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College Hoops Viewing Guide: February 8, 2014

Plenty of bubble teams are in action as part of Saturday's schedule, which thankfully isn't quite as overwhelming as last week's.

Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

All TV info is courtesy Matt's College Sports on TV site. He has many more games listed, particularly ones broadcast only on local channels and in-house cable sports/local interest channels that are not widely available nationwide. You'll also want to check out his listings for information on which conference regional matchups and CSN, FSN, and Root Sports contests (all games listed in these posts marked with an *) are available on which affiliates.

All times are Eastern.

Late Morning/Early Afternoon Window

Marquee Games

Butler Bulldogs (12-10, 2-8 Big East) at Georgetown Hoyas (13-9, 4-6), 1 p.m. (CBS)

Thanks to a pair of consecutive wins, the Hoyas have crept back into the bid conversation. A home loss to the struggling Bulldogs, who have lost three of four, would certainly undo the good work of last Saturday's win over Michigan State at Madison Square Garden.

Texas Longhorns (18-4, 7-2 Big 12) at Kansas State Wildcats (15-7, 5-4), 1:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network*/ESPN3)

Thanks to seven straight wins, the Longhorns are surging up the bracket. Today, they visit a Wildcat team they only managed to defeat on a Jonathan Holmes buzzer beater at home back on January 21st.

Other Viewing Options

Morehead State Eagles (15-9, 6-3 OVC) at Eastern Kentucky Colonels (17-7, 7-3 OVC), 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (8-15, 4-5 NEC) at Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (6-16, 2-7), 11:30 a.m. (MSG/CSN New England/FCS Atlantic)
Alabama Crimson Tide (9-13, 3-6 SEC) at Florida Gators (20-2, 9-), 12 p.m. (ESPN)
Virginia Tech Hokies (8-14, 1-9 ACC) at Pittsburgh Panthers (19-4, 7-3), 12 p.m. (ACC RSNs*/ESPN3)
North Carolina Tar Heels (15-7, 5-4 ACC) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-11, 3-7), 12 p.m. (ACC Network Regional*/ESPN3)
Virginia Cavaliers (18-5, 9-1 ACC) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-11, 3-7), 12 p.m. (ACC Network Regional*/ESPN3)
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (11-13, 4-5 OVC) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (10-15, 4-6), 12 p.m. (CSS)
Cleveland State Vikings (16-9, 7-3 Horizon) at Wright State Raiders (14-12, 6-5), 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-10, 3-6 Big Ten) at Northwestern Wildcats (12-11, 5-5), 1 p.m. (ESPNU)
Lafayette Leopards (6-16, 2-9 Patriot) at Boston U. Terriers (16-8, 9-2), 1 p.m. (Patriot League Network, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)
Kentucky Wildcats (17-5, 7-2 SEC) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-9, 3-6), 1:30 p.m. (SEC TV*/ESPN3)

Elsewhere during the early hours of Saturday's schedule, Florida will attempt to complete a season sweep of Alabama and keep its perfect SEC record intact in the process, while Northwestern will aim to defeat Nebraska in Evanston to boost its Big Ten mark over .500.

Mid-Afternoon Window

Marquee Games

Michigan Wolverines (17-5, 9-1 Big Ten) at Iowa Hawkeyes (17-6, 6-4), 2 p.m. (ESPN)

Back on January 22nd, Nik Stauskas helped push the Wolverines past the Hawkeyes in Ann Arbor with a 26-point performance. Having scored a total of 15 points in his last two games, Michigan will need Stauskas to get hot again to complete the sweep in Iowa City.

N.C. State Wolfpack (14-8, 4-5 ACC) at Miami Hurricanes (11-11, 2-7), 2 p.m. (ACC RSNs*/ESPN3)

If the Wolfpack want to remain in the bid picture, they must win in Coral Gables. Of course, that's easier said than done, considering how pesky the Hurricanes are on their home floor. Just ask Pitt.

Florida State Seminoles (14-8, 5-5 ACC) at Maryland Terrapins (13-10, 5-5), 3 p.m. (ESPN2)

This is another crucial ACC bubble battle. The Terrapins have just one quality win on an unremarkable profile (over Providence in the Paradise Jam), while the Seminoles just ended a three-game losing streak by topping woeful Virginia Tech on February 5th.

Providence Friars (16-7, 6-4 Big East) at Xavier Musketeers (15-7, 5-4), 3 p.m. (FS1)

The Musketeers' current three-game skid began in Providence two weeks ago; however, things have not exactly been rosy for the Friars of late either, as they've only managed to defeat DePaul in their three games since that victory.

Other Viewing Options

College of Charleston Cougars (12-12, 4-5 CAA) at Towson Tigers (15-8, 6-2), 2 p.m. (CSN*)
Milwaukee Panthers (15-9, 5-5 Horizon) at Green Bay Phoenix (19-4, 9-1), 2 p.m. (Horizon League Network/TWCS Wisconsin/CSN Chicago/FS Sportstime Ohio/ESPN3) 
Miami, Ohio Redhawks (9-11, 5-4 MAC) at Ohio Bobcats (16-6, 6-3), 2 p.m. (TWCS*/ESPN3)
Colgate Raiders (8-14, 2-9 Patriot) at American U. Eagles (14-8, 10-1), 2 p.m. ET (Patriot League Network, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)
Loyola, Md. Greyhounds (10-12, 5-6 Patriot) at Lehigh Mountain Hawks (12-12, 5-6), 2 p.m. (TV 2 Sports/Patriot League Network, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)
New Hampshire Wildcats (5-17, 3-6 AE) at Stony Brook Seawolves (17-7, 9-1), 2 p.m. (ESPN3)

Three mid-major conference leaders -- American, Green Bay, and Stony Brook -- are in action at 2 p.m. Eastern. The Eagles will likely be quite angry in their contest, considering they lost their perfect conference at Loyola on Wednesday night.

Late Afternoon Window

Marquee Games

West Virginia Mountaineers (14-9, 6-4 Big 12) at Kansas Jayhawks (17-5, 8-1), 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Wednesday night's win over Oklahoma was the Mountaineers' third in a row over a bid contender; however, I think they'll have a better shot at knocking off the Jayhawks in exactly one month's time, when the return fixture is played in Morgantown.

Saint Louis Billikens (21-2, 8-0 A10) at La Salle Explorers (12-10, 4-4), 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Since starting the Atlantic 10 season with three straight wins, the Explorers have dropped four of their last five. Even at home this afternoon, La Salle may find it difficult to get back on track. The Billikens' defense should be able to lock down a pretty average Explorer offense to pick up a ninth league win.

Oregon Ducks (15-7, 3-7 Pac-12) at Arizona State Sun Devils (17-6, 6-4), 5 p.m. (FS1)

Both teams need this one rather badly, but considering that the Ducks have just a single Top 50 win, Oregon has to have this one just a bit more.

Missouri Tigers (16-6, 4-5 SEC) at Mississippi Rebels (15-7, 6-3), 5 p.m. (SEC on FSN*/ESPN3)

Last season, a home win over Mizzou really pushed Marshall Henderson and the Rebels into the national consciousness. In 2014, Ole Miss may need to repeat the feat to stay there.

Other Viewing Options

South Carolina Gamecocks (8-14, 1-8 SEC) at Tennessee Volunteers (14-8, 5-4), 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
Navy Midshipmen (7-15, 2-9 Patriot) at Army Black Knights (12-10, 8-3), 4 p.m. (CBS SN)
TCU Horned Frogs (9-12, 0-9 Big 12) at Iowa State Cyclones (17-4, 5-4), 4 p.m. (Big 12 Network*/ESPN3)
Arkansas Razorbacks (14-8, 3-6) at Vanderbilt Commodores (13-8, 5-4), 4 p.m. (SEC TV Regional*/ESPN3)
Auburn Tigers (11-9, 3-6) at LSU Tigers (14-7, 5-4), 4 p.m. (SEC TV Regional/ESPN3)
Campbell Fighting Camels (11-13, 5-4 Big South) at Winthrop Eagles (12-10, 5-4), 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
St. Mary's Gaels (17-7, 7-4) at Pepperdine Waves (14-10, 7-5), 4 p.m. (CSN California/ROOT Sports*/TWCS/TheW.tv, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (10-12, 5-3) at Rice Owls (7-15, 2-7), 4 p.m. (CSS*)
Fordham Rams (9-12, 2-6 A10) at George Washington Colonials (18-4, 6-2), 4 p.m. (CSN Mid-Atlantic/SNY/A10 Network, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)
Colorado State Rams (13-10, 4-6 MW) at Air Force Falcons (9-12, 3-7), 4 p.m. (MWN, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mountain West Connection)
Dayton Flyers (15-8, 3-5 A10) at St. Bonaventure Bonnies (13-9, 3-5), 4 p.m. (TWCS*/A10 Network, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)
IPFW Mastodons (18-7, 6-2 Summit) at North Dakota State Bison (17-6, 6-2), 5 p.m. (Midco SN/FCS Central)
ETSU Buccaneers (13-11, 6-5) at Lipscomb Bisons (11-12, 6-6), 5 p.m. (ESPN3)
New Orleans Privateers (8-10, 5-5 Southland) at Central Arkansas Bears (6-15, 3-7), 5 p.m. (ESPN3)

While a few bid contenders will spend the twilight hours looking to avoid a damaging loss (Iowa State, Tennessee, Dayton), IPFW and North Dakota State will meet to determine first place in a competitive Summit League.

Early Evening Window

Marquee Games

Baylor Bears (14-8, 2-7 Big 12) at Oklahoma Sooners (17-6, 6-4), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Bears dropped a two-point heartbreaker at home to the Sooners back on January 18th, which turned out to be the second loss in Baylor's five-game skid. Both squads are coming off midweek losses, with Baylor falling at Kansas and Oklahoma dropping an OT decision to West Virginia.

Cincinnati Bearcats (22-2, 11-0 AAC) at SMU Mustangs (18-5, 7-3), 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Might this be the night the Bearcats drop their first AAC game? Cincinnati only defeated the Mustangs by eight at home on New Year's Day, and Larry Brown's team has won all of its conference home games so far.

Other Viewing Options

Duke Blue Devils (18-5, 7-3) at Boston College Eagles (6-16, 2-7), 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Boise State Broncos (15-8, 5-5) at Utah State Aggies (13-9, 3-7), 6 p.m. (CBS SN)
Purdue Boilermakers (14-9, 4-6 Big Ten) at Ohio State Buckeyes (18-5, 5-5), 6 p.m. (BTN)
South Dakota Coyotes (9-13, 3-4 Summit) at Denver Pioneers (11-11, 4-3), 6 p.m. (ROOT Sports*)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (15-7, 7-2 Sun Belt) at Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (12-11, 7-4), 6 p.m. (CSS/CST/ESPN3)
North Florida Ospreys (13-12, 7-5 A-Sun) at Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (15-9, 9-2), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Georgia Southern Eagles (11-13, 4-5 SoCon) at Elon Phoenix (13-11, 6-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Missouri State Bears (16-7, 6-5 MVC) at Southern Illinois Salukis (9-15, 5-6), 7 p.m. (FS Midwest/CSN Chicago/FCS Atlantic/ESPN3)
San Jose State Spartans (6-16, 0-10 MW) at Fresno State Bulldogs (10-13, 3-7), 7 p.m. (MWN, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mountain West Connection)
Pacific Tigers (12-10, 3-8 WCC) at Loyola Marymount Lions (11-13, 3-9), 7 p.m. (TheW.tv, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)

At the 6 p.m. Eastern hour, Duke will attempt to avoid a banana peel in Chestnut Hill, while Ohio State cannot afford a letdown against struggling Purdue.

Mid- And Late Evening Windows

Marquee Games

VCU Rams (19-4, 7-1 A10) at St. Joseph's Hawks (15-7, 5-3), 8 p.m. (CBS SN)

On Wednesday night at Hagan Arena, the Hawks were schooled by first-place Saint Louis. Tonight, the second-place Rams will look to do the same, while denying the hosts a significant profile boost in the process.

Indiana Hoosiers (14-8, 4-5 Big Ten) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-8, 4-6), 8:15 p.m. (BTN)

The Hoosiers, 2-1 in their last three, visit the Golden Gophers, losers of four of their last five, with bid positioning on the line. Indiana's best win away from Assembly Hall came against Washington Huskies in the 2K Sports Classic, so a victory in Top 50 Minnesota's building is vital for their tournament hopes.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-3) at Memphis Tigers (17-5), 9 p.m. (ESPN)

The last time the Tigers stepped away from AAC play for a weekend, they hammered Division II LeMoyne-Owen. The Bulldogs, winners of seven straight, will be a slightly more challenging opponent for the hosts, especially since both teams could use a good non-conference win to shore up seeding.

Wichita State Shockers (24-0, 11-0 MVC) at Northern Iowa Panthers (11-12, 5-6), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Shockers, who toppled Indiana St. Sycamores on Wednesday, wrap up what should be their most difficult week in the Valley with a trip to Cedar Falls. Even though the Panthers have struggled mightily this year, they -- and the McLeod Center crowd -- will be fired up for Wichita State's visit.

Other Viewing Options

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-14, 3-7 AAC) at USF Bulls (12-11, 3-7), 8 p.m. (ESPNews)
Texas A&M Aggies (13-9, 4-5 SEC) at Georgia Bulldogs (11-10, 5-4), 8 p.m. (SEC on CSS/ESPN3)
Washington State Cougars (9-13, 2-8 Pac-12) at Utah Utes (15-7, 4-6), 8 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
SE Louisiana Lions (9-12, 4-6 Southland) at Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (11-12, 5-5), 8 p.m. (KGEB/FCS Central)
Murray State Racers (13-8, 8-2 OVC) at Tennessee State Tigers (3-22, 2-9), 8 p.m. (Racer Sports Network/ESPN3)
San Francisco Dons (15-9, 8-4 WCC) at BYU Cougars (16-9, 8-4), 9 p.m. (BYU TV)
Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (7-18, 2-8 OVC) at SIU Edwardsville Cougars (9-15, 5-5), 9 p.m. (FS Midwest/FCS Pacific)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (16-6, 4-5 Big 12) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-11, 3-6), 9:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Nevada Wolf Pack (12-11, 7-3 MW) at San Diego State Aztecs (20-1, 9-0), 10 p.m. (ESPN3)
Wyoming Cowboys (14-8, 5-4 MW) at UNLV Runnin' Rebels (15-8, 6-4), 10 p.m. (ESPN3)
New Mexico State Aggies (17-8, 6-3 WAC) at Seattle Redhawks (11-10, 3-5), 10 p.m. (ROOT Sports Northwest)
Long Beach St. 49ers (9-13, 5-3 Big West) at UC Riverside Highlanders (8-14, 3-5), 10 p.m. (ESPN3)
UCLA Bruins (17-5, 6-3 Pac-12) at USC Trojans (10-12, 1-8), 10:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
Santa Clara Broncos (10-15, 3-9 WCC) at San Diego Toreros (13-12, 4-8), 11 p.m. (FS San Diego/CSN California/TheW.tv, streaming directly at SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness)

As the evening winds down, San Francisco and BYU will meet with second place in the WCC (and the Cougars' at-large hopes) possibly on the line, and UCLA will look to rout USC for the second time this season.

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