We're in the midst of a really fun and fairly tumultuous college basketball season, but with that said, I think this could be the most worthwhile and eventful weekend we've seen so far this season. The thick of conference play is here, and there are a lot of teams now populating the bubble. Do you realize we're five weeks away from Selection Sunday? February's going to be gone in a flash.
As you settle in for 12-plus hours of hoops on Saturday, there's something you should be aware of: a lot of teams that need wins are going to take losses. It's a guarantee, and the fallout should be interesting come Monday and beyond. The reason for this? The way this schedule has broken, all these teams in interesting spots -- be it chasing No. 1 seed status, being on the bubble, trying to keep up at the top of their conference standings -- well they're all on the road Saturday and Sunday.
There's an inordinate amount of teams in big spots, and it's amusing how they're all leaving home for the weekend.
You know how hard it is to win on the road in college hoops. I count at least 20 games -- 20! -- wherein teams could take losses that would make for notable blemishes on their resumes. To get a deeper rundown on big games, be sure to check Jerry Palm's preview of the weekend's biggest matchups.
Here, a quick rundown of the best 20 games and what's on the line in each for the road teams only. Games are on Saturday except where noted and all times are ET.
No. 5 Arizona at No. 13 Oregon, 4 p.m. (ESPN): Wildcats will be de facto Pac-12 champions and have inside edge on a No. 1 seed if they can pull off the upset. This is the only game scheduled between U of A and the Ducks.
No. 20 Notre Dame at No. 12 UNC, 6 p.m. (ESPN): Once 16-2, Notre Dame's dropped three straight and lost four of its last five. Another defeat here punts the Irish out of the polls and highly damages their seed forecast. Blame me for the jinx.
No. 8 Kentucky at No. 24 Florida, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN): Wildcats are completely eliminated from No. 1 seed consideration with a loss, and truth be told, getting a No. 2 might require no more losses in the regular season.
No. 23 Purdue at No. 17 Maryland, 12 p.m. (ESPN): First, Purdue loses its chance at winning the Big Ten if it can't defeat the Terps, who have a two-game lead in the standings. Then there's the incredible battle for player of the year. (If interested about Maryland, you've got to read this.)
N0. 9 Virginia at Syracuse, 12 p.m. (ESPN2): Remember the last time these two teams played? I'd love to be in Tony Bennett's prep meetings and practices for this one. If the Cavaliers lose, they probably can't claim a No. 1 seed this season, unless they were to win out which is unlikely, given Duke, Louisville and North Carolina are still on the schedule.
Iowa State at No. 3 Kansas, 2 p.m. (ESPN): The Cyclones, projected by many to be the second best team in the Big 12 back in the preseason, will fall to 5-5 in the league and have legitimate doubts about making the NCAA Tournaments.
Kansas State at No. 2 Baylor, 3 p.m. (TV): K-State has lost three straight, and after this game still has to play Kansas and then at West Virginia. Winning here is pivotal to keeping the Wildcats' season off life support.
Xavier at No. 22 Creighton, 3 p.m. (Fox): Musketeers' three best wins are over 13-8 Clemson, 15-7 Utah and 13-8 Seton Hall. Beating Creighton on the road -- both teams are missing their playmakers due to season-ending injuries -- would be massive for X's profile.
Indiana at No. 10 Wisconsin, 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS and CBSSports.com): Hoosiers, hampered by injury, fall onto the bubble with a loss. Would mark the first time since 2014 IU was sub-.500 in league play 11 games into its Big Ten slate.
Clemson at No. 15 Florida State, 12:30 p.m. Sunday (ESPNU): Tigers' hopes of making the NCAA Tournament get draped in a wet blanket if they don't pull off this upset.
Georgia at No. 19 South Carolina, 2 p.m. (ESPN2): Bulldogs' hopes of making the NCAA Tournament vanish if they don't pull off this upset.
Illinois State at Wichita State, 8 p.m. (ESPN2): A win here would all but lock up Illinois State's first regular-season Missouri Valley title since 1998. Current ISU coach Dan Muller was a player at the school that season. This could also signal the end of Wichita State's dynasty in the conference, and probably vaults ISU to legitimate bubble team.
Miami at NC State, 3 p.m.: Hurricanes, who are 1-6 against the seven best teams they've played this season, would be on the wrong side of the bubble with a loss.
Seton Hall at Georgetown, 12 p.m. (FS1): Pirates would be a projected NIT team with a loss.
Minnesota at Illinois, 4 p.m. (BTN): Golden Gophers started 15-2 but it's been a mess since then, and losing to a desperate Illinois team would mean six straight Ls. Off the bubble in a bad way with a defeat.
VCU at St. Bonaventure, 4 p.m. (CBSSN): The Atlantic 10 needs VCU to win this game. A loss would mean the conference is flirting with being, improbably, a one-bid league this season.
Tennessee at Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m. (SEC): Volunteers can vault themselves into the at-large picture if they can get this road win.
Utah at Stanford, 4:30 p.m. (FS1): The Utes would be so much better off if they could get out of the Bay Area with a 1-1 split. Utah fell at Cal on Thursday night. Losing to Stanford would keep them far off the bubble. Winning is practically mandatory.
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest, 3 p.m.: Yellow Jackets enter the NCAA Tournament conversation if they can pull off this upset in Winston-Salem.
So there you have it. The broadest theme/storyline in college hoops this weekend is the road to ruin. Of these 20 teams in tight spots, how many do you think will pull off wins away from home? My guess: just four. Give me Utah, VCU, Xavier and Kentucky.
