Rise and Shine: Big Monday Rankings

By Sam Federman

BYU Athletics

Happy Big Monday.

For the first time this season, we have a Big Monday doubleheader on ESPN with an ACC game followed by a Big 12 game. Each of the next six Monday's will feature this arrangement, and many of the games are absolutely stacked. A few are not. Here are the rankings for ESPN's Big Monday doubleheaders this year.

1. January 26

Yep. I'm starting us off with tonight. There's a strong chance that this is the only time we get the opportunity to see an undefeated team on Big Monday, as Arizona's run could come to an end in the Marriott Center against BYU. Additionally, this is the only time that AJ Dybantsa will play on Big Monday, and it's coming off of his best performance of the season, a 43 point masterclass against Utah on Saturday.

We have a terrific ACC contest as well, with Duke hosting Louisville. The Cardinals recently got Mikel Brown Jr. back from injury, and this is a huge platform game for the projected lottery pick.

2. February 9

If you guaranteed that Arizona would still be undefeated heading into the February 9 matchup with Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, it would easily be the top billing on this list, despite the ACC game not being quite as appealing as some of the others. Kansas has already ended an undefeated season at AFH this year, with Iowa State going down, and the opportunity to do it again could await.

Meanwhile, NC State at Louisville is a great matchup, especially if both teams are playing well, but it's not Duke, so it doesn't have as much mass appeal.

3. March 2

This is my favorite ACC matchup of the bunch, and it could end up being the best Big 12 matchup of the bunch as well.... so why isn't it No. 1? Simply because it's so unlikely for Arizona to get to this game with a 0 in the loss column. Even if they don't, Arizona could very much be going for the clinch of the Big 12 title at home against Iowa State, who could be one of the top challengers.

In the ACC, this is the only Duke road game on Big Monday, and NC State fans will be more than ready for it.

4. February 23

Houston at Kansas gave us one of the best games of the college basketball season last year. It was a double overtime Saturday blockbuster thriller, where Houston miraculously pulled out a 92-86 win. This year's trip to Allen Fieldhouse is the third game of a three-game gauntlet for the Cougars, following the team's only meetings with Iowa State (away) and Arizona (home).

On the ACC side, Louisville travels to North Carolina for what will likely be an important game in the conference standings as well as the bracketology picture.

5. February 16

It almost feels like picking on Syracuse, but the sheer presence of the Orange in the final two Big Monday's on the rankings makes these two shoe-ins for 5 and 6. Syracuse going to Duke will likely be a blood bath, but Houston going to Hilton Coliseum will make up for it.

The Cyclones and Cougars currently rank 6th and 7th in KenPom respecitvely, and a win for Houston is important in keeping the hopes alive for a third straight Big 12 regular season title.

6. February 2

Again, picking on Syracuse almost, but Adrian Autry's team hasn't exactly been worth the watch from the national perspective this year, and North Carolina isn't exactly the North Carolina of old. Even then, the Heels will likely be double digit home favorites in this one.

The nation will then turn its eyes to a fun Big 12 battle between Kansas and Texas Tech in Lubbock. It'll be Kansas' first major road test of Big 12 play, and it has already dropped road games to UCF and West Virginia. Meanwhile, Texas Tech is surging, at 6-1 in the Big 12 and sitting undefeated at home.