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The best college hoops games to watch down the stretch
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The best college hoops games to watch down the stretch

It may seem like the dog days of the college hoops season, but while the weather is cold outside, the play is heating up on the hardwood. Conference season is going strong, and we've already had some big games go down with a bunch more the rest of the way.

That is true in any season, but this year there has been so much movement in the rankings and the standings. One week we think we know who the contenders are only for it to shake out completely the next. Who knew Purdue would be blowing everyone out after the Boilermakers had a horrible time in the Bahamas? How does Duke lose to Boston College? Michigan State was a world beater one day, then losing games right after. What's going on with Arizona and Arizona State? Who will be the kings of the SEC? Will the Big Ten's decision to end its regular season a week early help or hinder the conference?

There are so many questions, and the 16 games we have listed here may provide some of the answers. Some may decide who wins these leagues, and some will factor into seeding. All will be fun to watch. So let's look at the 16 games you won't want to miss heading into March Madness.

 
1 of 16

Florida at Kentucky (Jan. 20)

Florida at Kentucky (Jan. 20)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

What do we know about these two teams? In what is arguably the best basketball rivalry in the SEC, either the Gators or Wildcats have won at least a share of the SEC title in each of the last eight years and had six of the last nine conference players of the year. Both were preseason picks to do damage this season, but both have had their ups and downs. Kentucky is struggling to turn its freshmen-heavy roster into a cohesive unit while Florida is trying to get KeVaughn Allen going. This year, the SEC's "other" teams are stepping up so a win here (and in their March 3 finale) is paramount toward winning another SEC crown.

 
2 of 16

Kansas at Oklahoma (Jan. 23)

Kansas at Oklahoma (Jan. 23)
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Big 12 is simply awesome this season, and Oklahoma's Trae Young has been one of the biggest reasons why. He leads the nation in scoring and assists and has the Sooners in the thick of the league race. However, they've been on a bit of a slide and could really use a win at home over the Jayhawks to feel as if they have staying power (the rematch in Lawrence is Feb. 19). The schedule is simply brutal for both teams, but Kansas has a much bigger margin for error than Young and the Sooners do. Still, seeing Young go up against the Big 12's mightiest program will be a thrill.

 
3 of 16

Virginia at Duke (Jan. 27)

Virginia at Duke (Jan. 27)
Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Duke entered the season as the favorite to win its sixth national championship, but it is Virginia that surged up the polls and is currently atop the ACC standings. The last time Virginia visited Cameron Indoor Stadium, Grayson Allen banked a shot at the buzzer to give the Blue Devils a 63-62 win back in 2016. Allen will lead his group of talented freshmen against that vaunted Cavs' pack-line defense in what could be the tiebreaker that determines the ACC champion.

 
4 of 16

Kentucky at West Virginia (Jan. 27)

Kentucky at West Virginia (Jan. 27)
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

These two schools will meet for the first time in the regular season, though they've met three times in the NCAA Tournament. West Virginia has been solid this year in the ultra-competitive Big 12 while Kentucky has struggled at times in the suddenly stout SEC. This will be an interesting gauge of both teams: how Kentucky's young players react in Morgantown's raucous atmosphere while seeing how West Virginia's defense holds up against the Wildcats' depth of athletes. This SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup should be fun.

 
5 of 16

Creighton at Villanova (Feb. 1)

Creighton at Villanova (Feb. 1)
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Not only are both teams good, but they sure know how to score points. In a very un-Big East stat, both teams are in the top 10 nationally in points per game, both averaging over 88 points per contest. Villanova is near the top in field goal shooting and three-point shooting while Creighton makes its mark with pace, ball movement, crisp passing and limiting second shots on defense. Both are pretty good defensively in differing ways, which should make this game (and when they meet again in Omaha Feb. 24) entertaining to watch. 

 
6 of 16

Ohio State at Purdue (Feb. 7)

Ohio State at Purdue (Feb. 7)
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

What has gotten into Ohio State? After losing three of four around Thanksgiving, the Buckeyes have reeled off an 11-1 mark, including crushing Michigan State. They are currently tied with Purdue with a 7-0 Big Ten record and won't play a true road game until the two first-place teams meet in West Lafayette. Purdue? All the Boilermakers have done is win 14 straight since that holiday. Both squads have been smoking hot since turkey day so this could turn into a real treat.

 
7 of 16

Purdue at Michigan State (Feb. 10)

Purdue at Michigan State (Feb. 10)
Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

After Thanksgiving, Purdue had lost to Tennessee and Western Kentucky in the Battle 4 Atlantis while Michigan State spanked North Carolina, and it seemed as if the Big Ten was going to be the Spartans and then everyone else. Then Michigan State lost to Ohio State and Michigan while Purdue has spent the last two months piling up blowout wins. Still, many feel as if this is the de facto Big Ten regular-season championship game. With apologies to Ohio State, these two seem to be the best in the conference so their showdown in East Lansing should be epic.

 
8 of 16

Gonzaga at Saint Mary's (Feb. 10)

Gonzaga at Saint Mary's (Feb. 10)
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Their first game was a thriller, a three-point Gaels win in Spokane. The rematch should be much of the same as one of the best rivalries on the West Coast reignites, this time in Moraga. The Gaels have been trying to topple the Zags for quite some time in the WCC and have the team to do so. Saint Mary's Jock Landale went for 26 points and 12 rebounds in the first meeting. 

 
9 of 16

Kentucky at Auburn (Feb. 14)

Kentucky at Auburn (Feb. 14)
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

This Valentine's Day will have an unlikely big game: Kentucky at Auburn. Auburn is having a breakout year despite getting off to a rough start when Chuck Person was implicated in the FBI probe. However, the Tigers are sitting at 16-2 with a favorable schedule the rest of the way. In fact, their Valentine's Day game against Kentucky is the lone game against a team that is currently ranked. If Auburn can win this one, it would be a huge step to winning its first SEC title since 1999.

 
10 of 16

Arizona at Arizona State (Feb. 15)

Arizona at Arizona State (Feb. 15)
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The Pac-12 is having a down season. These two teams have both been near the top of the rankings but have seen their own inconsistent play cost them games thus far. Arizona had one of the worst Thanksgiving tournaments a power team could fathom, while at the same time Arizona State was rocketing up the rankings with surprising wins. The Sun Devils have since come down to Earth and are currently in a 2-4 slump in conference play. Arizona not only has the talent to win the Pac-12, but to win a national championship. Arizona State has shown it can beat anyone. If these two can work out their issues, this should be a huge game in front of a raucous crowd in Tempe (Arizona won the first matchup).

 
11 of 16

Villanova at Xavier (Feb. 17)

Villanova at Xavier (Feb. 17)
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Arguably the two best teams in the Big East will face off in Cincinnati when Villanova visits Xavier. Their first meeting was a 24-point blowout win for the Wildcats, but the rematch will come during a difficult stretch for 'Nova. In the first game, Villanova was hot (55 percent from the field) while the Musketeers missed 17 of their 20 three-point attempts with star Trevon Bluiett having a horrible night (4-12 from the field and 1-5 from the free throw line). Expect Xavier to come out swinging at the Cintas Center to try to topple the 'Cats and make a run at the Big East title.

 
12 of 16

West Virginia at Kansas (Feb. 17)

West Virginia at Kansas (Feb. 17)
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Some people feel that West Virginia is the program that could end Kansas' 13-year Big 12 championship streak. The Mountaineers have a great home-court advantage, great coaching, experience and that great defensive system that will be tough for anyone in the Big 12. Right now, they have lost two straight games (including at home to Kansas) so winning the rematch at Allen Fieldhouse is a must. In the first game, Kansas' stars, Svi Mykhailiuk and Devonte' Graham, brought home the win by hitting key shots down the stretch as the Jayhawks overcame a 16-point deficit. The 'Neers can hang with Kansas but must play a full 40 minutes if they want to leave Lawrence with a win. 

 
13 of 16

Wichita State at Cincinnati (Feb. 18)

Wichita State at Cincinnati (Feb. 18)
Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Let's just come out and say it: This is the game in the American (well, until their rematch in Wichita on March 4). These two have been top 15 teams all season long and easily the most talented teams in the conference. These games are huge for both as the Bearcats want to break through and become a national player for the first time since the Bob Huggins era while the Shockers want to show their might in their first season in a new league. 

 
14 of 16

Ohio State at Michigan (Feb. 18)

Ohio State at Michigan (Feb. 18)
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

This is usually known as one of the best college football rivalries, but the basketball edition should be pretty good this season. Both have beaten Michigan State this year, and both are having solid seasons after some early hiccups. In a down Big Ten, games like this are huge to raise the image of the league — and so stars like Moritz Wagner can get their shine.

 
15 of 16

Gonzaga at BYU (Feb. 24)

Gonzaga at BYU (Feb. 24)
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, BYU beat Gonzaga in Spokane in the regular-season finale for the Zags' first loss of the season. BYU has their number, beating Gonzaga four times in the last four seasons, which equals the rest of the West Coast Conference combined! Again these two will meet in their regular-season finale after meeting in Spokane Feb. 3.

 
16 of 16

North Carolina at Duke (Mar. 3)

North Carolina at Duke (Mar. 3)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

One of the best rivalries in sports gets renewed in Cameron Indoor Stadium in the regular-season finale. One of these schools has won at least a share of the regular-season conference championship in 11 of the last 14 seasons. The two first meet Feb. 8 in Chapel Hill, but this game will go a long way to determine ACC seeding, NCAA Tournament seeding and possibly the ACC title. It will be Grayson Allen's senior night, too.

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