On The Menu: January 24, 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.

ACC

No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels (17-2, 6-0) at Virginia Tech Hokies (12-7, 4-2), 3 p.m. (ESPNEWS)/6:30 p.m. (ESPNU delayed)
Syracuse Orange (13-7, 3-4) at No. 13 Virginia Cavaliers (14-4, 3-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Tar Heels could jump to number one with a win in Blacksburg, though Oklahoma has a great shot to keep the top spot despite a Monday loss at Iowa State. UNC has dominated the Hokies since the 2010 NIT squad lost at Cassell. In the late game, the Orange will look to solve the Cavaliers for the first time in the short time they've been in the ACC. Virginia topped Syracuse on its last visit to Charlottesville, 75-56.

Big East

No. 16 Providence Friars (16-3, 4-2) at No. 4 Villanova Wildcats (17-2, 7-0), 1 p.m. (FOX)
Marquette Golden Eagles (12-7, 2-5) at St. John's Red Storm (7-12, 0-6), 3:45 p.m. (CBSSports.com)/6 p.m. (CBSSN delayed)

The Friars head to Philadelphia with the goal of starting its first win streak since an eight-game run ended on January 3rd. To do so, they'll need to cool off the Wildcats, who have won nine in a row and haven't lost at home all season. In the game that will only be seen on delay, the Golden Eagles cannot afford a loss to the Red Storm after losing to DePaul on Wednesday night.

Big Ten

No. 22 Purdue Boilermakers (17-3, 5-2) at No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes (15-3, 6-0), 1 p.m. (BTN)

The Boilermakers would love to get some revenge for the then-shocking 70-63 defeat the Hawkeyes handed them back on January 2nd in West Lafayette. An Iowa loss would hand sole possession of first place to Indiana.

Pac-12

No. 21 USC Trojans (15-4, 4-2) at Oregon State Beavers (11-6, 2-4), 3 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, L.A., Oregon)
Utah Utes (14-5, 3-3) at Washington Huskies (13-5, 5-1), 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

On Thursday, the Trojans lost in Eugene again, but they have an even longer losing streak in Corvallis, having last won there in 2008. A victory this afternoon might put them back into a tie for first, provided Utah knocks off Washington in the evening. The Utes have won once in Seattle as a Pac-12 member (2013). Given how difficult it is to win in the road in this conference, don't expect either USC or Utah win.

American Athletic

No. 8 SMU Mustangs (18-0, 7-0) at Temple Owls (10-7, 4-2), 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
Tulane Green Wave (8-12, 1-6) at Cincinnati Bearcats (14-6, 4-3), 12 p.m. (ESPNU)
East Carolina Pirates (8-11, 0-6) at Memphis Tigers (12-6, 3-2), 2 p.m. (CBSSN)
UCF Knights (10-6, 4-1) at Tulsa Golden Hurricane (12-6, 4-2), 3 p.m. (ASN/ESPN3)

SMU faces a tricky game in Philadelphia, as it attempts to remain perfect. The Mustangs lost on their only previous trip to the Liacouras Center as an AAC member, but that was back in 2014. Cincinnati and Memphis should pick up home wins, while a UCF win at Tulsa might lead everyone to take the Knights a tad bit more seriously—their four conference wins came courtesy of sweeps of East Carolina and USF, the two worst teams in the American.

Atlantic 10

St. Bonaventure Bonnies (12-5, 4-2) at VCU Rams (14-5, 6-0), 3 p.m. (NBCSN)
Dayton Flyers (15-3, 5-1) at Fordham Rams (11-6, 2-4), 4 p.m. (CBSSN)
Saint Joseph's Hawks (15-3, 4-1) at La Salle Explorers (5-11, 1-4), 5 p.m. (ASN/Comcast Network Phila.)

While the Flyers and Hawks will be expected to win on the road against two Atlantic 10 strugglers, the Bonnies—losers of two in a row after opening league play with four victories on the trot—can get themselves back in the race by winning in Richmond.

Elsewhere

North Florida Ospreys (16-6, 5-0) at NJIT Highlanders (11-9, 2-2), 6 p.m. (ESPN3)

Even though the Highlanders have struggled early in their A-Sun tenure, this is still the game I wanted to see when it was announced they were joining the conference.

William & Mary Tribe (13-5, 5-2) at Hofstra Pride (13-6, 5-2), 12 p.m. (CAA.tv)

You have to think the Pride are thankful for the unexpected day of rest they got, considering their triple-OT road win at Northeastern on Thursday night. The Tribe have won three straight in the series, last losing on January 23, 2014 in Hempstead. The winner will join at least James Madison in a tie for the CAA lead, though UNC Wilmington should jump in too, as it visits ninth-place Drexel.

Valparaiso Crusaders (16-4, 6-1) at Northern Kentucky Norse (7-11, 3-4), 1 p.m. (ASN/ESPN3)

The Norse could be in for a long afternoon, considering they're the Crusaders' opponent following Valpo's first conference defeat of the season.

Marist Red Foxes (4-13, 1-7) at Monmouth Hawks (14-5, 6-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Iona Gaels (10-8, 7-2) at Fairfield Stags (10-9, 4-5), 3:30 p.m. (SNY/ESPN3)

A win over the Red Foxes will keep the Hawks a half-game back of the Gaels in the MAAC, assuming Iona wins at Fairfield.

Evansville Purple Aces (17-3, 6-1) at Indiana State Sycamores (10-9, 4-3), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Southern Illinois Salukis (16-3, 6-1) at Missouri State Bears (8-11, 4-3), 4 p.m. (ESPN3)

Both squads tied for second in the MVC will have to win on the road to stay there.

Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (8-12, 5-2) at Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (9-9, 5-2), 2 p.m. (NEC Front Row)

Two of the three teams tied for the NEC lead (Wagner is the other) meet in Teaneck.

Tennessee State Tigers (14-4, 5-0) at Belmont Bruins (14-6, 6-0), 5 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

The winner of this Nashville derby will take sole possession of first in the OVC.

Viewing Picks

Early Afternoon Tips

Purdue at Iowa, 1 p.m. (BTN)
Providence at Villanova, 1 p.m. (FOX)
William & Mary at Hofstra, 12 p.m. (CAA.tv)
SMU at Temple, 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
Valparaiso at Northern Kentucky, 1 p.m. (ASN/ESPN3)
Tulane at Cincinnati, 12 p.m. (ESPNU)

Mid-Afternoon Tips

USC at Oregon State, 3 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, L.A., Oregon)
North Carolina at Virginia Tech, 3 p.m. (ESPNEWS)
St. Bonaventure at VCU, 3 p.m. (NBCSN)
North Florida at NJIT, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Mount St. Mary's at Fairleigh Dickinson, 2 p.m. (NEC Front Row)
Marist at Monmouth, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
UCF at Tulsa, 3 p.m. (ASN/ESPN3)
East Carolina at Memphis, 2 p.m. (CBSSN)

Late Afternoon Tips

Tennessee State at Belmont, 5 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Evansville at Indiana State, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Dayton at Fordham, 4 p.m. (CBSSN)
Saint Joseph's at La Salle, 5 p.m. (ASN/Comcast Network Phila.)
Iona at Fairfield, 3:30 p.m. (SNY/ESPN3)
Marquette at St. John's, 3:45 p.m. (CBSSports.com)

Evening Tips

Syracuse at Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Utah at Washington, 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
North Carolina at Virginia Tech, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU delayed)
Marquette at St. John's, 6 p.m. (CBSSN delayed)

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