With most of the country in the grips of a major cold snap it probably doesn’t feel like March is near at hand. But trust us, the Madness will be here before we know it.
Before we get to our recommendations for the top five games to watch in men’s college basketball this weekend, we’d like to point out that there are several games outside the so-called power conferences on the calendar that are worthy of attention. We’ll give you a quick sampling of those at the conclusion of this preview.
Without further ado then, here’s this week’s Starting Five, which will hopefully keep us entertained from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.
No. 13 Michigan State at No. 12 Michigan
Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox
The Big Ten now spans from coast to coast, but it is these two long-time league mainstays from the Great Lake State that have risen to the top of the standings. This is the first of two meetings for these rivals, with the rematch in East Lancing slated for the final day of the regular season. For now, the Spartans will look to hand the Wolverines their first loss in Ann Arbor this season. Depth remains Michigan State’s biggest strength, though big performances of late from Jase Richardson and Tre Holloman have certainly helped. While Michigan relies on interior points from Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, it is Tre Donaldson’s strong play at the point that unlocks the offense’s full potential.
BRACKETOLOGY: Fight for No. 1 seeds heat up this weekend
No. 6 Tennessee at No. 7 Texas A&M
Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN
Given the math, it’s no surprise that a top-10 showdown in the SEC is pretty much a weekly occurrence. For the next one we head to College Station, where the Aggies are happy to be back home after running into a hot-shooting Mississippi State squad on the road Wednesday. The Volunteers have been off since rallying past Vanderbilt last Saturday but have dropped three of their last four away from Knoxville. A&M has plenty of scoring options, but several of them, like Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps, can be streaky. Vols’ standout point guard Zakai Zeigler is capable of getting his own shots, but UT is better when his teammates are making theirs.
No. 8 Iowa State at No. 5 Houston
Time/TV: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
We next head to the Big 12, where the Cougars are two games up in the standings and have a chance to take another step toward a possible No. 1 NCAA seed. The Cyclones came back to earth a bit after a hot start but have won four in a row against the league’s lower tier. Iowa State added more fire power to its lineup this season, but the overall rhythm is much better when Curtis Jones is connecting. Houston’s pressure defense will make that difficult, and J’Wan Roberts and Joseph Tugler can often give the Cougars second-chance scoring opportunities when the team struggles to make shots.
No. 21 Kentucky at No. 4 Alabama
Time/TV: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
The prime-time headliner in the SEC features the Crimson Tide, returning home from a rough outing at Missouri, hoping to defend their status as a projected No. 1 seed. Kentucky will have other ideas, of course, but the Wildcats have been hot and cold themselves in the month of February due in part to several injuries. It’s fair to expect a high-scoring contest given that both teams will push the pace and are prone to frequent defensive lapses. Alabama has become more dependent on three-point shooting than even coach Nate Oats might like, so there might be a concerted effort to get Grant Nelson involved at the rim. the Wildcats usually looks to Otega Oweh to stop the opponent’s scoring run.
Connecticut at No. 9 St. John’s
Time/TV: Sunday, noon ET, Fox
The Red Storm looks to complete a home-and-home sweep of UConn and solidify its lead on the Big East. The Huskies’ bid for a third consecutive NCAA title will be a longshot, but a high-end victory here on the road might at least help them improve their seed position. Turnovers proved to be UConn’s undoing against St. John’s two weeks ago in Storrs, a common issue for Red Storm opponents but a priority for Hassan Diarra and the Huskies’ ball handlers nonetheless. St. John’s has been getting better shot selection of late from Kadary Richmond, a huge help for leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. finding open looks himself.
Starting Five Extra – Mid-major games of note
George Mason at Virginia Commonwealth
Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBSSN
Bubble watchers will want to keep an eye on this huge showdown for the lead in the Atlantic 10. The Rams have stronger at-large metrics, but the Patriots enter on an 11-game winning streak.
No. 24 Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga
Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Neither team is in bubble trouble, but it’s nevertheless a result both would like to have. The Gaels go for a sweep of their long-time West Coast Conference nemesis, but Gonzaga has rattled off five double-digit wins in a row since its first encounter with Saint Mary’s in Moraga, California.
San Diego State at Utah State
Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBSSN
Like the WCC game above, both participants in this key Mountain West clash are in decent shape for the postseason, but the winner here will sleep a lot easier in the coming weeks before Selection Sunday.
Drake at Northern Iowa
Time/TV: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The Missouri Valley is likely a one-bid league this year, but its champion could again be a bracket buster. The Bulldogs hold the conference lead, but the host Panthers have a chance to grab a share of first place if they can take down their Hawkeye State rivals.