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College Basketball Viewing Guide For Wednesday, March 4, 2020

There’s a big one in the Big East, plenty of bubble games, and more conference tournament action on the slate. For a more traditional look at today’s college basketball schedule, visit MattSarzSports.com.

NCAA Basketball: Seton Hall at Villanova Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Tables may not appear optimally on mobile devices.

Note: Before the breakdown by Quadrant, you’ll find a lineup broken down by telecast window. Within each window, I’ve listed games by tip time with the quadrants on the left.

Reminders of the different groupings are in the table below.

NET Quadrants

A game falls under this quadrant For the home team when the visiting team ranks between For the visiting team when the home team ranks between
A game falls under this quadrant For the home team when the visiting team ranks between For the visiting team when the home team ranks between
1 1–30 1–75
2 31–75 76–135
3 76–160 136–240
4 161–353 241–353

All NET rankings are from the NCAA’s website and reflect games played against D1 opposition only through Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Records reflect all games played through the same date. All times are Eastern.

Chronological Schedule

Wed., 03/04/2020 Early Evening ET

Tip Time (ET) Host/Visitor Quads Matchup Outlet
Tip Time (ET) Host/Visitor Quads Matchup Outlet
6:30 p.m. 2/1 41. Xavier at 44. Provicence FS1
7 p.m. 3/1 123. Texas A&M at 28. Auburn ESPN2
7 p.m. 2/2 34. Florida at 84. Georgia ESPNU
7 p.m. 2/1 31. LSU at 47. Arkansas SECN
7 p.m. 2/1 45. Minnesota at 54. Indiana BTN
7 p.m. 2/2 72. Clemson at 87. Virginia Tech ACCN
7 p.m. 2/1 66. St. John's at 20. Butler CBSSN
7 p.m. 3/2 82. Tulsa at 112. Temple ESPN3
7 p.m. 3/3 90. North Texas at 178. Charlotte CBS Sports on Facebook LIve
7 p.m. 2/3 56. Saint Louis at 161. George Mason ESPN+ ($)

Wed., 03/04/2020 Late Evening ET

Tip Time (ET) Host/Visitor Quads Matchup Outlet
Tip Time (ET) Host/Visitor Quads Matchup Outlet
8 p.m. 2/1 62. Georgetown at 13. Creighton FSN
8 p.m. 3/1 92. TCU at 1. Kansas ESPN+ ($)
8:30 p.m. 1/1 14. Villanova at 12. Seton Hall FS1
9 p.m. 1/1 11. Florida State at 59. Notre Dame ESPN2
9 p.m. 4/1 175. Northwestern at 27. Wisconsin BTN
9 p.m. 2/2 48. Virginia at 108. Miami (Fla.) ACCN
9 p.m. 1/1 3. Dayton at 52. Rhode Island CBSSN

Wed., 03/04/2020 Conference Tournaments

Tip Time (ET) Conference Round Matchup Outlet Season Series
Tip Time (ET) Conference Round Matchup Outlet Season Series
3 p.m. MW First Round 9. Air Force vs. 8. Fresno State MWN FSU sweep
5:30 p.m. (approx.) MW First Round 10. San Jose State vs. 7 New Mexico MWN Home split
7 p.m. NEC Quarterfinals 6. Mount St. Mary's at 3. Sacred Heart SNY/NEC Front Row SHU 1-0 (home)
7 p.m. NEC Quarterfinals 5. Fairleigh Dickinson at 4. LIU NEC Front Row LIU sweep
7 p.m. NEC Quarterfinals 8. St. Francis Brooklyn at 1. Robert Morris NEC Front Row Home split
7 p.m. NEC Quarterfinals 7. Bryant at 2. St. Francis (Pa.) NEC Front Row Home split
7:30 p.m. OVC First Round 8. Morehead State vs. 5. Tennessee State ESPN+ ($) Home split
8 p.m. (approx.) MW First Round 11. Wyoming vs. 6. Colorado State MWN CSU sweep
10 p.m. (approx.) OVC First Round 7. Jacksonville State vs. 6. Eastern Illinois ESPN+ ($) EIU 1-0 (home)

Quad 1 For Both Teams (1/1: 3 Games)

Top 30 at Top 75

14. Villanova Wildcats (22-7, 11-5 T2nd Big East) at 12. Seton Hall Pirates (21-7, 13-3 1st), 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
The Pirates can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament with a repeat of their 70-64 win over the Wildcats of February 8th.

11. Florida State Seminoles (24-5, 14-4 2nd ACC) at 59. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-11, 9-9 T6th), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Seminoles can get themselves back into a tie for the ACC lead with a win in South Bend, and with FSU’s sweep of Louisville, it has the edge for the No. 1 seed in Greensboro next week. As for the Fighting Irish, a win over the Noles would be their best victory by far.

3. Dayton Flyers (27-2, 16-0 1st A 10) at 52. Rhode Island Rams (20-8, 12-4 3rd), 9 p.m. (CBSSN)
On February 11th, Dayton took care of Rhode Island, 81-67, but the stakes are a bit higher tonight for the Rams, who are on the wrong side of the cut line after Sunday’s home loss to Saint Louis. Ending the Flyers’ dreams of a perfect A 10 season and No. 1 NCAA seed would do wonders for Rhody’s prospects.

Quad 2 For Host/Quad 1 For Visitor (2/1: 5 Games)

31–75 at Top 75

41. Xavier Musketeers (19-10, 8-8 T5th Big East) at 44. Providence Friars (17-12, 10-6 4th), 6:30 p.m. (FS1)
31. LSU Tigers (20-9, 11-5 T2nd SEC) at 47. Arkansas Razorbacks (18-11, 6-10 T10th), 7 p.m. (SECN)
45. Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-15, 7-11 12th Big Ten) at 54. Indiana Hoosiers (18-11, 8-10 11th Big Ten), 7 p.m. (BTN)
66. St. John’s Red Storm (15-14, 4-12 9th Big East) at 20. Butler Bulldogs (20-9, 8-8 T5th), 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
62. Georgetown Hoyas (15-14, 5-11 8th Big East) at 13. Creighton Bluejays (22-7, 11-5 T2nd), 8 p.m. (FSN)

Beyond Nova-Seton Hall, it’s a pretty important night in the Big East race. For starters, Creighton needs a win over Georgetown and Villanova win over Seton Hall to have any chance at stealing a share from the conference title from the Pirates. Providence still has a shot at the three seed, while Xavier and Butler are both playing to avoid a Wednesday opener. However, with Marquette losing at DePaul on Tuesday, both teams received a boost on the front. In the Big Ten, Indiana has dropped two straight and needs to sweep Minnesota to improve its chances to avoid having to play on Wednesday in Indianapolis. As for Arkansas, with Tennessee, South Carolina, and Mississippi State all above them in the bubble pecking order, a win over LSU in Fayetteville would be extremely helpful. Plus, the Razorbacks are in danger of dropping into next Wednesday’s SEC Tournament first round.

Quad 2 For Both Teams (2/2: 3 Games)

31–75 at 76–135

34. Florida Gators (18-11, 10-6 4th SEC) at 84. Georgia Bulldogs (15-14, 5-11 T12th), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
72. Clemson Tigers (15-13, 9-9 T6th ACC) at 87. Virginia Tech Hokies (15-14, 6-12 T11th), 7 p.m. (ACCN)
48. Virginia Cavaliers (21-7, 13-5 4th ACC) at 108. Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes (14-14, 6-12 T11th), 9 p.m. (ACCN)

The Gators and Cavaliers, currently relatively safely in the field, and Tigers, on the outside looking in, will look to avoid stubbing their toes on the road tonight. Florida has the biggest challenge, in my opinion, particularly coming off a Saturday loss at Tennessee.

Quad 3 For Host/Quad 1 For Visitor (3/1: 2 Games)

76–160 at Top 75

123. Texas A&M Aggies (14-14, 8-8 8th SEC) at 28. Auburn Tigers (24-5, 11-5 T2nd), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
92. TCU Horned Frogs (16-13, 7-9 7th Big 12) at 1. Kansas Jayhawks (26-3, 15-1 1st), 8 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))

Both Auburn and Kansas should pick up comfortable home wins tonight.

Quad 2 For Host/Quad 3 For Visitor (2/3: 1 Game)

31–75 at 136–240

56. Saint Louis Billikens (21-8, 10-6 5th A 10) at 161. George Mason Patriots (15-14, 4-12 12th), 7 p.m. (ESPN+ ($))

The Billikens are one of three six-loss teams in the hunt for the final quarterfinal bye at the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Duquesne Dukes won last night, while the St. Bonaventure Bonnies will be favored against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks this evening.

Quad 3 For Host/Quad 2 For Visitor (3/2: 1 Game)

76–160 at 76–135

82. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (20-9, 12-4 T1st AAC) at 112. Temple Owls (14-15, 6-10 8th), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

With a win, the Golden Hurricane will move a half-game up on Houston for first place with the Cougars visiting UConn on Thursday.

Quad 4 For Host/Quad 1 For Visitor (4/1: 1 Game)

161–353 at Top 75

175. Northwestern Wildcats (7-21, 2-16 T13th Big Ten) at 27. Wisconsin Badgers (19-10, 12-6 T3rd), 9 p.m. (BTN)

Incredibly, with a win tonight, the Badgers will move into a three-way tie at the top of the Big Ten with the Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins.

Quad 3 For Both Teams (3/3: 1 Game)

76–160 at 136–240

90. North Texas Mean Green (20-10, 14-3 1st C-USA) at 178. Charlotte 49ers (15-12, 9-7 T4th), 7 p.m. (CBS Sports on Facebook Live)

The Mean Green have already secured the top seed in next week’s Conference USA Tournament. As for the 49ers, they could still earn either the 4 or 5 seed. North Texas defeated Charlotte 81-72 in Denton on February 13th.

Conference Tournaments

Visit Conference Tournament Central and the 2020 Conference Tournaments Hub for full coverage.

NEC Quarterfinals

NEC Front Row will stream all four games.

Game 1: No. 8 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers (13-17, 7-11) at No. 1 Robert Morris Colonials (17-14, 13-5), 7 p.m.
The season series was a home split.

Game 2: No. 7 Bryant Bulldogs (15-16, 7-11) at No. 2 St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash (20-9, 13-5), 7 p.m.
The season series was a home split.

Game 3: No. 6 Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (11-20, 7-11) at No. 3 Sacred Heart Pioneers (19-12, 12-6), 7 p.m.
The Pioneers won the lone meeting at home.

Game 4: No. 5 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (11-18, 9-9) at No. 4 LIU Sharks (14-17, 9-9), 7 p.m.
The Sharks swept the season series.

Tonight’s four winners advance to Saturday’s semifinals, which will be reseeded.

Mountain West First Round

MWN will stream all three games.

Game 1: No. 9 Air Force Falcons (11-19, 5-13) vs. No. 8 Fresno State Bulldogs (11-18, 7-11), 3 p.m.
The Bulldogs swept the season series.

Winner gets the top-seeded San Diego State Aztecs in Thursday’s first quarterfinal.

Game 2: No. 10 San Jose Staté Spartans (7-23, 3-15) vs. No. 7 New Mexico Lobos (18-13, 7-11), approx. 5:30 p.m.
The season series was a home split.

The Utah State Aggies await the winner. Remember that New Mexico defeated USU on Saturday night.

Game 3: No. 11 Wyoming Cowboys (7-23, 2-16) vs. No. 6 Colorado State Rams (20-11, 11-7), approx. 8 p.m.
The Rams swept the season series.

The No. 3 seed, the Nevada Wolf Pack, lies in wait for the victor.

OVC First Round

ESPN+ ($) will stream both games.

Game 1: No. 8 Morehead State Eagles (13-18, 7-11) vs. No. 5 Tennessee State Tigers (17-14, 9-9), 7:30 p.m.
The season series was a home split.

The winner gets the fourth-seeded Eastern Kentucky Colonels in Thursday’s quarterfinals in this stepladder-bracketed tournament.

Game 2: No. 7 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (13-18, 8-10) vs. No. 6 Eastern Illinois Panthers (16-14, 9-9), approx. 10 p.m.
The Panthers won the lone meeting of the season at home.

The Austin Peay Governors, the No. 3 seed, will take on the winner in tomorrow’s nightcap in Evansville.

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