10 Must-Watch College Basketball Matchups This Week

North Carolina at No. 2 Duke - Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET

Time: Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN

A ”must watch” list is almost required to include a Duke versus North Carolina matchup. The UNC Tar Heels are struggling and are fortunate to be in the NCAA Tournament picture as the calendar turns to February. On the other side of the court will be the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils and sensational freshman Cooper Flagg. Flagg is worth tuning in for all on his own, and the presumed No. 1 draft pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has led Duke to the top of the ACC.

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No. 12 Kentucky at No. 8 Tennessee - Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET

Time: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN

The Kentucky Wildcats have lost two straight games and dropped out of the top ten. Tennessee is coming off a heartbreaking loss at Auburn and has slipped to No. 8 with UK coming to town and a matchup with Florida on Saturday. Both teams already have three league losses and this is a huge week to determine which team(s) can challenge Auburn for the league crown.

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Wake Forest at No. 21 Louisville - Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET

Time: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ACC Network

Pat Kelsey deserves praise for quickly turning around the Cardinals’ program. Louisville is ranked 21st in the country and is 8-1 in the ACC, one game behind the Duke Blue Devils in the league. Louisville is red-hot and the winner of nine straight heading into this contest. The game is critical for Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons continue to slip down the bubble order under Steve Forbes. Wake Forest is 15-5, but they have no wins against ranked teams and don’t have a lot of chances for quality wins remaining on the schedule.

No. 18 Wisconsin at Maryland - Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET

Time: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Big Ten Network

The Wisconsin Badgers have been one of the more interesting teams in the country this season. They play reasonably quickly and have the seventh-best offense on the court, according to Ken Pomeroy (KenPom). They are 6-3, half a game ahead of Maryland and in a jumble below Michigan State in the Big Ten. The Terrapins got a road win at flailing Indiana on Sunday and now return home for a good test against the Badgers.

No. 4 Alabama at No. 14 Mississippi State - Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. ET

Time: Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: SEC Network

The fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Starkville to take on the 14th-ranked Mississippi State in another ranked showdown in the SEC. The Tide have won three in a row and have been fantastic on the road this season. Mississippi State is 16-4, but they have lost three of their past five contests and could use a marquee win on their resume.

Indiana at No. 11 Purdue - Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET

Time: Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: FOX

The Mike Woodson era is teetering on the brink in Bloomington, and a trip to West Lafayette could hardly come at a worse time for the embattled head coach of the Hoosiers. Purdue obliterated Michigan last Friday night and now faces an Indiana team that has struggled against quality competition. The Boilermakers are not the elite team they were with Zach Edey, but they are still good, and Matt Painter has them in the thick of the Big Ten title race.

No. 5 Florida at No. 8 Tennessee - Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET

Time: Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN

Saturday is a loaded day of hoops, and it begins with a noon clash between the fifth-ranked Florida Gators and the eighth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. Florida embarrassed the Vols a few weeks ago with a 73-43 walloping in Gainesville. This represents an opportunity for revenge for Tennessee and another important game in the SEC standings as both teams jockey to stay within touching distance of Auburn.

No. 1 Auburn at No. 23 Ole Miss - Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET

Time: Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN

Speaking of Auburn, Bruce Pearl’s No. 1 Tigers face a stern test at Chris Beard’s Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford. The Auburn Tigers are perched atop the SEC, and their lone blemish is a six-point defeat at Duke earlier this season. Ole Miss is 4-3, but they have three straight losses and could desperately use a marquee win for their tournament resume.

No. 11 Kansas at Baylor - Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET

Time: Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN

Are things okay in Lawrence? The Kansas Jayhawks seemingly had their game against Houston wrapped up but inconceivably found a way to lose to the Co. Theys and now trail the league leaders by three games and are just 14-5 overall. They have had a demanding schedule, but Kansas does not look like an elite squad. They travel to Waco to play the Baylor Bears, who are also 5-3 in the Big 12 and an impressive 9-1 at home.

North Carolina at No. 2 Duke - Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET

Time: Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN

A ”must watch” list is almost required to include a Duke versus North Carolina matchup. The UNC Tar Heels are struggling and are fortunate to be in the NCAA Tournament picture as the calendar turns to February. On the other side of the court will be the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils and sensational freshman Cooper Flagg. Flagg is worth tuning in for all on his own, and the presumed No. 1 draft pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has led Duke to the top of the ACC.

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