Since Wednesday is the busiest weeknight of any college basketball week, you’d be right to expect several games involving Bubble Watch teams.
San Diego State At BYU Highlights A Busy Bubble Wednesday
The big game of the night is in the Mountain West, where 13th-ranked BYU hosts San Diego State (9 p.m. ET, CBS College). The Cougars are unbeaten at home this season, but can't get caught looking ahead to Saturday's tilt against No. 10 New Mexico (who may have been looking ahead themselves last night against Colorado State). The Aztecs could really use a marquee road win to boost their shaky case, so expect them to throw everything, including any available kitchen sinks at Jimmer Fredette and co. Both our BYU blog, Vanquish The Foe, and our Mountain West Connection blog will have this one covered from every angle.
Dayton, one of my First Four Out on Monday, might just find themselves back in my Saturday morning bracket if they can win at 20th-ranked Temple (6:30 p.m. ET, WHIO/Comcast Network Philly/CSN Washington+). The Owls, however, haven’t dropped an A-10 home game this season, while the Flyers have only managed to win at Fordham and St. Bonaventure. In other Atlantic 10 bubble action, St. Louis, still a fringe candidate because of a terrible non-conference resume, looks to follow up home wins over Dayton and Rhode Island with one over Xavier (8 p.m. ET, FS Ohio).
Cincinnati hosts DePaul (7 p.m. ET, Big East Network/Full Court), hoping to rebound from their Sunday loss to Marquette. A win over the Blue Demons won’t do much for the resume, however. The Golden Eagles, on the other hand, will look to win the second game of their three-game road swing. They’re at St. John’s (7:30 p.m. ET, Big East Network/Full Court).
Notre Dame can boost their chances at home against No. 12 Pitt (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2). They’ll just have to win without the still-injured Luke Harangody, who’s been ruled out. Read more at our Fighting Irish blog, Rakes Of Mallow. USF also faces one of the league leaders as they look to boost their flagging hopes. The Bulls visit a seventh-ranked Villanova team that has lost two straight (9 p.m. ET, Big East Network/Full Court).
Ole Miss hosts Auburn (8 p.m. ET, SEC Network/Full Court) in yet another game where a win won’t really help, but a loss would be fatal. Head over to our Rebel blog, Red Cup Rebellion, and our Tiger blog, Track Em Tigers, for more on this one. Mississippi State will get a bit more of a bump if they win their home contest against Alabama (9 p.m. ET, SEC on CSS/Full Court). Roll Bama Roll, SBN’s Alabama blog, and For Whom The Cowbell Tolls, our Miss. State site, will have more on this one.
Minnesota hosts No. 3 Purdue (8:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network) knowing a win over a potential number 1 seed would move them from a fringe candidate to a real player, especially with a road game coming up against Illinois on Saturday. Check out our Minnesota blog, The Daily Gopher, and our Purdue blog, Hammer And Rails, for full coverage of this one.
There are still other games involving teams who are up my S-curve, but not yet 100 percent safe. If a team’s name is a link, click it to visit the school’s SB Nation blog.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU): This shapes up as a tough one for the Hokies, as they only beat the Eagles by 1 in Blacksburg.
Oklahoma State at No. 21 Texas (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2): A Cowboy win would be helpful, even if the Longhorns are fading badly.
Clemson at Maryland (9 p.m. ET, Raycom/Full Court): This is a key matchup for positioning in the middle of the bracket. These are two teams who definitely would rather be a 7 than an 8.
TCU at UNLV (11 p.m. ET, the mtn.): The Rebels aren’t as safe as they were before their three-game losing streak, which they snapped Saturday against Colorado State.
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