College Basketball: What to watch for this week

I'm The Rabbi, Video Editor of "On The Sportslines". This is the last week of the regular season for the major conferences and for some mid-majors, the start of their conference tournaments. The results of these games will shape the field of 68. Today, we focus on the regular season games that will impact bubble teams and seeding in the marquee conference tourneys.

Monday, 2/28

Kansas State At Texas

Why to Watch: Since I made the College Basketball Primer a week and a half ago, the fortunes of these teams have reversed. K-State has won 4 in row, including a win over Kansas and doing what Texas didn't do in that same time span: beat Nebraska on the road. Now that the Wildcats have firmly positioned themselves in the NCAA's, maybe they can move their seeding up in the Big 12 tourney (they are currently 5th). Texas might be out of running for a #1 NCAA seed with a loss in this game. The Longhorns lost to Nebraska and Colorado in consecutive weeks, after having an undefeated record in-conference until that game in Lincoln.

Tuesday, 3/1

Vanderbilt At Kentucky

This will be a battle for 2nd place in the SEC East, which gets you a bye into the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Kentucky got a huge victory today against Florida at home, and winning against Vandy will establish some good momentum going into the postseason. The Commodores have won 6 out of their last 7, with their only loss coming at home against Tennessee. Vandy and Kentucky are also fighting for a possible Top 4 seed in the NCAA tourney.

Alabama At Florida

Tuesday is an SEC-fest in terms of tournament implications. Due to Georgia's struggles of late, Alabama has moved up in the SEC pecking order when it comes to who's making the tourney from there. However, the Crimson Tide aren't stable in their tournament position just yet, especially after a loss today at Ole Miss. A win over a Top 20 team on the road will create a ton of stability for their postseason spot. While Florida is assured the East's #1 seed in the upcoming SEC tournament, the Gators still have a trip at Vanderbilt in the wings next Saturday. A loss here could leave the SEC East regular-season champs with a 3 game losing streak going into the conference tourney.

Wednesday, 3/2

Cincinnati At Marquette

This week, both teams scored the marquee wins that make the possibility of 11 teams from the Big East getting into the tourney more likely. However, Guard Darius Johnson-Odom and the Golden Eagles need another statement victory this week. That statement is also needed by the road team, the Bearcats. Cincy has won 3 in a row, FINALLY getting one more big road win against Georgetown in that span. The winner here probably becomes the 10th lock from the Big East in the NCAA tournament, the loser may need a solid run in the Big East Tournament to become part of the field of 68.

Utah State At New Mexico State

Why is there a WAC game here in this post? It's because of the Utah State Aggies, that's why. At 25-3, Utah State has a marquee profile. However, they need every single win possible to make sure a conference tournament loss doesn't send them into the NIT. The New Mexico State Aggies want to sew up the #2 seed in the WAC conference tournament, and would make a huge statement to Utah State for a third possible meeting 10 days later in the WAC Tournament Final.

Thursday, 3/3

UCLA At Washington

There are 3 Pac-10 hopefuls for the NCAA's, and these are two of them. The Bruins had a win today over previously streaking Arizona by 22 points, putting them in a tie with the Wildcats for first in the Pac-10. To gain a #1 seed to the Pac-10 tournament at the Staples Center, the Bruins will need a win in order to downgrade the tourney hopes of the Huskies. Washington is still on the right side of the bubble....for now. A loss here will almost force Isaiah Thomas (no relation to you know who, thank God) and Washington to win at least one game in the Pac-10 tourney to cement their NCAA spot. The team from the Pacific Northwest does not want to leave anything to chance.

Saturday, 3/5

Michigan State At Michigan

The Spartans and Wolverines are natural basketball rivals, but they never have been good at the same time. That's still the case as they are both very mediocre. Despite a win today at Minnesota, there have been few times when Michigan has impressed the public with their victories this year. The Wolverines will need to win here and follow that with at least a semi-final run in the Big-10 tournament to give them bubble consideration. The Spartans are currently 16-11 and in my view, will need 20 wins to assure themselves a NCAA tourney spot. Michigan State's roller coaster ride has been up a little more lately, but the Spartans have lost the luster they came in with to start the season. They have Purdue at home tomorrow, Iowa on Wednesday, and this game on Saturday remaining. With a sweep of all three games, the Spartans can gain some shine back.

Texas At Baylor

As mentioned earlier, Texas has lost on the road the previous two Saturdays against inferior opponents. The Bears are a little stronger than Nebraska or Colorado, the two teams that beat Texas. Baylor is 6-7 in-conference (they play Texas A & M tonight) and can not afford to end up with a losing record in the Big 12, which is weaker than it was last year. The bubble may be weak, but if Baylor keeps stumbling (they've lost 3 of their last 4), the Bears will go from Elite 8 in 2010 to no dance in 2011. Baylor played Texas very close on the road in that early February loss. Perhaps with the scene changing to Waco, the result - for Baylor - will change as well.

Duke At North Carolina

Come on, it's the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels! You don't need a reason to watch! This network prime time game will match up the ACC's two best teams. Outside of a blemish at Georgia Tech, no one has figured out North Carolina....except Duke. The Blue Devils won the first matchup between the two back in the beginning of February, when Guard Nolan Smith went for 34 points in a 79-73 victory for the home team. Smith is starting to get mentioned in the national player of the year race. Duke overcame a 14 point deficit at halftime in the UNC game to get the victory that has kept them on top of the ACC for most of the season. A win at home by the Tar Heels will most likely give UNC a share of the ACC Title. I don't think Duke wants to share with anyone.

Sunday, 3/6

Wisconsin at Ohio State

One of the final games of college basketball's regular season will be one of the most intense. The Top 3 this season in the Big-10 (Wisconsin, OSU, and Purdue) have all stayed undefeated at home. The Badgers will try to continue the success they had back on February 12th at home against the Buckeyes. Badger Guard Jordan Taylor had 21 second half points in the Badgers 71-67 "upset". Ohio State remembers that game, and will be looking for payback on Sunday. While improving their NCAA resume is at stake for the Badgers, the Buckeyes will be playing for a #1 seed. Freshman Forward phenom Jared Sullinger and the Buckeyes have struggled a little bit since that game in Madison. A win in Columbus will bring back all the mojo for the Buckeyes, I believe.

Later this week, I will look at the mid-major conference tournaments. College Basketball's postseason will start up this week, and it will be glorious. I love this time of year more than any other. Until next time...I am The Rabbi.