What you need to know ahead of college basketball's jam-packed weekend, including Bronny James' Sunday debut – 247Sports

College basketball’s jam-packed Saturday slate has one familiar theme: Hate.
Xavier and Cincinnati do not like each other one bit. BYU and Utah renew The Holy War. There is no love lost between Kansas and Missouri. It rocks.
The whole schedule is fabulous. Twenty-one of the 25 ranked teams in the country play, and there are a host of elite non-conference battles that will shape resumes in serious ways.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the biggest games, let’s get some rapid-fire thoughts out on some of the best showdowns:
RELATED: What we’ve learned about each Pac-12 team in the first month
OK, onto the rest of this gorgeous slate. Here are the matchups to watch in seven of the critical, heavyweight bouts. You want numbers? I got numbers.
Let’s dive in.
Creighton is the only defense that forces more long 2s than Illinois so far this season. Illinois isn’t trying to rip away a bunch of turnovers, but it feels like it wins every defensive possession that ends with something other than a foul, a layup or 3-pointer.
Illinois relies on its cavalry of big wings to level off driving lanes and the defensive brilliance of 5-man Coleman Hawkins to make opponents take the shots Illinois wants, not vice versa.
Tennessee star wing Dalton Knecht looks like a pro, but he’s struggled at off-the-dribble 2s this season (3-for-12). That doesn’t mean he isn’t capable, but it hasn’t been a strength. Fellow newcomer Jordan Gainey is also very aggressive in getting to his midrange jumper, but it hasn’t gone in enough (4-for-16). Veteran wing Josiah-Jordan James might be Tennessee’s best midrange assassin, but Illinois’ 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward Quincy Guerrier has the frame, physicality and toughness to match up with James almost flawlessly. The winner of that James-Guerrier matchup is sneaky big.
But it all comes back to Knecht. He’s a dangerous, huge shooter who can rise over anyone, but Knecht’s drives keep Tennessee’s offense cooking. Knecht can put so much pressure even on the best defenses because of his fearless, terrifying drives. Ty Rodgers is a phenomenal defender who might get the first turn, but if things start going poorly or Rodgers gets in foul trouble, do not be surprised if Terrence Shannon Jr. takes the assignment. Both will be tested by Tennessee’s do-it-all stud. Knecht can make those tough shots Illinois wants him to take, but if he gets to his spots … good luck.
Illinois’ size is going to put Tennessee in conflict. Marcus Domask showed Tuesday against FAU what he can do when he gets a matchup he likes. Domask backed down FAU’s smaller guards into the paint and eviscerated the Owls for 33 points. Illinois is certainly going to try and get Domask (6-foot-6, 215 pounds) cross-matched onto Zakai Zeigler. The Tennessee point guard isn’t scared of anybody and will fight like crazy but he’s 5-foot-9. Wisconsin used Chucky Hepburn to post up Zeigler twice, and he should’ve gotten two buckets off it.
Zeigler will certainly try to pester Ty Rodgers with vicious ball pressure, but Rodgers can turn around and use his size to post up Zeigler as well. Will Tennessee bring timely double-teams and force Illinois to make decisions under conflict? Is it a big Jahmai Mashack game instead of Zeigler? It’s a fascinating chess match.
No. 20 Illinois at No. 17 Tennessee: 12 p.m. ET, CBS
Clemson’s transition defense hasn’t been a major strength this year. UAB (15) and Alabama (17) were able to get easy buckets before Clemson’s defense could get set.
TCU is going to try and do the same thing to Clemson.
Albeit against lesser competition, TCU has scored more than 40 points in transition twice (!) this season. It was one of the best transition offenses in the country last year, and the Frogs are doing similar things in 2023-24. Emanuel Miller, Jameer Nelson Jr., Jakobe Coles, Micah Peavy and Avery Anderson III have been very aggressive in transition all season long. Clemson has to get back and get matched up in a hurry.
No. 24 Clemson at TCU: 4 p.m. ET, FS1 
Purdue had no answer for Northwestern’s lightning-quick star guard Boo Buie in the Big Ten opener. Lance Jones has been Purdue’s best perimeter defender this year, but Buie converted some tough shots on him and eventually fouled Jones out of the game. Camden Heide and Ethan Morton both took turns on Buie, but he eviscerated those rangy wings.
Purdue will be challenged by two more elite guards on Saturday when it faces off against Alabama. Mark Sears and Aaron Estrada take turns as Alabama’s alpha. Both can really shred the net from downtown. Sears uses his speed to get into the teeth of the defense and the foul line. Estrada takes a few more midrange jumpers than Nate Oats would probably want, but he makes just enough of them to make it worthwhile. Those shots will be there against Purdue. If Estrada can be efficient like Buie was, Alabama can give Purdue some issues, especially when he can get to his silky post-up. Who does Jones guard? Does he flip-flop back and forth between Estrada and Sears? Can the other Alabama guard take advantage?
Alabama at No. 4 Purdue: 1:30 p.m. ET, FOX
Arizona did not allow a single offensive rebound in its win over Colgate. That is absurd. It’s been one of the best rebounding teams in the country this season, but Wisconsin has made the offensive glass a huge point of emphasis this season. The Badgers are rebounding nearly 37% of their misses which ranks No. 24-best nationally, per KenPom. Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl are both a huge piece of that, but freshman John Blackwell has multiple offensive rebounds in three games this season.
It’s the exact same dilemma on the other end. Arizona is an elite offensive-rebounding team in its own right. Wisconsin has limited second-chance opportunities very well this season. It’s strength-on-strength on both sides.
No. 23 Wisconsin at No. 1 Arizona: 3:15 p.m ET, ESPN
Villanova’s defense gives up so many 3-pointers. Over 44% of shots against Villanova come from downtown which ranks 339th nationally. Villanova’s inability to contain the basketball has been jarring. Lead ball-handlers have been way too comfortable breaking down the defense and creating open 3s.
But UCLA doesn’t shoot many 3s. The Bruins attempt just 12.3 3-pointers per game which ranks third-to-last nationally. Lazar Stefanovic, Dylan Andrews and Will McClendon are the lone Bruins with double-digit attempts from beyond the arc this season.
Stefanovic is the one to watch here. The Utah transfer is more than capable of getting loose, and the opportunities will be there for him to put his stamp on the game in a real way.
UCLA at Villanova: 7 p.m. ET, FOX
Auburn opponents shoot a meager 49.1% at the rim against the Tigers because Bruce Pearl has a deep, talented backline. Johni Broome is an intimidating shot blocker who is super physical. Backup center Dylan Cardwell is an even better rim protector. Jaylin Williams helps out with Auburn’s elite rim defense as well.
It will be tested against an Indiana offense that lives in the paint. Over 43% of Indiana’s shots this season come at the rim, and the Hoosiers are shooting nearly 65% at the rim. Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware are big pieces of that, but Trey Galloway has made a concerted effort to drive the ball as much as possible. If Auburn’s elite rim protection turns IU’s water off, the Hoosiers might not be able to make enough jumpers to survive.
Auburn at Indiana: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Arkansas wants to play isolation basketball. Eric Musselman believes he can find the weak spot in the defense and empower his best player to go after it.
The best bet for Arkansas on Saturday against undefeated Oklahoma might be targeting Javian McCollum defensively.
The Siena transfer has been fantastic offensively with a barrage of pick-and-roll brilliance, but he’s 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds. Arkansas’ best two isolation scorers (Khalif Battle and Tramon Mark) are so much bigger than McCollum. Can Arkansas get McCollum switched off El Ellis, Devo Davis or Layden Blocker and onto Battle and Mark? If so, Arkansas could be cooking with gas. Mark is a solid 3-point shooter, but he’s at his best at the rim and from the midrange. Battle rises and fires a ton from downtown, but he also attacks the rim trying to get to the free throw line.
If Arkansas can put McCollum in a bunch of actions and potentially get him in foul trouble, the equation tilts toward the Hogs in a big way.
Arkansas at No. 19 Oklahoma: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
USC freshman Bronny James, the oldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, is expected to play in his first game Sunday, Trojans coach Andy Enfield told reporters Thursday after he participated in a full-contact practice after going into cardiac arrest during a preseason workout July 24.
James was a limited participant during USC’s earlier practice this week  and could get full clearance Friday to play in USC’s next game.
“All indications are he feels great, and he looks good,” Enfield said Thursday, via CBS Sports. 
Here’s our editor and pinch-hit-writer Xavier Hamilton earlier this week on the impact Bronny, the No. 28 prospect in the 2023 class, will have on the Trojans. 
Without James, USC is sitting at a record of 5-3. Senior Boogie Ellis is leading the way with 22.4 points per game but it’s been another coveted freshman, Isaiah Collier, who has been the Trojan’s biggest surprise.
Collier is second on the team in scoring with 17.3 points per game. He’s also adding in 3 rebounds a game and 4.5 assists while shooting 52.2% from the field and 40% from three. Still, his decision-making leaves a lot to be desired as he is averaging close to 5 turnovers a game.
This is where Bronny’s introduction into the rotation comes into play.
Although it’s expected that James will need to knock off some rust, the 4-star recruit and No. 28 player in the 2023 class earned his reputation because of his basketball IQ. While James is an impressive athlete, he leans more on his feel for the game and always seems to make the right basketball play. This style of play could result in James becoming a great complimentary ball-handler to Ellis and Collier off the bench.
If he comes back true to form, then Bronny’s knack for making the right play will take some of the pressure off of the starting guards. That impact on the came could be reflected in an increase Collier’s efficiency.
Also, Bronny isn’t shy on defense. Playing the passing lanes to create fast break opportunities as well as his reliable shooting stroke should generate some easy buckets for James as he looks to work himself into the Trojan’s rotation.
USC’s game against Long Beach State will tip-off at 4 PM ET on Sunday. And if this is Bronny’s college debut, don’t be surprised to see an abundance of stars in attendance at Galen Center.
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