Saturday smorgasbord of college basketball games to watch
Snow has blanketed a good portion of the country as far south as the Tennessee/Alabama border. How poetic would that have been if those two SEC basketball teams played each other this Saturday? Alas, they do not!
However, for those who make a date with the couch and channel surf for the majority of the day, first off we love and are jealous of you, and secondly, there are a plethora of quality college basketball games on Saturday, January 8 to focus your attention on.
Read on for the best three games from the power conferences for Saturday, January 8, 2022, with what’s at stake for each game.
ACC Games to Watch
Business trip. pic.twitter.com/Om6hlhRidW
— Canes Hoops (@CanesHoops) January 7, 2022
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Miami at No. 2 Duke – 8 pm – ACC Network
What’s At Stake: First place in the ACC, which ironically is held by Miami (4-0) despite the fact Duke (2-0) is the No. 2 ranked team in the country. The Canes can score the ball with the best of them. Do we need to set an upset alert?
Louisville at Florida State
– 8 pm – ESPNU
What’s At Stake: A 1-3 start in league play for the Seminoles versus a 5-0 start for the Cardinals. Louisville is starting to break through as a potential NCAA Tournament team.
Virginia at UNC – 1 pm – ESPN
What’s At Stake: A second loss in league play for both teams. Both have struggled at times but this could also get the Tar Heels a bounce-back win.
Big 12 Games to Watch
𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 2️⃣
🆚: No. 6 Kansas
⏰: 3 p.m., Saturday
📍: @UnitedSpArena
📺: @espn 2️⃣📰: https://t.co/4QWKdl4KXn pic.twitter.com/AZ4pPi96lw
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) January 7, 2022
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No. 6 Kansas at No. 25 Texas Tech – 4 pm – ESPN2
What’s At Stake: Texas Tech is on the verge of being a top-20 nationally ranked team, but a loss here will put them 0-2 in league play. Kansas looks to add to its already top-notch resume.
No. 11 Iowa State at Oklahoma – 6 pm – ESPNU
What’s At Stake: Moving above .500 in Big 12 play as both teams enter 1-1 after two games. The Sooners are playing great under Porter Moser and more people are starting to become believers in Oklahoma.
Kansas State at West Virginia – 2 pm – ESPN+
What’s At Stake: Last place in the Big 12 as both teams enter winless. Kansas State is starting to trend up a bit – note our Big 12 power rankings. The close loss to Oklahoma showed the Wildcats improvement from last season. West Virginia needs to earn some respect back after the big loss to Texas.
Big East Games to Watch
The wait is over‼️
We’re back on the road tomorrow.#ThisIsUConn pic.twitter.com/gv5jSPFx8m
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) January 7, 2022
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UConn at No. 24 Seton Hall – Noon – FOX
What’s At Stake: A third Big East loss for the Pirates, who face UConn who is playing its first game since December 21 due to a COVID pause. Seton Hall is getting closer to full strength, but the Huskies are in the same spot the Pirates were in two weeks ago.
St. John’s at No. 16 Providence – Noon – FS1
What’s At Stake: Basically, first place in the Big East as St. John’s has won its only league games and the Friars are 3-1 to start Big East play. Providence got annihilated by Marquette last time out but the Johnnies had one of the longest COVID pauses in the country.
No. 19 Villanova at DePaul – 2 pm – FS1
What’s At Stake: A chance for DePaul to legitimize its 9-1 start. However, the Blue Demons have lost three straight Big East games. Villanova, meanwhile, gets a nice tune-up game.
Big Ten Games To Watch
👀 @umichbball and @MSU_Basketball renew their rivalry on Saturday.
So we got @JuwanHoward and Tom Izzo to say some nice things (sort of) about each other’s programs before tipping off 😂 pic.twitter.com/VNn1TlVQpx
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 7, 2022
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Michigan State at Michigan – 2:30 pm – FOX
What’s At Stake: UPDATE: THIS GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED
No. 3 Purdue at Penn State – Noon – Big Ten Network
What’s At Stake: A third loss in Big Ten play for both teams. Purdue enters the game with a 1-2 league record, which doesn’t even seem real, while Penn State is 2-2. It’s a MUST win for the Boilermakers.
Northwestern at No. 13 Ohio State – Sunday, January 9 – 5:30 pm – Big Ten Network
What’s At Stake: A chance for both to get a win after losing their last games to Penn State and Indiana respectively. E.J. Liddell is due for a big game.
Pac 12 Games To Watch
Headed to the Bay Area.#GoBruins 🏀🚍✈️ pic.twitter.com/SjR58BU5Dm
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) January 7, 2022
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No. 5 UCLA at Cal – 8 pm – Pac12 Network
What’s At Stake: A top-four placement in the early league standings and a chance for UCLA to get back in the win column after a 24-day Covid pause. Nearly a month off, even a game against Cal won’t be an easy one.
Oregon at Oregon State – 10:30 pm – Pac 12 Network
What’s At Stake: UPDATE: THIS GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
Washington at Colorado – Sunday, January 9 – 5 pm – ESPN2
What’s At Stake: A chance for Colorado to jump into the top four of the Pac 12 standings. The Buffaloes are a legit team but are jumbled up with all the other three-loss teams.
SEC Games to Watch
Tomorrow in Baton Rouge.
PREVIEW » https://t.co/rQkC4neYGh pic.twitter.com/ffOnmmSJX5
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 7, 2022
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No. 18 Tennessee at No. 21 LSU – 6 pm – ESPN2
What’s At Stake: A win in the primetime slot for one of the best games in all of college basketball today. Who said the SEC was just a football conference?
Arkansas at Texas A&M – 1 pm – SEC Network
What’s At Stake: A third loss in a row to start SEC play for the Hogs, who have dropped decisions to Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. Texas A&M is flying under the radar and could jump into the top 25 on Monday with a win today.
Mississippi State at Ole Miss – 8:30 pm SEC Network
What’s At Stake: Bragging rights in the Egg Bowl on the hardwood, until they meet again on January 22, 2022.