One other huge weekend on the earth of males’s school basketball is upon us. Whereas it gained’t match final week’s 4 top-10 showdowns, there’s loads to look ahead to over the following few video games, together with a number of video games with large NCAA match choice and seeding implications. Can huge manufacturers like Michigan State and Gonzaga take steps towards punching their ticket to March? Prime seeds are additionally on the road, particularly after North Carolina’s residence loss Tuesday in opposition to Clemson.
Right here’s what you’ll wish to take note of over the weekend.
All instances ET. Watch school basketball with Fubo. Begin your free trial at present.
Scott Sewell/USA TODAY Sports activities
The headliners
No. 10 Illinois Preventing Illini at Michigan State Spartans, Feb. 10, 2 p.m.
Michigan State’s place within the NCAA match isn’t fairly safe but. The Spartans are simply 2–7 in Quad 1 video games and 4–9 in opposition to the highest two quadrants, and MSU’s résumé-based metrics (KPI and energy of document) look extra like a group on the surface wanting in than that of a match group. Getting a giant win to solidify its standing is a necessity, and the Spartans get a golden alternative to do exactly that in East Lansing on Saturday afternoon. Illinois gained the groups’ first assembly of the 12 months, getting 15 factors every from Marcus Domask, Coleman Hawkins and Ty Rodgers to beat not having Terrence Shannon Jr. for that contest. With Shannon again, the Illini are a extra dynamic offensive group. Does Michigan State have the firepower to maintain up?
No. 12 Auburn Tigers at Florida Gators, Feb. 10, 3 p.m.
Just one group within the nation ranks within the prime 10 in each offensive and defensive effectivity: Auburn. The Tigers had been extremely spectacular in dismantling in-state rival Alabama Wednesday, incomes their largest win of the season. Can they get a 3rd Quad 1 win in as many video games Saturday on the street at Florida? The Gators sit squarely on the NCAA match bubble, however had been within the area in SI’s most up-to-date projection because of a current street win at Kentucky. Florida does have the scale to match Auburn star huge Johni Broome down low, however maintaining with this Auburn offense is difficult given how properly the Tigers defend the rim.
Gonzaga Bulldogs at No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats, Feb. 10, 4 p.m.
Each these groups are at one thing of a crossroads getting into this uncommon February nonconference conflict. Kentucky has stumbled since asserting itself as a possible contender in mid-January, with a porous protection resulting in losses in opposition to South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee in current weeks. In the meantime, a greater than two decade-long streak of going dancing is in jeopardy for Gonzaga, which lacks a Quad 1 win early in February. The Bulldogs desperately want a win right here to keep away from needing to win the WCC match to get within the area, however Kentucky can’t afford way more slippage after its late January swoon.
No. 13 Baylor Bears at No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.
Two of the final three nationwide champions going through off in one of many sport’s finest venues? Signal me up. The Bears and Jayhawks are within the thick of a crowded Large 12 title race, and a win right here for both group can be a giant step towards a daily season title. Kansas has proven some cracks on the street, however is undefeated within the pleasant confines of Allen Fieldhouse, together with a dominant win over Houston final weekend. Can Baylor, driving excessive off three straight wins, finish that streak? The Bears’ elite three-point taking pictures should journey for them to drag the upset.
Associated: How Large 12 Males’s Faculty Basketball Retains Getting Stronger
No. 8 Arizona Wildcats at Colorado Buffaloes, Feb. 10, 10 p.m.
Arizona’s race for a No. 1 seed is on, however getting there would require some huge street wins given the relative weak point of the Pac-12. Developing with a win in Boulder would definitely qualify. Colorado is a top-30 group within the NET and historically has an amazing home-court benefit at altitude in Boulder. And Colorado will likely be determined, provided that the Buffaloes sit squarely on the NCAA match bubble because of a scarcity of high-level wins. This needs to be a enjoyable nightcap for a full Saturday of hoops.
Bubble battles
No. 24 San Diego State Aztecs at Nevada Wolf Pack: The dream of a six-bid Mountain West is alive and properly after Nevada gained at Utah State earlier this week. The Pack are nonetheless proper on the minimize line although, so successful at residence in opposition to a superb San Diego State group is near a should. No. 5 Houston Cougars at Cincinnati Bearcats: Cincinnati’s street wins at BYU and Texas Tech are conserving them within the thick of the NCAA match dialog, however they’re nonetheless on the lookout for a résumé-topping win. Beating the NET’s prime group in Houston would definitely qualify. Windfall Friars at Butler Bulldogs: The Large East has almost half its league teetering a method or one other across the NCAA match minimize line, which ought to produce some epic video games in February and March. This one definitely qualifies. Can Devin Carter and Josh Oduro will the Friars to a different huge win? Washington State Cougars at Oregon Geese: The Pac-12’s hopes of maximizing bids in March depend on groups like these two discovering their approach into the sphere. Washington State getting yet one more Quad 1 win can be large for the Cougars’ probabilities of dancing for the primary time in additional than 15 years. Seton Corridor Pirates at Villanova Wildcats: Villanova’s 12–11 document is an eyesore for the choice committee, so defending residence court docket right here in opposition to a feisty Seton Corridor group is significant if the Wildcats wish to keep away from lacking the Large Dance for a second straight season.
Mid-Main recreation of the weekend: Akron Zips at James Madison Dukes
The MAC-Solar Belt Problem provides us midseason matchups with an ode to the previous ESPN BracketBusters video games. These two groups are ones to maintain on eye on in March: JMU is 21–3 on the 12 months with a street win at Michigan State, whereas Akron has gained 10 of its final 11 video games to take a seat at 18–5.