Despite the ongoing cold snap across most of the country, the month of March is fast approaching. The Madness of college basketball will soon be upon us. Before we delve into our top picks for this weekend’s men’s college basketball games, it’s worth noting that there are several intriguing matchups beyond the powerhouse conferences that deserve attention. We’ll touch on a few of those at the end of this preview. So, without further delay, here are the top games to keep an eye on this weekend, from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.
**No. 13 Michigan State at No. 12 Michigan**
**Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox**
The Big Ten rivalry between Michigan State and Michigan takes center stage in this highly anticipated matchup. These two perennial powerhouses from the Great Lake State are currently at the top of the Big Ten standings. Michigan State, known for its depth, faces a Michigan team led by key players like Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf. The Spartans will aim to hand the Wolverines their first home loss of the season in Ann Arbor.
**No. 6 Tennessee at No. 7 Texas A&M**
**Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN**
In the SEC, top-10 battles have become a regular occurrence, and this weekend is no exception. Tennessee faces Texas A&M in what promises to be an exciting clash. The Aggies, returning home after a tough road game, look to exploit their scoring options against a Tennessee team led by standout point guard Zakai Zeigler.
**No. 8 Iowa State at No. 5 Houston**
**Time/TV: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN**
The Big 12 matchup between Iowa State and Houston features the Cougars looking to solidify their position at the top of the conference standings. While the Cyclones have shown improvement this season, Houston’s relentless defense led by players like J’Wan Roberts poses a tough challenge for Iowa State.
**No. 21 Kentucky at No. 4 Alabama**
**Time/TV: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN**
The SEC showdown between Kentucky and Alabama headlines the prime-time slot, with both teams vying for a top seed in the NCAA tournament. The Crimson Tide, coming off a tough road loss, face a resilient Kentucky squad aiming to capitalize on their recent momentum.
Stay tuned for an action-packed weekend of college basketball!
The pace and are prone to frequent defensive lapses. Alabama has become more dependent on three-point shooting than even coach Nate Oats might like, so there might be a concerted effort to get Grant Nelson involved at the rim. The Wildcats usually look to Otega Oweh to stop the opponent’s scoring run. Connecticut at No. 9 St. John’s Time/TV: Sunday, noon ET, Fox. The Red Storm looks to complete a home-and-home sweep of UConn and solidify its lead in the Big East. The Huskies’ bid for a third consecutive NCAA title will be a longshot, but a high-end victory here on the road might at least help them improve their seed position. Turnovers proved to be UConn’s undoing against St. John’s two weeks ago in Storrs, a common issue for Red Storm opponents but a priority for Hassan Diarra and the Huskies’ ball handlers nonetheless. St. John’s has been getting better shot selection of late from Kadary Richmond, a huge help for leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. finding open looks himself. Starting Five Extra – Mid-major games of note. George Mason at Virginia Commonwealth Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBSSN. Bubble watchers will want to keep an eye on this huge showdown for the lead in the Atlantic 10. The Rams have stronger at-large metrics, but the Patriots enter on an 11-game winning streak. No. 24 Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. Neither team is in bubble trouble, but it’s nevertheless a result both would like to have. The Gaels go for a sweep of their long-time West Coast Conference nemesis, but Gonzaga has rattled off five double-digit wins in a row since its first encounter with Saint Mary’s in Moraga, California. San Diego State at Utah State Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBSSN. Like the WCC game above, both participants in this key Mountain West clash are in decent shape for the postseason, but the winner here will sleep a lot easier in the coming weeks before Selection Sunday. Drake at Northern Iowa Time/TV: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2. The Missouri Valley is likely a one-bid league this year, but its champion could again be a bracket buster. The Bulldogs hold the conference lead, but the host Panthers have a chance to grab a share of first place if they can take down their Hawkeye State rivals. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball games to watch: Big Ten, SEC showdowns lead.
