Happy New Year. No matter how good 2011 was, here's to an even better 2012.

Thursday, Dec. 29
NBA (7-9:30 p.m., TNT): Defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks face the young and upcoming Oklahoma City Thunder.

Friday, Dec. 30
College basketball (6-9 p.m., ESPN): Western Michigan travels to North Carolina to take on the top-five ranked Duke Blue Devils.
Saturday, Dec. 31

College Basketball (11 a.m.-1 p.m., CBS): A top-five match up of in-state hoop rivals, as Louisville travels to Rupp Arena to play archrival Kentucky.

Sunday, Jan. 1
NFL (noon-3 p.m., Fox): In the final game of the season, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints host Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in a game that could determine playoff seeding for the Saints.

Monday, Jan. 2
NHL (noon-3 p.m., NBC): The New York Rangers face the Philadelphia Flyers on network TV on a Monday with no Monday Night Football.

Tuesday, Jan. 3
College basketball (8-10 p.m., Fox Sports Network): Ole Miss hosts Southern Methodist University (SMU) before conference play begins.

Wednesday, Jan. 4
NHL (6:30-9:30 p.m., Versus): Defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins hit the road to take on the New Jersey Devils.
Bulldogs bowling, again.

It had been since the 1990s that Mississippi State had gone to back to back bowl games. Now in Dan Mullen's third season, the Bulldogs have reached back-to-back bowls again. MSU played Michigan in the Gator Bowl last season and will face Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.

Follow Bryan Flynn at http://www.jfpsports.com, Facebook and @jfpsports.