The finest video games of the ultimate weekend of the common season
This is it.
Although convention tournaments will nonetheless influence the NCAA event panorama, it is no secret that — for most colleges — that is the ultimate weekend of the 2022-23 males’s faculty basketball season to impress the choice committee and be referred to as on Selection Sunday.
For the groups on the bubble, a foul loss or a failure to seize a high quality win might ship them to the NIT. For the groups which have already locked up a bid, the weekend is an opportunity to win and keep away from a dangerous first-round matchup in opposition to a gifted or underrated mid-major. And for the groups on the lookout for prime seeds, it is all about strengthening their résumés in order that they play as near house as doable.
Just ask Bill Self.
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
Kansas wrapped up the seventeenth Big 12 regular-season championship of Self’s tenure with its 67-63 win over Texas Tech Red Raiders on Wednesday night time. But defeating the Longhorns would assist the Jayhawks’ pursuit of the No. 1 total seed. That comes with the probably, and favorable, path by way of Des Moines, Iowa, within the first and second rounds, and Kansas City within the Sweet 16 (in the event that they advance). Meanwhile, Texas can strengthen its shot at a 2-seed with a win. Here’s some trivia for you: In NCAA event historical past, 2-seeds are 138-10 within the opening spherical.
Score prediction: Kansas 77, Texas 74
Other regular-season video games to look at
No. 8 Arizona Wildcats (25-5, 14-5 Pac-12) at No. 4 UCLA Bruins (26-4, 17-2 Pac-12)
Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the Bruins have locked up the Pac-12 championship, however a win in opposition to the top-10 Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion would elevate their shot at securing a prime seed on Selection Sunday.
Score prediction: UCLA 79, Arizona 75
Sunday, 12 p.m. ET, CBS
Houston, which has misplaced simply as soon as since Dec. 10, 2022, is chasing the highest total seed. This would be the first time it faces a Memphis group with Kendric Davis, who missed the primary assembly on account of harm.
Score prediction: Houston 75, Memphis 70
Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ACC Network
Jeff Capel has endured a number of obstacles throughout his time at Pitt, however he can full one in every of America’s prime turnarounds — Pitt was 11-21, 6-14 within the ACC final season — and safe a share of the primary ACC title in class historical past (Pitt was within the Big East when it received that league’s title in 2011).
Score prediction: Miami 84, Pitt 78
Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, CBS
Alabama can not seem to keep away from controversy, however the Crimson Tide grabbed the SEC title with their win over Auburn on Wednesday. The Aggies can play their approach right into a safer seed for his or her NCAA opening-round matchup in the event that they discover a strategy to beat the champs.
Score prediction: Alabama 79, Texas A&M 77
Sunday, 12:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Brad Underwood’s program is in higher form than most bubble groups, with wins over UCLA and Texas to assist its trigger. A victory in opposition to the Big Ten champ and potential No. 1 seed would erase any issues.
Score prediction: Purdue 78, Illinois 72
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A 6-11 report in league play would disqualify most groups within the bubble dialog. But West Virginia can preserve its NCAA event hopes if it knocks off Jerome Tang’s crew.
Score prediction: West Virginia 76, Kansas State 73
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
The drama continues for the Vols, who simply misplaced level guard Zakai Zeigler to an ACL tear forward of this matchup in opposition to a squad that hopes to get off the bubble with one other signature win.
Score prediction: Auburn 69, Tennessee 67
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, CBS
Kentucky’s spot within the NCAA event subject will likely be decided by its end. A win over Arkansas — days after a loss to Vanderbilt — might assist in avoiding a harmful 7-10 state of affairs within the opening spherical of the NCAA event.
Score prediction: Kentucky 76, Arkansas 72