
Week Ahead
FRIDAY 2/15
No. 21 Pittsburgh at No. 16 Marquette
The Golden Eagles have been part of the Big East only since 2005, but Pitt-Marquette games already feel like grudge matches. "Since I've been here, we've developed a rivalry with Pitt," says Marquette junior guard Dominic James (right), who is averaging 13.5 points and leads the team with 88 assists. The four regular-season meetings James has been part of have been decided by six points or less, and he has helped Marquette win three of them.
ESPN 9 p.m.
SATURDAY 2/16
Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor
After Pavlik handed him his first defeat five months ago (left), former middleweight champ Taylor brought back his first trainer, Ozell Nelson, to prepare for tonight's rematch in Las Vegas. Taylor (27-1-1) thinks Nelson will help him get past what he called the "butt-kicking" Pavlik delivered in Atlantic City. Says Pavlik's trainer, Jack Loew, "I want to thank Jermain for bringing the guy back who taught him all of his bad habits."
PPV 9 p.m.
SUNDAY 2/17
Daytona 500
Could this be the year that a foreign manufacturer wins the Great American Race? With Joe Gibbs Racing—home of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch—making the switch to Toyota this season, the chances have improved that one of the 11 Japanese cars entered will capture the checkered flag at Daytona's 50th running. During testing, Toyota logged five of the top 10 speeds at the raceway.
Fox 2 p.m.
Red Wings at Stars
Note to Detroit: If this game is close, keep the puck off the stick of Niklas Hagman (left). The Dallas winger is tied for second in the NHL with seven game-winning goals; he has two this month, against the Flames and the Wild.
NBC 3:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at No. 21 Texas A&M
Nearly 1,000 women's high school and college teams will have a rosier outlook this week. As part of Think Pink, a breast cancer awareness initiative by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the Aggies and Lady Raiders will take the court sporting pink laces, pink T-shirts and pink uniform trim.
ESPN2 4 p.m.
SI PICK OF THE WEEK
SATURDAY 2/16
NBA All-Star Skills Challenge
Dwyane Wade (above) hasn't done much winning this season—the Heat still hadn't gotten its victory total into double digits by Monday—but there's one event the Miami guard knows he can dominate. Wade is the two-time defending Skills Challenge champion. In New Orleans he'll match his ball handling and obstacle-course-navigating skills against 2003 champ Jason Kidd of the Nets, hometown favorite Chris Paul and Jazz guard Deron Williams. Wade will also start for the Eastern Conference in Sunday's All-Star Game.
TNT 8:30 p.m.
PHOTO
BOB ROSATO (JAMES)
PHOTO
SUE OGROCKI/AP (WADE)
PHOTO
RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES (HAGMAN)
PHOTO
DAVID GARD/AP IMAGES (FIGHT)