OPENING TIPS Ratings and datings, weights and slates, knees and media freeze TUBULAR DATES

Television will be teeming with college games this season. Here's
a guide to the best matchups.

NOVEMBER 25
ESPN
Oklahoma vs. Ohio State in Maui
This game, between two teams committed to applying pressure from
the git-go, will be an early gauge of how good the up-and-coming
Buckeyes are.

NOVEMBER 30
ESPN
New Mexico at Arizona
Last year the Lobos won this matchup with the help of their vocal
fans in their infamous Pit, knocking off the No. 1 Wildcats. It's
payback time in Tucson.

DECEMBER 3
ABC
Louisville vs. Indiana
Notre Dame vs. Kentucky in the Hoosier Dome
This is the second of these annual superpower summits, part of a
four-year contract.

DECEMBER 10
ABC
UNLV at Arizona
This beauty of a game will be spiced up by an incipient feud
between the two coaching staffs, arising out of a series of
recruiting battles.

DECEMBER 17
ESPN
Loyola-Marymount at Oklahoma
A match made in TV heaven and one to bamboozle even the most
facile scoreboard operator. You read it here first: 132-121, Sooners.

DECEMBER 29
USA
Memphis State at Tennessee
The game no one in the Volunteer State expected to see (the two
have played only once, in 1970). First Kentucky-Louisville came to
pass, now this.

DECEMBER 31
ESPN
Evansville at Murray State
ESPN will celebrate New Year's twice: on the set in Connecticut
just before tip-off at midnight eastern standard time, then again in
Murray, Ky., at halftime.

FEBRUARY 13
ESPN
Syracuse at Georgetown, Ohio State at Iowa, Utah State at UC Santa
Barbara
The best of four Big Monday triple-headers in February. Owens and
Mourning do battle in the opener.

FEBRUARY 26
NBC
Duke vs. Arizona in East Rutherford, N.J.
The consolation game that wasn't played at last spring's Final
Four. Danny Ferry and Sean Elliott duel for Player of the Year.

MARCH 5
CBS
Georgetown at Syracuse
Just as Pitt played in the Dome last March with a chance to win
the Big East on the regular season's last day, the Hoyas may have the
same setup.

MARCH 5
ABC
Iowa at Michigan
Soon after the Big East has settled its score on this afternoon,
these two teams figure to take care of the same item on the Big Ten
agenda.