The day has been dominated by the National Signing Day news, which you can find great coverage of across the Bloguin network, but that doesn't mean there isn't a hot night of college hoops action. 6 ranked teams go on the road for some tough conference action.
Image via AP / The Wichita Eagle / Travis Heying
6:30 PM
Nebraska at (10) Michigan – Big 10 Network
Michigan -13
The Wolverines try to bounce back from their first conference loss against the Cornhuskers. Nebraska has turned some heads by winning 3 of 4. The thing about that is, they won all 3 at home. Nebraska has not won a road game yet. If you count neutral site games, they've won one. Against Georgia. So that that tells you how bad that's been. Michigan won in Lincoln earlier this year with a Derrick Walton layup with 21 seconds left. Glenn Robinson Jr had 19, Jordan Morgan 15 and the other 3 starters had at least 10. Terran Petteway had 16 for Nebraska in the first meeting.
7 PM
(13) St. Louis at Saint Joseph's
St Louis -1
The A-10 leaders are led by 17.9 points from Jordairr Jett and 14.9 from Dwayne Evans. St Louis hasn't lost on the road this season. But they haven't won a road game by double figures since they played SIU-Edwardsville November 13. That was a long time ago. St Joe's has gotten themselves in the conference race at 5-2 by winning 5 of 6. That includes a big home win over UMass on Saturday.
Boston College at (20) Virginia – ESPN2
Virginia -13.5
The Cavaliers have put 5 wins in a row down since the loss at Duke behind Malcolm Brogdon. UVA has won their last 6 home games by double figures. BC has lost 4 of 5, including a tough buzzer beater at ND this weekend.
(21) Oklahoma at West Virginia – ESPNU
WVU -3
The Mountaineers begin a killer stretch of 4 games against ranked opponents tonight against the Sooners. WVU has been playing pretty well lately, winning 3 of 4 with the only loss being at Oklahoma State. They took care of Kansas State over the weekend. The Sooners just had a 4 game win streak snapped against Iowa State. This game has some scorers. Buddy Hield averages nearly 19 a game for OU, Juwan Staten 20.4 for WVU.
(25) Pittsburgh at Miami – ESPN3 / Regional
Pittsburgh -5
A couple of ACC losing streaks look to be snapped tonight. The Panthers dropped a pair of home games last week. Miami has lost 3 ACC games in a row. The Hurricanes did defeat Norfolk State over the weekend. That doesn't quite count as an ACC team.
8 PM
(4) Wichita State at Indiana State – ESPN3 / Regional
WSU -4
The Shockers have been thrashing everyone since an OT game against Missouri State on January 11. That includes a 20 point beatdown of Indiana State on January 18. The Shockers have won their last six by 22, 20, 15, 17, 12 and 14. Indiana State is 8-2 in the league, the only other team above .500. The Shockers held the Sycamores to 31.4% shooting, 5 of 20 from 3, while shooting 43% themselves. Ron Baker had 16, Fred VanVleet 15 and Chadrack Lufile had a 10-11 double double. Dawon Cummings had 19 for ISU, something he would like to post under winning circumstances.
9 PM
(5) San Diego State at Boise State – CBS Sports Network
Boise St -2
The Aztecs try to keep their 18 game winning streak alive against the team that gave them the toughest test, by margin, in Mountain West play. Utah State sent them to overtime so that was probably the overall toughest test. Anyway, San Diego State won the first meeting 69-66. Xavier Thames and Winston Shepard both scored 16 for the Aztecs, Thames with 7 boards. Derrick Marks had 21 for Boise, who has 1 win over someone above them in the MWC standings, but one of his misses was a potential game winner down one. This could be a fun one.
(14) Louisville at Houston – ESPNU
Louisville -14.5
The Cardinals look for the season sweep of Houston. UofL won the first meeting by 39, shooting 51.5%. Louisville hit 15 of 28 from 3, led by 5 of 6 by Wayne Blackshear. Blackshear won't be playing tonight after suffering a concussion in practice. Russ Smith had 18 on 6 of 8, 4 of 5, in the first game. TaShawn Thomas is a solid player for the Cougars. He had 16-11 the first time. Houston's margins, in victory and defeat, since the first Louisville game have been 39, 22 (w), 23, 7, 37, 23. Not a lot of nail biters.
11 PM
Portland at (23) Gonzaga – Root Sports
Gonzaga -14.5
The Bulldogs will probably avenge their only conference loss tonight. Portland shot 52%, 57%, 77% to win in Portland. Bryce Pressley led the way with 16 points and 9 assists, while Alec Wintering had 14. Gonzaga shot 45%, 27% and 68%. Not great. That's why they lost. Sam Dower had 14 off the bench.
ALSO ON TV
7 PM
South Florida at UCF – ESPNews
La Salle at UMass – CBS Sports Network
Pretty important game for fading UMass. The Minutemen have dropped 3 of 4. All three have been on the road though.
8:30 PM
Minnesota at Purdue – Big 10 Network
Another pretty important game, this time for Minnesota. They've dropped 2 straight and 4 of 6. The Gophers beat Purdue 82-79 a month ago behind 18 and 9 from Austin Hollins.
9 PM
Stanford at California – ESPN2
This game could clear up the muddled Pac 12. Cal is 6-3 following the huge win against Arizona. Stanford is 5-4. The schools met in their Pac 12 opener with Cal winning 69-62. Jordan Mathews had 20, Richard Solomon 14-13. Dwight Powell had 16 for the Cardinal.
Nevada at Utah State – Root Sports
9:30 PM
Washington State at Colorado – Pac 12 Network
The Buffaloes haven't been the same team with Spencer Dinwiddie. Josh Scott, 19-9, and Askia Booker, 18, pulled the Buffs past Wazzou 71-70 in OT with Dinwiddie in the first meeting. Dexter Kernich-Drew had 24 for the Cougars.
11 PM
Wyoming at New Mexico – ESPNU
As the Lobos try to keep pace, and potential tie, the Aztecs, they face a tough Wyoming squad. The Cowboys have roped 5 of 6 since dropping one to New Mexico in overtime. Cameron Bairstow had 15 for New Mexico, with 12 from Alex Kirk and Cleveland Thomas respectively. Wyoming's Riley Grabau had 24.
WATCH ESPN GAMES
7 PM
High Point at Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers lead the entire Big South, and the BS South, with a 6-2 mark. High Point is one of three teams in the North at 5-3. CC has won 4 in a row, HP 3.
Youngstown State at Wright State
Eastern Michigan at Akron
The Zips are tied at 6-2 atop the MAC East with Ohio and coming off a disappointing loss to Kent State. EMU has lost 3 of 4.
(:30) Auburn at South Carolina
8 PM
Alabama at Arkansas
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
The Vols try to get to 6-3 in the SEC and boost their NCAA stock. Vandy has won 3 in a row, holding opponents to 55, 54 and 49. Tennessee's 5 SEC wins have been by 18, 11, 7, 16 and 17.
Missouri State at Evansville
9 PM
Virginia Tech at Florida State
The Noles look to be one of those teams that are floating around the bubble. Losing to the worst team in the ACC wouldn't help.
UNLV at Colorado State
After looking shaky to start MWC play, UNLV has won 4 in a row, 5 of 6 overall. CSU has dropped 3 straight, 4 of 5, all by single digits.
Mississippi State at Texas A&M
THE REST
12 PM
Peru State College at Omaha
This did not come out early just for this game. Still don't know where Peru State College is located.
7 PM
Campbell at UNC Asheville
VMI at Gardner-Webb
Both of those are games that match 5-3 teams in their respective Big South divisions against each other.
Longwood at Presbyterian
Boston at Navy
Lafayette at Bucknell
Lehigh at Army
Charleston at Delaware
The 9-0 Blue Hens try to make it 10 in the first of two meetings with 4-4 Charleston.
Hofstra at Northeastern
William & Mary at UNC-Wilmington
UMass-Lowell at Albany
Dayton at George Mason
Duquesne at George Washington
St Bonaventure at Richmond
New Hampshire at UMBC
Bowling Green at Toledo
The Rockets are the 6-2 leaders in the MAC West. Julius Brown averages 17 and 5.7 assists.
Ball State at Buffalo
Kent State at Central Michigan
Ohio at Western Michigan
The 6-2 Bobcats face the 5-3 Broncos. Maurice Ndour's 16 and 8 lead Ohio.
(:30) Radford at Charleston Southern
(:30) American at Loyola (MD)
The 10-0 American team leads the Patriot League. That sounds fitting. Jesse Reed's 15.2 points lead a well balanced attack where 5 players average at least 9 points.
8 PM
Illinois-Chicago at Green Bay
The 8-1 Phoenix host the winless Flames.GB won the first meeting by 5 thanks to 23 from Alec Brown and 21 from Keifer Sykes.
Northern Iowa at Illinois State
9 PM
Fresno State at Air Force
