Preview Roundups
March 09, 2019
Villanova at Seton Hall 12:00 PM ET
No. 23 Villanova can clinch the Big East regular-season title outright Saturday when the defending national champions visit Seton Hall. The Wildcats are one game ahead of Marquette, which has lost three in a row, and can do no worse than share the regular-season title if they lose and the Golden Eagles win later Saturday.
Tennessee at Auburn 12:00 PM ET
Tennessee must beat one more likely NCAA Tournament foe in order to become a repeat SEC regular-season champion, but for the second straight year, it is quite likely that distinction will not lead to ownership of the No. 1 overall seed in the conference tournament. The fourth-ranked Volunteers eye a fourth straight victory to end the regular season Saturday when they travel to Auburn in the only matchup this season between last year's co-conference champions.
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh 12:00 PM ET
Two of the ACC’s basement dwellers play their final regular-season games as second-to-last place Notre Dame visits last-place Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak, while the Panthers will be hoping to put an end to a 13-game skid.
Florida State at Wake Forest 12:00 PM ET
Wake Forest nearly pulled off the upset of the season Tuesday, but Chaundee Brown's last-second shot didn't fall and the Demon Deacons lost by one point to Duke 71-70. Now they get another chance at a ranked foe with No. 13 Florida State coming to town Saturday fresh off its own impressive outing as the Seminoles rallied to defeat Virginia Tech 73-64 in overtime Tuesday in a battle for the fourth seed in the ACC Tournament and the coveted double-bye.
Syracuse at Clemson 12:00 PM ET
Two teams hoping to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes square off Saturday, when Clemson hosts Syracuse in both teams’ regular-season finale. The Orange are trying to avoid playing themselves onto the dreaded bubble, where the Tigers sit with few chances left to improve their case for a spot in the 68-team field.
Texas Christian at Texas 12:00 PM ET
Two teams straddling the NCAA Tournament bubble and in desperate need for a victory square off Saturday when TCU visits Texas. The Horned Frogs, who have lost six of their last seven games and are down to seven scholarship players, will be trying to sweep the Longhorns for the second time in three seasons.
Butler at Providence 12:00 PM ET
With NCAA Tournament streaks apparently set to end, Butler travels to play Providence on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams in a game that could decide last place in the Big East. The Friars sit in the basement in the 10-team conference while the Bulldogs are tied for eighth with DePaul, one game ahead of the Friars.
VMI at Wofford 12:00 PM ET
Top-seeded Wofford, which is riding a 17-game winning streak, begins its play in the Southern Conference tournament in Asheville, N.C. on Saturday with a quarterfinal matchup against eighth-seeded Virginia Military Institute. The 22nd-ranked Terriers are coming off an 85-64 win at Samford last Saturday that completed a perfect regular season in conference play, while the Keydets advanced on Friday with their fourth straight win, a 96-83 victory over Western Carolina in the opening game of the to
Georgia at South Carolina 1:00 PM ET
South Carolina was picked 11th in the SEC in preseason, but a victory Saturday over struggling Georgia would lock up the fourth seed and a double-bye for next week’s league tournament and further validate the job Frank Martin has done coaching the Gamecocks through a difficult schedule and a long list of injuries. South Carolina players have missed a combined 119 games this season and only had seven scholarship players available for Tuesday’s 17-point victory at Texas A&M.
Baylor at Kansas 2:00 PM ET
Kansas finds itself in the unfamiliar position of having little at stake in its regular-season finale, as the team knows its NCAA-record run of 14 consecutive regular-season conference titles is over and its No. 3 seed in next week's Big 12 Tournament is set. The 14th-ranked Jayhawks have been dominant in Lawrence, however, and they'll try to put the finishing touches on the program's 20th undefeated season at home Saturday against Baylor.
Texas A&M at Mississippi State 2:00 PM ET
Mississippi State looks to secure a winning record in the SEC and avoid a three-game losing streak to end the regular season when it hosts struggling Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs had won five straight games before starting March with a five-point loss at Auburn and following that up with a 71-54 setback at No. 4 Tennessee on Tuesday, in which they turned the ball over 17 times.
Florida at Kentucky 2:00 PM ET
Florida's NCAA Tournament bubble is about to burst after the Gators came up one point short Wednesday in a game they desperately needed to win, falling in overtime 79-78 to LSU. Florida gets another chance to make a positive impression Saturday as it closes out the regular season on the road at sixth-ranked Kentucky, who needed a double-digit comeback to defeat Florida 65-54 a month ago.
Texas Tech at Iowa State 2:00 PM ET
Eighth-ranked Texas Tech looks to extend its winning streak to nine games and gain at least a share of its first Big 12 regular-season title when it visits No. 25 Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. The Red Raiders have already set a club record with 13 league wins after rolling over Texas 70-51 in their home finale on Monday and come into the weekend tied with Kansas State atop to Big 12.
NC State at Boston College 2:00 PM ET
North Carolina State is in danger of playing its way out of the NCAA Tournament picture and will be desperate for a win Saturday in an ACC matchup at Boston College. The Wolfpack enter their regular-season finale having lost two straight, including a stunning 63-61 setback against a sub-.500 Georgia Tech team on Wednesday at home.
Georgetown at Marquette 2:30 PM ET
A share of the Big East regular-season title is still in the offing for No. 15 Marquette, which hosts Georgetown on Saturday. The Golden Eagles, losers of three straight games, need to beat the Hoyas and get help from Seton Hall to share the Big East crown with No. 23 Villanova.
Purdue at Northwestern 2:30 PM ET
No. 9 Purdue looks to claim a share of the Big Ten regular-season title when it visits Northwestern on Saturday. The Boilermakers were in pole position to secure their second outright conference championship in three seasons but dropped a 73-69 decision to Minnesota on Tuesday to open the door for the winner of the clash between seventh-ranked Michigan and No. 11 Michigan State to secure a share of the title if the Boilermakers are able to take of business on Senior Night in Evanston.
Oregon St. at Washington St. 3:00 PM ET
Oregon State can clinch at least the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament with a victory at Washington State on Saturday. The Beavers have lost three straight by a combined eight points after Wednesday's 81-76 overtime loss at conference regular-season champion Washington but Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle isn't concerned with the late skid, telling reporters: “These guys are tough enough to grab themselves and turn it around."
Mississippi at Missouri 3:30 PM ET
Ole Miss has been one of the biggest surprises in the SEC this season, but its postseason prospects have a lot riding on Saturday’s game against host Missouri. The Rebels are in a three-way tie for sixth place in the conference standings and still could wind up seeded anywhere from fifth to ninth in next week’s SEC tournament depending on the outcome of Saturday’s contests.
Louisville at Virginia 4:00 PM ET
No. 2 Virginia, known as a defensive juggernaut in the 10 years that coach Tony Bennett has been at the helm, may be finding its offensive touch at exactly the right time. The Cavaliers, who have designs on a second straight ACC regular-season title and fourth in six years, seek an eighth straight win and a ninth consecutive against Louisville when they host the Cardinals in the regular-season finale on Saturday.
West Virginia at Oklahoma State 4:00 PM ET
Both West Virginia and Oklahoma State have endured difficult campaigns at the bottom of the Big 12 standings, but neither has stopped competing. The Mountaineers and Cowboys will try to build off upset wins and avoid a last-place finish when they play their regular-season finale at Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Central Florida at Temple 4:00 PM ET
Central Florida is ending the regular season with a mountain of momentum. The Knights hope to ride the wave into Saturday's road contest against Temple in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Arizona State at Arizona 4:00 PM ET
It hasn’t always been pretty, but Arizona State has managed to secure the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in next week’s Pac-12 Tournament. Before heading to Las Vegas, the Sun Devils look to close the regular season with a victory over host Arizona, which is looking to bounce back from its worst loss of the season.
St. John's at Xavier 5:00 PM ET
Xavier and St. John's will try to rise above the muddle in the middle of the Big East standings with the teams meet Saturday at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati in their final regular-season game. The Musketeers and Red Storm are among a five-way tie for third and could finish as high as third or as low as tied for eighth depending on the outcome of their matchup.
Southern California at Colorado 5:00 PM ET
Two Pac-12 teams trending in opposite directions meet Saturday afternoon as Colorado hosts USC. The surging Buffaloes have won seven of their last nine games and are tied for fourth place in the conference entering the regular-season finale while the tumbling Trojans have dropped six of their last eight and have fallen into a tie for eighth place in the Pac-
Duke at North Carolina 6:00 PM ET
Although the Tobacco Road rivalry between No. 4 Duke and No. 3 North Carolina rarely lacks for intrigue and importance, the next installment will be the first time since February of 2008 that both teams meet while ranked inside the top five. The stakes of Saturday's showdown are even more appealing as the host Tar Heels currently sit in a tie atop the ACC standings with Virginia, while the Blue Devils lurk one game back.
Alabama at Arkansas 6:00 PM ET
Alabama enters its regular-season finale Saturday at Arkansas with no margin for error after a disappointing loss to Auburn that further damaged the Crimson Tide’s NCAA Tournament hopes. Alabama blew a 13-point second-half lead at home Tuesday in falling to its in-state rival, its fifth loss in the past seven games that dropped the Crimson Tide below .500 in league play and increases the urgency to make a run during next week’s SEC tournament.
Oklahoma at Kansas State 6:00 PM ET
Oklahoma will look to play spoiler a second straight time on Saturday as it visits No. 17 Kansas State, who enters the season’s final game tied with Texas Tech atop the Big 12 standings. For the first time in 14 years, a program other than Kansas will claim the conference's regular-season title after the Sooners posted the statement victory for which they'd been waiting, an 81-68 triumph over the 14th-ranked Jayhawks on Tuesday.
UCLA at Utah 7:00 PM ET
Utah overwhelmed USC on Thursday and moved a win
away from wrapping up the third seed and first-round Pac-12 Tournament bye. The
Runnin’ Utes get that chance Saturday when they host UCLA in the regular-season
finale.
Michigan at Michigan St 8:00 PM ET
No. 11 Michigan State hosts seventh-ranked Michigan on Saturday with the winner claiming at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title. The Spartans split a pair of games against Indiana (62-63) and Nebraska (91-76) since they knocked off the Wolverines 77-70 on Feb. 24, and can secure their second straight outright conference championship if they complete the season sweep of their instate rivals while No. 9 Purdue falls to Northwestern.
DePaul at Creighton 8:00 PM ET
Max Strus enters DePaul's regular season finale Saturday at Creighton as hot as any player in the country. The senior has scored 73 points over the last two games and 98 in the last three contests for the Blue Demons, who can lock up a winning season by beating the Bluejays.
Vanderbilt at Louisiana State 8:30 PM ET
LSU can win its first SEC regular-season title since 2009 with a victory over visiting Vanderbilt on Saturday but will attempt to do so without its coach. Will Wade was suspended indefinitely by the school Friday after he was reportedly heard on a 2017 wiretap obtained by the FBI discussing a deal to land a recruit with aspiring agent Christian Dawkins, who was sentenced to six months in prison Tuesday for his role in the college basketball corruption scandal.
Wichita St. at Tulane 8:30 PM ET
After a disappointing 1-6 start to American Athletic Conference play, Wichita State has reeled off eight wins in 10 games - including three in a row after recording a 72-55 victory over East Carolina on Tuesday. The Shockers will go on the road to play their regular-season finale on Saturday against a Tulane squad that is in the midst of a 19-game losing streak – tied for the longest active slide in the country.
Tulsa at Memphis 9:30 PM ET
Tulsa and Memphis try to build some momentum heading into next week's American Athletic Conference tournament when they clash in their regular-season finale Saturday in Memphis. The Tigers, who will host the conference tournament, are coming off a 71-69 loss to No. 19 Cincinnati last Saturday that snapped their three-game winning streak, while the Golden Hurricane have won two straight and could move up in the league standings with a victory.
Oregon at Washington 10:00 PM ET
Matisse Thybulle and Jaylen Nowell are the leading candidates for Pac-12 player of the year, but Washington teammate Noah Dickerson might hold the key to the team’s postseason hopes. Dickerson looks to build on his best performance of the year when the Huskies face visiting Oregon on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
San Diego St. at Nevada 10:30 PM ET
All things considered, it would be fair to say 18th-ranked Nevada's game with San Diego State on Saturday night might be the biggest in school history. A win over the Aztecs and the Wolf Pack will win a share of their third consecutive Mountain West title, notch the No. 1 seed for next week's conference tourney in Las Vegas and also tie the school record most consecutive home wins.