We had some mighty fine Feast Week action as well as a few top 10 battles in the last couple of weeks. So it’s only fair that we have something of an interlude before the December holidays get rolling and conference play starts to rear its head.

=If you’re a Ball-Knower, this is the week for you. These are the deep cuts. The stuff you won’t find on Spotify Wrapped. If you’re a true hipster of women’s basketball, then these next few days are your Feast Week. Let’s dive in.

Columbia (6-4) vs. Seton Hall (5-2): 6:00 PM ET, ESPN+

Why it’s worth a watch: I’ve been surprised by Columbia’s relatively slow start to the year. Granted, Megan Griffith scheduled a gauntlet in the non-con. But this matchup against Seton Hall is one of the last big games before Ivy League play starts and the Lions could use another feather in the resume cap. Seton Hall is much improved this year and has a real All-Big East first team contender in senior Mariana Valenzuela. How Columbia counters with star guard Riley Weiss will be fun to watch.

Must-Watch Score: 7/10

Arizona State (10-0) vs. Penn State (6-2): 7:00 PM ET, BTN

Why it’s worth a watch: Great narratives on both sides here. Molly Miller has won her first ten games in Tempe but haven’t really seen a true contemporary just yet. Penn State, on the other hand, has shown that they may be a legitimate bubble team this year behind the tandem of Kiyomi McMiller and Gracie Merkle. Either way, we’ll be able to draw some early conclusions about the winner of this one. One of my three favorite matchups this week.

Must-Watch Score: 7.5/10

No. 12 Iowa (9-0) vs. No. 10 Iowa State (10-0): 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

Why it’s worth a watch: The Cy-Hawk rivalry feels like it has new juice after a couple of seasons of Iowa dominance. Audi Crooks has been on such a heater lately that she’s played herself int early Player of the Year discussions. Iowa’s Ava Heiden, a revelation in the Hawkeye frontcourt this year, will have her hands full. The X-Factor of this game? Jada Williams. The Cyclone transfer guard will get her first major national TV game to show the world how she’s rediscovered herself.

Must-Watch Score: 9/10

South Dakota State (8-2) vs. Northern Iowa (4-4): 7:00 PM ET, ESPN+

Why it’s worth a watch: I expect South Dakota State to run away with this one but Northern Iowa is always liable to surprise us. This is the same team that upset Iowa State in the non-con last season. The 4-4 record is a tad deceiving given that their losses to UNLV and St. Louis were by less than two possessions each. But the task of stopping Brooklyn Meyer is hard for any team and the two person Mid-Major Player of the Year race between the SDSU forward and Western Illinois’ Mia Nicastro is one to watch all season.

Must-Watch Score: 7/10

Howard (7-4) vs. Virginia (7-3): 7:00 PM ET, ACC Extra

Why it’s worth a watch: The balance of HBCU power has swung between the SWAC and MEAC for the last couple of years. First, it was Jackson State and then, more recently, Norfolk State captured our attention. Now, a new bombshell has entered the villa. Howard turned heads last week with a 72-69 upset of Fairfield and now sees a Virginia team that has run hot and cold at times. Bison forward Zennia Thomas is an early MEAC Player of the Year contender but her teammates will have to keep Virginia guard Kymora Johnson, a potential All-ACC First Teamer this year, from going off.

Must-Watch Score: 8/10

Illinois (8-1) vs. Missouri (9-2): 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network

Why it’s worth a watch: Does Kellie Harper actually have the juice in Columbia? We’re about to find out. The Tigers wins over Northwestern and Cal indicate that the floor of the program has at least been raised by the former Tennessee head coach but now we get to see what the ceiling is. In a lot of ways, Shauna Green’s rebuilding-but-still-potent Illini are the perfect WBIT/NCAA Bubble test. One of my favorite games of the week especially since both teams are going to need to stack non-con wins before Big Ten and SEC play starts.

Must-Watch Score: 7.5/10

Rutgers (7-3) vs. Princeton (9-1): 7:30 PM ET, ESPN+/B1G+

Why it’s worth a watch: I’m not kidding when I say Princeton could be a surprise Sweet Sixteen team this year. One of the last tests they have before Ivy League play starts is another Big Ten opponent in Rutgers. While not as talented as they were last year, I like the job Coquese Washington has done so far and the emergence of forward Nene Ndiaye. But stopping the tandem of Madison St. Rose and Allison Chea has been hard for nearly everyone so far this year and I don’t expect to see that stop now.

Must-Watch Score: 8/10

Ball State (8-2) vs. No. 22 Louisville (8-3): 9:00 PM ET, ACC Network

Why it’s worth a watch: Louisville almost pulled off an upset that would’ve helped stabilize the perception of the program. But even just the fact that they were that close to South Carolina indicates that they may be rounding back into the form Jeff Walz expects year over year. The way to keep those good vibes going is to not get tripped up by a potential MAC title contender in Ball State. It’s a great guard matchup here between Bree Salenbien, who is averaging 10 rebounds per game out of the backcourt, and dynamic Louisville scorer Tajianna Roberts.

Must-Watch Score: 7/10

Little Rock (3-5) vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (9-1): 7:00 PM ET, SECN+

Why it’s worth a watch: The pickings are pretty slim on Thursday so if you’re watching this one, it’s less for the competitiveness of the game and more to see which Sooners pop off. Aaliyah Chavez has welcomed herself to the women’s basketball world but I want to see how Raegan Beers continues to find herself with a new PnR partner in the backcourt.

Must-Watch Score: 6.5/10

Maine (3-7) vs. Fairfield (5-3): 7:00 PM ET, ESPN+

Why it’s worth a watch: The Stags have had a strange non-conference slate. They were upset in stunning fashion by Howard before dominating arguably the top mid-major in America in Richmond. While I expect them to comfortably roll Maine in this one, I’m interested in seeing this team continue to gel as MAAC play approaches.

Must-Watch Score: 6.5/10

Arizona State (10-0) vs. Penn State (6-2): 7:00 PM ET, BTN

No. 12 Iowa (9-0) vs. No. 10 Iowa State (10-0): 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

Illinois (8-1) vs. Missouri (9-2): 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network

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