College Basketball Games of the Week: Men’s Hoops Final 4 Preview, More

Don’t miss a full Final Four preview and a Battle for Indiana rematch on the men’s side of college basketball, as women’s basketball’s hottest team, a potential Big Ten sleeper, seeks a 10th straight victory. This weekend’s big college basketball games will impact conference standings and the NCAA Tournament seeding. There are top teams in both men’s and women’s hoops, and we’re here to help you get ready for the action. Indiana men’s basketball at No. 7 Purdue (Friday, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) Indiana key players: Tucker DeVries (Senior, Guard), Lamar Wilkerson (Senior, Guard), Tayton Conerway (Senior, Guard) Purdue key players: Braden Smith (Senior, Guard), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Senior, Forward), Oscar Cluff (Senior, Center) Indiana’s final game : 81-75 loss in USC Purdue’s last game: 91-80 loss to No. 1 Michigan. The Stake: Indiana is teetering on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but sweeping the season series against rival Purdue in Darian DeVries’ first season as head coach would be a nice consolation prize if the Hoosiers miss the tournament. They also increase their chances of dancing into March Madness if they beat the Boilermakers again. Purdue has only been swept by its rival once since 2012. The Boilermakers are tied for the final double bye of the Big Ten tournament. No. 10 Illinois at UCLA (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) Illinois Key Players: Keaton Wagler (freshman, guard), Kylan Boswell (senior, guard), David Mirkovic (freshman, forward) UCLA Key Players: Tyler Bilodeau (senior, forward), Donovan Dent (senior, guard), Skyy Clark (senior, guard) Latest Illinois game: 101-65 victory in USC’s last game UCLA: 82-59 loss to No. 15 Michigan State. The issue: from two defeats out of a total of 57 points to head coach Mick Cronin losing his cool, UCLA’s season unfolded in 72 hours in Michigan. However, the Bruins could keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a Quad 1 matchup against Illinois — or things could get worse one way or another. The Illini have the top-ranked offense in the country, according to KenPom. They still have a chance to advance to the No. 1 seed in March Madness. No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 2 Houston (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET) Arizona key players: Brayden Burries (freshman, guard), Koa Peat (freshman, forward), Jaden Bradley (senior, guard) Houston key players: Kingston Flemings (freshman, guard), Emanuel Sharpe (senior, guard), Joseph Tugler (junior, forward) Arizona’s last game: 75-68 win over No. 23 BYU Houston Last game: 70-67 loss to No. 6 Iowa State What’s at stake: Without Michigan-Duke, this would be the most anticipated game of the college basketball season. Houston and Arizona are tied atop the Big 12 standings and are likely battling for the top spot in the NCAA Tournament. This confrontation will help determine both issues. The Cougars and Wildcats have antithetical strengths, as Houston is led by its trio of guards, while Arizona has a formidable frontcourt. However, Koa Peat, a freshman in the center of the Wildcats’ frontcourt, will likely miss Saturday’s game. No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 3 Duke (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET) Michigan Key Players: Yaxel Lendeborg (Senior, Forward), Elliot Cadeau (Junior, Guard), Morez Johnson Jr. (Sophomore, Forward) Duke Key Players: Cameron Boozer (Freshman, Forward), Isaiah Evans (Sophomore, Guard), Patrick Ngongba (Sophomore, Center) Michigan’s Last Game: Win 91-80 at No. 7 Purdue Duke’s last game: 101-64 win over Syracuse What’s at stake: A non-conference battle in Washington, D.C. could easily be a preview of the national championship in mid-February. It’s rare that college basketball fans get the chance to enjoy these elite non-conference games this late in the regular season, so don’t take it for granted. Michigan and Duke each sit in their respective conferences and have a fast track to the top seed in the NCAA tournament. The outcome of this specific matchup won’t disrupt this trip, as it’s about as strong a matchup on both teams’ resumes. However, the winner could end up with the No. 1 overall seed in March Madness. The Wolverines and Blue Devils haven’t played since 2014, but they had two separate home-and-home series series earlier this century, and Duke is 10-1 in such games. Iowa at No. 24 Wisconsin (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET on FS1) Iowa Key Players: Bennett Stirtz (Senior, Guard), Alvaro Folgueiras (Junior, Forward), Cam Manyawu (Junior, Forward) Wisconsin Key Players: Nick Boyd (Senior, Guard), John Blackwell (Junior, Guard), Nolan Winter (Junior, Forward) Iowa’s Last Game: 57-52 Win vs. No. 9 Nebraska Wisconsin’s last game: 86-69 loss to Ohio State. The issue: Wisconsin and Iowa are atop the third tier in the Big Ten. Both are firmly committed to the NCAA Tournament. Both have victories against the best teams in the conference. Both are exciting – but not national title contenders. Their equality in all areas should lead to a competitive clash. The Badgers play fast at 69.1 possessions per game, while the Hawkeyes play slow at 63.1 possessions per game. Whichever team can establish their rhythm will have the upper hand. No. 6 Michigan women’s basketball at No. 13 Iowa (Sunday, 12 p.m. ET on FOX) Michigan key players: Olivia Olson (sophomore, guard), Syla Swords (sophomore, guard), Te’Yala Delfosse (sophomore, forward) Iowa key players: Ava Heiden (sophomore, center), Hannah Stuelke (senior, forward), Chazadi Wright (student sophomore guard) Michigan’s Last game: 86-65 win over No. 18 Michigan State Iowa. Last game: 80-67 victory at Nebraska. Issues: Michigan and Iowa are firmly Tier 2 contenders in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are two games ahead of the Hawkeyes, so an Iowa win could cut that difference in half. The outcome of this game could also impact which team earns a second or third place berth in the NCAA tournament. USC at No. 10 Ohio State (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET on FS1) USC Key Players: Jazzy Davidson (freshman, guard), Kennedy Smith (sophomore, guard), Kara Dunn (senior, guard) Ohio State Key Players: Jaloni Cambridge (sophomore, guard), Chance Gray (senior, guard), Elsa Lemmila (sophomore, forward) Latest USC game: 66-59 win over Wisconsin Ohio State’s last game: 74-61 loss to No. 23 Minnesota. What’s at stake: Ohio State has lost back-to-back games against ranked Big Ten opponents, and the next matchups are against No. 6 Michigan and No. 18 Michigan State. As it stands, the Buckeyes are already out of double-bye territory for the conference tournament — without a win against the Trojans, they’re unlikely to get back there. USC is 9-6 in the conference and even further away from a double bye, but, in 8th place, is fighting for the standard. The Trojans are unranked but are in the top 25 in the NET and WAB rankings; a win against Ohio State would help secure both conference seeding and selection committee approval. No. 18 Michigan State vs. No. 23 Minnesota (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET on FS1) Michigan State Key Players: Grace VanSlooten (Senior, Forward), Kennedy Blair (Sophomore, Guard), Rashunda Jones (Junior, Guard) Minnesota Key Players: Tori McKinney (Sophomore, Guard), Grace Grocholski (Junior, Guard), Amaya Battle (Senior, Guard) Michigan’s Last Game State: 104-68 win over Northwestern Minnesota last game: 74-61 win over No. 10 Ohio State. What’s at stake: Minnesota is one of the hottest teams in college basketball with nine straight wins, including two against ranked opponents. The Golden Gophers have another test against the 18th-ranked Spartans. Michigan State is on the other side of the spectrum, having lost four of its last six games. Minnesota advanced to a double bye in the Big Ten tournament, while Michigan State fell to sixth place. No. 16 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET) Kentucky Key Players: Clara Strack (Junior, Center), Kennedy Blair (Sophomore, Guard), Rashunda Jones (Junior, Guard) Vanderbilt Key Players: Mikayla Blakes (Sophomore, Guard), Aubrey Galvan (Freshman, Guard), Sacha Washington (Senior, Forward) Kentucky’s Last Game: Win 74-57 against. Last game of No. 14 Ole Miss Vanderbi: 76-74 defeat against Georgia. The stakes: the revenge of Kentucky and Vanderbilt two weeks after a thriller which saw the Wildcats miss a 3-point tie in the final seconds. The SEC is so stacked that 10 teams are in the AP Top 25, so Kentucky’s 7-6 conference record isn’t surprising. However, the Wildcats would like to improve on that mark and can significantly improve their resume in this Quad 1 matchup. No. 21 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Oklahoma (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET) Tennessee Key Players: Talaysia Cooper (Junior, Guard), Janiah Barker (Senior, Forward), Zee Speerman (Senior, Forward) Oklahoma Key Players: Aaliyah Chavez (Freshman, Guard), Raegen Beers (Senior, Center), Sahara Williams (Junior, Forward) Tennessee’s last game: 82-74 loss to Texas A&M Oklahoma’s last game: 71-67 victory against Georgia. The Issue: Tennessee’s season quickly deteriorated, with the Volunteers losing three straight games. That’s life in the SEC, though, and the flip side is that they can help correct those losses with a road win at Oklahoma. The Sooners have had similar struggles in SEC play. Like Tennessee, they are 8-5 in conference play. Those similarities and the importance of every game in this conference should lead to a disjointed battle.