A blockbuster Saturday in men’s college basketball features not one but two top-five showdowns on a loaded schedule. One is a key clash for first place in the ultra-competitive Big 12. The other is a made-for-TV neutral site affair, a rarity for this late juncture of the season.
The fifth- and sixth-ranked teams in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll also face road tests in the;ir respective conferences. But before we get to those, we’ll begin with an in-state showdown in the SEC.
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Here’s this week’s Starting Five, your viewers’ guide to help you plan your day as March draws ever closer.
Tennessee at No. 18 Vanderbilt
Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
Both teams are comfortably in the upper quadrant of the SEC and the NCAA field, and the winner here will gain a leg up in top-16 seed consideration. The Volunteers have won their last seven games against opponents not named Kentucky, but the Commodores could use a good result on their home court to offset a couple recent losses. Nate Ament has been on a scoring tear of late for Tennessee, while Vandy’s Tyler Tanner has had to take on even more of the load with Duke Miles still working his way back from a knee injury.
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No. 4 Arizona at No. 2 Houston
Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, ABC.
The Wildcats got back in the win column following a rare two-game skid, but life in the Big 12 gets no easier with this road challenge. The Cougars, upended themselves at Iowa State earlier in the week, are happy to be back at home. Houston will try to get clean looks early on for long-range marksmen Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp, not an easy task against Arizona’s deep perimeter lineup. The Wildcats will still be without Koa Peat, sidelined with a leg muscle strain, but Ivan Kharchenkov’s increased production near the rim has helped the team compensate.
No. 5 Connecticut at Villanova
Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, TNT
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UConn’s quest for a No. 1 seed isn’t over by any means, but Wednesday night’s loss to a down Creighton squad significantly reduced the Huskies’ margin for error. That is of little concern for the Wildcats, who look to avenge their overtime loss at UConn and nudge themselves further into safe territory in the at-large pool. Villanova’s three-point shooting can be streaky, but Tyler Perkins and Co. must make the most of their limited openings against the Huskies’ tenacious defense. Any of UConn’s starters can put up big point totals, with Solo Ball usually leading the way, but the Huskies’ bench isn’t as deep as its recent national title squads.
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 3 Duke
Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
For what it’s worth, this prime-time tilt at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., will likely determine the No. 1 team in the polls for at least the coming week. Of perhaps greater import, it will also likely serve as a strong datapoint for the committee when the top overall seed is determined. The Blue Devils might have the edge in star power thanks to the presence of Cameron Boozer, but beyond him and guard Isaiah Evans the Duke offense can struggle for reliable options at times. The Wolverines have more balance, but generating from the inside through Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson is the key to unlocking all their weapons.
Duke center Patrick Ngongba II (21) dribbles against the defense of Syracuse forward William Kyle (42) during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
No. 6 Iowa State at No. 22 Brigham Young
Time/TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.
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With another high-profile home triumph under their collective belt, the Cyclones must now demonstrate they can beat good teams in hostile environs. BYU, which was already trending in the wrong direction even before Richie Saunders was lost to a season-ending knee injury, now desperately needs something good to happen. Having a next-level talent like AJ Dybantsa on the floor always gives the Cougars a chance, of course, but Iowa State has more options and an experienced hand at the point in the person of Tamin Lipsey.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball games of weekend include Duke-Michigan showdown
