What to Watch, College Basketball 1/10 - 1/16

Here's my take on the best in college basketball this week.  A little more abbreviated due to the late publishing.

Tuesday

Wisconsin at Michigan St. (ESPN, 7pm) - Are the Spartans showing cracks?

Florida at Tennessee (ESPN, 9pm) - Vols are 0-1 without coach Bruce Pearl, sitting at home on an eight-game SEC suspension. Remember that top two in each SEC division get a 1st round bye.

Wednesday
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (ESPN, 7pm) & Syracuse at St. John's (ESPNU, 7pm) - Pitt and the Irish are the heavyweight matchup between a pair of top 15 teams. Make sure to keep an eye on the Orange's visit to MSG. The Orange have a definite size advantage, but the Red Storm started out fast and are heavy on experience (nine seniors, one junior).

EDIT: I screwed up and the scheduled game is Pitt at Georgetown.

Oklahoma St. at Texas A&M (Big 12 Syndication, 8pm) - Oklahoma St. gets its another Big 12 test with the Aggies after taking down preseason top ten Kansas St. Conference itself is quite topsy-turvy with both Texas and Missouri losing this weekend, particularly the Tigers loss at lowly Colorado.

UNLV at San Diego St. (CBS College, 10pm) - The MWC has strength again at the top and these two, along with BYU, will be teams to watch in March.


Saturday
Cincinnati at Syracuse (Big East Syndication, 12pm) - Cincinnati lost their 1st game on Sunday and they don't have the margin of error they may feel they do. Big East wins will be a premium for the Bearcats due to a very weak non-conference schedule.

Missouri at Texas A&M (ESPN2, 1pm) - May be the battle for 2nd place in the Big 12. Right now Kansas is too strong to think that either of these teams can hang with them.

Jackson St. at Texas Southern (ESPN2, 3pm) - Overall records are subpar, but both teams are 3-0 in the SWAC, where conference record is all that matters. Life in the one-bid leagues.

Illinois at Wisconsin (Big Ten, 3pm) - Another game between two ranked teams. The slower pace of Big Ten play is not for my tastes, but it seems to be what matters in March. And with an early Michigan St. misstep, the conference may be wide open.

Austin Peay at Tennessee St. (ESPNU, 4pm) - Top of the OVC right now in this matchup. The OVC plays a 22 game conference schedule, so a team can make up ground, but if APSU gets a big lead in the standings, the conference tournament could be the only way to leapfrog the Governors.

Dayton at Xavier (CBS College, 8pm) - Midwestern battle in the A-10. The A-10's class seems like its Temple and Richmond right now, but neither of these teams should be counted out.