College hoops are rapidly winding down as we are just a few weeks away from conference tournaments beginning and tickets to March Madness being punched. Just typing out that sentence gave me goosebumps. With a slate of big games on Saturday, I thought I’d break down the five that deserve everyone’s attention as we head towards Selection Sunday.
5. Syracuse at. No. 8 Florida State- Noon tip on ESPN2
We start with some bias from me as Syracuse travels down to Tallahassee to begin a two-game road trip with games against Florida State and Louisville. The Orange come into Saturday following a home loss to NC State where star Elijah Hughes left with a leg injury. Cuse will need Hughes back if they want any chance to grab a huge win against a Seminoles squad that scores and defends at an elite rate. Florida State is coming off of a tough 70-65 loss on the road against Duke and returns to the Tucker Center where they have not lost a game all season long. After winning zero significant nonconference games, time is running out for Syracuse to make a postseason push. Without wins against Florida State or Louisville, it would take an ACC tournament title to boost the Orange into March.
4. No. 20 Houston at. SMU- 6:00 pm tip on ESPNU
Houston has had a phenomenal year, playing to a 20-5 overall record and 10-2 record in a tough American conference. With that being said, they are listed as a 7 seed on ESPN and on the bubble, just out of the field according to CBS Sports. To me, this is a team that should be firmly in the field. 2-3 in Quad 1 and a combined 13-2 in Quads 2 and 3. They are also in first place of the aforementioned American. With tough games down the stretch with Cincinnati (a team they lost to) and two games against Memphis, this SMU game will be big. The Mustangs have had a decent season themselves, sitting at 17-6 (7-4) and a win could get them onto some bubbles. Last time these two teams met, it was a 71-62 Houston win. Whichever guard tandem plays better will win this game. SMU’s Kendric Davis and Tyson Jolly, as well as Houston’s Quentin Grimes and Caleb Mills, have been stellar this season.
3. Oklahoma at. No. 3 Kansas- Noon tip on ESPN
Oklahoma is a program we’ve come to expect in the mix when March rolls around. This year, the Sooners are projected as a 9 seed by ESPN and just outside the field by CBS. They have big games remaining to try to solidify their resume, starting with this one and ending with matchups against Baylor, Texas Tech and West Virginia. Oklahoma has won three of its last four games, including a double-digit win over the Mountaineers.
Going to the Phog is always a huge boost to a resume down the stretch. As for Kansas, this is a game you have to win to stay firmly as a No. 1 seed. A revenge matchup at Baylor looms in a week, but the focus must stay on the Sooners. Despite the fight with K-State, the Jayhawks are playing their best basketball recently, winners of nine straight.
2. No. 9 Maryland at. Michigan State- 6:00 PM tip on ESPN
I’ve had this game circled for quite some time now. Even with the recent struggles of Sparty, these to me are the two teams most likely to make a national championship run in the Big 10. That is because of two words: guard play. Michigan State’s Cassius Winston is, of course, incredible, averaging 18.3 PPG to go along with 5.7 APG and 1.3 SPG. On the other side, Maryland has won seven straight and have been led by a star point guard of its own in Anthony Cowan Jr. Cowan Jr. is averaging 16.3 PPG, including a 31-point outbreak against Iowa a couple of weeks ago. Teams do not win championships without a solid point guard, and both these teams have great ones. The Terps and Spartans meet twice down the stretch and I cannot wait to watch those matchups. This is the best Maryland team we’ve seen in quite some time.
1. No. 14 West Virginia at. No. 1 Baylor- 4 PM tip on ESPN+
Unfortunately, that is not a typo, this game will be played on ESPN+. Major shame there. Regardless, this game is worth paying a subscription or being a few seconds on delay with a stream that may not quite be legal. It’s the number one team in the country against one of the best defensive programs in college basketball. Baylor is a perfect 11-0 in conference but has made headlines after a shaky, ugly 52-45 win over Texas on Big Monday. Make no mistake, this Bears team is downright incredible. They have won 21 straight games (21!) and are deservedly ranked in the nation’s top spot. Their incredible defense alone is must-watch, allowing a mere 58.3 PPG. Jared Butler and MaCio Teague have led their offense with steady hands, combining for a touch over 29 points per contest. West Virginia is pretty firmly in the tournament field, as they should be with an 18-6 (6-5) record. However, slipping up in Big 12 play could hurt their seeding down the stretch. The thing I like about the Mountaineers is their depth. It is not the reliance on one scorer that makes them elite. This depth could be some trouble for Baylor. Expect a low-scoring but exciting game in Waco on Saturday afternoon.