2020-2021 cbhsports College Basketball Weekend Preview: Big Ten, Big 12 battles headline weekend (2/26/21-2/28/21)

AP Top 10 entering weekend:

1.Gonzaga 23-0 Next: Loyola Marymount (2/27)

2.Baylor 18-0 Next: at.17.Kansas (2/27)

3.Michigan 17-1 Next: Indiana (2/27)

4.Ohio State 18-6 Next: 9.Iowa (2/28)

5. Illinois 17-6 Next: at.23.Wisconsin (2/27)

6.Alabama 18-6 Next: at.Mississippi State (2/27)

7.Oklahoma 14-6 Next: Oklahoma State (2/27)

8.Villanova 15-3 Next: at.Butler (2/28)

9.Iowa 17-7 Next: at.4.Ohio State (2/28)

10.West Virginia 16-6 Next: Kansas State (2/27)

Key games this weekend:

Southern Illinois at. 21.Loyola Chicago (Friday, 9 PM ET, CBSSN)

Our last memories of the Ramblers was their run to the Final Four in 2018. Now, the Ramblers are well into the projected field according to Joe Lunardi, as a nine seed. Loyola needs to keep winning to stay with Drake at the top of the Missouri Valley standings and an at-large NCAA Tournament bid if they are not able to win the MVC Tournament. So, a win here is important. Projected Score: Loyola-Chicago 77, Southern Illinois 60

14.Texas at. 18.Texas Tech (Saturday, 12 PM ET, CBS)

A big matchup on CBS for both of the Lone Star state rivals. Texas, since coming off of pause is 3-4. Texas Tech has lost three consecutive games against ranked opponents. Something will give here. Which star guard will step up for his team? Mac McClung for Tech, Andrew Jones for Texas. Projected Score: Texas 81, Texas Tech 77

25.Tennessee at. Auburn (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)

Since a Saturday loss to Kentucky a week ago, Tennessee crushed their instate Vanderbilt rivals on Wednesday. This could be a trap game for the Vols, however, I believe projected lottery pick Sharife Cooper will not be able to get Auburn a win in this one. Projected Score: Tennessee 84, Auburn 70

3.Michigan at. Indiana (Saturday, 1 PM ET, FOX)

Michigan is red-hot off of their pause with wins over ranked Wisconsin and top ten ranked Ohio State and Iowa. Indiana big man Trayce Jackson-Davis is a big part of why Indiana is in the NCAA Tournament hunt. But, Michigan is playing too well right now, led by freshman big man Hunter Dickinson. Projected Score: Michigan 87, Indiana 80

LSU at. 20.Arkansas (Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN2)

Arkansas is the hottest team in the country. As simple as that. Arkansas lost by 16 to the Tigers in Baton Rouge on January 13. It will be different in Fayetteville tomorrow. The play of gritty point guard Davonte Davis, consistency of potential SEC player of the year Moses Moody, and the awesome play of Indiana grad transfer Justin Smith, has led to Arkansas’ eight wins in their last nine. Arkansas is 17-2 at full strength. If I am LSU, the play of potential SEC player of the year Cam Thomas and guard Javonte Smart will be big in if LSU can end Arkansas’ hot streak. Projected Score: Arkansas 86, LSU 83

5.Illinois at. 23.Wisconsin (Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN)

Illinois will be without potential All-American point guard Ayo Dosunmo for a second consecutive game. Dosunmo broke his nose in Tuesday’s loss to Michigan State, but the Illini rebounded with a win over Big Ten bottom feeder Nebraska on Thursday. An even tougher challenge awaits the Illini when they face Wisconsin in Madison on Saturday afternoon. Senior guard D’Mtrick Trice (13.5 PPG) leads the Badgers in scoring. The Badgers (16-8, 10-7 Big Ten) are apart of a loaded Big Ten with losses to 3.Michigan and 9.Iowa in their last two games. Projected Score: Illinois 87, Wisconsin 75

Oklahoma State at. 7.Oklahoma (Saturday, 3 PM ET, ABC)

This will be the first of a two game series for the two this season after their first match up, set for January 16 in Stillwater, was postponed. The next will be played just two days after this one, on Monday in Stillwater (9 PM ET, ESPN). Oklahoma has been on and off during Big 12 play this season. Wins over 17.Kansas, 14.Texas, 10.West Virginia, and more. Losses to 17.Kansas (Split), 18.Texas Tech (sweep), and Kansas State on Tuesday loom large. Just a single game remains for the Sooners after that, a make-up date at home versus Texas on March 4. For Oklahoma State, a win in the SEC-Big 12 challenge over Arkansas might have become one of if not the most important wins on the team’s resume. Since the win at home over the Razorbacks, the team, despite dropping the next game in Fort Worth against TCU, has beaten 14.Texas, 17.Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and 18.Texas Tech to clearly assert itself as a team that should be in the NCAA Tournament. Led by the projected number one pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, 6’8 point guard Cade Cunningham (18.7 PPG, 3.6 APG), Oklahoma State should not be taken lightly by the Sooners. It is fully expected that these two will split their season series in the upcoming three days, but what you read next is who I will pick tomorrow. Projected Score: Oklahoma 82, Oklahoma State 77

Kansas State at. 10.West Virginia (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ESPN2)

West Virginia is as hot as any team in the country right now with wins over top fifteen 7.Oklahoma (Feb. 13) and 14.Texas (Feb. 20). Derek Culver (15.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG) leads the Mountaineers at home against Big 12 bottom dweller Kansas State. Should be an easy win for the boys from Morgantown. Projected Score: West Virginia 89, Kansas State 71

2.Baylor at. 17.Kansas (Saturday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)

Baylor (18-0, 10-0 Big 12) needed a lot of help to beat Iowa State, a team in the bottom of the Big 12 coming off of a long COVID-19 pause. Starting with the 17.Kansas game on Saturday, the Bears begin a tough four game stretch with the aforementioned Jayhawks, on Tuesday at 10.West Virginia, on Thursday versus Oklahoma State, and on Sunday in Waco versus 18.Texas Tech. Kansas fell out of the top 25 for the first time since 2008 two weeks ago. The Jayhawks went on a five game winning streak after falling out of the rankings with wins over Oklahoma State, two wins over Iowa State, and back home versus 18.Texas Tech. Bill Self’s team lost for the first time since February 6 in a Tuesday affair in Austin against 14.Texas. So, in Lawrence, Kansas could have the edge in a huge Saturday night game in Lawrence. Projected Score: Baylor 75, Kansas 74

Loyola Marymount at. 1.Gonzaga (Saturday, 10 PM ET, ESPN)

Gonzaga should pick up another easy West Coast conference win and stay hot headed into the West Coast Conference Tournament. Projected Score: Gonzaga 86, Loyola Marymount 65

8.Villanova at. Butler (Sunday, 12 PM ET, CBS)

Villanova crushed Butler on December 16 in Philadelphia. It should be no different in Indianapolis on February 28. Projected Score: Villanova 85, Butler 67

South Florida at. 12.Houston (Sunday, 4 PM ET, TBD)

After the loss to Wichita State, Houston beat Western Kentucky, in a non conference game that was scheduled at the beginning of the week. Houston should get a win using the awesome offensive ability of Kansas transfer Quentin Grimes. Projected Score: Houston 87, South Florida 72

9.Iowa at. 4.Ohio State (Sunday, 4 PM ET, TBD)

Iowa had a four game winning streak before a loss on Thursday to Michigan. Even so, Iowa big man Luka Garza is en route to a national player of the year and a scoring title. Ohio State is on a two game losing streak, losing to Michigan on Sunday and Michigan State on Thursday. The winner of this game should be on a good road to securing a number one seed. Projected Score: Ohio State 87, Iowa 84