Scouting area men's basketball games
DePaul (4-1) at Northwestern (5-1)
When: 2:30 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: WGN 720-AM, WNUR 89.3-FM
Skinny: The Wildcats and Blue Demons have taken turns winning this nonconference rivalry in the last five years - and the home team has won every time - so that suggests this should be NU's year. More relevant, of course, has been the play of the Wildcats' veterans. Senior guard Craig Moore (15.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and junior forward Kevin Coble (12.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) were particularly good Wednesday against Florida State. The Blue Demons, on the other hand, go where sophomores Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal take them. Tucker (20.8 ppg) has taken 33 more shots than his closest teammate, while Koshwal (12.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg) has led the Demons in rebounding every game.
Illinois (6-1) vs. Georgia (5-2)
When: 11 a.m. at United Center
TV: ESPNU
Radio: WIND 560-AM
Skinny: If Illini fans think the Georgia team that lost by 21 points to Loyola on Nov. 17 is going to show up, they're sadly mistaken. Since that NIT Tip-Off loss to the Ramblers, the Bulldogs gained the services of stud freshman forward Howard Thompkins. The No. 24 recruit in the Class of 2008 has produced 43 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in his 56 minutes this year as he regains his stamina after multiple injuries. Illinois boasts the national leader in assists (senior Chester Frazier has 54). Frazier also has one of the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratios (3.9 to 1). The Illini won 12 straight "December to Remember" games at the UC before last year's come-from-ahead overtime loss to Arizona.
Loyola (4-4, 0-0) at UIC (4-2, 0-0)
When: 7 p.m. at UIC Pavilion
TV: Channel 56
Radio: WIND 560-AM, WLUW 88.7-FM
Skinny: The Ramblers and Flames jump waist-deep into Horizon League play with both teams feeling good about themselves. UIC, which owns a three-game winning streak, just went on the road and smacked Vanderbilt by 19 points. Loyola just held its home court against Holy Cross and William & Mary. The Flames have won five of the last six games in this 22-year rivalry, but last year's win at the Pavilion came in overtime and their Horizon League tournament win required a big second-half comeback. UIC shoots 40 percent from 3-point range and 79 percent from the line, largely because of Josh Mayo (20.8 ppg). He has made 22 of 43 3s and 23 of 26 at the line.
Loyola continues to struggle from 3-point range (25.7 percent) and the line (68.6 percent).
Chicago State (3-3) at Northern Illinois (3-5)
When: 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Skinny: Davidson's celebrated Stephen Curry leads the nation in scoring. Care to guess who's No. 2? It's 5-foot-8, 160-pound Chicago State senior David Holston. He's averaging 27.7 points, 5.7 assists, 5.2 3-pointers and 3.7 steals per game. All those numbers are slight improvements on last year, when he ranked 10th nationally in scoring and won the 3-pointers title (4.6 per game). NIU has dropped its last four games against Division I opponents, but the Huskies lost all of them away from home. Their Seans - sophomore center Kowal and backup forward Smith - have been solid lately. Overall, though, defense is becoming an issue with NIU. Opponents are hitting 44.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent on 3-pointers. Holston surely likes to see the latter number.