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College Basketball Watchability Rankings: 5 games to watch in Week 7

By Nathaniel Reeves

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats directs his team during the Citi Hoops Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats directs his team during the Citi Hoops Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 16: Kevin Knox #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Rupp Arena on December 16, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 16: Kevin Knox #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Rupp Arena on December 16, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Kentucky vs. UCLA, Saturday 4:00 p.m. ET 

As poor as the Bruins have looked for much of the season, Saturday’s contest in New Orleans between two of college basketball’s blue bloods will still be must-watch TV.

Life without Lonzo Ball hasn’t been easy for UCLA, which currently owns a record of 7-3 after dealing with the distraction of the shoplifting incident in China for the entire season. The Bruins were thoroughly handled at home on Saturday for their second straight loss, and need a better win than Wisconsin to highlight their resume.

Kentucky hasn’t exactly looked dominant in the early going but is up to No. 7 in the AP Poll with a 9-1 record, including a seven-game winning streak since losing to Kansas at the Champions Classic. The Wildcats earned their best victory of the year over the weekend, outlasting Virginia Tech 93-86 in a back-and-forth contest at Rupp Arena.

There’s still enough talent for UCLA to be a factor in March Madness, as the Bruins return Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh to go along with a strong recruiting class. Kentucky has its usual rotation of five-star freshmen, with forward Kevin Knox quickly emerging as a star.

Grabbing a win ahead of Pac-12 play would be crucial for a Bruins team that is on the bubble as of now, while Kentucky can add another solid victory to a resume that has largely been built against weak competition in the early going.