We’ve hit February, with every college basketball game meaning a little bit more for teams looking to make it to March Madness.
If you haven’t been paying attention to college basketball at all this season, now’s your chance before it’s too late when you’re filling out that bracket. Just over a month remains in the regular season for most, with some leagues starting conference tournament play even earlier. So, it’s the final stretch and final chances for teams to separate themselves for seeding – or in some cases – a ticket to the big dance.
Syracuse (13-9, 4-5) at #14 North Carolina (17-4, 5-3) – 7 p.m. on ESPN
The Orange took down Notre Dame on Saturday, snapping a four-game losing streak. But this week is their chance to either enter the bubble picture or totally fall off the face of the earth. Syracuse is just outside the top 70 in the NET, but will play AT UNC and Virginia – a chance at two Quad 1 wins.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels return home, but this could turn into a trap game, as they host Duke on Saturday. Can’t look ahead if you don’t want to spoil things here in the present.
McNeese (18-4, 11-2) at Stephen F. Austin (19-3, 12-1) – 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+
If you aren’t excited for this game, you just don’t like college basketball. The potential at a two-bid Southland is alive and well, but these teams both know that’s not very likely, so this game will have a conference tournament feel. Positioning for the 1 seed will be key. And that rings especially true for McNeese, who hosts the Southland Tourney. Imagine being the 1 seed WITH home court advantage? Yeah, if you’re the Lumberjacks, you might NEED to win this game so that doesn’t happen.
#11 Kansas (16-5, 6-2) at #13 Texas Tech (16-5, 6-2) – 9 p.m. on ESPN
There are so many great teams in the Big 12, and we get to see that on full display with the Jayhawks visiting the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech is coming off a loss at UCF, after having won five in a row leading up to that. Their defense has given up 87 PPG over the last two games, and with a KU team firing on all cylinders, it has to be better to come out with a win here.
Kansas has a five-game W streak of its own going right now, so Darryn Peterson, Melvin Council Jr., and co. are looking to make that six with a game against Arizona looming next Monday. What an upcoming stretch!