For today’s viewing guide, it is this simple. If you can not find a good college basketball game on the television today, it is because you haven’t turned the TV on.
There are 25 games today. 15 of those games, starting off as we speak in Vermont, the winner will have earned their place in the NCAA Tournament. Today’s winner will be rewarded well for their efforts of a long championship week.
At 1 pm, we get to see if Texas A&M and Indiana can continue their desperate runs to the party. The Aggies will have to get through 15th ranked Arkansas, while the Hoosiers have to upset 24th ranked Iowa. Or you could tune in to the Atlantic 10 semi-final as St. Louis (now up to 60th in the NET rankings) can knock off regular season champion Davidson (43rd in the NET rankings)
At 3 pm, we get to see a battle at the top of the rankings. The second SEC semi-final gets to have 5th ranked Kentucky try to show they deserve a top seed in a huge battle against 9th ranked Tennessee
30 minutes later, my Boilermakers play against Michigan State. The Spartans are probably in the tournament, but getting to the Big 10 final will make their Sunday a lot more comfortable. At the same time, the Atlantic 10 has bid-stealer Richmond (who knocked off VCU yesterday) playing against Dayton (who at 54th in the NET rankings is trying to stay in the bubble conversation). Wouldn’t it be fun to watch Dayton just make it into the field and have to play on their home court in a First Four game!!!
5 pm has the final semi-final of the day – and it is a big one for the Bubble – as SMU (42nd in NET) plays against Memphis (31st in NET) in the other American conference semi-final.
And then the finals begin!
6 pm sees the Big 12 championship with #6 Kansas playing against #14 Texas Tech. I would not be surprised if the Jayhawks are a #1 seed if they win this game. If you would rather see two bubble teams play, check out the Mountain West final as Boise State battles San Diego State. Both teams have NET rankings that would traditionally get a power conference team into the tournament – but the Mountain West has been burned in the past.
6:30 pm is the Big East championship – where #8 Villanova tries to end Creighton’s run to try to take the decision out of the committee’s hands. Creighton’s Big East tourney run has moved them up from 66th to 55th in the NET rankings, but they will be a lot more comfortable if they can win tonight.
At 8:30 pm, the ACC and Conference USA tip-off. In the ACC, we have a similar story to Creighton – where Virginia Tech has made their case for a bubble at-large bid, but one more victory against 7th ranked Duke. Could the Hokies ruin Coach K’s final ACC tournament with an upset. Meanwhile, UAB (49th in the NET rankings) plays against Louisiana Tech in Conference USA. Their game is more dire, as non-power conference teams near 50 don’t always land on the right side of the bubble.
And at 9 pm, the Pac 12 has two locks playing for pride and seeding – as 2nd ranked Arizona goes against 13th ranked UCLA. And if that doesn’t do it for your basketball viewing, the Southland (Texas A&M – Corpus Christi vs SE Louisiana) and the WAC (Abilene Christian vs New Mexico State) will be in the second half of their finals. Or you could stay up super late and watch the Big West championship tip-off at 11:30 pm between CSU Fullerton and Long Beach State.
So there you have it – a little bit of bubble drama to wrap up, mid-major regular season champs fighting to protect their ticket to the dance, and even game with two top 10 teams playing each other. Championship Saturday has it all – all you need to do is turn on the television.
Enjoy the games!!!