AP Top 6
1.Auburn 21-1 (9-0)
2.Gonzaga 18-2 (7-0)
3.UCLA 16-3 (8-2)
4.Purdue 19-3 (8-3)
5.Kentucky 18-4 (7-2)
6.Houston 18-2 (8-0)
Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of AP Poll)
17.Connecticut at. 12.Villanova (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
As Providence and Marquette ascend to the top of the Big East, a struggling Villanova by its standards play host to a Connecticut team having its best season in awhile. Villanova needs this win and should hope to get it. Projected Score: Villanova 74, Connecticut 70
8.Baylor at. 10.Kansas (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ESPN)
A huge match up for first place in the Big 12 takes center stage (maybe behind Duke-Carolina) on a huge weekend of college basketball. Baylor will need to play through guard James Akinjo while Kansas has multiple guys that can beat you. Projected Score: Baylor 80, Kansas 77
7.Arizona at. 19.USC (Saturday, 5 PM ET, FOX)
Following the win over UCLA, Arizona heads from Westwood to USC, where big man Isaiah Mobley has dominated all season. Arizona, led by coach Tommy Lloyd have outplayed everyone’s expectations this season in year one of his tenure. A win for the Wildcats would put them back in the top 3 of the AP Poll and seen as a one seed. Projected Score: Arizona 79, USC 72
9.Duke at. North Carolina (Saturday, 6 PM ET, ESPN)
In Coach K’s final game in Chapel Hill, Duke (8-2) is leading the ACC. North Carolina (8-3) is just a half game behind the Duke and could absolutely ruin Mike’s final time in the Dean Dome by upsetting the Blue Devils. Projected Score: Duke 83, North Carolina 79
5.Kentucky at. Alabama (Saturday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)
Kentucky has been red hot as of late with a tremendous win over Kansas a week ago. They head to Tuscaloosa to face an Alabama team that is one of if not the most inconsistent in the country. The Tide have wins over top fifteen ranked Gonzaga, Houston, and Baylor (last weekend) but losses to Davidson (who is a top 25 team in the country but it’s still not a great loss), Iona, a struggling Memphis team, and SEC bottom dweller Georgia. So, Alabama still could very well upset the Wildcats but it will take everything boxing out Kentucky center Oscar Tshiebwe and containing guards Sahvir Wheeler and Tyty Washington. Projected Score: Kentucky 85, Alabama 74
2.Gonzaga at. BYU (Saturday, 10 PM ET, TBD)
Gonzaga is always tested by BYU and Saturday’s trip to Provo should be no different. Gonzaga will need phenomenal play from National Player of the Year contender Drew Timme if the Bulldogs want to win. Projected Score: Gonzaga 87, BYU 83
