When: 1 p.m. Sunday at Breslin
2001-02 record: 1-4
2000-01 record: 14-14
Best players: F Clifton Jones and G Beau O’Quin
Top newcomers: G Larry Jones, G Ronnie Price
Overview: Price, a freshman walk-on, has been the biggest surprise for the Colonels this season and has been handling the point guard duties. Nicholls State shoots a mere 38.7 percent from the field and makes only 26.7 percent of its three-pointers.

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Breslin
2001-02 record: 1-5
2000-01 record: 15-13
Best players: C Ben McGonagil, G Andre Smith and F Colin Shaw
Top newcomers: G Alex Kragel
Overview: The Spartans catch UNC-Asheville in the midst of a six-day road trip that takes the Bulldogs from North Carolina State to East Lansing and to Auburn. If they plan on shocking one or more of these teams, UNC-Asheville has to improve on its 56 percent free-throw percentage and start out-rebounding its opponents.

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Breslin
2001-02 record: 3-4
2000-01 record: 12-16
Best players: G Mike Helms and F Brad Buddenborg
Top newcomers: G Pierre Dukes and F Adrian Martin
Overview: Oakland likes to shoot a lot of three-pointers, but unfortunately for the Golden Grizzlies, they haven’t been making very many. Shooting just 27.2 percent from behind the three-point arch doesn’t bode well for this undersized squad. Helms has been a bright spot for the Grizzlies, adding an extra six points a game in his sophomore campaign.

When: 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at Breslin
Current record: 3-2
2000-01 record: 16-15
Leading scorers: G Darius Lane and G Andre Barrett
Top newcomers: F John Allen and F Mauricio Branwel
Overview: The Pirates lost their best player to the NBA Draft (Eddie Griffin) and their head coach (Tommy Amaker) to Michigan, but the Pirates are still strong. The diminutive Barrett, listed at 5-foot-8, has shown why Amaker wanted to take him to Ann Arbor. The Pirates beat No. 1 Duke for 35 minutes in the first round of the Maui Invitational, before eventually losing 80-79. They like to step back and shoot the three and could present the Spartans with matchup problems on the perimeter.