With just over one week left in the regular season, conference races are going down to the wire. Saturday is the first big day of games in March and there will be some amazing games as teams are desperate to win.
Here are the most important games this weekend.
Saturday, March 2: No. 24 Florida at No. 18 South Carolina; Noon ET on ESPN
Florida and South Carolina have been surprising teams in conference play. They're both in the top four in the SEC standings and they've taken down the best teams in the conference.
Each team is projected to make the NCAA tournament so this game might matter more for the SEC standings.
Saturday, March 2: No. 7 Kansas at No. 15 Baylor; 1 p.m. ET on ABC
Kansas will travel to Baylor and both teams have been better at home versus on the road, so Baylor has the advantage there. Kansas, especially, has struggled on the road and the Jayhawks even lost their last game at home. That's bad news, especially with a tough game like this coming up.
Given the talent on the floor with Baylor's Ja’Kobe Walter, RayJ Dennis and Yves Missi facing Kansas’s Hunter Dickinson, Kevin McCullar and K.J. Adams, it should be a fun matchup.
Saturday, March 2: No. 13 Illinois at Wisconsin; 1 p.m. ET on BTN
This game is particularly important for Wisconsin, which has really struggled as of late. The Badgers have lost six out of their last eight games, causing them to drop not only in the Big Ten standings but in the projected NCAA tournament field as well.
This game is a golden opportunity for Wisconsin to get back on track. Illinois has had its fair share of disappointments on the road and a win in Madison is critical to solidify its status as a projected top-four seed in the NCAA tournament.
Saturday, March 2: No. 5 Marquette at No. 12 Creighton; 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX
The potential game of the weekend will take place in Omaha as Creighton plays host to Marquette. Both teams have hit their stride at the right time. Marquette has won 12 of its last 13 games with the one loss coming to UConn on the road.
The Huskies have seemed mostly invincible lately but Creighton was the most recent team to take down the defending national champs, showing how talented the Bluejays are. With Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander, they boast a star-studded roster that could beat anyone on the right night.
Saturday, March 2: No. 4 Tennessee at No. 14 Alabama; 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Tennessee and Alabama are tied atop the SEC standings so this game could decide which team takes home the regular-season conference championship. The Crimson Tide, which features Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and Aaron Estrada as its stars, may be the best-scoring team in the nation. A big factor will be whether the Alabama defense can stop Tennessee's Dalton Knecht, or at least limit him to just a good game instead of the incredible performances he has had recently.
Saturday, March 2: No. 1 Houston at Oklahoma; 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Oklahoma has been sliding recently and it's in desperate need of a big win. It'll have the opportunity against top-ranked Houston. The Cougars are favored, and for good reason. The Cougars lead the Big 12 standings.
Saturday, March 2: No. 23 Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s; 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
The Saturday nightcap is the West Coast Conference's premier rivalry: Gonzaga versus Saint Mary’s. This matchup will take place at the home of the Gaels, where they’ve recently had success against the Zags.
There’s so much on the line in this one. At the moment, Gonzaga isn't safe as an at-large team for the NCAA tournament. A win here would bolster its resume, while a loss would mean the Zags have to win the WCC tournament to guarantee a tournament berth.
Saint Mary’s has already clinched the WCC regular-season title but another big win could improve the Gaels' seed lines for the NCAA tournament.
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