By now, casual sports fans and die-hard college hoops junkies alike should be fully engaged with March Madness now just a few weeks away. We’re back once again to help you plan your weekend of viewing by picking the five games in men’s college basketball we think will be most worthy of your attention.
Those who have peeked ahead at the calendar will undoubtedly anticipate most of our offerings, but if you have not done so hopefully we can save you a little time. Of course your interest may vary based upon your own rooting preferences, but here is our Starting Five for the weekend after the Super Bowl with college basketball taking the stage.
No. 2 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama
Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
It’s not at all a stretch to state that this is the most significant meeting in basketball in the history of these schools best known for their rivalry on the gridiron. On the other hand, it’s only round one, as they’re slated to meet again in three weeks at Auburn and possibly a time or two after that in the postseason. Both teams handled their midweek business leading up to this showdown, as the Tigers prevailed at Vanderbilt and the Crimson Tide hit the century mark for the fourth time in SEC play at Texas. Alabama’s high-scoring, fast-paced approach means no lead is safe for its opponent, but it also means protecting its own lead can be an issue. That figures to be the case against Auburn, whose defensive tenacity often results in lengthy scoring droughts. Pesky Tigers guard Chad Baker-Mazara will likely be assigned to shadow top Alabama perimeter threat Mark Sears, while the Tide’s Grant Nelson will be tasked with keeping Auburn big man Johni Broome from dominating the glass.
MAJOR MOMENT: Alabama, Auburn meet in rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 clash
BRACKETOLOGY: Michigan surges in NCAA tournament projection
No. 6 Houston at No. 13 Arizona
Time/TV: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
First place will also be on the line in the Big 12. That remains the case despite Arizona on Wednesday becoming the latest victim of a suddenly red-hot Kansas State squad making a late push for the bubble. But the Wildcats can regain a share of the league lead if they can take down the Cougars, who have won three in succession since dropping their lone conference decision to Texas Tech. The Wildcats had a terrible night from the three-point arc in Manhattan, making just two of 22 attempts. Caleb Love and Co. usually fare better in the more friendly environs of the McKale Center, but Houston also guards the perimeter effectively. The Cougars have yet to lose in the Big 12 on the road, where it helps to have a primary ball handler like Milos Uzan who rarely turns it over.
No. 15 Wisconsin at No. 7 Purdue
Time/TV: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
We now move over to a double dip in the Big Ten, starting with this clash of likely top-16 NCAA seeds in Purdue’s Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers look to bounce back after letting a lead get away at Michigan on Tuesday, while the Badgers come to town riding a three-game winning streak. Expect to see a lot of long balls attempted in this one, as both teams hoist well over 20 three-point tries per game. Purdue is usually a bit more accurate, connecting at a 37.4% clip from distance to Wisconsin’s 36.5%, but it’s fair to say both squads are capable of mounting a rally if needed. The Badgers will need a big day from Steven Crowl on the boards to stick with the Boilermakers’ Trey Kaufman-Renn.
No. 11 Michigan State at Illinois
Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox
The Big Ten’s prime-time tilt features a pair of teams that could both use a positive result. The Spartans got off to a 9-0 start in league play but have dropped three of their last four. The Fighting Illini have struggled for consistency all season, capable of a dominating win or a puzzling loss on a given day. Various illnesses and injuries have been in part to blame for Illinois, but the team might finally have all of its key parts available if guard Tre White is able to go after missing time with a flu bug. Michigan State’s biggest strength continues to be its depth, with 10 players averaging at least 15 minutes and five points per game. But in general the offense is most efficient when Jeremy Fears (6.0 apg) is running point.
No. 21 Creighton at No. 8 St. John’s
Time/TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, FS1
The Sunday headliner takes us to Madison Square Garden for this key Big East contest. At the start of the week this shaped up as a clash between the league’s hottest teams, but both had lengthy streaks snapped Wednesday night. The Red Storm experienced some rare defensive lapses in a two-point loss at Villanova, while the Bluejays found out the hard way how much better Connecticut is with Liam McNeeley healthy. Creighton did get the better of St. John’s in their first encounter on New Year’s Eve before the Red Storm got hot, but the 57-56 final score was still a typical St. John’s game. Bluejays guard Steven Ashworth will have to be especially careful with the ball against constant pressure. The Red Storm generate a lot of points via second chances, but that could prove more challenging against Creighton’s veteran postman Ryan Kalkbrenner.
