Viewer's Guides

On The Menu: February 25, 2016

Thursday night's schedule doesn't have an obvious standout game, like a Nova-Xavier, just several that could impact the bubble and conference races in one way or another. The latter is especially true among the mid-major ranks.

By ChrisDobbertean@ChrisDobbertean Feb 25, 2016, 12:00pm EST

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

Florida State Seminoles (16-11, 6-9) at No. 15 Duke Blue Devils (20-7, 9-5), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

The Seminoles have all but fallen out of the at-large picture with four straight losses, but a win at Cameron Indoor would get them back into the hunt.

Big East

Providence Friars (19-8, 7-7) at Seton Hall Pirates (19-7, 9-5), 7 p.m. (FS1)
St. John's Red Storm (8-20, 1-14) at DePaul Blue Demons (8-18, 2-12), 9 p.m. (FS1)

The Pirates have already defeated the Friars in Providence by nine, 81-72, and completing the season sweep would do wonders for their hopes. As for Providence, it's only defeated Georgetown (twice) in its past seven outings. Considering that the Friars play both squads participating in the second game of FS1's doubleheader and Creighton to close the regular season, a victory over the Hall would be their best chance at grabbing a late quality win.

Big Ten

Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-14, 6-9) at Penn State Nittany Lions (14-13, 5-9), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 18 Indiana Hoosiers (22-6, 12-3) at Illinois Fighting Illini (12-15, 4-10), 9 p.m. (ESPN)

While game one is a battle between teams attempting to avoid a Wednesday game in Indianapolis, the late game sees the league-leading Hoosiers visiting an Illini squad that looks likely to have to play on the first day of the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana obliterated Illinois in Bloomington by a 103-69 score.

Pac-12

UCLA Bruins (15-12, 6-8) at California Golden Bears (19-8, 9-5), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Arizona State Sun Devils (14-13, 4-10) at No. 22 Utah Utes (21-7, 10-5), 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Rocky Mountain, Arizona)
USC Trojans (19-8, 8-6) at Stanford Cardinal (13-12, 6-8), 11 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, L.A., Bay Area)

With Arizona visiting on Saturday, the Utes can put themselves in great position to finish at least second in the Pac-12 by knocking off the Sun Devils tonight. ASU has only won once on its travels in conference play—at hapless Washington State. Simultaneously, the Bruins will look to get their bid campaign, which is barely breathing, into a healthier state by winning in Berkeley. UCLA last did that in 2014.

Later, the Trojans, who have dropped three of four, need to get back on track this weekend. Winning on the Farm for the first time since 2013 would be a start.

American Athletic

SMU Mustangs (22-4, 10-4) at Memphis Tigers (15-12, 6-8), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
UConn Huskies (19-8, 9-5) at USF Bulls (7-21, 4-11), 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

The Mustangs can tie Temple for the American lead with a win over the Tigers, who have won just three of their last eight. Memphis lost at USF last time out, and the Bulls' aim for tonight will be to deal the visiting Huskies a damaging loss for their at-large hopes.

Elsewhere

North Florida Ospreys (20-10, 9-4) at Jacksonville Dolphins (16-14, 8-5), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (17-12, 8-5) at Stetson Hatters (9-21, 3-10), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
NJIT Highlanders (17-12, 8-5) at USC Upstate Spartans (9-21, 3-10), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

Tonight, the Atlantic Sun becomes the first conference to close out its regular season, and we could have a mess at the end of the night. If UNF sweeps Jacksonville, the Ospreys will claim the top seed and home court advantage throughout the conference tournament. However, if the Dolphins win, we could end up with a four-way tie, as the two other teams tied for second, FGCU and NJIT, play at the two worst teams in the conference.

Winthrop Eagles (20-7, 12-4) at High Point Panthers (18-9, 11-5), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

On Saturday, the Eagles took control of the Big South race by defeating UNC Asheville. Tonight, they could be knocked back into a tie for the lead with a loss to the Panthers, a squad they defeated by 20 in Rock Hill.

Hofstra Pride (20-8, 12-4) at UNC Wilmington Seahawks (21-6, 13-3), 7 p.m. (CAA.tv)

The Seahawks can lock up the top seed in the CAA Tournament with a win tonight but the Pride, 70-67 winners in Hempstead on February 4th, want to extend the race to the final day of the season.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-7, 13-3) at San Diego Toreros (8-19, 3-13), 10 p.m. (TWCS and select other RSN outlets)
Santa Clara Broncos (10-18, 6-10) at Saint Mary's Gaels (22-4, 13-3), 11 p.m. (CSN California)
Portland Pilots (12-17, 6-10) at BYU Cougars (21-8, 12-4), 11 p.m. (ESPNU)

The top three in the WCC must keep winning to stay in the at-large picture, and since this is the final weekend before nine of the 10 teams head to Vegas for the conference tournament, time is running out.

Viewing Picks

Early Evening Tips

Providence at Seton Hall, 7 p.m. (FS1)
Florida State at Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Hofstra at UNC Wilmington, 7 p.m. (CAA.tv)
North Florida at Jacksonville, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Florida Gulf Coast at Stetson, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
NJIT at USC Upstate, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
SMU at Memphis, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
UConn at USF, 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
Nebraska at Penn State, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Late Evening Tips

UCLA at California, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Winthrop at High Point, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Indiana at Illinois, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
USC at Stanford, 11 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, L.A., Bay Area)
Arizona State at Utah, 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Rocky Mountain, Arizona)
Gonzaga at San Diego, 10 p.m. (TWCS and select other RSN outlets)
Santa Clara at Saint Mary's, 11 p.m. (CSN California)
Portland at BYU, 11 p.m. (ESPNU)
St. John's at DePaul, 9 p.m. (FS1)

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