Feb. 24 College Basketball Games With March Madness Impacts

It’s the final week of the regular season for some college basketball teams, so the importance of these games is heightened each day moving forward.

Tuesday has a loaded schedule of Power 5 and mid-major college basketball games you need to pay attention to, and teams can’t let slip heading into March.

#21 Miami-OH (27-0, 14-0) at Eastern Michigan (10-18, 4-11) – 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+

I’ll go out on a whim here and say that I believe the RedHawks are a lock for March Madness, but others may contest that. It’s right out there in front of them, though, so the best way to handle their chances on Selection Sunday is to keep on winning.

NC State (19-8, 10-4) at #11 Virginia (24-3, 12-2) – 7 p.m. on ACC Network

This is a key game for both teams, because you’ve got a red-hot Wolfpack team looking for 20 wins and to keep climbing up the seed line. But then you’ve got a Virginia team looking for a seventh quad 1 victory. Both teams are pretty much locks for March Madness, but seeding is on the line here.

Cincinnati (15-12, 7-7) at #16 Texas Tech (20-7, 10-4) – 7 p.m. on ESPN2

For Texas Tech, a win is needed to stop the downfall after losing JT Toppin for the rest of the season. But Cincinnati is quickly playing itself onto the tournament bubble, so a road win here could put them under even further consideration.

#23 Saint Louis (25-2, 13-1) at Dayton (18-9, 9-5) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Look, Dayton’s March Madness chances are only if they win the Atlantic 10 Tournament, but they’re still a tough team to deal with, and Saint Louis wants to make sure they don’t crumble down the stretch here. Big road game for the Bilikens.

West Virginia (16-11, 7-7) at Oklahoma State (16-11, 4-10) – 7 p.m. on CBSSN

The Mountaineers are squarely on the bubble and NEED to take down Oklahoma State on the road to keep their chances alive. After losing to Utah and TCU, WVU is moving down the bubble, and a loss here might make it close to popping.

Northwestern (11-16, 3-13) at Indiana (17-10, 8-8) – 7 p.m. on FS1

IU might be in the field right now, but they are just 2-10 in quad 1 games, so a home loss to Northwestern could wreck their outlook. Just gotta win this one to keep some breathing room.

#2 Arizona (25-2, 12-2) at Baylor (14-13, 4-10) – 9 p.m. on ESPN2

I don’t think anyone seriously has Baylor under consideration anymore, but they are 49th in the NET, so if they take down Arizona, you could maybe begin to argue for their case. It’s a major outside chance, but never say never.

#22 Tennessee (20-7, 10-4) at Missouri (18-9, 8-6) – 9 p.m. on SEC Network

For Tennessee, it’s a chance to keep the hot play going. The Vols have won four straight and eight of nine and are trying to get a bye all the way to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

But Mizzou is at home, as bubble as it gets, and has a chance for a fifth quad 1 win of the season. High stakes here!

Arizona State (14-13, 5-9) at TCU (17-10, 7-7) – 9 p.m. on CBSSN

TCU just can’t afford to lose a home game here, but you bet other bubble teams are big Bobby Hurley fans on Tuesday night. The Horned Frogs have already lost some questionable games, so the more they add up, the fewer passes they’ll get on Selection Sunday.

Miami-Fla (21-6, 10-4) at Florida State (14-13, 7-7) – 9 p.m. on ACC Network

This game could be scary for a Miami team trending down and taking on a Seminoles team playing some of the best ball of any team in college basketball. They won’t fall out of the tournament picture, but it could get interesting if the Canes lose here.

Auburn (15-12, 6-8) at Oklahoma (13-14, 3-11) – 9 p.m. on ESPNU

If the Tigers make it to March Madness, they’ll be the team everyone’s debating about, already with 12 losses. And if they lose to Oklahoma, it’ll create even more uproar. I have to think a loss here moves the Tigers nearly out of the field, but a win certainly keeps them alive.

UCF (19-7, 8-6) at #19 BYU (20-7, 8-6) – 11 p.m. on ESPN2

We have some great late-night hoops on Tuesday, and this is a critical one in the Big 12. UCF has an opportunity to get to 20 wins and a fifth quad 1 win, while BYU looks to learn how to win without Richie Saunders. We’ll see what wins out!

New Mexico (21-6, 12-4) at Nevada (18-9, 10-6) – 11 p.m. on CBSSN

The Lobos come into Tuesday 43rd in the NET, 2-4 in Quad 1, and 7-1 in Quad 2. A road win at Nevada starts to make their tournament outlook look even stronger. But the Pack can maybe join the conversation with a win here and start to build up the Mountain West’s tourney picture as a whole.

USC (18-9, 7-9) at UCLA (18-9, 10-6) – 11 p.m. on FS1

It’s a good thing this game is scheduled for late-night television, because things could get wild. We’ve got Eric Musselman and USC against Mick Cronin and UCLA. A Trojans team in need of a big road win to keep their bubble from popping, and a Bruins team looking to eliminate their former Pac-12 rival. Appointment television!