The sprint to Selection Sunday has officially commenced.
With the Super Bowl behind us, the focus of the American sports world is now on the hardwood. There are only 33 days until the men's and women's NCAA tournament brackets are revealed and less than eight weeks until champions are crowned. The regular season is winding down across the country; some conferences have only five or six games to play before conference tournaments begin. Men's teams such as McNeese State (Southland) and Southern (SWAC) are not far from clinching regular-season titles with three-game leads heading into this final stretch.
There isn't a single night left of the 2024-25 men's college basketball regular season without at least one meaningful contest. Even the lighter slates still feature games that will impact NCAA tournament seeding, regular-season championship races and the all-important bubble.
If you're looking to catch up and lock in on college basketball, we're here to guide you through the rest of the regular-season calendar, highlighting one game per night -- plus a few extras to keep things interesting.
All times are Eastern.
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Tennessee Volunteers at Kentucky Wildcats (7 p.m., ESPN)
Tennessee has righted the ship since losing two in a row in late January, including a home defeat to Kentucky. Can the Wildcats complete the season sweep in this Sonic Blockbuster matchup? Mark Pope's team had lost four of five but bounced back with a win over South Carolina last weekend. More importantly, it looked competent defensively, which it hadn't been in weeks. The Zakai Zeigler-Lamont Butler point guard matchup will be key.
Purdue at Michigan will have massive implications for the Big Ten race, too.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Chattanooga Mocs at Samford Bulldogs (7:30 p.m., ESPN+)
The SoCon has annually produced an intriguing double-digit NCAA tournament seed that inevitably ends up a popular upset pick. Samford and Chattanooga are two of the three teams tied atop the SoCon standings, with coach Bucky McMillan hoping to lead his Bulldogs to their second straight NCAA tournament appearance. They won the first meeting of the season against the Mocs 73-69 on the road.
Two more games to monitor: Oklahoma at Missouri and Arizona State at Texas Tech. The Sooners need a win for their at-large hopes, while the Sun Devils desperately need a marquee win to bolster their profile.
Thursday, Feb. 13
Maryland Terrapins at Nebraska Cornhuskers (8:30 p.m., Big Ten Network)
While this slate isn't loaded with high-level games, the Terrapins traveling to face a Cornhuskers team that has turned its season around and played into NCAA tournament consideration is intriguing. Nebraska owns wins over Illinois, UCLA and Creighton, while Maryland was playing its best basketball of the season until a narrow loss at Ohio State last week. Can Brice Williams continue his fantastic run of form?
Friday, Feb. 14
UCLA Bruins at Indiana Hoosiers (8 p.m., FOX)
It has been a tumultuous few weeks -- a tumultuous 16 months, really -- for Indiana, with Mike Woodson announcing he's stepping down at the end of the season amid a five-game losing streak. Can the Hoosiers get it together at home against UCLA? Mick Cronin's team has completely flipped its season, following a four-game losing streak with a seven-game winning streak.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Auburn Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide (4 p.m., ESPN)
Could it be any other game? The first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in SEC basketball history, per ESPN Research. The two teams tied atop the standings in the best league in the country. Oh, and it's an in-state rivalry game. This has the potential to be one of the best games of the season, with two elite offenses trading baskets. The key could be whether Alabama can take care of the ball and not let Auburn get going in transition -- and whether one of the nation's best paint defenses can slow down Alabama's incredibly efficient 2-point offense.
Houston at Arizona would be the premier game on nearly any other day this season. And there are three more intriguing mid-major games to watch: Princeton at Yale, Omaha at St. Thomas and Troy at Arkansas State.
Sunday, Feb. 16
Utah State Aggies at New Mexico Lobos (4 p.m., CBS Sports Network)
The first meeting between the two best teams in the Mountain West turned out to be a dud, with New Mexico winning by 18 on the road. The Lobos still hold a one-game lead on the Aggies and could virtually clinch the league -- and boost their at-large hopes -- by completing the season sweep. Jerrod Calhoun's team did a good job on Donovan Dent the first time around, but it didn't end up making a difference; it will be tough to hold him down again.
Creighton at St. John's is quietly a battle between the top two teams in the Big East standings.
Monday, Feb. 17
Arizona Wildcats at Baylor Bears (10 p.m., ESPN)
Baylor hasn't quite lived up to the preseason top-10 hype, but the Bears are finally getting healthy and could still win games in March. And now it has a chance at another statement win with Arizona coming to town. The Wildcats started the season 4-5 but have since won 13 of their past 14 games, including Saturday's win over Texas Tech. This one should feature elite guard play.
By the way, if you want to get eyes on Will Wade's latest potential March sleeper, you should catch McNeese at Southeastern Louisiana.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan State Spartans (7 p.m., Peacock)
Michigan State had a two-game lead in the loss column on Purdue, but the Spartans dropped both games in Los Angeles to open February, and now there are three teams atop the Big Ten standings with two losses -- Purdue and Michigan State among them. The Boilermakers are playing fantastic basketball over the past six weeks, winning 11 of their past 12 games, but East Lansing is going to be rocking for this one, which features arguably the best inside-outside duo in the country against maybe the deepest team.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Alabama Crimson Tide at Missouri Tigers (9 p.m., SEC Network)
Does Missouri have another upset up its sleeve? The Tigers have already knocked off Florida and Kansas, although back-to-back close losses have taken some of the glitter off their résumé. It will be a fascinating matchup between the SEC's best 3-point shooting team and its best 3-point defense.
Gonzaga at Washington State is also one to watch. The Zags aren't an NCAA tournament lock, and another WCC loss could make things awfully dicey down the stretch.
Thursday, Feb. 20
USC Trojans at Maryland Terrapins (8:30 p.m., FOX Sports 1)
This one is more about USC than Maryland. Eric Musselman's team has work to do to get on the right side of the bubble. While wins over Illinois and Michigan State do provide some heft to the Trojans' résumé, they need more -- and a road win in College Park would do the trick.
On the mid-major front, there are a couple interesting games on this slate: Bryant at Vermont and North Alabama at Lipscomb. Vermont has won at least a share of the America East title in each of the past eight seasons. This season, Bryant is in first -- and a road win at Vermont would make a statement. Meanwhile, North Alabama and Lipscomb are among four teams tied for first in the ASUN.
Friday, Feb. 21
Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Wolverines (8 p.m., FOX)
This is the third of three games over a 10-day span that could decide the Big Ten title. Purdue's trip to Michigan was the first, its visit to Michigan State the second, and the in-state battle between Michigan and Michigan State is the third. The Spartans and Wolverines will face off again in the regular-season finale, but the winner of this first meeting could get a leg up in the standings. The key will be Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin against the conference's best interior defense and rebounding team.
Saturday, Feb. 22
Tennessee Volunteers at Texas A&M Aggies (12 p.m., ESPN)
Iowa State Cyclones at Houston Cougars (2 p.m., ESPN)
It's a loaded day, and I can't pick between these two. Texas A&M has quietly played itself into the conversation for a top-two seed with an incredible collection of wins away from home, while Tennessee is still in the 1-seed discussion. Meanwhile, Iowa State and Houston are two of the elite defensive teams in the country and have legitimate Final Four hopes.
There's also Duke vs. Illinois at Madison Square Garden and Saint Mary's at Gonzaga when it comes to marquee games, and George Mason at VCU and Cal Baptist at Grand Canyon among the meaningful mid-major tilts.
Sunday, Feb. 23
UConn Huskies at St. John's Red Storm (12 p.m., FOX)
A rematch of an early-February showdown in Storrs -- nothing quite like a rivalry game at Madison Square Garden, or Storrs South, as UConn fans call it. The Red Storm control their own destiny for the Big East title, ranking inside the AP top 10 for the first time in 25 years. Meanwhile, UConn isn't done chasing its third consecutive national championship, and freshman star Liam McNeeley should be healthier by this point.
Monday, Feb. 24
Houston Cougars at Texas Tech Red Raiders (9 p.m., ESPN)
The first meeting between these teams was a classic, with Texas Tech pulling off one of the best wins of the season. This time around, the Red Raiders should have star forward JT Toppin and head coach Grant McCasland for more than four minutes. The Cougars going through a grinder against Iowa State about 50 hours before this game tips off won't be easy.
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Florida Gators at Georgia Bulldogs (7 p.m., SEC Network)
There's no marquee game on the docket for this day, but Georgia could be trending toward the cutline by this point -- and getting a chance to beat a top-10 team at home could give it an opportunity to boost its profile. Mike White's team started off 14-2 with wins over St. John's and Kentucky but has since lost six of its past eight games.
Other games to watch: Mississippi State at Alabama, Baylor at Cincinnati, New Mexico at San Diego State and Gonzaga at Santa Clara.
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Michigan State Spartans at Maryland Terrapins (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network)
Ole Miss Rebels at Auburn Tigers (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Both games should impact these conference championship races, with Maryland and Ole Miss looking to boost their seeding come Selection Sunday. Auburn won the first meeting against Ole Miss by 10 in Oxford, but Chris Beard's team is tough and experienced and won't wilt on the road.
There's also a bubble battle on the slate with Texas at Arkansas, while Vanderbilt at Texas A&M and Kentucky at Oklahoma offer marquee-win opportunities.
Thursday, Feb. 27
William & Mary Tribe at Towson Tigers (7 p.m., FloSports)
UC San Diego Tritons at Cal State Northridge Matadors (10 p.m., ESPN+)
It's not a busy night in the sport, if you couldn't tell by these selections. Towson is atop the CAA standings, and the Tigers are done facing UNC Wilmington and Charleston for the regular season. William & Mary has lost two in a row to drop out of the title race, but it's still a tough game.
Out west, UC San Diego forged a tie for first in the Big West standings by beating UC Irvine on the road Saturday -- but Northridge is only two games back after winning four in a row.
Friday, Feb. 28
UCLA Bruins at Purdue Boilermakers (8 p.m., FOX)
This is the only meeting between the teams this season, but it should be a good one. UCLA has really tightened up on the defensive end and will have to be at its best to slow down Braden Smith. This is likely to be a must-win for the Boilermakers if they want to win the Big Ten regular-season title, while the Bruins should be playing for NCAA tournament seeding -- and a potential top-four finish in the conference.
Saturday, March 1
Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee Volunteers (1 p.m., ABC)
Another weekend, another potential top-five matchup in the SEC. This is the first of three top-five matchups to finish the season for the Crimson Tide, with Florida and Auburn still to go before the SEC tournament. This is going to be the SEC's best offense against its best defense. Can Zakai Zeigler (or Jahmai Mashack) disrupt Mark Sears at the point of attack? Do the Vols have the firepower to keep up on the offensive end? Those will be the keys to this matchup.
This Saturday is a monster. Texas Tech at Kansas, Auburn at Kentucky, Texas A&M at Florida and Arizona at Iowa State are all on the schedule.
Sunday, March 2
Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan State Spartans (1:30 p.m., CBS)
Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Wolverines (3:45 p.m., CBS)
More Big Ten title implications with this one. The Badgers have won 11 of their past 13 games and continue to move toward a top-four seed in the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, the Illini are hoping to develop some consistency after going 4-5 over their most recent nine games, with a brutal schedule coming up. Can either team play spoiler on the road in early March?
Two more games to monitor: Memphis at UAB and Quinnipiac at Merrimack. The former will be Memphis' toughest game remaining in the regular season, while the latter is a matchup between the top two teams in the MAAC.
Monday, March 3
Kansas Jayhawks at Houston Cougars (9 p.m., ESPN)
Many fans will remember the first meeting between these teams: Kansas led by six with 70 seconds left in regulation before Houston sent the game to overtime. The Jayhawks then led by six with 10 seconds left in overtime before the Cougars sent the game to double overtime to win it. A repeat seems unlikely, not only because the ending to the first matchup was so improbable, but because Kansas desperately needs to figure out its issues on the road.
Tuesday, March 4
Auburn Tigers at Texas A&M Aggies (TBD, ESPN2)
One of the best offenses in the country against one of the best defenses in the country. Texas A&M wants to dominate the glass at both ends, force turnovers and make teams play a rough-and-tumble 40 minutes. Meanwhile, Auburn will look to establish Johni Broome on the block and force the Aggies to score in the half court. This one could come down to whether A&M can have its way on the offensive glass.
With Auburn and Duke both losing Saturday, the nation's longest winning streak now belongs to Akron. The Zips are 10-0 in the MAC, so Akron at Toledo is also worth monitoring.
Wednesday, March 5
Florida Gators at Alabama Crimson Tide (7 p.m., ESPN2)
If you want points, this is the game for you. Florida and Alabama are two of the top five offenses in the country, capable of putting up 90-100 points on any given night. Walter Clayton Jr. and Mark Sears will likely find themselves on All-America teams at the end of the season, but which teams' bigs will come through in this one? Grant Nelson has more experience, but Alex Condon has been terrific lately.
Three more with big-time implications for Selection Sunday: Maryland at Michigan, Marquette at UConn and Tennessee at Ole Miss.
Thursday, March 6
Michigan State Spartans at Iowa Hawkeyes (8 p.m., FOX Sports 1)
It's a light slate, especially when it comes to high-major programs, so we'll go with Michigan State's trip to Iowa in what will be a must-win for the Spartans ahead of their home game against Michigan on the final day of the regular season. Iowa has fallen apart in Big Ten play, with one of the worst defenses at the power-conference level and an injury to Owen Freeman, the Hawkeyes' best player.
Friday, March 7
Purdue Boilermakers at Illinois Fighting Illini (8 p.m., FOX)
This is the regular-season finale for both teams. There is some real intrigue all over the court, starting with the point guard battle between Purdue's Braden Smith and Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis. Smith has been playing at an incredibly high level for a couple months and looks like the best guard in the country. The Illini have the best 2-point defense in the Big Ten, while the Boilermakers shoot a league-best 59.2% inside the arc. Can Illinois make enough 3s? That will be the key.
Saturday, March 8
Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers (2 p.m., ESPN)
This one could ultimately decide the SEC's regular-season champion -- and could even have implications for the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Alabama has games against Auburn, Tennessee and Florida before this one, while Auburn has to go to Alabama and Texas A&M over the final month.
Of course, Duke at North Carolina is worth mentioning. Arizona at Kansas and St. John's at Marquette are also marquee showdowns, while the first NCAA tournament ticket will be punched in the Ohio Valley championship game.
Sunday, March 9
Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans (12 p.m., CBS)
Michigan State faces a gauntlet over the final month of the season, while Michigan has Illinois and Maryland in the seven days before the regular-season finale. Both teams are currently 10-2 in conference play, tied in the loss column and a half-game behind Purdue for first place in the Big Ten standings.
Four more bids will be given out this day in the Big South, ASUN, Missouri Valley and Summit League championship games. Drake will likely be the team to watch. The Bulldogs are 22-2 but could find themselves in bubble trouble if they don't win the Missouri Valley's automatic bid.