Preview Roundups
January 28, 2018
Michigan St at Maryland 1:00 PM ET
No. 6 Michigan State looks to extend its current three-game winning streak when it travels to take on Maryland in a Big Ten Conference contest Sunday afternoon. The Spartans come off a home win over Wisconsin on Friday while the Terrapins have lost four of six, a stretch started with a 30-point loss to Michigan State on Jan. 4.
Villanova at Marquette 1:00 PM ET
With 19 wins in 20 games and the No. 1 spot in the coaches' poll, Villanova seemingly doesn't have a care in the world. However, an injury to a key player has created a major obstacle for the Wildcats to overcome beginning with Sunday's Big East clash at Marquette.
East Carolina at Southern Methodist 2:00 PM ET
SMU looks to bounce back from its worst shooting performance of the season when it hosts East Carolina on Sunday. The Mustangs, who were playing with just eight scholarship players after losing Jarrey Foster (knee) and Everett Ray (foot) to season-ending injuries earlier in the week, shot 28.1 percent from the floor in the 63-52 loss to Connecticut on Thursday, and hope to move back on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble by improving to 13-1 at home.
South Florida at Houston 3:00 PM ET
Houston added a big win to its NCAA Tournament resume last time out and now tries to avoid a misstep when it hosts improving South Florida on Sunday afternoon in an American Athletic Conference matchup. The Cougars limited No. 16 Wichita State to 32.4 percent shooting en route to a convincing 73-59 home-court victory on Jan. 20 and have been off since.
Purdue at Indiana 3:30 PM ET
Purdue enjoys a size advantage in just about every game with 7-2 Isaac Haas and 7-3 Matt Haarms patrolling the paint, but with the way the team is shooting from long-range and playing defense, the Boilermakers can make a claim they have the best team in the country. Riding a 16-game winning streak, No. 3 Purdue looks to set a school record for consecutive victories Sunday when it travels to Indiana.
Seton Hall at DePaul 4:00 PM ET
An eight-day break and a Big East game Sunday at DePaul have come along at the right time for Seton Hall, which has seen its confidence shaken after falling at home for the first time this season. The Pirates have dropped three out of four after bowing to No. 8 Xavier on Jan. 20 but have a chance to right the ship against Blue Demons, who they've beaten four straight times.
California at Southern California 4:00 PM ET
Despite the suspension of starting guard De'Anthony Melton and the firing of associate head coach Tony Bland for their parts in the ongoing FBI probe into college basketball bribery and corruption, USC is off to its best conference start since 2002 and has won a season-high five consecutive games. The Trojans figure to build on that streak Sunday afternoon when they host Pac-12 cellar-dweller California.
Clemson at Georgia Tech 6:00 PM ET
No. 17 Clemson looks to rediscover its offense when the Tigers travel to Georgia Tech on Sunday, after being held to a season-low 36 points in a blowout loss at No. 2 Virginia on Tuesday. Virginia leads the nation in scoring defense, but the Tigers mustered only 13 points in the second half while finishing the game almost 39 below their season average (74.9).
Tulsa at Wichita St. 6:00 PM ET
Wichita State responded to absorbing a couple chinks in its armor and hopes to build on its new-found momentum when it hosts Tulsa on Sunday in an American Athletic Conference game. The No. 16 Shockers lost back-to-back games to SMU and Houston before defeating Central Florida 81-62 on Tuesday, but saw one its key players leave the game with an ankle injury - although it is not believed to be serious.
Connecticut at Temple 8:00 PM ET
Connecticut snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday, but its concentration will be tested Sunday when they visit Temple. On Friday, Hearst Connecticut Media reported that the Huskies’ program is the target of an NCAA investigation for the third time in seven years.
Washington St. at Washington 8:00 PM ET
After moving over the .500 mark in Pac-12 play with a road win over Colorado, Washington begins a three-game homestand Sunday against visiting Washington State. Freshman guard Jaylen Nowell averages 16.9 points on 49 percent shooting to lead the Huskies, who have had a full week to prepare for the rival Cougars after snapping a two-game losing skid with last Saturday’s 72-62 win over the Buffaloes.