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

5: Nova-Pitt: Pitt lost everyone (except Levance Fields); Nova brings everyone back. I fail to see the significance.

4: Duke-UNC: Speaks for itself.

3: Kentucky-Tennessee: I don't think Tennessee is gonna be that good this year, so absolutely not.

2: Sparty-Purdue: I can see this. These two will dominate the Big Ten this year until Michigan, Ohio State, and Minnesota peek their heads out from under the sand.

1: Kentucky-Louisville: If anyone Kentucky regularly plays will make a rivalry exciting again, it's Louisville.

And Syracuse? Nowhere to be found, especially now that Syracuse-UConn will be intense again, let alone Syracuse-Georgetown. -CSM

07-02-2009, 08:35 PM	#1
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	ESPN's top ten most relevant college basketball rivalries for the upcoming season Honorable mentions: Big XII vs. Baylor: Apparently this is a coaching thing, but somehow I never thought Baylor was the team to beat in the Big XII, especially with what Bill Self has done at Kansas. Utah vs. BYU: I can understand him mentioning this, considering this is one of the more heated local derbies. Indiana vs. Wisconsin: No, just no. Yes, I know Tom Crean and Bo Ryan will be facing off. Still, Indiana will suck until it can get that scandal stigma off its back and recruit again. NIU-Illinois State: Should be somewhat interesting considering how the Valley final went last year, but if Creighton should get its act together.... Rutgers-Seton Hall: WTF? No, just no. Two of the bottom feeding Big East teams? Seriously. Maryland-North Carolina: Considering Maryland nipped UNC in 3 of the last 4 meetings, maybe. But the mystique behind those times is Maryland was in a hole each time, and UNC was the top team in the country. If Maryland starts out ranked this year (like ESPN says, but ESPN isn't that trustworthy).... USC-Arizona: USC is undergoing Mayogate (surprise, surprise) and won't be relevant this year unless they can pull what they did last year. Butler-Cleveland State: Now THIS is what I'd like to see more of. And for the ranked rivalries themselves: 10: Michigan-Purdue: Never heard of this. Frankly, I think Michigan-Ohio State will be bigger seeing as they will probably start the season off on similar notes (and besides it's Michigan-Ohio State), even though both teams are relevant again. 9: Kansas-Mizzou: YES, YES, YES, YES. I love this rivalry. And Mizzou is good again. 8: Cal-Stanford: Cal is gonna be really good this year, and Stanford is gonna suck. So no. 7: Bedlam series: Okie State is good again, and things are looking good in the Big XII. 6: Dayton-Xavier: Okay, since Miller bolted for Zona (which disappointed me; I wanted to see Xavier become a regular face), I don't know what's gonna become of this. Somehow, though, I think Cincy might be a better bet to beat Xavier now, but it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. 5: Nova-Pitt: Pitt lost everyone (except Levance Fields); Nova brings everyone back. I fail to see the significance. 4: Duke-UNC: Speaks for itself. 3: Kentucky-Tennessee: I don't think Tennessee is gonna be that good this year, so absolutely not. 2: Sparty-Purdue: I can see this. These two will dominate the Big Ten this year until Michigan, Ohio State, and Minnesota peek their heads out from under the sand. 1: Kentucky-Louisville: If anyone Kentucky regularly plays will make a rivalry exciting again, it's Louisville. And Syracuse? Nowhere to be found, especially now that Syracuse-UConn will be intense again, let alone Syracuse-Georgetown. -CSM