At the bottom of the page, you’ll find a lineup broken down by telecast window with the group designations in bold to the left of the game. Instead of ordering these by tip time, however, I’ve grouped them by importance.

Reminders of the different groupings:

• Group 1 (home games): Visitor is ranked 1-30
• Group 1 (away games): Host is ranked 1-75
• Group 2 (home games): Visitor is ranked 31-75
• Group 2 (away games): Host is ranked 76-135
• Group 3 (home games): Visitor is ranked 76-160
• Group 3 (away games): Host is ranked 136-240
• Group 4 (home games): Visitor is ranked 161-353
• Group 4 (away games): Host is ranked 241-353

All NET numbers are from the NCAA’s website and reflect games played through Saturday, Feb. 23. Records reflect games played through that same date. All times are Eastern.

Top 30 at Top 75 (1 Game)

Group 1 for both the host and visitor (1/1)

No. 9 Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 13-3) at No. 7 Michigan Wolverines (24-3, 13-3), 3:45 p.m. (CBS)

The long-awaited first of two meetings of these in-state rivals is the game of the day—and it’s not particularly close after looking at the list below. The winner will move a half-game up on Purdue for first in the Big Ten and likely find itself in better position for a No. 1 seed, at least for the moment. Shorthanded MSU has won four in a row after a three-game skid that threatened to knock them out of the national picture. As for the Wolverines, they’ve won two straight, but haven’t managed to string three wins together since January 22nd-29th.

Note that these two squads will meet again in East Lansing in just 13 days—on Saturday, March 9th.

31-75 at Top 75 (1 Game)

Group 1 for the visitor only; Group 2 for the host (1/2)

No. 67 ETSU Buccaneers (22-7, 12-4) at No. 61 UNCG Spartans (23-5, 12-3), 3 p.m. (ESPN+ ($)

With Wofford wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the SoCon Tournament yesterday by defeating Furman, these two are now jockeying for the two and three slots. The Spartans currently have the advantage, thanks in no small part to a 75-68 win in Johnson City back on January 19th.

31-75 at 76-135 (1 Game)

Group 2 for both the host and the visitor (2/2)

No. 54 Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-10, 7-9) at No. 108 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-14, 5-11), 6:30 p.m. (BTN)

A 1-5 stretch has seen the Golden Gophers tumble further down the seed list, and a loss in Piscataway could see them fall out of the bracket for a bit. Note that Minnesota took care of the Scarlet Knights at the Barn on January 12th, 88-70.

Top 30 at 76-135 (2 Games)

Group 2 for the visitor; Group 1 for the host only (2/1)

No. 27 Villanova Wildcats (20-7, 11-3) at No. 90 Xavier Musketeers (14-13, 6-8), 1:30 p.m. (CBS)
No. 25 Cincinnati Bearcats (22-4, 11-2) at No. 95 UConn Huskies (13-13, 4-9), 2 p.m. (ESPN)

CBS and ESPN are probably wishing these games were scheduled for three-to-four years ago. Both visitors are looking to complete season sweeps of their struggling rivals, though neither had an easy go of things at home. Cincy needed OT to defeat UConn on January 12th, while Nova only defeated Xavier by 10 on January 18th.

76-160 at Top 75 (1 Game)

Group 1 for the visitor only; Group 3 for the host (1/3)

No. 103 SMU Mustangs (13-12, 5-8) at No. 40 UCF Knights (19-6, 9-4), 12 p.m. (CBSSN)

The Knights, who just missed grabbing a needed marquee victory at Cincinnati on Thursday, will look to grab their second win over the Mustangs in two weeks.

76-160 at 76-135 (1 Game)

Group 2 for the visitor only; Group 3 for the host (2/3)

No. 101 Stanford Cardinal (14-12, 7-7) at No. 86 Arizona Wildcats (15-12, 6-8), 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Wildcats can complete a perfect 4-0 run through the Pac-12’s Bay Area schools tonight.

161-353 at Top 75 (2 Games)

Group 1 for the visitor only; Group 4 for the host (1/4)

No. 192 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-15, 3-10) at No. 32 N.C. State Wolfpack (19-8, 7-8), 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 279 California Golden Bears (5-21, 0-14) at No. 62 Arizona State Sun Devils (18-8, 9-5), 6 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

The Sun Devils cannot, however, thanks to an 85-71 loss at Stanford back on January 12th. In fact, a win tonight would give ASU only its second three-game win streak of the Pac-12 season. As for the Wolfpack, a second loss to the Demon Deacons might be devastating to their at-large hopes. Note that N.C. State needed OT to beat Boston College at home on Wednesday night.

Chronological Schedule

Grouped by quality in each tip window.

Early Afternoon Tips

2/1 No. 27 Villanova Wildcats (20-7, 11-3) at No. 90 Xavier Musketeers (14-13, 6-8), 1:30 p.m. (CBS)
1/3 No. 103 SMU Mustangs (13-12, 5-8) at No. 40 UCF Knights (19-6, 9-4), 12 p.m. (CBSSN)

Later Afternoon Tips

1/1 No. 9 Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 13-3) at No. 7 Michigan Wolverines (24-3, 13-3), 3:45 p.m. (CBS)
1/2 No. 67 ETSU Buccaneers (22-7, 12-4) at No. 61 UNCG Spartans (23-5, 12-3), 3 p.m. (ESPN+ ($)
2/1 No. 25 Cincinnati Bearcats (22-4, 11-2) at No. 95 UConn Huskies (13-13, 4-9), 2 p.m. (CBS)

Evening Tips

2/2 No. 54 Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-10, 7-9) at No. 108 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-14, 5-11), 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
2/3 No. 101 Stanford Cardinal (14-12, 7-7) at No. 86 Arizona Wildcats (15-12, 6-8), 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
1/4 No. 192 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-15, 3-10) at No. 32 N.C. State Wolfpack (19-8, 7-8), 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
1/4 No. 279 California Golden Bears (5-21, 0-14) at No. 62 Arizona State Sun Devils (18-8, 9-5), 6 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

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