Today is the last regular season Saturday in College Basketball, and it does not disappoint with a loaded slate of games that have tournament and conference championship implications.
College Basketball
#2 Kansas @ #24 Missouri - CBS 12 p.m.
The Jayhawks (28-2, 13-2) can earn their third straight outright crown with their 10th win in 11 tries over Missouri (22-8, 8-7) or a Texas loss at Baylor on Saturday evening. A Kansas loss and a Longhorns win would give Texas a share of the title and a No. 1 seed in Kansas City. Missouri, has gone 17-0 at home this season, winning by an average of 22.5 points and prevailing in 51 of 53 home contests over the last three seasons. Kansas, however, is the last opponent to win at Mizzou Arena, 77-56 last March. The Jayhawks have won four straight over their rivals by an average of 20.5 points.
#11 Louisville @ West Virginia - ESPN 12 p.m.
Louisville (23-7, 12-5) currently sits 3rd in the Big East and has already clinched a double-bye in the Big East Tournament next week. West Virginia (19-10, 10-7) on the other hand is in a three-way tie for 6th and is right in the middle of a logjam for Big East Tournament position. Louisville won the teams first matchup in January 55-54.
#7 Notre Dame @ #16 Connecticut - ESPN 2 p.m.
Notre Dame (24-5, 13-4) needs a victory Saturday and a loss by No. 4 Pittsburgh to No. 19 Villanova to share the Big East crown with the Panthers. The Fighting Irish would be the top seed by virtue of a 56-51 win over Pitt on Jan. 24. Connecticut (21-8, 9-8), meanwhile, needs a win and some help to finish in the top half of the conference and earn a first-round bye instead of having to play its Big East tourney opener Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Irish won 73-70 at home Jan. 4, but Notre Dame hasn't won at UConn since a 75-70 victory in 1999-2000.
#19 Villanova @ #5 Pittsburgh - CBS 4 p.m.
The Panthers (26-4, 14-3) are in wonderful shape to finish the season with a net-clipping celebration at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers are 5-3 vs. Top 25 teams, have already defeated Villanova this season, and have won the last seven consecutive games in the series in Pittsburgh, including a 3-0 record vs. the Wildcats in The Pete, their new home which opened in 2002. The Wildcats (21-9, 9-8) were picked second in the Big East. But they'll likely be lumped with traditional also-rans like Seton Hall and DePaul in the first round of the conference tournament on Tuesday.
#14 Florida @ #20 Vanderbilt - ESPN 6 p.m.
The Gators, unranked and coming off a disappointing loss at Mississippi State heading into the Feb. 1 matchup, knocked off the then-No. 23 Commodores 65-61 in overtime. That began a six-game winning streak for Florida (23-6, 12-3), which fell at then-No. 22 Kentucky last Saturday before clinching a share of the conference crown Tuesday by routing Alabama 78-51. The Commodores (21-8, 9-6) would go on to win five straight after the defeat, but have cooled off. losing two of their last three. Vanderbilt fell 68-66 to No. 20 Kentucky on Tuesday as its second-half comeback came up short.
#4 Duke @ #13 North Carolina - CBS 8 p.m.
For the fifth consecutive season, the rivals conclude the regular season with a league crown at stake. Duke (27-3, 13-2) was undefeated and the ACC frontrunner entering league play this season, while North Carolina had four losses and looked like a major disappointment after opening the season ranked eighth. However, the Tar Heels (23-6, 13-2) have won 16 of 18 since losing to Texas on a last-second shot Dec. 18. They have won six in a row since Duke overcame a 16-point deficit to beat them 79-73 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 9.
#8 Texas @ Baylor - ESPN 9 p.m.
Texas (24-6, 12-3 Big 12) appeared headed for its first regular-season conference title since 2007-08 and a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament going into its final five games. The Longhorns, though, have dropped three of four to fall one game behind first-place Kansas. Texas snapped a four-game losing streak against Baylor (18-11, 7-8) with a 69-60 victory Feb. 12. Baylor, loser of eight of 14, is looking to boost its tenuous chances for an NCAA tournament bid.
No comments:
Post a Comment