The Week In Tv Sports

Highlights

SATURDAY 12/4

? Big 12 Championship
? SEC Championship
ABC 3:30 PM AND 8 PM
Scene from Groundhog Day: Andie McDowell: "Have you ever had d�j� vu?" Bill Murray: "Didn't you just ask me that?" Third-ranked Nebraska (10-1) and fifth-ranked Florida (9-2) get a rare college gridiron opportunity to avenge losses that toppled them from the unbeaten ranks. The Huskers have a rematch with Texas (9-3) in the Big 12 Championship in San Antonio—a city renowned for remembering a momentous defeat. Later the Gators get a second crack at Alabama (9-2), which won the teams' first meeting in overtime, for the SEC crown in Atlanta. Scene from Groundhog Day....

? Arizona at Texas
ESPN 9 PM
It has been reigning cats and dogs for the last four years in men's college basketball, all the national titles having been won by Wildcats or Huskies. Anyone who watched 4-0 Arizona's purrfect run through the Preseason NIT knows that we may be in for more. Tonight's game is a showdown between the nation's top two 7-footers, the Wildcats' 7'1" Loren Woods, and 7-foot Chris Mihm of Texas (4-0). Arizona's backcourt of freshmen Gilbert Arenas and Jason Gardner already has proved itself to be the cat's meow.

SUNDAY 12/5
? Cowboys at Patriots
ESPN 8:15 PM
If Tom Hanks starred in You've Got Mail, shouldn't defensive back Merton Hanks star in You've Got Ismail? Not tonight—Hanks plays for the Seahawks. Expect the New England firm of Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy to cover wideout Rocket Ismail, Dallas's most potent offensive threat.

WEDNESDAY 12/8
? Temple vs. Gonzaga
? Cincinnati vs. North Carolina
ESPN 7 PM AND 9 PM
Gonzaga is a) a Pok�mon species; b) a pungent Italian cheese; or c) ranked in the Top 25. The answer is c)—but just barely. The No. 25 Bulldogs, who Cinderella'd their way into the Elite Eight last March, find themselves behind the eight ball as the lowest-ranked of the four teams in tonight's Great Eight doubleheader. Matt Santangelo (sounds like a CBS detective series) of Gonzaga versus Pepe Sanchez of No. 10 Temple is a marquee battle of senior point guards, whereas the Bearcats and Tar Heels, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, have two of the nation's premier frontcourts. Oh, yes: Gonzaga is also the patron saint of youth (which might be news to Dick Clark).

Don't Miss

WEDNESDAY 12/8
? Lakers at Kings
TBS 8 PM
I'm already sick of the Kings. Sick of hearing how happy they are. Sick of all the lovey-dovey stuff. Sick of seeing their mugs on TV and in USA Today. I mean, of course, the Larry Kings. The Sacramento Kings? Them I like. With the league's best record (9-1) through Sunday and a high-flying offensive style, power forward Chris Webber, point guard Jason Williams (above) and Co. seem so tightly knit that they should drop the g from their name. As for Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles (10-4), let's lay off center Shaquille O'Neal for his free throw woes (40.3%). Shaq was averaging 28.9 points, and, besides, how many dunks have you made lately?

ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES TO CHANGE.