City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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Each Sunday this season, we’ll be putting out a preview of the week to come, with a spotlight on key local matchups. Here’s a look at the upcoming week — Monday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 10.

For the first time, our weekly look-ahead is going to be high-school dominant, though there’s certainly still a few college games worth looking at. We’ll start with a look at some featured college games: 

• WBB: Villanova vs. Penn (Tues, 7 PM)
  The Wildcats and Quakers open the week with a Big 5 matchup at Villanova as a couple high-scoring juniors go head-to-head. ‘Nova has been Lucy Olsen’s team all year, the guard averaging 26.0 ppg, while Penn wing/forward Stina Almqvist (19.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg) has had a breakthrough year of her own. 

• WBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. Utah (Thurs., 7 PM)
  Assuming the Hawks take care of business on the road against Boston U on Tuesday, they set themselves up with a big-time home game against No. 12 Utah (7-1), which has put up more than 100 points on four separate occasions this season, though a few of those were non-D-I opponents. If St. Joe’s can down the Utes, they’ll be 8-0 and almost certainly 

• MBB: Penn vs. Kentucky (Sat., Noon, Wells Fargo Center)
  It’s not really a doubleheader at WFC on Saturday, but there’s no doubt two big contests to take in at the Sixers’ home. Kentucky brings a good bit of local flavor home, including Imhotep’s Justin Edwards and Camden’s D.J. Wagner; don’t be surprised if the UK fans make this feel like Rupp Arena. 

• MBB: Villanova vs. UCLA (Sat., 7 PM, Wells Fargo Center)
  The nightcap is a matchup of two of the more storied programs in hoops history, as one longtime blue blood and one more recent entry do battle. The Wildcats need this one (and one at Kansas State on Tuesday) after a rough week of Big 5 competition, while UCLA (5-2) is looking for a signature non-conference win after dropping games to Marquette and Gonzaga in November. 

• WBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. Villanova (Sat., 7 PM)
  The Wildcats’ second Big 5 game of the week should be a great one, Hagan Arena welcome to ready its archrival in what could be the de facto Big 5 championship game. Neither team has played La Salle yet, but the winner will be 3-0 in the city with only the Explorers remaining. How St. Joe’s will handle Olsen is one thing; how ‘Nova will handle the Hawks’ frontcourt of Talya Brugler and Laura Ziegler is another. 

• MBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. Princeton (Sun., 1 PM)
  With a win over Villanova in its pocket, the resume-building continues for St. Joe’s, which has a big opportunity at home on Sunday with a Princeton squad ranked just outside the top 50 on KenPom, now 8-0 after a buzzer-beating win over Furman on Saturday. The Tigers, off a Sweet 16 run a year ago, are the class of the Ivy League right now. 

• WBB: Temple vs. Penn (Sun., 2 PM)
  One last Big 5 game of the week, and though it might not have the implications of some of the others this week, it should no doubt be an entertaining affair at the Liacouras Center. The Owls (3-5) have been hot and cold this season, beating Xavier by 37 this weekend but losing by 28 to Nova a couple games before that. This is a busy week for Penn, which also plays Merrimack on Friday, so conditioning will be a factor.

In the high school world, here are a few games and events of note

• Boys: Archbishop Ryan vs. Penn Charter (Tues., 6 PM)
  Terrific matchup in the post here as Ryan’s Thomas Sorber (Georgetown) goes up against PC junior Matt Gilhool. But this is overall a high-level game, both teams with respective league and state championship aspirations.

• Boys: Imhotep vs. St. Joe’s Prep (Tues, 6:30 PM)
  Expect a sold-out gym at ‘Tep as the Panthers host the Hawks in a powerhouse clash. Great matchup of guards with Imhotep’s Ahmad Nowell and company against a Prep backcourt led by Jaron McKie and Olin Chamberlain. 

• Boys: Spring-Ford vs. Unionville (Tues, 6:45 PM)
  Last year’s District 1 6A and 5A runner-ups will meet at Spring-Ford in a good early-season test for both. Both teams love to space the floor, move the ball and shoot at a high clip; the battle on the glass will be critical. 

• Girls: Friends’ Central vs. Notre Dame (Thurs., 4 PM)
  Inter-Ac vs. Friends’ League is a common matchup this time of year on both the boys and girls side. Expect a few college coaches in the gym as FCS junior Logyn Greer and Notre Dame freshman Riley Davis go head-to-head. 

• Boys: Ches-Mont Challenge @ West Chester (Friday)
  A four-game showcase at West Chester as four teams from the Ches-Mont face four non-league opponents. No shortage of good matchups: Henderson vs. Phoenixville, D’Town West vs. Lower Merion, Unionville vs. Malvern Prep and Coatesville vs. Constitution. We’ll have a full event preview up later this week. 

• Boys: CoBL Winter Showcase @ Exeter (Fri.-Sat.)
  Our first winter event of the season has eight games taking place over two days; three Friday night and five on Saturday afternoon and evening. Host Exeter plays two games, while Perk Valley, Malvern Prep, Archbishop Carroll, Dobbins and Upper Darby come up from the Philly area. Schedule below; we’ll have a full event preview up later this week. 

• Boys: Kobe Bryant Classic (Sat.-Sun.)
  This multi-day event starts with a pair of games at Lower Merion on Saturday night, with five at Widener on Sunday. The major matchup is Saturday’s first game, as Archbishop Wood goes up against Huntington Prep before the hosts play Methacton. We’ll have a full event preview up later this week. 

Weekly Schedule
Note: this is not the complete schedule of every local high school game; CLICK HERE for the full boys’ slate and CLICK HERE for the girls’ schedule. Included are every Big 5 game (home and away) plus local D-II and D-III games of note. Home team listed first unless @ symbol used.

Mon., December 4
Girls: Lower Merion vs. Villa Maria (7 PM)

Boys: SCH Academy vs. Marina (Ca.) (4 PM)

Tues., December 5
WBB: Saint Joseph’s @ Boston Univ. (6 PM)
WBB: Villanova vs. Penn (7 PM)
MBB: Villanova @ Kansas State (7 PM)
MBB: Drexel @ Princeton (7 PM)
WBB: La Salle @ Rutgers (7 PM)

Boys: Imhotep vs. St. Joe’s Prep (5:30 PM)
Boys: Archbishop Ryan vs. Penn Charter (6 PM)
Boys: Spring-Ford vs. Unionville (6:45 PM)
Boys: Abington vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh (7 PM)
Boys: Pennsbury vs. Neshaminy (7 PM)
Boys: Central Bucks West vs. Central Bucks East (7 PM)
Boys: Cardinal O’Hara vs. West Philly (7 PM) 

Girls: Germantown Academy vs. Friends’ Central (4:00 PM)
Girls: Gwynedd Mercy vs. Episcopal Academy (5:15 PM)
Girls: Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Abington (7 PM)
Girls: Perkiomen Valley vs. Unionville (7 PM)
Girls: Springfield (Delco.) vs. Bishop Shanahan (7 PM)
Girls: Council Rock South vs. Bensalem (7 PM)
Girls: Central Bucks East vs. Central Bucks West (7 PM)
Girls: Neshaminy vs. Pennsbury (7 PM)
Girls: Garnet Valley vs. Nazareth Academy (7 PM) 

Weds., December 6
MBB: Penn vs. FDU-Florham (6 PM)
WBB/MBB: Swarthmore vs. Ursinus (6 PM/8 PM)
MBB: La Salle vs. Loyola (Md.) (6:30 PM)
MBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. American (7 PM)
MBB: Temple vs. Bloomsburg (7 PM)
WBB: Drexel @ Marist (7 PM)
WBB: Chestnut Hill vs. Shippensburg (7 PM)

Girls: SCH Academy vs. Hill School (4 PM)
Girls: Upper Darby vs. Lower Merion (6:45 PM)
Girls: St. Hubert’s vs. Villa Joseph Marie (7:00 PM)

Boys: Constitution vs. Devon Prep (7 PM, Ben Franklin HS)
Boys: Lower Merion vs. Upper Darby (7:00 PM)
Boys: Malvern Prep vs. Peddie School (N.J.) (7:00 PM)

Thurs., December 7
WBB: La Salle @ Lehigh (7 PM)
WBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. Utah (7 PM)

Girls: Friends’ Central vs. Notre Dame (4 PM)
Girls: Nazareth vs. Pennsbury (5:30 PM)
Girls: Rustin vs. Methacton (6:45 PM)
Girls: Phoenixville vs. Downingtown East (6:45 PM)
Girls: Harriton vs. Springfield (Delco.) (7:00 PM)
Girls: Conestoga vs. Haverford (7:00 PM)

Boys: Hill School vs. SCH Academy (6 PM)
Boys: Springfield (Delco.) vs. Harriton
Boys: North Penn vs. Central Bucks West (7 PM)
Boys: Upper Moreland vs. William Tennent (7 PM)
Boys: Chester vs. Math, Civics & Sciences (7 PM)

Fri., December 8
WBB: Penn @ Merrimack (7 PM)

CoBL Winter Showcase @ Exeter Twp. HS
5:00 PM: Columbia vs. Upper Darby
6:45 PM: Berks Catholic vs. Cedar Crest
8:30 PM: Exeter vs. Archbishop Carroll

Girls: Villa Maria vs. Germantown Academy (5:00 PM)
Girls: Pennridge vs. Souderton (6:30 PM)
Girls: Perk Valley vs. Lebanon (6:45 PM)
Girls: Neshaminy vs. CR South (7:00 PM)

Boys: Friends’ Central vs. Germantown Academy (4 PM)
Boys: Council Rock North vs. Bensalem (7 PM)
Boys: Council Rock South vs. Neshaminy (7 PM) 

Boys @ West Chester Univ.
Henderson vs. Phoenixville (3:30 PM)
Downingtown West vs. Lower Merion (5:00 PM)
Unionville vs. Malvern Prep (6:30 PM)
Coatesville vs. Constitution (8:00 PM

Sat., December 9
MBB: Penn vs. Kentucky (Noon, Wells Fargo)
MBB: La Salle @ Lafayette (1 PM)
WBB: Chestnut Hill vs. Kutztown (1 PM)
MBB: West Chester vs. Goldey-Beacom (1 PM)
WBB: Drexel vs. Buffalo (2 PM)
MBB: Drexel @ West Virginia (4 PM)
MBB: Jefferson vs. Bloomsburg (4 PM)
MBB: Villanova vs. UCLA (7 PM, Wells Fargo)
WBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. Villanova (7 PM) 

Boys: CoBL Winter Showcase @ Exeter Twp. HS
12:45 PM: Dobbins Tech vs. Columbia
2:30 PM: Berks Catholic vs. Allentown Central Catholic
4:15 PM: Cedar Crest vs. Downingtown West
6:00 PM: Perkiomen Valley vs. Exeter
7:45 PM: Malvern Prep vs. Parkland 

Boys: Kobe Bryant Classic @ Lower Merion
6:00 PM: Archbishop Wood vs. Huntington Prep (W.Va.)
8:00 PM: Lower Merion vs. Methacton

Sun., December 10
MBB: Saint Joseph’s vs. Princeton (1 PM)
WBB: Temple vs. Penn (2 PM)
MBB: Temple @ Albany (7 PM, Barclays Center)

Boys: Kobe Bryant Classic @ Widener
10:30 AM Plymouth Whitemarsh vs Sanford (Del.)
12:15 PM: Westtown vs Archbishop Molloy (NY)
2:00 PM: Richmond Heights (Ohio) vs St. Joseph's Prep
3:45 PM: Neumann-Goretti vs Salesianum (Del.)
5.30 PM: George School vs Life Center (N.J.