We’re simply 4 weekends away from Choice Sunday! As arduous as which may be to imagine, crunch time is right here, as groups jockey for place in convention races and push to lock in NCAA match spots. One other huge weekend of video games is upon us, together with a top-five conflict within the Massive East with main implications for a No. 1 seed and a number of high-profile showdowns within the Massive 12. Plus, the very best house court docket benefit within the SEC hosts the league’s most storied program. What extra may you need?
Right here’s what to sit up for this weekend in males’s school basketball.
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The headliners
Texas Tech Crimson Raiders at No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones, Feb. 17, midday
Because of current highway wins on the Texas Longhorns and Cincinnati Bearcats, it’s time to start out severely speaking about Iowa State as a Massive 12 title contender. However holding tempo with the Houston Cougars on the high of the convention standings means holding serve at house towards a sizzling Texas Tech group, even with an enormous highway journey to play the Cougars looming Monday. The Crimson Raiders’ elite three-point capturing may trigger issues for a Cyclones protection that emphasizes forcing perimeter jumpers, but it surely’s been unbelievably tough for groups to win at Hilton Coliseum this season.
No. 17 Creighton Bluejays at Butler Bulldogs, Feb. 17, 12:30 p.m.
The primary assembly between these two groups this season was probably the most well-played video games of the yr, a dynamic offensive show that noticed each groups high 1.3 factors per possession in an upset highway win for the Bulldogs. Can Creighton get revenge at Hinkle Fieldhouse? Slowing down Bulldogs guard Jahmyl Telfort is a should; he went for 26 factors on 10-of-14 within the groups’ first assembly, making up for lacking guard Posh Alexander. Alexander’s return must be a boon for Butler’s protection, and a win may lock the Bulldogs in as an NCAA match group.
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No. 4 Marquette Golden Eagles at No. 1 UConn Huskies, Feb. 17, 3 p.m.
It’s the sport of the yr within the Massive East, a large showdown between the top-ranked Huskies and the defending convention champion Golden Eagles. Marquette stealing each the Massive East regular-season and match crowns final season left a nasty take a look at in UConn’s mouth, even when the Huskies did go on to win the nationwide championship. They’ll start a revenge tour of types Saturday and inch nearer to locking up the convention regular-season title by defending house court docket Saturday in what must be an unimaginable environment. That mentioned, Marquette was capable of pull UConn’s bigs away from the basket final season due to middle Oso Ighodaro.. Can Dan Hurley make the required changes to assist the Huskies keep pink sizzling?
No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks at No. 25 Oklahoma Sooners, Feb. 17, 4 p.m.
Kansas has been depressing on the highway within the Massive 12 this season, shedding its final 4 video games and 5 of six performed away from Allen Fieldhouse. That included a blowout defeat Monday towards Texas Tech in Lubbock, the place the Jayhawks have been outclassed with out star wing Kevin McCullar. With solely two highway video games left (on the Baylor Bears and Houston Cougars), this could be Invoice Self’s greatest likelihood to interrupt via and get a powerful convention highway win earlier than NCAA match time. That mentioned, it received’t be straightforward towards a Sooners group that has shocked this season. OU’s athleticism and flexibility on the wing has made them one of many higher defensive groups in school basketball.
No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats at No. 13 Auburn Tigers, Feb. 17, 6 p.m.
Strolling into Neville Area as a highway group this season? Better of luck. Auburn has been completely dominant on its house flooring of late. Beating the South Carolina Gamecocks by 40 on Wednesday was the newest instance, however the Tigers have received their final 4 house video games by a mixed 108 factors. All that presents an incredible problem for Kentucky, which bounced again with a house win towards the Ole Miss Rebels however has been in a rut these days. Defending Auburn’s hyper-efficient offense may very well be an issue given the Wildcats’ woes on the defensive finish, although huge man Ugonna Onyenso’s 10 blocks towards Ole Miss have been a really encouraging signal.
Bubble battles:
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Virginia Cavaliers: Wake Forest continues to be searching its elusive first Quad 1 win. A highway victory in Charlottesville, Va., will surely qualify. The Demon Deacons blew out Virginia in Winston-Salem, N.C., earlier this yr, however UVA has performed a lot better basketball since then and can be motivated after a shock house loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers earlier this week. TCU Horned Frogs at Kansas State Wildcats: Okay-State is on the surface wanting in of the NCAA match area proper now, which makes holding serve at house important towards a group like TCU. Getting to six–6 in league play earlier than a highway take a look at at Texas on Monday can be large. Seton Corridor Pirates at St. John’s Crimson Storm: We’re approaching must-win territory for Rick Pitino and St. John’s, with SJU losers of seven of 9 and their NCAA match hopes in severe peril. Defending house court docket towards fellow bubble groups is a prerequisite for going dancing. Nevada Wolf Pack at UNLV Runnin’ Rebels: UNLV has been a thorn within the aspect of Mountain West bubble groups, tripping up groups from the highest of the league whereas shedding to weaker ones on the backside. Can Nevada win this rivalry recreation and inch nearer to the Massive Dance? Memphis Tigers at SMU Mustangs: Quad 1 alternatives are few and much between within the AAC, so Memphis desperately must take benefit on this highway spot at SMU. The Tigers’ résumé is missing after a midseason four-game shedding skid that has jeopardized Memphis’ hopes of going dancing.
Mid-major recreation of the weekend: Yale Bulldogs at Princeton Tigers
It is a potential preview of the Ivy League title recreation. It’s a disgrace that possible simply one in every of these two groups will go dancing, as a result of each have the potential to make noise just like the Tigers did in final season’s NCAA match. The winner right here actually improves its possibilities of successful the Ivy’s regular-season crown, although.
