This weekend's college basketball spotlight games, trends and player to watch
February 22, 2019 at 4:08AM
Saturday: 11 a.m., ESPN
The Volunteers have a one-game lead on top of the SEC standings over LSU and Kentucky. They could lengthen that advantage over the Tigers with a victory in Baton Rouge, La., especially after LSU lost to Florida.
No. 10 Michigan ST. at No. 7 Michigan
Sunday: 2:45 p.m., Ch. 4
Outlook: The Wolverines have a one-game lead in the standings over the Spartans after winning Thursday, but they play the first of two matchups in the in-state rivalry series Sunday that could decide the Big Ten title.
TRENDS TO WATCH
Trending up: Ticket prices. Well, specifically, tickets to see Zion Williamson in the Duke-UNC rivalry game in Durham. They were Super Bowl-expensive, with the cheapest available seat at $2,500 and most expensive seat at more than $10,600. And Williamson played ... all of 36 seconds before his knee injury.
Trending down: Odds of Duke winning a national title went from 2-1 to 5-2 after Williamson was hurt. Vegas now has odds on which shoe brand he will wear in the NBA after blowing out the sole of his one of his Nikes during the injury Wednesday. Adidas (5-4 odds) replaced Nike (3-2) as the favorite.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Luke Maye, F, No. Carolina: The 6-8 senior forward was the best player on the floor Wednesday, leading the Tar Heels over Duke with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Maye's scoring (16.9 to 15.1) and rebounding (10.1 to 9.8) are slightly down from last season, but he's the leader of a more balanced and dangerous team.
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Two offensive linemen from Lakeville, Bryce Benhart and Riley Mahlman, are standouts for Big Ten rivals of Minnesota.
