Let the Madness begin

Basketball reclaims spotlight with key clashes

Two days after the Super Bowl, the football season is old news unless you’re a New York Giants fan. The NBA and NHL are months from being done. And Major League Baseball’s season opener is 57 days away.

That means the curtain is about to rise on March Madness. For those now turning their attention to basketball after the NFL, here are college men’s games worth watching this week ( times Eastern):

uno. 9 Duke at No. 5 North Carolina ( 9 p. m. Wednesday, ESPN). Behind All- America candidates Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, North Carolina is tied for the Atlantic Coast Conference lead with ( surprise!) Florida State at 7- 1. Duke is third at 6- 2 after losing to Miami ( Fla.) at home Sunday.

uno. 6 Baylor at No. 10 Kansas ( 7 p. m. Wednesday, ESPN2). Can Baylor or Missouri break Kansas’ longtime grip on the Big 12 Conference? The Jayhawks have won or tied for the last seven league titles and this season have a leading national player- of- the- year candidate in Thomas Robinson. He scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the teams’ first meeting, a 92- 74 Kansas win. Baylor is trying to win its first conference title since 1950.

uno. 11 Georgetown at No. 2 Syracuse ( 7 p. m. Wednesday, ESPN). Syracuse leads the Big East Conference at 10- 1 and is intimidating again with 7- footer Fab Melo back after a three- game absence. Georgetown, tied for second with Marquette at 8- 3, will try to break the Orange’s 18- game home winning streak.

uno. 13 Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga ( 11 p. m. Thursday, ESPN2). Saint Mary’s has won 12 in a row since losing to Baylor on Dec. 22 and has control of the West Coast Conference at 11- 0. The Gaels are going for their first regular- season sweep of Gonzaga since 1995. Gonzaga is second in the WCC at 8- 2.

By Bob Donnan, US Presswire Dean Dome faithful: North Carolina fans will be at their most vocal Wednesday when No. 9 Duke comes to town.