If you've been watching ESPN at any point over the past two weeks (and hell, at any point over the past 30 years), you know there's a certain game occurring tonight in the 12th state admitted to the Union. With this in mind, it looks like other schools were a bit leery of putting games against this particular matchup. So, we have a lighter Wednesday evening slate than normal. But what the schedule lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. I'm even going to be daring and say that you may not even have to flip over to that one particular game to get your hoops fix for the night.
Penn State @ Purdue (Big Ten, 6:30 EST) - Nittany Lions, 67-64 victors over the Boilermakers in State College, need the sweep to stay above .500 in the league and to recover from consecutive losses to fellow bubble dwellers Michigan and Wisconsin. Purdue has to show there can be life without Robbie Hummel.
Syracuse @ Connecticut (ESPN, 7 EST) - The Orange are in serious jeopardy of giving up 100 again tonight. How will Arinze Onuaku, hampered by knee tendinitis, contend with Hasheem Thabeet? Is Andy Rautins, who showed signs of life in the second half at Nova on Saturday, going to be consistent for an entire game? Another UConn win would solidify their hold on a #1 seed.
Xavier @ Dayton (ESPN Classic, 7 EST) - The Flyers had a shot to move into a tie for first in the A-10 when the Musketeers lost to Duquesne on Saturday night. Charlotte, however, stopped UD in their tracks. The Flyers probably need a split with XU to secure an at-large. Musketeers are playing for at least a 3-seed, perhaps even a 2.
Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech (ESPNU, 7 EST) - The second straight home game against an ACC bottom feeder for the Hokies. They hope it will be a little less tense than the NC State game Sunday.
Boston University @ Vermont (America East/NESN/Full Court, 7:30 EST) - The Terriers lead the Catamounts by a half game in the America East, but UVM won in Boston, 70-56 on January 14.
Tulsa @ Memphis (CBS CS, 8 EST) - Tigers have a 50-game win streak against the 11 dwarves. Tulsa very nearly got them at the Reynolds Center on January 13 (55-54). Winning at the Parcel Drop-Box will not be an easy task.
Georgia @ Tennessee (Raycom/FS South/Sun Sports/Full Court, 8 EST) - Vols have a chance to move into a four-way tie at the top of the SEC East.
Southern Illinois @ Northern Iowa (local TV only, 8 EST) - Panthers try to rebound after their home loss to Creighton Sunday. The Salukis are five games back in the league!
Bradley @ Creighton (MVC/FS Midwest, 8:30 EST) - Blue Jays are two games out now thanks to that aforementioned win. The Braves have fallen four games off the pace.
Iowa @ Wisconsin (Big Ten, 8:30 EST) - The Badgers should get a win to push them further up the bubble.
Oklahoma @ Baylor (ESPN2, 9 EST) - The Bears have dropped five straight, and OU's 19-point victory in Norman started the slide.
Texas Tech @ Kansas State (ESPNU, 9 EST) - The Wildcats definitely have a shot at making the field, but they can't drop this one. Just ask Baylor how damaging a loss to this Red Raider team can be.
New Mexico @ Air Force (CBS CS, 10 EST) and San Diego State @ Utah (the mtn., 10 EST) - One of these games is for the MWC lead. Unfortunately, it's on the channel nearly no one gets.