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 specifically by tip time, however, I’ve grouped them by importance.

Reminders of the different groupings:

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

All NET numbers are from the NCAA’s website and reflect games played through Monday, March 4. Records reflect games played through that same date. All times are Eastern.

Top 30 at Top 75 (6 Games)

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

No. 12 Virginia Tech Hokies (22-6, 11-5) at No. 19 Florida State Seminoles (23-6, 11-5), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers (22-7, 15-3) at No. 56 Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-11, 8-10), 8 p.m. (BTN)
No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-8, 9-7) at No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers (26-3, 14-2), 9 p.m. (SECN)
No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats (24-5, 13-3) at No. 37 Ole Miss Rebels (19-10, 9-7), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks (22-7, 11-5) at No. 41 Oklahoma Sooners (18-11, 6-10), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 12 Auburn Tigers (20-9, 9-7) at No. 53 Alabama Crimson Tide (17-12, 8-8), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

The biggest game of the six all-Quad 1 affairs on tonight’s schedule is set for Tallahassee, where the Virginia Tech-FSU winner will not only clinch a quarterfinal bye at the ACC Tournament but also put themselves in stronger position in the NCAA protected seed race. The Hokies are starting to figure life without Justin Robinson out, as they’ve won four of five, while only North Carolina has defeated the Seminoles in their last 11. Making matters more difficult for Tech is the fact that Duke is the only team to defeat FSU at the Donald Tucker Center this season.

Elsewhere, Minnesota really could use a home win over Purdue to boost their hopes, as the Golden Gophers have won just twice in their last eight outings. In the Big 12, Kansas must win at Oklahoma this evening, or their conference title streak will finally be put to rest.

Of the three SEC games, Alabama’s visit from Auburn has the most going for it on the bubble front, as the Crimson Tide could use the win after letting LSU get away on Saturday afternoon. Auburn won the first pair’s meeting, 84-63, back on February 2nd. Both Tennessee and Kentucky must win to keep their SEC title hopes alive, but the onus is really on the Wildcats, who are a game back of the Vols and LSU.

31-75 at Top 75 (2 Games)

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

No. 70 Xavier Musketeers (16-13, 8-8) at No. 59 Butler Bulldogs (15-14, 6-10), 6 p.m. (FS1)
No. 51 Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-14, 5-13) at No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (23-6, 14-4), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

While Butler doesn’t appear in my first eight out for today, rest assured that the Bulldogs will be back with a win over Xavier tonight, likely at the expense of the Musketeers. Travis Steele’s club won the first meeting, by just one, at the Cintas Center on January 13th.

Michigan State, meanwhile, will hope to avoid resurrecting Nebraska’s at-large hopes, much like the Spartans did to Indiana‘s on Saturday. A loss would also seriously damage MSU’s Big Ten title hopes, particularly if Purdue ends up winning in Minneapolis tonight.

Top 30 at 76-135 (1 Game)

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

No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (24-5, 14-2) at No. 111 Boston College Eagles (14-14, 5-11), 8 p.m. (Raycom (Regional)/TheACC.com/ACC Network Extra)

The Tar Heels will look to keep pace with Virginia in the ACC race, though they’ll need the Cavaliers to lose to Louisville on Saturday (in Charlottesville, mind you) to have a shot at the top seed in next week’s ACC Tournament.

31-75 at 136-240 (2 Games)

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

No. 36 VCU Rams (23-6, 14-2) at No. 148 George Mason Patriots (16-13, 10-6), 7:30 p.m. (Stadium/MASN)

While the Rams have already locked up a share of the Atlantic 10 title, they can take the top seed in the conference tournament with a win tonight. VCU defeated Mason by a 79-63 score in Richmond back on February 2nd.

Top 30 at 136-240 (3 Games)

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

No. 15 Buffalo Bulls (26-3, 14-2) at No. 181 Ohio University Bobcats (13-15, 5-11), 7 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))
No. 30 Utah State Aggies (24-6, 14-3) at No. 185 Colorado State Rams (12-17, 7-9), 9 p.m. (AT&T SN Rocky Mtn. & Southwest/Root Sports/MWN)
No. 23 Nevada Wolf Pack (26-3, 13-3) at No. 230 Air Force Falcons (13-15, 8-8), 11 p.m. (ESPN2)

In the MAC, Buffalo can sew up the top seed in Cleveland tonight in Athens, which would be a good idea considering the Bowling Green Falcons will be headed to town Friday with a season sweep on their minds. Out West, Utah State wraps up its conference schedule tonight and with a win over Colorado State can put pressure on Nevada, which needs to win both of its remaining games to secure at least a share of the Mountain West title.

161-353 at Top 75 (1 Game)

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

No. 198 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-17, 4-12) at No. 3 Duke Blue Devils (25-4, 13-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

The Blue Devils will need to beat the Demon Deacons and get some help from Louisville to have any shot at earning the top seed in the ACC Tournament. That’s a possibility if Duke beats UNC on Saturday and Virginia loses to the Cardinals. With all three teams then tied at 15-3, the Blue Devils would get the nod based on their 3-1 record against their immediate rivals.

Big South First Round

No. 10 UNC Asheville Bulldogs (4-26, 2-14) at No. 7 Presbyterian Blue Hose (17-14, 9-7), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
No. 11 USC Upstate Spartans (6-25, 1-15) at No. 6 Charleston Southern Buccaneers (15-14, 9-7), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
No. 9 Longwood Lancers (15-16, 5-11) at No. 8 Hampton Pirates (14-15, 9-7), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

The Big South begins its slightly-expanded tournament with three on-campus games. Each host will be looking to beat their respective opponents for a third time this year. The victors move on to Thursday’s quarterfinals, which will be hosted by the top-seeded Campbell Fighting Camels.

Patriot League First Round

No. 9 Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (11-20, 7-11) at No. 8 Boston University Terriers (14-17, 7-11), 7 p.m. (PLN)
No. 10 Holy Cross Crusaders (15-16, 6-12) at No. 7 Lafayette Leopards (10-19, 7-11), 7 p.m. (Lafayette Sports Network/PLN)

On the other hand, the two Patriot League openers are rubber matches, as home teams were perfect in the regular-season meetings between these pairs.

Horizon League Quarterfinals, Night 1

No. 8 IUPUI Jaguars (16-15, 8-10) at No. 1 Wright State Raiders (19-12, 13-5), 8 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))
No. 5 UIC Flames (16-15, 10-8) at No. 4 Green Bay Phoenix (16-15, 10-8), 8 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))

The Horizon League did the most to change its tournament format this season. For starters, the bottom two teams, the Cleveland State Vikings and Milwaukee Panthers, didn’t qualify. Secondly, the four quarterfinal games were moved to the home arenas of the top four seeds, which probably wasn’t the worst idea for a conference that struggled to keep its best teams alive in the previous editions of Motor City Madness. By the way, this will be the last season the tournament will wrap up in Detroit, as it’s moving to Indy for a few years, starting in 2020.

One thing that didn’t change, even with the format changes, is that the quarterfinals are split over two nights. This year, however, the teams playing the early semifinal on Monday will play tonight, with those in the second semifinal taking the floor tomorrow. (Last year, the top two seeds played on the first night.) Once again, both home teams will be looking to defeat the visitors for the third time this season.

Chronological Schedule

Grouped by quality in each tip window.

Early Evening Tips

1/1 No. 12 Virginia Tech Hokies (22-6, 11-5) at No. 19 Florida State Seminoles (23-6, 11-5), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
1/2 No. 70 Xavier Musketeers (16-13, 8-8) at No. 59 Butler Bulldogs (15-14, 6-10), 6 p.m. (FS1)
1/2 No. 51 Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-14, 5-13) at No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (23-6, 14-4), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
3/2 No. 36 VCU Rams (23-6, 14-2) at No. 148 George Mason Patriots (16-13, 10-6), 7:30 p.m. (Stadium/MASN)
3/1 No. 15 Buffalo Bulls (26-3, 14-2) at No. 181 Ohio Bobcats (13-15, 5-11), 7 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))
4/1 No. 198 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-17, 4-12) at No. 3 Duke Blue Devils (25-4, 13-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Big South R1: No. 9 Longwood Lancers (15-16, 5-11) at No. 8 Hampton Pirates (14-15, 9-7), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Big South R1: No. 10 UNC Asheville Bulldogs (4-26, 2-14) at No. 7 Presbyterian Blue Hose (17-14, 9-7), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Big South R1: No. 11 USC Upstate Spartans (6-25, 1-15) at No. 6 Charleston Southern Buccaneers (15-14, 9-7), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Patriot R1: No. 9 Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (11-20, 7-11) at No. 8 Boston University Terriers (14-17, 7-11), 7 p.m. (PLN)
Patriot R1: No. 10 Holy Cross Crusaders (15-16, 6-12) at No. 7 Lafayette Leopards (10-19, 7-11), 7 p.m. (Lafayette Sports Network/PLN)

Mid-Evening Tips

1/1 No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers (22-7, 15-3) at No. 56 Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-11, 8-10), 8 p.m. (BTN)
2/1 No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (24-5, 14-2) at No. 111 Boston College Eagles (14-14, 5-11), 8 p.m. (Raycom (Regional)/TheACC.com/ACC Network Extra)
Horizon QF: No. 5 UIC Flames (16-15, 10-8) at No. 4 Green Bay Phoenix (16-15, 10-8), 8 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))
Horizon QF: No. 8 IUPUI Jaguars (16-15, 8-10) at No. 1 Wright State Raiders (19-12, 13-5), 8 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))

Late Evening Tips

1/1 No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-8, 9-7) at No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers (26-3, 14-2), 9 p.m. (SECN)
1/1 No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats (24-5, 13-3) at No. 37 Ole Miss Rebels (19-10, 9-7), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
1/1 No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks (22-7, 11-5) at No. 41 Oklahoma Sooners (18-11, 6-10), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
1/1 No. 20 Auburn Tigers (20-9, 9-7) at No. 53 Alabama Crimson Tide (17-12, 8-8), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
3/1 No. 30 Utah State Aggies (24-6, 14-3) at No. 185 Colorado State Rams (12-17, 7-9), 9 p.m. (AT&T SN Rocky Mtn. & Southwest/Root Sports/MWN)

Late Night Tip

3/1 No. 23 Nevada Wolf Pack (26-3, 13-3) at No. 230 Air Force Falcons (13-15, 8-8), 11 p.m. (ESPN2)

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