On The Menu: Monday, February 8, 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

Louisville Cardinals (19-4, 8-2) at Duke Blue Devils (17-6, 6-4), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (16-7, 7-4) at Clemson Tigers (14-9, 7-4), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

The Cardinals still count as a quality opponent for NCAA selection purposes, even if they're banned from the postseason, so tonight's game provides an opportunity for the Blue Devils, who haven't defeated a quality foe in ACC play. Look for Louisville to make Duke compete tonight, as the Cardinals didn't take it easy on Boston College in their first game since the ban announcement, and that was with Damion Lee missing with a knee injury. He'll be back tonight.

In the late game, the Tigers' aim upon their return from a 1-2 three-game road swing will be to extend their home win streak to six. Every single one of those victories have come against a team that will appear in tomorrow's bracket—much like the Irish. Notre Dame is 2-3 in conference road games this season, defeating just Duke and BC.

Big 12

Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-12, 2-8) at TCU Horned Frogs (10-13, 1-9), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Texas Longhorns (16-7, 7-3) at Oklahoma Sooners (19-3, 7-3), 9 p.m. (ESPN)

You can safely ignore the 6 p.m. Central tip in Fort Worth that features two teams playing for ninth, but the three-way tie for second in the Big 12 will be partially broken in the nightcap in Norman. Thanks to the conference's somewhat uneven scheduling format, the Sooners and Longhorns will meet twice in the second half of the league season, with the return game in Austin on February 27th. I wouldn't expect Texas to be able to slow this one down enough to have a chance at the end, but given how weird this season has been so far, you can't exactly write Shaka Smart's squad off.

Big East

St. John's Red Storm (7-17, 0-11) at Georgetown Hoyas (13-11, 6-5), 7 p.m. (FS1)

Three straight Big East losses to contenders have the Hoyas a long way from the cut line. Failing to defeat the Red Storm would all but seal their elimination, even with four quality win chances following this one.

Elsewhere

Chattanooga Mocs (21-3, 10-1) at Mercer Bears (18-6, 8-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

On January 5th, the SoCon-leading Mocs opened up a huge lead on the Bears at McKenzie Arena, before a Mercer rally made it close late (at least until Chattanooga put the game away in the final minutes). Tonight, Matt McCall's team will be challenged in Macon, where the hosts are perfect this season.

Northwestern State Demons (6-14, 3-7) at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (16-5, 9-0), 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Houston Baptist Huskies (14-9, 8-2) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (17-5, 8-2), 9 p.m. (ASN)

The Lumberjacks will retain the Southland lead even if they inexplicably fall to the struggling Demons at home. The winner in Corpus Christi will take sole possession of second place, however. Note that only SFA has defeated the Islanders at the American Bank Center this season.

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