Image Courtesy: Spectrum News 13
February 10
TCU (16-6) @ 14.Iowa State (17-5)
2 PM ET, ESPN2
Iowa State had a setback last weekend after their last second shot against Baylor was not counted on the scoreboard. The Cyclones host a good TCU team where they must protect home court to stay in the race to reach the top of the Big 12 standings. They bounced back against Texas in midweek action and will look for a Texas sweep on Saturday afternoon. Milan Momcilovic, who scored 13 points to lead the team in the win over the Longhorns, will look to do the same against the Horned Frogs. The trio of Emanuel Miller (16.4 points), Micah Peavy (11.5 points), and Jameer Nelson Jr. (11 points) pace the offense. It will be up to their defense to stop any long runs by Iowa State to get the home crowd into game. The Cyclones are a win and a Houston loss away from taking the conference lead while the Horned Frogs need some help to move that way with a few wins in a row. Projected Score: Iowa State 77, TCU 74
10.Illinois (17-5) @ Michigan State (14-9)
2 PM ET, CBS
With Wisconsin losing back to back contests, Illinois can challenge Purdue in the Big Ten if they continue to win games ahead of their showdown on the last week of the regular season. A trip to the Breslin Center in East Lansing to face what has been an underachieving Michigan State team will prove how good the Fighting Illini really are. Terrance Shannon Jr., Marcus Domask, and Coleman Hawkins must be calm, cool, and collected if they do not want to get upset. A 6-6 Big Ten record hangs over Michigan State’s head as they enter a huge last month of the season. They too play Purdue later in the season, but Tom Izzo’s team must be focused on the present with games to win to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Tyson Walker guard has been as advertised, scoring 19 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game. It will be up to the supporting trio of Malik Hall, AJ Hoggard, and Jaden Akins to win a big time conference game and help themselves for the postseason. Projected Score: Illinois 81, Michigan State 79
12.Auburn (19-4) @ Florida (15-7)
3:30 PM ET, SECN
Auburn evened the season series against arch rival Alabama while Florida comes off their midweek bye entering Saturday’s showdown. The two longtime SEC opponents are in the top half of the conference standings as they look to bolster their tournament resumés. The Gators have experienced a bounce back, promising season in Todd Golden’s second season as head coach. The play of guards Walter Clayton Jr. (15.9 points per game) and Zyon Pullin (15.4 points a game) have made Golden’s job so much easier as the season has gone on. It will be up to their defense and the home environment in Gainesville to handle a great Auburn offense. The combination of forwards Johni Broome (15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks a game) and Jaylin Williams (12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game) makes Bruce Pearl’s team hard to defeat even when they play on the road. A win on Saturday would help the tigers keep pace with South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee atop the SEC. Projected Score: Auburn 87, Florida 84
Gonzaga (17-6) @ 17.Kentucky (16-6)
4 PM ET, CBS
A rare mid-February nonconference game is the afternoon headliner on CBS. The showdown between the Bulldogs and Wildcats may not have been the AP top ten match up many thought it might be in the pre-season but it is a battle between two of the top head coaches in the country, Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Kentucky’s John Calipari. Gonzaga faltered in nonconference action, not giving them a strong enough resumé to support their third place showing right now in the West Coast Conference. On the other hand, Kentucky’s offense makes them tough to beat at home. But, their defense has truly held them back, especially in a loss in a top ten battle last weekend against Tennessee. The offensive firepower of wing Antonio Reeves (almost 20 points a game) and guard Rob Dillingham (15.5 points per game) makes that side of the ball look so good. It will be up to the Kentucky frontcourt, led by Tre Mitchell (12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game) and Aaron Bradshaw (6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game) to handle the tremendous trio of Graham Ike (15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game), Anton Watson (14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game), and Braden Huff (10.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game). The point guard match up of veteran Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard (12.5 points and 5.8 assists a game) for the Zags and freshman standout DJ Wagner (12 points and 3.7 assists per game) will make this must watch TV. A must win game for Gonzaga if they want to get back up the seed lines. A win for Kentucky helps them get into a tough week of SEC action against Ole Miss and Auburn. Projected Score: Kentucky 96, Gonzaga 88
13.Baylor (17-5) @ 4.Kansas (18-5)
6 PM ET, ESPN
The game of the day in college basketball nationally comes as Kansas must protect home court for the second consecutive Saturday against an AP top fifteen ranked opponent, this time against Baylor. The Jayhawks come off of a disappointing loss to instate rival Kansas State and must beat the Bears to avoid falling to 6-5 in Big 12 play. The Bears are on a three game winning streak (UCF, 12.Iowa State, 23.Texas Tech) following a three game losing streak in conference play. When Houston lost to Kansas in their first appearance in Lawrence as a Big 12 member, they learned they could not rely on just a few top scorers. With the Jayhawks coming off a loss, they will be hungry to win this game. So, freshman Ja’Kobe Wolter (14.2 points a game) and senior RayJ Dennis (13.8 points and 6.4 assists per game) must be huge and get help from their teammates Langston Love, Jalen Bridges, and Yves Missi in this matchup. A win for Baylor, who is 6-3 in the Big 12, could put them at first in the conference with a win. Kansas got production from freshman Johnny Furphy in last Saturday’s win over the Cougars and will need this again to support their best four players, Kevin McCullar (19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game), Hunter Dickinson (18.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game), KJ Adams Jr. (12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds a game), and Dajuan Harris (7.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game). A huge game in the best conference in the country Projected Score: Kansas 85, Baylor 81
6.Tennessee (17-5) @ Texas A&M (14-8)
8 PM ET, ESPN
A win for Tennessee in College Station over Texas A&M on Saturday would put them in contention for a one seed (currently 7-2 in the SEC). A loss means moving themselves a full game back from first place in the SEC. A win for the Aggies moves them up to be in position to put themselves in third place in the league (currently 5-4 in the SEC). Dalton Knecht (20.2 points a game) and Jonas Aidoo (11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game) must continue to give them production if they want to leave Aggieland with a win. Wade Taylor, who scores almost 20 points a game like Knecht, will be impossible to defend as well. If Taylor’s counterparts, Tyrece Radford (14.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game) and Henry Coleman (10.3 points and 7 rebounds per game) support him offensively, the tough Tennessee defense will be challenged on the road. A huge SEC Saturday night showdown will determine if the Aggies can get back in the tournament chase as February rolls on. Projected Score: Tennessee 84, Texas A&M 80
