Sports fans who were distracted by other, outdoor sports for the past few months are tuning in to college basketball at the perfect time. We're less than one month until Selection Sunday, and the final sprint to the 2022-23 postseason is officially underway.
It's hard to believe, but the Patriot League and Missouri Valley have only three regular-season games remaining. Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast out of the Atlantic Sun and Oakland and IUPUI in the Horizon League are in the same boat. Colgate has already clinched the regular-season title in the Patriot League.
There's not a night in the rest of 2022-23 with a throwaway slate of games. Whether they impact the regular-season title race, the bubble picture or the potential top seeds in the NCAA tournament, every night the rest of the way has important games.
We're here to guide you through the rest of the college basketball calendar, highlighting one game per night -- and a few extra ones along the way.
Thursday, Feb. 16
Liberty Flames at Kennesaw State Owls (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
The top two teams in the ASUN square off. Liberty has won three of the past four conference tournaments and is 62-13 in league play over the past five seasons. Amir Abdur-Rahim has done a fantastic job at Kennesaw, guiding the Owls to a 12-2 conference record. They have never finished above .500 in conference play since moving to Division I.
It's also worth monitoring Purdue's trip to Maryland. The Boilermakers are still a rock-solid 1-seed, but they have lost two of their past three games, and now go on the road to face a Terrapins squad which has won five of its past six.
Friday, Feb. 17
Yale Bulldogs at Pennsylvania Quakers (7 p.m. ET, ESPNews/ESPN+)
This weekend could decide the Ivy League title. Yale is tied with Princeton for first in the standings, with Penn and Brown one game back. This weekend, Yale travels to Penn on Friday, and Princeton on Saturday. A road sweep, and the title's likely headed to New Haven. The Bulldogs won their first meetings with both this season.
Saturday, Feb. 18
Baylor Bears at Kansas Jayhawks (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Baylor, Kansas and Texas are tied 9-4 atop the Big 12 standings, with the Bears and Jayhawks currently playing arguably the best basketball in the conference. And the past two national champions meet Saturday to see who will get the edge for the regular-season title. Baylor has won 10 of 11, Kansas five of six.
Two other games: Nevada travels to Utah State in an attempt to solidify its Mountain West title credentials, while a desperate Kentucky team hopes to complete the season sweep of Tennessee.
Sunday, Feb. 19
North Carolina Tar Heels at NC State Wolfpack (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Speaking of desperate, North Carolina has lost four of its past five games and is careening toward the wrong side of the bubble. The Tar Heels need to right the ship and get a win on the road, where they're just 2-6 this season. NC State has lost two of three and needs a win to stay in the top-25 picture.
Monday, Feb. 20
Kansas Jayhawks at TCU Horned Frogs (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
We didn't want to repeat a team so quickly, but the Jayhawks are out for revenge after the Frogs came to Lawrence in mid-January and dominated from start to finish en route to an 83-60 drubbing. TCU hasn't been the same team since, though, and badly needs a fully healthy Mike Miles Jr. and Eddie Lampkin Jr.
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Marquette Golden Eagles at Creighton Bluejays (8:30 p.m. ET)
These are two of the four teams in contention for the Big East regular-season title, along with Xavier and Providence. Marquette was picked ninth in the league in the preseason, while preseason favorite Creighton had won eight in a row before a double-overtime loss at Providence on Tuesday. Marquette won the first meeting with Greg McDermott's squad -- but that came while Bluejays big man Ryan Kalkbrenner was sidelined.
Wednesday, Feb. 22
New Mexico Lobos at Boise State Broncos (10:30 p.m. ET)
The Mountain West is shaping up to receive anywhere from one to five bids on Selection Sunday. It's likely a second team will separate enough to get a definitive second bid, but right now it's unclear which team will get that distinction. This game could help clarify the situation. New Mexico has fallen off dramatically in the past few weeks and needs to beat Boise and San Diego State to have a chance. The Broncos just need to keep winning. Other than this one, Providence's trip to UConn should be must-watch TV.
Thursday, Feb. 23
UCLA Bruins at Utah Utes (10:30 p.m. ET)
UCLA has the edge in the Pac-12 title race, up two games in the loss column on Arizona, despite the Wildcats owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. Utah could be a tricky opponent, though, especially on the road. The Utes are very good defensively and have an incredible amount of size to cause issues at the other end. A UCLA loss here would open the door for Tommy Lloyd's crew.
Friday, Feb. 24
Siena Saints at Rider Broncs (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU/ESPN+)
The MAAC regular-season race should be fantastic down the stretch. Iona and Rider are currently tied at 11-3, with Siena a half-game back at 11-4. This is also the first of three head-to-head matchups between the three teams. Iona hosts Siena on Feb. 26, then the Gaels head to Rider on March 4.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Saint Mary's Gaels at Gonzaga Bulldogs (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
It's a loaded Saturday, but if forced to pick a game, this one could hold the most value. The Gaels have a one-game lead on Gonzaga in the WCC. If it holds, it would be the first time in a decade the Zags didn't win at least a share of the regular-season title. Other games to watch: Texas at Baylor in a Big 12 title matchup, Indiana at Purdue in a battle between the two best players in the country this season, and Virginia at North Carolina in a game that could decide the ACC title and the Tar Heels' at-large hopes.
Sunday, Feb. 26
Drake Bulldogs at Bradley Braves (2 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Both teams shook off inconsistent starts to the season to position themselves for the Missouri Valley regular-season title. Drake won seven in a row entering Wednesday night, while Bradley had rattled off six wins in a row. Tucker DeVries had 28 points in the first meeting between the two teams, which Drake won by 25.
Monday, Feb. 27
Montana State Bobcats at Eastern Washington Eagles (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Eastern Washington currently owns the nation's longest active winning streak, with 15 victories in a row entering Thursday night. David Riley has done a fantastic job this season with the Eagles. But they're not quite over the line yet, with Montana State only two games back in the standings. The first meeting of the season between the two was decided by just three points.
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Arkansas Razorbacks at Tennessee Volunteers (9 p.m. ET)
There's a lot going on with this game. By the time this one rolls around, Razorbacks star freshman Nick Smith Jr. should be reacclimated to the college game, and we should be able to see him in some sort of rhythm. Meanwhile, Tennessee went from pushing for a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament to being completely out of the SEC title race. Is either team poised for a run in March? San Diego State's trip to Boise State is another intriguing game on the day.
Wednesday, March 1
Xavier Musketeers at Providence Friars (6:30 p.m. ET)
I mentioned earlier the other two teams in the four-way Big East title race. This time, it's the Musketeers and Friars going head-to-head. Providence's double-overtime win over Creighton has kept the Friars in the hunt, but they likely can't afford another slipup. Xavier won the first meeting with Ed Cooley's team by two in overtime but has also been inconsistent since winning 11 in a row.
Thursday, March 2
Arizona Wildcats at USC Trojans (TBD)
This game could have an enormous impact on the Pac-12 title race as well as USC's NCAA tournament hopes. The Wildcats' propensity to lose to inferior opponents has allowed UCLA to take control of the conference race, but they're not out of the mix. Meanwhile, USC getting swept last week by the Oregon schools has left the Trojans in a perilous position on the bubble. Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Arizona State travels to UCLA in what would be a huge opportunity for the Sun Devils.
Friday, March 3
Akron Zips at Kent State Golden Flashes, Toledo Rockets at Ball State Cardinals (7 p.m. ET, ESPN3)
Keep the MAC in mind when filling out your brackets. Kent State and Toledo are tied for first, with Akron and Ball State right behind them. Kent State might be the best-equipped team to win a tournament game, but Toledo has won 10 in a row, Akron took UCLA to the wire in last year's dance and Mike Lewis has done one of the best first-year coaching jobs in the country at Ball State. One other game to watch: Dayton at Saint Louis, a matchup of the two Atlantic 10 preseason favorites.
Saturday, March 4
Alabama Crimson Tide at Texas A&M Aggies (12 p.m. ET), Pittsburgh Panthers at Miami Hurricanes (6 p.m. ET, ACCN), Arizona Wildcats at UCLA Bruins (10 p.m. ET, ESPN), Kansas Jayhawks at Texas Longhorns (TBD)
I didn't even attempt to pick a single game. There's a nonzero chance four of the six power conferences could be decided by head-to-head battles in the season finale. Pitt's atop the ACC right now, with Miami a half-game back. Virginia will have something to say, but the Panthers are in the driver's seat. Arizona and UCLA are the clear-cut two best teams in the Pac-12, while Texas A&M is the only SEC team within touching distance of Alabama in the SEC standings. And in the Big 12, Kansas and Texas are two of the three teams tied for first.
I'll sneak a few more in, too: Duke at North Carolina and Kentucky at Arkansas. Could those be must-wins for the Tar Heels and Wildcats, respectively?
Sunday, March 5
Houston Cougars at Memphis Tigers (12 p.m. ET)
Annually the most intriguing game on the final day of the regular season. Houston should comfortably win the American Athletic Conference this season, but Memphis is the league's only other hope for an at-large bid. The Tigers are on the right side of the bubble for now, thanks to wins over Auburn and Texas A&M. A victory here could ease some of the pressure heading into the conference tournament and Selection Sunday.