Screen Shots: December 12th-18th, 2024

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what sporting events you should watch on TV every week! Make sure you subscribe so it comes straight to your inbox! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

Hello! No new episode of Beyond The Arc with Brandon Silvers this week. My grandmother has been in the hospital which means I’ve been at the hospital and they get weird about you recording rants about the College Football Playoff Committee leaving out your favorite team there. However, I did record an episode last week, so you’re welcome to check that out if you miss the sound of my voice!

Now, to the sports!

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

• Women’s College Basketball: #2 Connecticut Huskies @ #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 7:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

The story with UConn is always superstar Paige Bueckers, but pay attention to freshman Sarah Strong. The #1 recruit in the Class of 2024 has been as good as advertised, leading the team in rebounds, steals, and blocks while being 2nd in scoring and assists. Her mom, Allison Feaster, was an outstanding college basketball player in her own right. The South Carolina native was the nation’s top scorer twice in her 4 seasons at Harvard. During her senior season, she led the Crimson to a win over Stanford in the NCAA Tournament's first round, making them the 1st 16th-seed ever to take down a 1-seed. Allison went on to be selected 5th overall in the 1998 WNBA Draft.

Friday, December 13th, 2024

• NBA: Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets at 9:00 pm (ET) on NBA TV

In his last 2 games, Nikola Jokic is averaging 52 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. Those were back-to-back games played on back-to-back days. He will have gotten 4 days of rest heading into this one. If my math is correct, that means he’s projected to score infinity.

Saturday, December 14th, 2024

• Men’s College Basketball: #17 Texas A&M Aggies @ #11 Purdue Boilermakers at 12:00 pm (ET) on CBS

The first Saturday of this season where college basketball is the entree. Aggies’ head coach Buzz Williams has one of the most underrated programs in the country. This man thrives when he’s got a hardnosed squad led by an undersized combo guard. His current Darius Johnson-Odom is Wade Taylor IV. If he maintains his current average, he’s roughly 15 games away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in Texas A&M men’s basketball history.

• College Football: Navy Midshipmen @ #22 Army Black Knights at 3:00 pm (ET) on CBS

There’s still some college football though! Army is fresh off of a dominating performance in the AAC championship game. A win in this one would give them their 1st-ever 12-win season. Tune in and support the troops!

• Men’s College Basketball: #8 Gonzaga Bulldogs @ # 18 Connecticut Huskies at 8:00 pm (ET) on Fox

But make no mistake about it, it’s college basketball season. UConn head coach Dan Hurley is the whiniest piss baby in a profession where being a whiny piss baby is a prerequisite. His team lost 3 straight games at the Maui Invitational, including one thanks to a technical foul he got in the waning seconds and another where he damn near did the same thing. Instead of taking accountability, he blamed the format of the tournament. The Lakers tried to hire this man.

Sunday, December 14th, 2024

• Women’s College Basketball: #21 Iowa Hawkeyes @ #17 Michigan St. Spartans at 12:00 pm (ET) on Big Ten Network

Big Ten newcomers USC and UCLA have dominated the headlines, but this is a conference with some depth! The Hawkeyes are adjusting nicely to life after Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder, utilizing a more balanced offensive attack. The Spartans made the tournament last year in Robyn Fralick’s first season guiding the program. They look poised to return behind the standout play of Julia Ayrault and Grace VanSlooten. This will be the first conference game of the season for both teams.

Monday, December 15th, 2024

• Christmas Movie of the Week: Frosty the Snowman (1969) on YouTube 

Learn about the overlap of corporate greed and climate change!

Tuesday, December 16th, 2024

• NBA Cup Finals: Teams TBD at 8:30 pm (ET) on ABC

We may not know who will be in this one yet, but we do know that there will be a new champion. Last year’s game made me believe in the Lakers. They won 5 of their next 17 games.

Wednesday, December 17th, 2024

• Men’s College Basketball: The Citadel Bulldogs @ Vanderbilt Commodores at 8:00 pm (ET) on SEC Network

For a program that hasn’t won more than 13 games in a season since 2009-’10, the Bulldogs have played major opponents pretty well the past couple of seasons, including a shocking 20-point victory against Notre Dame last year.

• College Football Art of Sport LA Bowl: California Golden Bears @ #24 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at 9:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

One second, you’re playing for a chance to be in the College Football Playoff. The next, you’re taking on a 6-6 Cal team in a bowl game hosted by Gronk. Life comes at you fast, but the quirkier the bowl game, the better.

Thank you so much for reading! It’d be nice if you shared this with your friends! I’ll catch you next week!