College basketball scouting reports: Northwestern, DePaul, UIC, NIU
Florida State (7-0) at Northwestern (4-1)
When: 8:30 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WNUR 89.3-FM, wgnradio.com
Skinny: Here's where the Wildcats really learn about themselves. Florida State is tall, deep and quick - and already owns big neutral-court wins over Cincinnati and previously unbeaten California. Senior guard Toney Douglas leads the 'Noles with 19.0 ppg and 15 3-pointers, while Florida State's defense allows its opponents to shoot just 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from the arc. Northwestern can prolong its best start since 2001 if its freshmen big men can hang with Florida State's freshmen big men. Kyle Rowley and John Shurna took a step forward Monday, but they'll be facing their toughest competition yet in 6-9, 220-pound frosh Chris Singleton (10.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg).
DePaul (4-0) at California (5-1)
When: 9:30 p.m. at Haas Pavilion
TV: Comcast SportsNet West (DirecTV Ch. 698)
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Skinny: After staying within city limits for their first four games, the Demons travel a long way in search of the program's first 5-0 start since the fabled 1986-87 season. Hales Franciscan guard Jerome Randle traveled a similar path to find fame and fortune on the west coast. Under new coach Mike Montgomery, the 5-foot-10 junior is averaging 20.5 points and 4.5 assists while hitting an absurd 64 percent of his 3-pointers. The Golden Bears have made 53.8 percent from beyond the arc overall. DePaul, on the other hand, hasn't given up many 3-pointers (20 for 80) so far this season. Can the Demons' three-headed point guard (Jeremiah Kelly, Michael Bizoukas and Jabari Currie) hold down Randle enough to pull off a season-changing win?
UIC (3-2) at Vanderbilt (5-1)
When: 7 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium
Radio: WIND 560-AM
Skinny: The Flames and Commodores meet for the first time as Jimmy Collins' crew continues its arduous non-conference schedule. Senior 7-footer Scott VanderMeer (13.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.4 bpg) gets a real test in 6-11 first-team all-SEC center A.J. Ogilvy (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg). There'll be another great matchup on the perimeter between UIC's Josh Mayo (19.0 ppg, 14 3-pointers) and Vandy junior Jermaine Beal (11.3 ppg). Sixth man Tori Boyd is becoming quite a force for the Flames off the bench - could his athleticism make a difference here?
Northern Illinois (3-4) at Air Force (4-2)
When: 8 p.m. at Clune Arena
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM
Skinny: The Huskies surprised the Falcons when they came to DeKalb on Dec. 4 last year, so there'll be little chance of catching Air Force off-guard here. Senior forward Anwar Johnson leads a balanced attack with 13.7 points and 2.8 assists per game. Matt Holland (12.0 ppg) and Andrew Henke (11.5 ppg) are both shooting better than 50 percent from beyond the arc. NIU continues a road trip that started with a week in Anchorage, Alaska, where, among other things, they met former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and took a bunch of pictures with her and her youngest daughter. In their spare time, the Huskies committed 51 turnovers in 3 games and took sixth at the Great Alaska Shootout. Jake Anderson made another all-tournament team for averaging 18.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg.