What makes most people happy at this time of the year is spending time with family or something. But what is going to make the men and women’s basketball teams happy is a heavy dose of winning.
A couple of losses won’t completely ruin their holidays, but winning can only make this time of the year that much sweeter.
With the women off to their hottest start in their short NCAA history, the schedule becomes much tougher with a couple of road games this month.
After receiving a vote in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time ever, Robyn Fairbanks and company are on top of the world.
The tough schedule starts this week with a game against cross-town foe BYU on Saturday.
The women won’t play at home until a Dec. 15 game against Portland but then comes one of the most interesting games on the schedule, a game in North Carolina against No. 10 Duke.
Connecticut, ranked No. 2, destroyed Duke 74-48over the weekend for the Blue Devils only loss this season. A Utah Valley upset would be the biggest win ever for any team at the school and almost guarantee a national ranking.
Utah Valley also hosts Gonzaga and Nevada before school is back in session for the spring semester.
By the time everyone is back in school, the women’s team will either continue its great season or have another letdown.
As for the men’s team, they will be on the road most of the break but they will play at home against Boise State Dec. 13. It will give the Wolverines a chance to avenge its season-opening loss in overtime against the Broncos.
After facing one WAC team, Utah Valley will travel to play against two in-state teams, Southern Utah in Cedar City and Utah State in Logan in the Gossner Foods Classic.
After all the travel during most of the holidays, the men will return home for two games against Cal State Northridge and the second game of the season against San Francisco before ringing in the new year.
And although most students won’t be around campus during the break, it’s the best part of the schedule for both teams.
Check out wolverinegreen.blogspot.com for updates and more all during the break.
