Conference play is coming down to the wire, the bubble is in flux and Selection Sunday is only four weeks away. This is the context with which we begin another loaded college basketball Saturday.
Your Watch Grid guide to a loaded college basketball Saturday schedule
There’s marquee matchups all over the college hoops schedule on Saturday. This is what you should watch.
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Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
There is an overwhelming amount of games on Saturday, with games featuring ranked teams beginning at noon and ending around midnight. This is our best attempt to help you figure out watch to watch.
Essential reading for today: Chris Dobbertean’s latest bit of Bracketology.
Early shift
- Villanova’s time as No. 1 will be short-lived after a shocking loss to St. John’s earlier this week. Butler had won four straight before falling in overtime to No. 5 Xavier on Tuesday. Butler is projected as a No. 8 seed right now, so this conference game also might serve as a potential preview of a round of 32 matchup.
- This is an absolute must-win for South Carolina, who are on the very fringes of the bubble right now. Florida is currently projected as a No. 5 seed.
- UNC vs. NC State gets bumped to a must-watch after Joel Berry’s comments that the Wolfpack aren’t a rival. NC State is going for the season sweep.
- TCU is reeling, losing three of its last four. Still, the Horned Frogs are projected as a No. 9 before they face Texas. The Fightin’ Mo Bambas are also projected as a 9-seed.
Late shift
- Game of the day: No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 4 Michigan State. The Boilermakers are coming off a last second loss to Ohio State, their first Big Ten defeat of the season. These two teams are the only squads in America currently ranked in the top-15 of both offensive and defensive efficiency. That’s an essential sign for a future national title winner.
- Tennessee just might end up as a No. 1 seed. The Vols look like a real Final Four threat after being picked to finish 13th in the SEC. They just swept Kentucky for the first time since 1999. Meanwhile, Alabama is a team of cult heroes. Collin Sexton, Herb Jones, Donta Hall ... there’s a lot to like.
- Virginia hasn’t been No. 1 in the polls since the days of Ralph Sampson, but they will be on Monday if they beat VT. That’s no easy task: the Hokies are fighting for their tournament lives, currently projected as one of the first four teams out. Win this game and they’re likely in. KenPom has Virginia with a 91 percent chance to win this game.
- Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s is always a must-watch. The Gaels took round one, which might be the single most critical win of this season for any team after a couple losses in the non-conference slate. Don’t sleep on this ‘Zags team as one capable of making another deep tournament run.
- USC vs. Arizona should be a blast. The Trojans had won six straight Pac-12 games before dropping their last two. Arizona is also coming off back to back losses. If USC wins, these teams will be tied atop the conference.
What are you watching?
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