5 must-watch games this week
Every Sunday for the remainder of the college basketball season, theScore will highlight five games from the upcoming week that deserve your attention.
No. 16 Oklahoma at No. 12 Iowa State
Monday, March 2 at 9 p.m. ET
James H. Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
Iowa State is on a two-game losing streak for the first time this season after dropping close games to Baylor and Kansas State. Junior forward Georges Niang has remained consistent with 21 points and four rebounds against the Wildcats, but the Cyclones need more production from senior guard Bryce Dejean-Jones who was virtually invisible in the team's most recent losses.
No. 20 West Virginia at No. 8 Kansas
Tuesday, March 3 at 9 p.m. ET
Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
It wasn't that long ago - Feb. 16 - that West Virginia pulled off a massive upset to earn a narrow 62-61 victory over Kansas. The Jayhawks have traded wins and losses since and could really use a redemption victory over the Mountaineers for a strong end to their season. In order to do that, Kansas will need a more balanced offensive effort with junior forward Perry Ellis currently taking most of the load.
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 17 Louisville
Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. ET
KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky
After winning three straight, Louisville seems to have found its groove again after going 1-3 in mid-February. Notre Dame will be one of the Cardinals' toughest tests and a good measuring stick of where the team is at. Sophomore guard Terry Rozier will need to be the offensive anchor again, and Louisville will need more than the 10 points he put up against Florida State on Saturday.
Florida at No. 1 Kentucky
Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. ET
Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Florida was really close to derailing Kentucky's undefeated season the last time they met on Feb. 7. The Wildcats pulled through, however, and managed to hold off the Gators for a 68-61 victory, but there were question marks about how they got to that point. If there's one team that could upset the Wildcats, it would probably be Florida. Get ready for things to get interesting.
No. 4 Duke at No. 15 North Carolina
Saturday, March 7 at 9 p.m. ET
Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
After dropping its first meeting of the season with Duke 92-90 in Durham, North Carolina is at home and looking for a win of in one of the biggest college basketball rivalries out there. The Tar Heels need star performances from junior guard Marcus Paige and junior forward Brice Johnson for them to stand a chance against a very dangerous Duke squad that wants to double up on its rivals this season.