These eight rivalries have juice

Duke-Maryland

Why?
Maryland's rise to an ACC and national power again in the past five years fueled this rivalry. The Terps won the national title in 2002 to finally get rid of the knock that they didn't do something that Duke and North Carolina have done. Gary Williams' intensity and passion to beat Duke certainly has fueled this rivalry, too. Mike Krzyzewski doesn't talk about beating Maryland the way the Terps love to discuss taking down Duke, but every game in this series has been intense.

How to sustain it?
As long as Williams is at Maryland, this will be a big-time rivalry.

Scheduled meetings
Jan. 26 at Duke, Feb. 12 at Maryland

Michigan State-Wisconsin

Why?
The Kohl Center streak and Bo Ryan's run against Tom Izzo make this a newer rivalry. The Badgers came onto the elite Big Ten and national scene under Dick Bennett but he didn't fan the rivalry as much as Bo Ryan has done in Madison. It's not just the winning, but it's Ryan's intensity and failure to ever back down from any controversy. Ryan is willing to charge the floor or talk back to any other coach. He has the passion to keep this rivalry going.

How to sustain it?
Ryan is the first piece and as long as the Badgers continue to be successful at the Kohl Center.

Scheduled meetings
Wisconsin 62, Michigan State 59 (Jan. 16 in Madison), Feb. 24 at Michigan State

Kentucky-Florida

Why?
Recently in the SEC East, the top two teams to pencil in have been Kentucky and Florida. The Wildcats have rivalries with every team in the SEC because everyone wants to beat them more than any other, but Florida has been its top competitor twice a year (even though Kentucky has been more dominant of late).

How to sustain it?
The onus is on Florida to remain competitive for this rivalry to stick. The Gators must continue be the second-best team in the SEC East.

Scheduled meetings
Feb. 8 at Kentucky, Mar. 6 at Florida

Cincinnati-Charlotte

Why?
The games are hotly contested usually and the fans in Charlotte don't like Cincinnati. They get up for this game more than any other. The 49ers-Bearcats games can be intense but, at times, one-sided (like Wednesday night). This has become much more of a heated game in Charlotte than in Cincinnati,, but it has been good for Conference USA the past five years.

How to sustain it?
Play a non-conference game every season. Charlotte is going to the Atlantic 10 and Cincinnati is off to the Big East. This is a newer rivalry that will likely die next season.

Scheduled meetings
Cincinnati 80, Charlotte 58 (Jan. 19 at Cincinnati), Feb. 5 at Charlotte

Kansas-Texas

Why?
This is a new phenomenon since the Big 12 was formed out of the Big 8 and Southwest Conference. The two teams only play once a season under the North-South football model of scheduling and the game usually has significant meaning. Rick Barnes and Roy Williams/Bill Self have made this a national game, too. The two teams like to get a little physical and the fans love the rivalry, especially in Austin, since they weren't used to having Kansas in the Erwin Center prior to the Big 12. The shame is that they only get them once every other season.

How to sustain it?
This shouldn't be a problem. These two programs will likely be in the top four in the Big 12 for years to come.

Scheduled meetings
Jan. 29 at Kansas

Arizona-Washington

Why?
Washington beat Arizona three times last season. Isn't that enough? Arizona has recruited well in the Seattle area under Lute Olson and continues to do so. But the Huskies got one of the top recruiting classes in the country, which should keep Washington in the top two in the Pac-10. Arizona has a long-standing rivalry with Arizona State that has been one-sided. The rivalry with Stanford has roots, too, and is usually the most intense game on the schedule, but the rivalry with Washington is starting to increase and will only get better.

How to sustain it?
The pressure is on Washington to maintain this relationship. Arizona will always be a premier program. Washington is in that category this season, and with the recruiting class it has coming in, don't expect that to change any time soon.

Scheduled meetings
Jan. 27 at Arizona, Feb. 26 at Washington

Vermont-Boston U.

Why?
BU and Vermont have been the two best teams in the America East the past three seasons, but can you guess which team has won at least a share of the regular-season title each of those years? Nope, not the Catamounts. BU has won the last two outright, including going 17-1 last season (while Vermont was 15-3). Yet Vermont won the conference tournament and NCAA berth after BU was stunned at home in the quarterfinals. These games, according to Vermont coach Tom Brennan, have the big-time feel, as much as it can at this level. Both teams have the most talent, and are usually the two teams that can compete outside of the America East (at least recently).

How to sustain it?
It's actually more up to Vermont. Dennis Wolff made BU into an annual player in the America East. But Vermont will likely take a step back without Brennan (retiring) and seniors Taylor Coppenrath and T.J. Sorrentine. Whoever coaches Vermont will have to keep the talent up to par with BU to maintain this rivalry.

Scheduled meetings
Vermont 69, BU 58 (Jan. 16 at Vermont), Feb. 12 at BU.

Wisc.-Milwaukee-Ill.-Chicago

Why?
The two coaches have a long history. UWM's Bruce Pearl was at Iowa when Illinois got put on probation and UIC coach Jimmy Collins was an assistant there at the time. Pearl was involved in reporting violations and the bad blood hasn't subsided. But both teams have also been very good in the Horizon League of late. If it was just the coaches and the teams stunk then this rivalry wouldn't have legs, but they are consistently two of the finer programs in this league (usually along with Butler, Detroit and UW-Green Bay).

How to sustain it?
This one isn't going away as long as Collins and Pearl are coaching these teams.

Scheduled meetings
Wisc.-Milwaukee 75, Ill.-Chicago 67 (Dec. 4 at UIC), Feb. 5 at UWM.