As the college basketball season approaches its finale, many regional competitions have already started, with crucial matchups and traditional rivalries taking center stage.
The major conferences have one more week of regular play, with nail-biting games like the anticipated Southeastern Conference (SEC) clash between top-ranked Auburn and seventh-ranked Alabama.
Auburn has proudly positioned itself as the leading team nationwide this season, maintaining the No.1 spot in the polls for eight consecutive weeks.
The Tigers have secured the SEC regular-season crown and are poised to grab the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn faces a challenging conclusion to their regular season, first visiting No. 22 Texas A&M on Tuesday before contending with their rivals, the Crimson Tide, on Saturday.
Alabama will also have a strenuous week, as they confront No. 5 Florida on Wednesday.
In their initial showdown, Auburn triumphed over Alabama 94-85, with Johni Broome recording 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Sunday’s eagerly awaited matchup between No. 8 Michigan State and No. 17 Michigan might determine the Big Ten regular-season champion.
Currently, the Spartans (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) hold a one-game advantage over the Wolverines (22-7, 14-4).
Michigan will host No. 13 Maryland on Wednesday and Michigan State heads to Iowa on Thursday, setting the stage for their decisive encounter.
Michigan State previously outplayed Michigan 75-62 in Ann Arbor.
Regardless of rankings, Saturday’s clash between No. 2 Duke and North Carolina promises to be riveting.
North Carolina could significantly enhance their NCAA Tournament credentials with a win, while the Blue Devils (26-3, 17-1 ACC) aim to secure the ACC regular-season title outright, following their decisive victory over Wake Forest.
In their first meeting on February 1, Duke claimed a 17-point triumph at home.
Keep an eye on the Arizona State game at No. 24 Arizona on Tuesday night; their previous clash in Tempe was quite contentious.
The Wildcats are also set to visit Allen Fieldhouse for a battle against Kansas on Saturday.
Heading over to the Big East, No. 6 St. John’s has clinched its first regular-season title in 40 years, but they will likely remain steadfast against No. 20 Marquette on Saturday.
Enjoying a five-game winning streak, the Red Storm recently defeated Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden.
St. John’s previously won against Marquette 70-64 at the Garden last month, but this weekend’s game is in Milwaukee, where Marquette holds an impressive 14-2 home record.
In their prior contest, RJ Luis Jr., Kadary Richmond, and Zuby Ejiofor each achieved double-doubles, presenting Marquette with a clear starting point to strategize for victory.
In the Big 12, Ames, Iowa, offers a contrast in styles as one of the nation’s top defensive squads faces a team known for its shooting prowess on Tuesday.
No. 10 Iowa State, having lost two of their last three games, displayed their might with a commanding victory over Arizona on Saturday.
While the Cyclones have a strong offense, their defense, ranked ninth in KenPom efficiency ratings, is even more formidable.
Iowa State will need that defensive strength against No. 23 BYU, which boasts sharpshooters in every position and ranks tenth nationally for three-point shots, averaging 10.7 per game. BYU recently drained 17 three-pointers in a win over Arizona State.
In significant news, No. 19 Kentucky, under the guidance of coach Mark Pope, will unfortunately be missing one of its standout players during Saturday’s matchup against No. 15 Missouri.
Jaxson Robinson, the Wildcats’ second-highest scorer, missed the game against Auburn this past Saturday and will sit out the rest of the season due to a wrist injury.
Missouri, coming off a surprising defeat by Vanderbilt, boasts an 18-1 home advantage.
Kentucky will face LSU for their home finale on Tuesday, and Missouri will play Oklahoma on Wednesday.
