Last year, Arizona and Michigan State faced off inside Acrisure Arena, here in the California desert, in what became the highest-rated televised college basketball game in 15 years. The game captured the attention of 5.18 viewers on Thanksgiving Day.
With the momentum of that game, Acrisure Arena scheduled a few more college basketball games this year, during the week of Thanksgiving, in what is being called the Acrisure Series.
The Acrisure Series kicks off Tuesday and runs through Friday inside Acrisure Arena. The series will include six women’s college basketball games and 13 men’s college basketball games.
Before the Acrisure Series gets underway, here are 10 players, in order, who you should be keeping an eye on during the week:
10. Nate Calmese, Washington State
The 6-foot-2 junior guard is averaging 20 points per game through Wazzu’s first four games of the season, and he scored 27 against Iowa. Calmese has a lightning-quick first step and he’s really fun to watch in transition, largely because of his blazing end-to-end speed.
Washington State plays Fresno State in the Acrisure Series on Tuesday.
9. Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
The 6-foot-7 guard probably has the best story in all of college basketball. He started his college career at a junior college before landing at Kansas and then DePaul, where he played sparingly. He then had multiple heart surgeries that kept him from playing for 16 months before landing at Grand Canyon. Last season, he averaged 20.1 points, and scored 29 against Alabama in the NCAA Tournament.
Grand Canyon’s first game in the Acrisure Series is Tuesday against Stanford.
8. Great Osobor, Washington
The Spanish-English forward, who transferred from Utah State after averageing 17.7 points and nine rebounds last year, is expected to be one of the top frontcourt players in the Big Ten this season. At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, he’s a traditional post player who is capable of dominating inside the paint.
Osobor and the Huskies will play Thursday versus Colorado State.
7. Nique Clifford, Colorado State
The 6-foot-6 guard is one of the top shooters in the country. He’s averaging 20.3 points per game through the Rams’ first four games this season and shot 47.1% from 3 in those games.
Clifford will lead the Rams against Washington on Thursday.
6. Augustus Marciulionis, Saint Mary’s
The son of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Sarunas Marciulionis, the 6-foot-4 Lithuanian guard made 39% of his 3-point attempts last season in WCC play. He’s an electric player who is stuffing the stat sheet already this season, averaging nearly 15 points and more than seven assists per game through the Gael’s first four games.
Saint Mary’s plays USC on Thursday.
5. Boopie Miller, SMU
The 6-foot junior from Chicago is definitely a player fans will want to see inside Acrisure Arena. Whether it’s his incredible hands, his passing or his scoring, Miller is a crowd-pleaser. Through SMU’s first four games this season, the Wake Forest transfer is averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 assists per game.
SMU plays Cal Baptist on Tuesday.
4. Donovan Dent, New Mexico
The 6-foot-2 junior guard is known to be one of the most exciting playmakers in the country, with his ability to create offense for himself and for teammates. The Riverside native is averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 assists per game through the Lobos’ first four games.
New Mexico plays Thursday against Arizona State.
3. Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
Among the players who’ll be playing in the Acrisure Arena Series, the French big man will probably stand out the most, at least physically. At 7-foot-1, Raynaud is a prototypical 7-footer in today’s game, in that he can play on the perimeter and is a dangerous shooter from beyond the arc. As a teenager, he was a teammate of NBA player and countryman Victor Wembanyama. In his first four games this season, Raynaud has averaged 21.3 points per game and 12.8 rebounds.
Raynaud will be in action against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.
2. JaKobe Coles, Grand Canyon
The 6-foot-8 forward is a fun player to watch, as he can score in bunches, both in the paint and from beyond the arc. The TCU transfer is averaging 19.7 points and is shooting 44.4% from 3-point range through Grand Canyon’s first three games this season.
Grand Canyon plays Tuesday against Stanford.
1. JuJu Watkins, USC
Watkins, arguably the top player in women’s college basketball, will be without question the biggest star playing in the Acrisure Series. The 6-foot-2 sophomore guard averaged 27.1 points last season for USC, helping her earn national freshman of the year honors. This year, she’s chasing national player of the year recognition.
Catch Watkins play Wednesday versus Seton Hall and Friday against Saint Louis.
Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: JuJu Watkins, JaKobe Coles 10 college basketball players in Acrisure Series
