The college basketball season is underway. The road to New Orleans for the Final Four will be a long and winding one. There will be many great moments in the season, numerous challenges facing America's premier squads.

Picking the creme de la creme is very difficult. It's a little easier if one throws out the annual rivalries within conference play, so in choosing a "Games to Watch" list, we decided to pick only contests that are non-league and already established (So, don't look for games such as tournament matchups like Kansas-Florida in the Preseason NIT). Here we go with some "must see" action in 2002-03.

November 23: Western Kentucky at Arizona
This is the first test for the team many experts believe will cut down the nets in New Orleans. With Chris Marcus injured, the Wildcats should come away with a "W". Still, it is interesting to see how one of the top "mid-majors" fares in a road test.

November 25: Virginia vs. Chaminade
Just for old times sake!

November 30: Georgia at Minnesota
Jarvis Hayes and Rick Rickert share the spotlight.

November 30: Duke vs. UCLA
The Blue Devils get an early test against Jason Kapono and company at the Wooden Tradition in Conseco Fieldhouse.

December 3: Maryland vs. Indiana
A rematch of last year's national championship game, it's also part of the ACC-Big Ten challenge. Playing at Conseco helps the Hoosiers.

December 3: North Carolina vs. Illinois
This will be a showcase of diaper dandies as the Illini duo Deron Williams and Dee Brown face off against the Tar Heel trio of Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May.

December 4: Georgia Tech vs. Minnesota
Watch out for Paul Hewitt's Yellow Jackets as a sleeper team this season. This could be the most exciting game of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

December 4: Michigan State vs. Virginia
Hopefully the rematch of "Ice Capades" will have a conclusion this season.

December 7: Kansas at Oregon
This Elite Eight rematch should be special, as the two Lukes (Johnson and Ridnour) take on Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison. Remember, Collison had 25 points and 15 rebounds in the Jayhawks' 104-86 win last season. These two teams ranked in the top four in field-goal percentage last season.

December 7: Kentucky at North Carolina
The Wildcats won by 20 last year, so the Tar Heels are thinking revenge. Tradition alone gets these two winners' matchup on the list.

December 7: Xavier at Cincinnati
This has developed into one of the nation's best rivalries, even if it doesn't get the national publicity it deserves. Even with Skip Prosser gone to Wake Forest, it hasn't missed a beat.

December 14: Michigan State at Kentucky
Tom Izzo and Tubby Smith are two of the nation's best coaches. This will be a chess match.

December 14: Florida at Maryland
These teams should have met last season at Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, but nobody told Arizona.

December 14: Mississippi State vs. Xavier
This is the PRELIM at Madison Square Garden before St. John's against Hofstra. This could be a Sweet 16 or Elite Eight match-up in late March! Hopefully Mario Austin will be around to meet up with David West.

December 15: Georgia vs. Gonzaga
Jim Harrick and Mark Few aren't afraid to schedule tough non-league competition.

December 15: Texas at Arizona
Jason Gardner outscored T.J. Ford 28-4 last season (though Ford had 14 assists) in a Wildcats' win. This should be one of the best guard matchups of the entire '02-03 campaign.

December 17: Oregon vs. Cincinnati
It will be hard to top last year's Duke-Kentucky game at the Jimmy V. Classic, but this is at the same site and these teams will play hard.

December 21: Arizona at LSU
It will be loud at the Maravich Center and John Brady's team is an SEC sleeper. Not an easy game for Olson's club.

December 21: Indiana vs. Kentucky
Look for a sea of blue and a sea of red. No love lost here. Kentucky won by 14 last year; this should be closer.

December 21: UCLA at Kansas
Do you think the Jayhawks remember being No. 1 and losing at Pauley last season, 87-77? The nation's top two returning 3-point shooters (Hinrich and Kapono) battle here.

December 28: Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State
This battle in New Orleans figures to be very physical. The Sooners already lost to one SEC elite squad (Georgia).

December 28: Kentucky vs. Louisville
Think it will be strange to see Marvin Stone in a Louisville uniform? Rick Pitino is no longer a fan favorite in Lexington. This should be very intense.

December 28: Texas Tech at Minnesota
Nice to see Bob Knight back in Big Ten arenas on occasion! The Golden Gophers would love to avenge a 20-point loss from last season.

December 31: Pittsburgh at Georgia
A nice way to end the year! Brandin Knight and Julius Page vs. Ezra Williams and Rashad Wright is a nice backcourt showdown.

January 4: Xavier vs. Alabama
Nice matchups between West and Erwin Dudley, Williams and Romain Sato.

January 4: Michigan State vs. Oklahoma
One of the Sooners' five losses last season came to the Spartans in the Preseason NIT.

January 7: Connecticut at Oklahoma
Last year's game, won by the Sooners in Hartford, was a war. Expect the same this time around.

January 25: Arizona at Kansas
National championship game preview?

January 25: Louisville at Tennessee
The Vols won't forget last year's 73-72 loss, blowing a six-point lead in the final minute.

February 23: Syracuse at Michigan State
Carmelo Anthony takes center stage against Paul Davis.

February 23: Tulsa vs. Gonzaga
The best of the Bracket Busters, both of these "mid-majors" will be around and dangerous come 65-field time!