Don’t know what the weather may be like where you live, but here in Connecticut we are having a heat wave. Temperatures are surging toward 30 degrees. The wind chill is in the teens, not below zero. Of course, the forecast is for some snow showers. Nothing major, but there’s absolutely no incentive to go outside.
One week before Super Bowl Sunday (or Saturday, or Monday), college basketball is there to keep you warm. No outdoor games. And all you have to do is turn on the TV, settle in with your favorite snacks and beverages, and watch.
Here’s your guide to the games you don’t want to miss (all times ET):
No. 21 Michigan (14-4, 6-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Michigan State (18-1, 7-0), Saturday, 7 p.m., ESPN – I love the atmosphere at the Breslin Center and the place will be rocking Saturday night. This is a great basketball rivalry and suddenly Michigan has gotten hot, so this is for first place in the Big Ten. Michigan’s last loss came to Arizona on Dec. 14. The Wolverines have won eight straight since. Nik Stauskas is averaging 18.5 points and had a little controversy to deal with this week when his father said he was ready for the NBA. The storyline is spicy because Michigan State will not have Adreian Payne or Branden Dawson because of injries. Guard Keith Appling has a wrist sprain and is bruised up, but he will play. Tom Izzo has enough bodies, but the Spartans will miss two of their best players.
Texas (15-4, 4-2 Big 12) at No. 24 Baylor (13-5, 1-4), Saturday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN3 – Rick Barnes has the Longhorns back in contention in the Big 12. Texas has won four straight, the last two against Iowa State and Kansas State. This will be the third straight game against ranked teams, with fourth coming at home against first-place Kansas on Feb. 1. Baylor bombed away from three-point range in Lawrence Monday night, but still fell 78-68 to the Jayhawks. The Bears need this game badly after losing three straight and four of five.
No. 22 Kansas State (14-5, 4-2 Big 12) at No. 16 Iowa State (14-3, 2-3), Saturday, 1:45 p.m., ESPN3 – The Big 12 has seven teams positioned to the go dancing in the NCAA tournament. These are two of them, obviously, but this is a bounce back game for both. Emotions will be high in Hilton Coliseum. K-State is coming off that heartbreaking 67-64 loss at Texas, won by Jonathan Holmes’ 3-pointer at the buzzer. Iowa State was 14-0 heading into Oklahoma on Jan. 11. Now the Cyclones are trying to snap a three-game losing streak. There was no Hilton Magic on Jan. 13 when Kansas won 77-70 in Ames. And after this game with the Wildcats, Iowa State heads to Lawrence on Wednesday for a rematch with the Jayhawks.
Utah (14-5, 3-4 Pac-12) at No. 1 Arizona (19-0, 6-0), Sunday, 8 p.m., FoxSports1 – The intrigue here is obvious. Arizona will be favored to win and move to 20-0 with this game at home in the McKale Center. But the Wildcats now have a target on their back in every game they play – especially in conference games. Arizona can’t get caught looking ahead to Wednesday’s game at Stanford. Arizona has been flawless to this point. The Wildcats have held two of their last three opponents – USC and Colorado – to under 60 points (53 and 57). And offensively, Arizona ranks 13th in the nation in field goal percentage (49.1) and 26th in assists (15.9).
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