We begin this edition of the Starting Five with a disclaimer. We are not the NCAA. As such, we do not have to go through umpteen committees to change/invoke a rule.
We’re therefore going to utilize a ‘one game per conference’ policy in this week’s preview of the top five games to watch in men’s college basketball. No, we’re not doing this to hate on the SEC, which has three top-25 matchups on Saturday by itself. But we do want to highlight other leagues with all time zones represented.
In addition, we’re going to bring in a sixth game off the bench as a bonus offering for this weekend when the sport truly takes center stage. With all that out of the way then, here are our picks for the six best games to watch on the first day of February.
No. 6 Florida at No. 8 Tennessee
Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN
As mentioned above, there are a couple of other games of significance around the SEC – specifically in the Magnolia State. But we’ll highlight this top-10 clash. Things have not gone swimmingly for Tennessee since being knocked off the No. 1 perch, but the Volunteers’ previous encounter with Florida earlier this month was the only one of their four losses in which they were blown out. They’ll hope the rematch in their own building will go much better, but the Gators have won three in a row and five of their last six in conference play. Tennessee’s stout defense keeps it in most contests, that off day in Gainesville notwithstanding. The issue for the Volunteers is they can struggle to get buckets when they absolutely need them, especially when facing opponents with equally strong interior defense – which describes nearly everyone in the SEC. Things get easier for the Vols when their treys are falling, but the Gators are holding opponents to just 27.9% from the arc while hitting 34.3% themselves. Florida enjoys a rebounding margin of nearly 10 on average while also recording 8.4 steals and just under five blocks per game as a team.
No. 19 Texas Tech at No. 5 Houston
Time/TV: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2
We head next to the Lone Star State for this clash of former Southwest Conference opponents who are now two of the Big 12’s hottest teams. The Cougars are the lone squad still unscathed in conference play and have won 13 in a row overall. The Red Raiders are riding a five-game winning streak themselves and have lost just once since the calendar turned to 2025, and that was a more-than-forgivable overtime decision against Iowa State. Houston followed its memorable escape at Kansas with Wednesday’s win at short-handed West Virginia, but the Cougars will nonetheless be glad to have a friendly crowd for this one. Texas Tech will get a return visit from the Cougars on Feb. 24 but wouldn’t mind getting a leg up on the road. The game features two of the league’s most efficient facilitators, Houston’s Milos Uzan and the Red Raiders’ Elijah Hawkins.
WARM RECEPTION?: Kentucky welcomes back John Calipari this weekend
No. 24 Connecticut at No. 9 Marquette
Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox
The quest for a third consecutive championship season has been quite rocky for the Huskies, who find themselves in fourth place in the Big East. They’ll try to gain a little ground on the road against one of the league coleaders, but the Golden Eagles have put together an impressive resume and hope to add another quality result. UConn found a way to get past DePaul on Wednesday night despite the ongoing absence of standout freshman Liam McNeeley (ankle). There is no disputing the Huskies’ defensive intensity, but keeping Marquette’s Cam Jones and Stevie Mitchell on lockdown for a full 40 minutes is asking a lot.
North Carolina at No. 2 Duke
Time/TV: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The sport’s most fierce rivals find themselves in very different places as they meet for the first time this season. The Blue Devils are in juggernaut mode with a top NCAA seed well within reach, while the Tar Heels are in desperate need of a good result to get back on the right side of the bubble. UNC has dropped three of its last four, with the lone win in that stretch requiring overtime on its home floor to get by a Boston College squad that is below .500. The lack of interior depth remains an issue for the Tar Heels, meaning they might not have many answers for Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who can score from multiple levels. UNC does still have reigning ACC player of the year R.J. Davis, but he’ll need a lot of help in the hostile environs of Cameron Indoor Stadium.
New Mexico at Utah State
Time/TV: Saturday, 9:30 p.m. ET, FS1
We’ll close the Starting Five-plus-one with a couple of offerings from the western part of the country. Up first is this huge showdown in the Mountain West with first place on the line. The league isn’t as deep as last year when six squads from the league went dancing, so this is a major opportunity for a top-tier win for both contenders. The Aggies staved off UNLV earlier this week to avenge their lone MWC loss of the season to date, while the Lobos have enjoyed a few extra days off after taking down that same Rebels’ squad Saturday. Both rosters saw plenty of turnover via the portal, but regular followers of the league will remember Utah State’s veteran backcourt tandem of Ian Martinez and Mason Falslev and New Mexico’s standout floor leader Donovan Dent.
Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s
Time/TV: Saturday, 11 p.m. ET, ESPN
It will be a shame to see this rivalry come to an end when Gonzaga departs the West Coast Conference for the revamped Pac-12, so we must enjoy these last few encounters while we can. It’s the Gaels who hold the upper hand in the league standings, though the Bulldogs appear to have righted themselves after a rare two-game slide as they put up 98 against Oregon State on Tuesday to avenge one of those setbacks. Finding offense against Saint Mary’s figures to be more challenging, however, as evidenced by the 30-0 run the Gaels used to put away Santa Clara on Wednesday, the same Santa Clara squad that went for over 100 in a win at Gonzaga. The key inside matchup between Bulldogs big man Graham Ike and Mitchell Saxen of the Gaels will be worth watching.
