There are only 14 games on Tuesday. Half involve ranked teams. And some will be really, really good games.
Call it a college hoops treat for those who sat and sifted through the Super Bowl XLVI media saturation. (Poor me.)
(All times ET; TV info from HDSportsGuide.com)
Kansas State at Iowa State, 9 p.m. (FS Midwest)
If Kansas, Missouri and Baylor are the Big 12’s three best teams, these two aren’t far behind. The Cyclones (15-6) are coming off a home win over the Jayhawks (Kansas’ first in Big 12 play) that solidifies them as not only a dangerous team in the conference but a dangerous team at any moment. Particularly at home. Not that the Wildcats (15-5) will be a walkover. Iowa State won’t get any easy shots.
Michigan State at Illinois, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
The Illini (15-6) are in familiar territory. A few more losses and they’ll be squarely on the NCAA tournament bubble, playing for their March lives once again. Holding court against Michigan State would be huge. It’s not inconceivable that the Spartans (17-4) might stumble in Champaign, either. Both of their Big Ten losses have come on the road.
Seton Hall at Marquette, 8 p.m. (Big East Network, SNY, MASN, CST, Bright House Sports, CSS)
The Pirates (15-6) have issues. Here’s why. I’m just glad most of the Eastern Seaboard has a chance tune in for their fifth loss in a row.
Vanderbilt at Arkansas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Perhaps the evening’s most underrated game. Vandy (16-5) is finally playing solid defense (the Middle Tennessee scare notwithstanding) is right on Kentucky’s tail in the SEC. But only two of Vandy’s conference wins have come on the road and Arkansas presents the type of defense – full-court, pressing and aggressive – that can give the Commodores fits.
EAST
Wisconsin at Penn St., 8 p.m.
SOUTH
Tennessee at Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Trinity Baptist at Savannah St., 7 p.m.
Clemson at Virginia, 7 p.m.
North Carolina at Wake Forest, 9 p.m.
MIDWEST
Kent St. at Cent. Michigan, 7 p.m.
Michigan St. at Illinois, 7 p.m.
Seton Hall at Marquette, 8 p.m.
Youngstown St. at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
S. Illinois at N. Iowa, 8 p.m.
Kansas St. at Iowa St., 9 p.m.
SOUTHWEST
Oklahoma St. at Texas Tech, 8 p.m.
Vanderbilt at Arkansas, 9 p.m.
FAR WEST
New Mexico at Air Force, 10 p.m.
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