The Week In Television

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 5

FRIDAY 11/29
ESPN 10:30 PM
Rockets at Sonics
Mr. Mean (Sonics point guard Gary Payton) meets Mr. Ming (as in Yao) in a matchup of two of the Western Conference's best.

SATURDAY 11/30
CBS 1 PM
No. 6 Duke vs. No. 14 UCLA
Shouldn't UCLA dominate a tournament named for its famed coach (the Wooden Tradition, in Indianapolis)? Not this year: The Bruins are underdogs against the Blue Devils, who feature junior guard Chris Duhon and a vaunted freshman class,

SATURDAY 11/30
CBS 8 PM
Ice Wars: USA vs. the World
Scott Hamilton joins Brian Boitano, Tara Lipinski and Nicole Bobek as the Yanks face Maria Butyrskaya and Ilia Kulik ( Russia), Kurt Browning ( Canada) and Surya Bonaly ( France) in a team figure skating competition. One question: Who bribes whom here?

SUNDAY 12/1
ESPN 8:30 PM
Buccaneers at Saints
Payback I: You know the Bucs are still smarting from the Saints' overtime win in Week 1, a freakish 26-20 victory that happened when Tampa Bay punter Tom Tupa, standing in his own end zone, tried a desperation pass that fluttered into the hands of Saints linebacker James Allen.

TUESDAY 12/3
ESPN 9 PM
No. 11 Maryland vs. No. 19 Indiana
Payback II: You know the Hoosiers are still smarting from the Terps' 64-52 victory last April in the national championship. This time Indiana—led by senior guard Tom Coverdale—gets the home crowd, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

DON'T MISS
SATURDAY 11/30
NBC 2 PM
Grambling vs. Southern
The annual clash between these two historically black powerhouses still features the halftime performances of the schools' famously funkalicious marching bands. But the football should drum up some excitement too. Grambling is 10-1; Southern is 5-6 but has won four of its last five.