On The Menu: Wednesday, March 2, 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. 7 Miami Hurricanes (23-5, 12-4) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (19-9, 10-6), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Pittsburgh Panthers (20-8, 9-7) at Virginia Tech Hokies (16-13, 8-8), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Boston College Eagles (7-22, 0-16) at North Carolina State Wolfpack (14-15, 4-12), 9 p.m. (ACC RSNs/ESPN3)

The Hurricanes can keep their hopes for the top seed in the ACC Tournament alive by sweeping their season series with the Irish, whom they defeated by nine in Coral Gables on February 3rd. Elsewhere, the Panthers face a potential trap game in Blacksburg, where the Hokies will look to clinch a winning season.

Big 12

Texas Tech Red Raiders (18-10, 8-8) at No. 10 West Virginia Mountaineers (22-7, 11-5), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
TCU Horned Frogs (11-18, 2-14) at Kansas State Wildcats (15-14, 4-12), 8 p.m. (FS Kansas City/ESPN3)

With the game in Manhattan not meaning much in the big picture, the important game in the Big 12 is in Morgantown. The Mountaineers can all but lock up the two seed in the conference tournament by winning their second game of the season over the Red Raiders. However, Texas Tech, who only lost by four in Lubbock on January 23rd, could all but lock up a bid by claiming a significant road win.

Big East

Seton Hall Pirates (21-7, 11-5) at Butler Bulldogs (19-9, 8-8), 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
Creighton Bluejays (18-11, 9-7) at Providence Friars (20-9, 8-8), 9 p.m. (CBSSN)

It's an important night for the Big East's bubble teams, who are all in action against each other tonight. First, the Pirates will look to avenge the only loss they've suffered in their last nine games when they take the floor at Hinkle. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, haven't won consecutive games since a three-game run between February 2nd and 10th, capped by the win at the Hall. As for the Friars, they're looking to stop their skid toward Dayton by grabbing a second victory over the Bluejays, whom they defeated in a 50-48 slugfest in Omaha back on January 12th. Creighton, on the other hand, can get itself in decent position for New York by claiming two quality wins on the road to close the regular season. Xavier is up next for Greg McDermott's squad.

Big Ten

No. 2 Michigan State Spartans (24-5, 11-5) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-23, 0-16), 7 p.m. (BTN)
Wisconsin Badgers (19-10, 11-5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-20, 2-14), 9 p.m. (BTN)

"Super" Wednesday only fits that description if you like mismatches.

Pac-12

No. 9 Oregon Ducks (23-6, 12-4) at UCLA Bruins (15-14, 6-10), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Oregon State Beavers (17-10, 8-8) at USC Trojans (19-10, 8-8), 11 p.m. (FS1)
Washington Huskies ()16-13, 8-9) at Washington State Cougars (9-20, 1-16), 11 p.m. (ESPNU)

With Wazzu terrible (and not much help for the Huskies' fading chances) and UCLA struggling, the game of the night in the Pac-12 is at the Galen Center. The visiting Beavers could use a quality road win for their bubble hopes, as that's the one factor missing, but the Trojans have won just once in their last six outings. A strong showing at home this weekend would give Andy Enfield's team some breathing room late. Note that the Beavers won by 15 in Corvallis on January 24th.

SEC

Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-15, 6-10) at Ole Miss Rebels (18-11, 8-8), 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Arkansas Razorbacks (15-14, 8-8) at Alabama Crimson Tide (17-11, 8-8), 9 p.m. (SEC Network)

With the basketball Egg Bowl having no impact on the NCAA race, most eyes will be on Tuscaloosa, where the Crimson Tide really need to close with two wins to get over .500 in the conference and have an at-large shot. To do so, they'll need to end the Hogs' three-game winning streak.

Atlantic 10

Saint Joseph's Hawks (24-5, 13-3) at St. Bonaventure Bonnies (20-7, 12-4) at Rochester, 7 p.m. (Atlantic 10 webcast)
Davidson Wildcats (17-10, 9-7) at VCU Rams (21-8, 13-3), 7 p.m. (CBSSN)

It's a crucial night in the Atlantic 10 title and bubble races. The Bonnies can potentially knock the Hawks out of the Atlantic 10 lead while boosting their bubble chances by defeating Saint Joe's for a second time in Rochester. Bona claimed an impressive 83-73 win at Hagan Arena on February 3rd.

If the Hawks fall, VCU would be in the driver's seat for the top seed in Brooklyn—and their first Atlantic 10 title—if they defeat the Wildcats at home. The Rams won by 10 in North Carolina on January 29th.

Conference Tournaments

For full information on this year's conference tournaments, visit Conference Tournament Central.

America East Quarterfinals

All four games will be streaming live on ESPN3.

Game 1: No. 8 UMBC Retrievers (7-24, 3-13) at No. 1
 Stony Brook Seawolves (23-6, 14-2), 7 p.m.
The Seawolves swept the season series.
Game 2: No. 7 Hartford Hawks (9-22, 4-12) at No. 2
 Albany Great Danes (24-7, 13-3), 7 p.m.
The Great Danes swept the season series, including a 75-59 home win on Saturday.
Game 3: No. 6 Maine Black Bears (8-21, 4-12) at No. 3
 Vermont Catamounts (19-12, 11-5), 7:30 p.m.
The Catamounts swept the season series.
Game 4: No. 5 Binghamton Bearcats (8-21, 5-11) at No. 4 New Hampshire Wildcats (18-11, 11-5), 7:30 p.m.
The Wildcats swept the season series.

The America East Playoffs (not Tournament) begins tonight with all four home teams favored to win, as none of the visitors managed to defeat their opponents during the regular season. In fact, the gap between the top four and bottom four is rather large (note the six-game gap between the four and five seeds). Of course, that's partially due to the transitional status of new conference member UMass-Lowell, who actually finished in fifth place.

NEC Quarterfinals

All four games will be streaming live on NEC Front Row.

Game 1: No. 8 Robert Morris Colonials (10-21, 8-10) at No. 1 Wagner Seahawks (20-9, 13-5), 7 p.m.
The Seahawks swept the season series, including a 62-54 home win on Saturday.
Game 2: No. 7 St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash (13-16, 9-9) at No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (15-14, 11-7), 7 p.m.
The Knights swept the season series.
Game 3: No. 6 LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds (15-14, 9-9) at No. 3 Sacred Heart Pioneers (12-17, 11-7), 7 p.m. (MSG/FCS Atlantic)
The pair split the season series with each team winning at home.
Game 4: No. 5 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (13-18, 10-8) at No. 4 St. Francis-Brooklyn Terriers (15-16, 11-7), 9 p.m. (MSG/FCS Atlantic)
The pair split the season series with each team winning at home, including the Terriers' 55-49 home win on Saturday.

It's a different story in the Northeast Conference, a conference that featured a three-tie for second and two games separating the five and eight seeds. With two visitors having already won in the Atlantic Sun and another in the Patriot League—two other conferences that had close regular season races—expect a similar night in an event that will be played out in the Tri-State Area.

OVC First Round

Both games will be streaming live on the OVC Digital Network.

Game 1: No. 8 Austin Peay Governors (14-17, 7-9) vs. No. 5 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (19-10, 11-5), 7 p.m.
The Golden Eagles won the pair's only meeting, on the road.
Game 2: No. 7 Eastern Illinois Panthers (13-16, 9-7) vs. No. 6 Murray State Racers (16-13, 10-6), approx. 9:30 p.m.
The pair split their meetings with each winning at home.

In Nashville, the first neutral-site tournament of the season tips off. Note that the Ohio Valley uses a ladder system, so tonight's winners will have to claim three more victories to take the auto bid. The three and four seeds enter on Thursday, while the top two, including defending champion Belmont, join the fray on Friday. Thus, they'll only need to win twice.

The Golden Eagles finished in a three-way tie for second overall and in the East Division, but since the West Division winner earns the two seed, they potentially have to play two extra games. Of course, with the Racers tying UT Martin for the West crown and losing out on tiebreakers, they're in the same boat as Tennessee Tech.

Viewing Picks

Early Evening Tips

Miami at Notre Dame, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Texas Tech at West Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saint Joseph's at St. Bonaventure at Rochester, 7 p.m. (Atlantic 10 webcast)
Davidson at VCU, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
America East Quarterfinals, 7 and 7:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Austin Peay vs. Tennessee Tech (OVC First Round), 7 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
NEC Quarterfinals 1, 2, 3, 7 p.m. (NEC Front Row/broadcast info above)
TCU at Kansas State, 8 p.m. (FS Kansas City/ESPN3)
Mississippi State at Ole Miss, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Michigan State at Rutgers, 7 p.m. (BTN)

Late Evening Tips

Seton Hall at Butler, 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
Creighton at Providence, 9 p.m. (CBSSN)
Oregon State at USC, 11 p.m. (FS1)
Arkansas at Alabama, 9 p.m. (SEC Network)
Oregon at UCLA, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Wisconsin at Minnesota, 9 p.m. (BTN)
Washington at Washington State, 11 p.m. (ESPNU)
Mount St. Mary's at St. Francis-Brooklyn, 9 p.m. (MSG/FCS Atlantic/NEC Front Row)
Eastern Illinois vs. Murray State (OVC First Round), approx. 9:30 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Boston College at North Carolina State, 9 p.m. (ACC RSNs/ESPN3)

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