The best remaining games on the college hoops schedule

The fact that current No. 9 Maryland is tied for the Big Ten lead is not a surprise. But Illinois sitting in the same spot? Yes, that's a bit of a head-turner, but the Illini will enter this contest ranked 20th in the country and riding a seven-game home winning streak. Also, Illinois is looking for payback after blowing a 14-point halftime lead during a 59-58 loss at Maryland on Dec. 7.

LSU is no longer the lone unbeaten in SEC play but still sits atop the league standings. Auburn has won five in a row and also won 15 straight at home, which makes this is a major test, even for an LSU squad that features five players averaging at least 11 points. LSU has dropped the last two meetings at Auburn, but the most recent there came in January 2018. 

Seton Hall is no longer undefeated in the Big East. Villanova, meanwhile, has also hit a rough patch but is still the king of this conference until someone is able to knock it down for good. Myles Powell (22.0 points per game) might be the best player in the country, but is this the year he helps the Pirates end their lengthy road losing streak at Villanova? 

OK, this version of the Tar Heels is not what we usually expect from the storied program. Injuries have hindered Roy Williams' team that sits 10-12 and is slated to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. However, this is still the best rivalry in college hoops, and North Carolina has won three in a row at home in the series. We'll see if pride can prevail for the Tar Heels in this first of two meetings.

This is by far the best rivalry in the West Coast Conference. The second-ranked Zags, assuming they get by Loyola Marymount, will be aiming for a 17th straight win entering this contest. Saint Mary's is no longer a Top 25 team, but at home for the first installment of this rivalry, it should give Gonzaga a game. However, the Zags have won three straight in Northern California.

Both teams are in the mix for the ACC title, but this has been a one-sided series for a long time. The Blue Devils have won the last four meetings, while the Seminoles last experienced victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2012. However, this Florida State squad is 19-3 and full of belief that it can take the next step in reaching a Final Four for the first time since 1972.

The Spartans are still in the mix for a Big Ten title, but times are rough after dropping a second straight game to Penn State at home. They will visit Michigan before this contest, and a loss to their rival and another at upstart Illinois, where they fell last season, could essentially put an end to the Spartans' chances of a league title. For Illinois, it's another opportunity to make a serious statement.

West Virginia probably won't win the Big 12, but it sure can have a say in who does. First come the Jayhawks, who enter this weekend in second place. The Jayhawks, though, have lost five of their last six trips to Morgantown. At home this season, the Mountaineers are 12-0 and holding opponents to just under 60 points per contest.

We head to the mid-major ranks and the Ohio Valley Conference. Heading into play on Feb. 6, both Murray and Austin Peay were 10-0 in the league and have combined to win 21 consecutive games. Each squad is also undefeated at home, meaning the Governors might have the edge in this one. They'll conclude the regular season at Murray on Feb. 29.

Should Michigan State remain a serious Big Ten contender at this point, here's a game that presents another huge challenge for Tom Izzo's guys. Maryland, however, has lost six of the last seven meetings in this series and last won at East Lansing in December 2014. This certainly will be one of the more intriguing matchups down the stretch of the regular season. 

The game has already sold out, and if things hold pat in the Missouri Valley Conference, first place in the league could be on the line. UNI, a sexy pick as a bracket buster come NCAA Tournament time, beat the Ramblers, 67-62, in overtime at home last month. However, the Gentile Center should be rocking for this highly anticipated mid-major contest.

We're banking on the Aztecs sitting at 25-0 when this contest rolls around. The nation's lone unbeaten, SDSU has three remaining regular-season road games, and this one plus the finale at Nevada are likely to be the most challenging. Boise State takes a five-game winning streak into this weekend, but more importantly, has won 10 straight at home. It's also won the last three meetings there vs. San Diego State.

At the moment, Kentucky is chasing LSU in the SEC. That might not be the case when this contest tips off. Prior to last season, the Wildcats had won three in a row at LSU, and as we get later in the season, they are likely to get stronger in preparation for the NCAA Tournament. LSU also has trips to Auburn and Florida to deal with this month.

As of Feb. 6, Houston was the only team in the American Athletic Conference part of the Top 25. However, Tulsa actually was in first place at the time. Now Cincinnati is also vying for the league title and visits Houston on March 1. But if Tulsa, which already beat the Cougars at home on Jan. 11, remains a serious contender in the AAC, this is another opportunity to solidify that thinking.

We could be looking at a matchup of top five teams, as it currently stands now. The Bears are the No. 1 team in the country and already won at Lawrence, 67-55, on Jan. 11. This very well could be when Baylor finally beats the Jayhawks more than once in a season, or in back-to-back meetings, in 60 years.

The race for the Pac-12 regular-season crown is pretty crowded, which is a good thing. Colorado, USC and Stanford are also in the hunt, but these are arguably the conference's two best teams. The Ducks, who needed overtime to beat the Wildcats at home early last month, are the more established team. However, Arizona might have the best young talent in the country. Round 2 should be a good one.

Louisville's first ACC loss (and only one as of Feb. 6) came at home to Florida State on Jan. 4. To say the surging Cardinals will be looking for payback would be somewhat of an understatement. However, the Cardinals continue to roll and if they remain atop the ACC by this contest, expect the home of the Seminoles, who also are eyeing a league title, to be rocking.

There are several big matchups on the penultimate weekend of the college basketball regular season, but this one stands out. The SEC title could be at stake here, and the Tigers and Wildcats have built a nice, budding rivalry in recent seasons. Auburn rallied at home to beat Kentucky this month, so the intensity at Rupp Arena should be heavy for the rematch.

At the moment, these are the two best teams in the Atlantic 10. They will actually meet at Dayton on Feb. 11, but Obi Toppin (19.7 points, 8.0 rebounds per game) and his Flyers have not lost at home since Rhode Island topped them last March. However, this is the one to circle, especially if the conference crown can be had for the Flyers, who should face a difficult road challenge, nonetheless, in this contest.

There could potentially be a lot to play for on this final weekend of the regular season, especially for Baylor. Will the Bears still be ranked No. 1? Will they still lead the Big 12? On the other side is West Virginia, at home, with its smothering defense. The Bears will most certainly have their work cut out for them in this finale.