The ultimate Saturday of school basketball’s common season is highlighted by a 6 p.m. ET showdown between No. 4 Duke and North Carolina. It marks legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final sport on the bench after 42 seasons main this system, and there are main implications for each groups. The Blue Devils may have a win to safe the outright ACC title, and the Tar Heels are searching for a victory to spice up their NCAA Tournament probabilities.
Whereas the Tobacco Street rivalry will take up plenty of oxygen throughout the sport, it is simply one in every of a number of key video games on a loaded slate within the first weekend of March. Among the many different large showdowns are a pair of SEC clashes on CBS, starting with a midday tilt between No. 25 Alabama and LSU and persevering with with a 2 p.m. sport between No. 7 Kentucky and Florida.
If the Wildcats win, they might be in place to clinch a share of the SEC title, relying on how Auburn fares in opposition to South Carolina. Equally, there will likely be league title implications within the Huge 12 as No. 6 Kansas hosts No. 21 Texas and No. 3 Baylor hosts Iowa State. Because the postseason looms — in actual fact it is already begun in a number of conferences — the depth usually ratchets up in school basketball, and that must be on show Saturday.
Our specialists have picks and predictions for the day’s largest video games right here.
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No. 25 Alabama at LSU
12 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Each groups are headed for at-large bids to the NCAA Match. Each are additionally assured to start SEC Match play in subsequent Thursday’s second spherical and will likely be on monitor to face a difficult quarterfinal opponent. So it isn’t as if this sport has some huge implication within the league standings. But it surely’s an enormous contest for 2 groups needing momentum. Residence court docket benefit has been large within the SEC this season and is an excessive amount of of an element to disregard right here. Prediction: LSU 79, Alabama 72
No. 7 Kentucky at Florida
2 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Kentucky guards Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington performed like their traditional selves in a win over Ole Miss on Tuesday of their second sport again after lacking two video games attributable to damage. That is unhealthy information for Florida, which is looking for a giant win to solidify its NCAA Match probabilities. The Wildcats ought to full a sweep of the Gators in a rematch that will likely be nearer. Florida beat Auburn two weeks in the past on this identical court docket, however anticipating one other upset of that caliber from this group looks like an excessive amount of. Prediction: Kentucky 76, Florida 70
4 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Oregon is taking part in for its NCAA Match life and desires a win to keep away from placing itself deep on the improper aspect of the bubble coming into subsequent week’s Pac-12 Match. Washington State practically took down the Geese on the highway on Feb. 14, however the Cougars have struggled to recover from the hump in opposition to high quality foes this season. Search for Oregon to get a detailed victory. Prediction: Oregon 70, Washington State 68
No. 21 Texas at No. 6 Kansas
4 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Attempt totally free) — The Jayhawks are struggling, sure. Consecutive 10-point losses in opposition to Baylor and TCU have made this a must-win of their Huge 12 title pursuit. But it surely’s exhausting to see KU dropping three straight, particularly with this sport coming at dwelling with a convention title at stake. The Longhorns gained the primary assembly 79-76 at dwelling Feb. 7 by flexing their defensive muscle groups with a 15-7 edge in turnovers. However KU did not have Remy Martin in that sport, and the graduate switch level guard ought to assist hold the Jayhawks beneath management within the rematch. Prediction: Kansas 80, Texas 60
North Carolina at No. 4 Duke
6 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Attempt totally free) — Will Duke’s younger group be overwhelmed by the historic nature of this second and wrestle to get in a rhythm amid the emotion and mayhem surrounding Coach Okay’s last dwelling sport? Doubtlessly, sure. The Blue Devils used a 31-8 begin to run away from North Carolina within the first assembly. Since that 20-point Duke win, the Tar Heels have gained six of their final seven. Replicating the quick begin of the primary assembly in opposition to a UNC group taking part in for its spot within the NCAA Match will not be straightforward for Duke. In the long run, nevertheless, UNC’s protection is simply too porous to carry Duke down for 40 minutes. Prediction: Duke 80, North Carolina 74
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