This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7068903/2026/02/27/michigan-illinois-virginia-duke-kansas-arizona-how-to-watch/
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us
And so begins faculty basketball’s lengthy, dramatic denouement. We’re about to show the calendar to March, which brings convention titles and event speak. First, we glide right into a full weekend of crucial video games.
Last weekend stood out for its top-four marquees, however there’s quite a bit to understand this time round, too. Illinois and Michigan give us an actual offense vs. protection pairing. The new No. 1 holds courtroom at Cameroon Indoor. “College GameDay” visits the defending champs. Ranked matchups are performed throughout the ACC, Big 12 and SEC. Here’s your information to the following three days.
All occasions ET. Rankings are from the most recent AP ballot.
Watching in particular person? Get tickets on StubHub.
| Game | Time | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan at Illinois | 8 p.m., Fri. | Fox | |
| Virginia at Duke | Noon, Sat. | ESPN | |
| Vanderbilt at Kentucky | 2 p.m., Sat. | ESPN | |
| SDSU at New Mexico | 2 p.m., Sat. | CBS | |
| Kansas at Arizona | 4 p.m., Sat. | ESPN | |
| Texas Tech at Iowa St. | 4 p.m., Sat. | CBS | |
| Nebraska at USC | 4 p.m., Sat. | BTN | |
| Texas at Texas A&M | 4 p.m., Sat. | ESPN2 | |
| Alabama at Tennessee | 6 p.m., Sat. | ESPN | |
| Villanova at St. John’s | 8 p.m., Sat. | Fox | |
| Arkansas at Florida | 8:30 p.m., Sat. | ESPN | |
| Purdue at Ohio St. | 1:30 p.m., Sun. | CBS |
CBS and Fox are free over the air. CBS can be out there on Paramount+. Big Ten Network and Fox are additionally out there on Fox One. All ESPN networks are additionally on ESPN Unlimited.
Why you need to watch: Michigan is No. 2 in defensive ranking per KenPom, stabilized round senior Yaxel Lendeborg. Illinois has the top-rated offense, as freshman Keaton Wagler soars up mock drafts. It’s a top-10 in-conference tilt to start out the weekend off correctly. No arms twisted right here.
The Illini haven’t performed since their wild additional time loss to UCLA final Saturday. The Wolverines have been bumped from the No. 1 spot by Duke that evening, however they’ve already clinched no less than a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, holding a three-game lead on Illinois, Nebraska and Michigan State by means of Thursday.
Why you need to watch: Top of the polls, house at Cameron Indoor, a ranked ACC appointment with a Saturday midday tipoff. Well nicely, Duke is actually Duke-ing proper now. Cameron Boozer continues to shine for Jon Scheyer’s squad. Isaiah Evans lets it fly, taking pictures higher than 41 % on 3s this month.
UVA counters with Belgian breakout Thijs De Ridder. He’s as much as 16 factors per sport with enjoyable outside-in offense:
https://twitter.com/UVAMensHoops/status/2026468922401157597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer
Why you need to watch: Each SEC facet wants a win right here. Kentucky has been a step behind expectation all season, and it took three straight losses earlier than Tuesday’s win at South Carolina. An NCAA Tournament berth isn’t assured. Vanderbilt jumped out of the gate at 16-0, however the Commodores are simply 6-6 of their final dozen video games. Now is the time to tighten the screws.
Why you need to watch: Both groups are on the bracket’s edge and close to the highest of the Mountain West. The Athletic’s Jim Root has the Aztecs and Lobos collectively on bubble watch. San Diego State is 13-4 in convention play, tied with a Utah State workforce that it simply trounced Wednesday. New Mexico is one sport behind at 12-5.
Why you need to watch: This yr’s freshman class is particular, and Kansas-Arizona most definitely delivers on that entrance. The Jayhawks’ Darryn Peterson has drawn fascination for each his top-pick potential and his cryptic cramping points. He’s performed no less than half-hour in back-to-back contests, although.
Meanwhile, the freshman duo of Brayden Burries and Koa Peat has lined the Wildcats up for a Big 12 title, two video games forward of Kansas and three different groups. Peat (leg) hasn’t performed since Feb. 14, however he returned to practice for Arizona on Thursday.
Why you need to watch: These are two of the groups tied for second within the crowded Big 12. Along with Kansas and Houston, Texas Tech and Iowa State sit at 11-4 in convention motion. The guests have gained 5 of six, together with a highway upset of then-No. 1 Arizona. JT Toppin’s ACL tear is an incredible bummer for his Red Raiders, however Christian Anderson is admittedly hooping in his absence.
The hosts lead their convention in takeaways per sport and maintain opponents to modest 42.1/31.8 % taking pictures splits. Cyclone playmakers Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson make area for Milan Momcilovic, who places up 99 percentile offense per Evan Maya.
Why you need to watch: USC is determined. The Trojans have been lodged within the bubble for some time, however they’re falling out quick amid 4 straight Ls. A press release upset would go a good distance in L.A. Pressured March underdogs of their house gymnasium are inclined to make for nice TV. Nebraska performs nasty protection, and the Cornhuskers have gained six of their eight highway tries.
Why you need to watch: These colleges don’t like one another, and their packages are constructing overlapping NCAA Tournament bids. The Lone Star rivals are each “in the mix” in Root’s tourney tiers. As of Thursday, Texas ranks sixth in offensive ranking however 127th on the opposite finish. More balanced A&M claimed the primary assembly, a 74-70 win in Austin.
Why you need to watch: Alabama’s final 5 scoring totals: 100, 90, 117, 89, 93. The Volunteers’ final 5 totals allowed: 73, 65, 66, 63, 64. It’s a high-wire Roll Tide and a rock-fighting Rocky Top in Saturday’s finest model conflict.
Bama’s Labaron Philon Jr., who’s averaging greater than 21 factors per sport on higher than 50 % from the sphere, is anticipated to be again within the lineup after lacking Wednesday’s win over Mississippi State. The Volunteer protection is keen to make a multitude of his clean offense.
Why you need to watch: The head-to-head sequence dates again to 1909, and it’s tied at 67-67 coming into the weekend. Nova head coach Kevin Willard was mentored by the Johnnies’ Rick Pitino when the latter led the Boston Celtics. Willard adopted Pitino to Louisville, too. The earlier Jan. 17 matchup in Philadelphia was a one-point sport at halftime, with the Red Storm in the end successful by seven. Revenge is now on the desk for a redemptive Villanova season.
Why you need to watch: “College GameDay” heads to Gainesville for some Saturday evening merriment. Jay Bilas pulls double obligation, from the studio present with Rece Davis and crew to the published sales space with Dan Shulman and Kris Budden. Florida is 8-2 all-time when featured on ESPN’s flagship program. The Gators are chomping by means of their present eight-game win streak.
Arkansas turns into their highest-ranked opponent on this stretch, and fiery freshman Darius Acuff Jr. can rating in fast order. His 49-point spotlight reel towards Alabama is value a rewatch. Florida is making an attempt to lock in an SEC regular-season title after successful final yr’s convention event and the nationwide championship.
Why you need to watch: What’s a bracket debate with out Ohio State? The Bubbling Buckeyes are in bother after stumbles at Michigan State and Iowa. A top-10 win would flip the vibes, and Jake Diebler’s crew has notched two straight upsets towards the Boilermakers.
But whereas Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. can gentle it up past the arc, holding tempo with Purdue’s environment friendly offense is likely one of the sport’s hardest assessments:
Ticketing and streaming hyperlinks on this article are supplied by companions of The Athletic. Restrictions could apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners haven’t any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of, and don’t assessment tales earlier than publication.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7068903/2026/02/27/michigan-illinois-virginia-duke-kansas-arizona-how-to-watch/
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…