On The Menu: January 23, 2016

Game information courtesy Matt College Sports on TV Website, which has even more games listed and more specific info on coverage for regional sports networks and American Sports Network telecasts.

All times listed are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

Non-Conference

Georgetown Hoyas (12-7, 5-2 Big East) at Connecticut Huskies (13-5, 4-2 AAC), 12 p.m. (CBS)

The former Big East rivals meet in Hartford with both teams in need of a resume-building win and with the Huskies looking for revenge—the Hoyas won the last two meetings between the pair in Big East play.

ACC

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-8, 1-5) at No. 15 Miami Hurricanes (14-3, 3-2), 12 p.m. (ACC Network/ESPN3)
Boston College Eagles (7-11, 0-5) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-5, 4-2), 12 p.m. (ACC Network/ESPN3)
No. 20 Duke Blue Devils (14-5, 3-3) at North Carolina State Wolfpack (11-8, 1-5), 2 p.m. (CBS)
No. 17 Louisville Cardinals (15-3, 4-1) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-7, 1-4), 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Pittsburgh Panthers (15-3, 4-2) at Florida State Seminoles (12-6, 2-4), 4 p.m. (ACC RSNs/ESPN3)

With Syracuse-Virginia being postponed until Sunday, the Saturday ACC slate lost its anchor game, but there are still some intriguing matchups. While Notre Dame should be able to handle BC in South Bend, Miami will be tested by a Wake squad that's in dire need of a win to keep its diminishing NCAA hopes alive.

At 2 Eastern, Duke heads to Raleigh in an unfamiliar position, on a three-game losing streak. The Wolfpack will be keen to hand the Blue Devils another loss, to build upon their surprising Tuesday win at Pitt. N.C. State has a two-game home win streak over its neighbors.

In the 4 p.m window, both Georgia Tech and Florida State will look to pick up quality home wins, though Louisville and Pitt will attempt to stifle their opponents. The Seminoles have actually won two of their three meetings with the Panthers since Pitt's entry into the ACC

Big 12

No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (15-2, 4-2) at No. 13 Baylor Bears (15-3, 5-1), 12 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers (15-3, 4-2) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-5, 2-4), 1 p.m. (ESPNEWS)
Texas Longhorns (12-6, 4-2) at No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks (15-3, 4-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN)
No 19 Iowa State Cyclones (14-4, 3-5) at TCU Horned Frogs (9-9, 1-5), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-8, 2-4) at Kansas State Wildcats (11-7, 1-5), 6 p.m. (ESPNU)

The first game of the day is the biggest, as Baylor, your Big 12 leader after a tumultuous couple of weeks will face its biggest challenge of the conference season so far, as the Sooners will be aiming to join the Bears in a tie at the top. Keep an eye on Baylor's stamina, as they're coming off a double OT home win over Kansas State on Wednesday night, while the Sooners have been resting since Monday night's loss in Ames.

Texas Tech can boost its profile considerably by handing West Virginia its second straight defeat, while Texas, who won in Morgantown on Wednesday will look for their second consecutive surprise road win, at Allen Fieldhouse. Considering how the Longhorns have been playing to the level of their opponents all season, the 2 Eastern ESPN tip could be one of the more fun games of the day.

Later, Iowa State should win at TCU, but the Horned Frogs have been causing visitors fits so far this Big 12 season. In the evening game, it might be too early to call Oklahoma State-K-State an elimination game, but it sure feels like one.

Big East

Seton Hall Pirates (13-5, 3-3) at No. 5 Xavier Musketeers (16-2, 4-2), 2 p.m. (select FSN outlets)
Butler Bulldogs (13-5, 2-4) at Creighton Bluejays (13-6, 4-2), 7:30 p.m. (FS1)
Marquette Golden Eagles (12-7, 2-5) at St. John's Red Storm (7-12, 0-6), 8 p.m. (CBSSN) postponed

The second best game of the day is on FSN for no real good reason, which is going to limit its viewership, which is a shame. However, I wonder if Seton Hall can play Xavier as tough on the road as they played Villanova in Newark on Wednesday evening. Creighton can boost its case with a victory over Butler in Omaha, while Marquette cannot follow up a loss to DePaul with one to St. John's.

Big Ten

Northwestern Wildcats (15-5, 3-4) at No. 25 Indiana Hoosiers (16-3, 6-0), 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
Michigan Wolverines (14-5, 4-2) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-8, 4-3), 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 7 Maryland Terrapins (17-2, 6-1) at No. 11 Michigan State Spartans (16-4, 3-4), 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Illinois Fighting Illini (9-10, 1-5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-13, 0-7), 8:30 p.m. (BTN)

Northwestern, a regular thorn in Indiana's side in recent seasons, would love to make up for its loss at Maryland by handing the Hoosiers their first conference loss in Bloomington. Later, Nebraska will look to win its fifth conference game in a row, and while there's little impressive about winning at Illinois and Rutgers, the Huskers took a big step up in winning (again) in East Lansing on Wednesday evening.

Speaking of the Spartans, they'll face a difficult time in ending their own three-game skid. Maryland won both regular season meetings last season, including a 68-66 double OT win to open the Big Ten season on December 30, 2014. I hesitate to call that game a classic because it was awful until the final couple of minutes of regulation and the extra 10 minutes.

If you want to watch the late tip in Minneapolis, be my guest. Maybe you'll see the Golden Gophers win a conference game.

Pac-12

UCLA Bruins (12-7, 3-3) at Oregon Ducks (15-4, 4-2), 4 p.m. (CBS)
No. 12 Arizona Wildcats (16-3, 4-2) at California Golden Bears (13-6, 3-3), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Colorado Buffaloes (14-5, 3-3) at Washington State Cougars (9-9, 1-5), 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Rocky Mountain, Washington)
Arizona State Sun Devils (11-8, 1-5) at Stanford Cardinal (10-7, 3-3), 11 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Arizona, Bay Area)

Just a day shy of a year ago, UCLA traveled to Eugene for a 1 p.m. Pacific CBS tip and lost by 18. The Bruins will aim to do a bit better this time around, though the Ducks have yet to lose at home all season.

In the first of the night games, Arizona travels across the Bay, fresh off hammering Stanford, to take on a Cal squad that just squeaked by Arizona State, for a battle of teams missing star players with hand injuries. A half-hour later, Colorado will try to duplicate Utah's performance in Pullman. Finally, Arizona State might find it difficult to end its two-game skid, and get itself out of the Pac-12 cellar, at Maples. The Sun Devils last won on the Farm in 2010.

SEC

No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks (17-1, 4-1) at Tennessee Volunteers, (9-9, 2-4) 12 p.m. (SEC Network)
LSU Tigers (11-7, 4-2) at Alabama Crimson Tide (10-7, 1-4), 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
Ole Miss Rebels (12-6, 2-4) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-10, 0-5), 2 p.m. (SEC Network)
Vanderbilt Commodores (11-7, 3-3) at No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats (14-4, 4-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Missouri Tigers (8-10, 1-4) at No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies (16-2, 6-0), 4 p.m. (SEC Network)
Arkansas Razorbacks (9-9, 3-3) at Georgia Bulldogs (10-6, 3-3), 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
Auburn Tigers (9-8, 3-3) at Florida Gators (12-6, 4-2), 8 p.m. (SEC Network)

Vandy's trip to Rupp is the most exciting matchup in a full day of SEC hoops. The Commodores, who have rattled off three in a row after dropping their first three conference games, can re-establish themselves as a bid threat by winning in Lexington for the first time since 2007. The two other games of these seven that stand out are LSU's trip to Alabama, a squad that has struggled in league play since picking up some surprise wins in November and December. Of course, given the Tigers' road issues, the Tide could put themselves in better position tomorrow afternoon. Georgia, meanwhile, can't afford a loss to visiting Arkansas at this point. A better Razorback team won by four in Athens last season.

American Athletic

USF Bulls (3-17, 0-7) at Houston Cougars (13-5, 3-3), 4 p.m. (CBSSN)

It would be an upset if the Cougars didn't end their three-game losing streak at the Bulls' expense.

Elsewhere

Marshall Thundering Herd (9-10, 5-1) at Old Dominion Monarchs (10-9, 3-3), 2 p.m. (ASN/CSN Chicago Plus/Altitude)

The Thundering Herd suffered its first C-USA loss at Charlotte on Thursday, while the Monarchs snapped a three-game skid on Thursday

Kent State Golden Flashes (13-5, 4-1) at Bowling Green Falcons (12-6, 3-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN3)

The Flashes visit one of three teams that sits a game back of them in the MAC East race.

Boise State Broncos (14-5, 5-1) at Wyoming Cowboys (10-10, 3-4), 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
Utah State Aggies (11-7, 3-4) at San Diego State Aztecs (13-6, 6-0), 6 p.m. (CBSSN)

Curiously, the Broncos fell in Laramie last season, ending a two-game win streak at Arena Auditorium's lofty heights. A loss would likely put them two games behind San Diego State in the Mountain West, with the Aztecs hosting Utah State later in the West Coast afternoon.

Navy Midshipmen (15-5, 6-1) vs. Army West Point Black Knights (12-7, 3-4) at Madison Square Garden, 2 p.m. (CBSSN) postponed

The Black Knights entered the Patriot League season as a conference favorite, but it's the Midshipmen who have jumped to a suprising league lead.

Sam Houston State Bearkats (10-9, 5-1) at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (12-5, 5-0), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

The Lumberjacks head into Saturday tied for second in the Southland with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a half-game back of also undefeated Houston Baptist. The Bearkats are a loss back of the lead pack.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (14-5, 6-2) at Pacific Tigers (6-12, 4-4), 4 p.m. (TheW.tv)
BYU Cougars (14-6, 5-2) at Pepperdine Waves (12-7, 5-3), 8 p.m. (BYU TV)
Portland Pilots (9-12, 3-5) at Saint Mary's Gaels (16-2, 7-1), 11 p.m. (CSN Bay Area/ROOT Sports)

Gonzaga needs to bounce back from its loss at Saint Mary's, while the Gaels need to just keep winning games. Meanwhile, BYU has to do the same to keep pace.

New Mexico State Aggies (12-8, 4-1) at Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (14-5, 4-0), 10 p.m. (WACSports.com)

It's a little weird to see a team not named the Aggies in the WAC lead, but New Mexico State can get itself back in position for the top seed in the conference tournament with a win in Bakersfield. Of course, they'll have to pass ineligible Grand Canyon to claim the conference regular season crown.

Viewing Picks

Early Afternoon Tips

Oklahoma at Baylor, 12 p.m. (ESPN)
Georgetown at UConn, 12 p.m. (CBS)
West Virginia at Texas Tech, 1 p.m. (ESPNEWS)
Northwestern at Indiana, 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
Wake Forest at Miami, 12 p.m. (ACC Network/ESPN3)
South Carolina at Tennessee, 12 p.m. (SECN)
Boston College at Notre Dame, 12 p.m. (ACC Network/ESPN3)

Mid-Afternoon Tips

Texas at Kansas, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Seton Hall at Xavier, 2 p.m. (FSN)
Michigan at Nebraska, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Duke at N.C. State, 2 p.m. (CBS)
LSU at Alabama, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
Marshall at Old Dominion, 2 p.m. (ASN/CSN Chicago Plus/Altitude)
Ole Miss at Mississippi State, 2 p.m. (SEC Network)

Late Afternoon Tips

UCLA at Oregon, 4 p.m. (CBS)
Vanderbilt at Kentucky, 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Pittsburgh at Florida State, 4 p.m. (ACC RSNs/ESPN3)
Louisville at Georgia Tech, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Kent State at Bowling Green, 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
Boise State at Wyoming, 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
Iowa State at TCU, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Missouri at Texas A&M, 4 p.m. (SECN)
Gonzaga at Pacific, 4 p.m. (TheW.tv)
USF at Houston, 4 p.m. (CBSSN)

Early Evening Tips

Maryland at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sam Houston State at Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Oklahoma State at Kansas State, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Arkansas at Georgia, 6 p.m. (SECN)
Utah State at San Diego State, 6 p.m. (CBSSN)

Mid-Evening Tips

Arizona at California, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Butler at Creighton, 7:30 p.m. (FS1)
Auburn at Florida, 8 p.m. (SECN)
BYU at Pepperdine, 8 p.m. (BYU TV)
Illinois at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. (BTN)

Late Evening Tips

Arizona State at Stanford, 11 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Arizona, Bay Area)
New Mexico State at Cal State Bakersfield, 10 p.m. (WACSports.com)
Colorado at Washington State, 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Rocky Mountain, Washington)
Portland at Saint Mary's, 11 p.m. (CSN Bay Area/ROOT Sports)

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