Weekend Tip-Off: Ranking the top 10 college hoops games

• The marquee contest is in Charlottesville%2C where Virginia hosts No. 5 Syracuse
• American Conference is early headliner as No. 12 Cincinnati heads to Connecticut
• In prime time%2C Oklahoma State and reinstated Marcus Smart will try to slow down No. 6 Kansas

AT THE WATER COOLER: As March makes its official felis leo-esque arrival Saturday, a certain stretch of I-64 in Central Virginia will be the center of attention in the college basketball world in the late afternoon hours.

The marquee contest is in Charlottesville, where 11th-ranked and Atlantic Coast Conference leader Virginia hosts No. 5 Syracuse (4 p.m. ET, ESPN) in a showdown that will likely determine the top seed in the ACC tournament. It figures to be a defensive showcase pitting the Cavaliers' stingy man-for-man against the Orange's tricky match-up zone. The key player for UVa could be freshman PG London Perrantes, whose floor management is even more effective when his three-pointers are falling as they have been of late. Syracuse, of course, has its own rookie who doesn't play like one in the person of Tyler Ennis.

The American headlines the early part of the day as No. 12 Cincinnati heads to Connecticut (Noon ET, ESPN) and No.4 Louisville visits No. 22 Memphis (2 p.m. ET, CBS). In prime time, Oklahoma State and reinstated Marcus Smart will try to slow down No. 6 Kansas (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).

NUMBER OF THE WEEKEND: 31. Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall readily admits that the modern era of schedule expansion is a reason his Shockers became the first squad in Division I history to reach 30-0 during the regular season. He's also not about to shy away from embracing the accomplishment. The Shockers go for win No.31 at home Saturday against Missouri State (2 p.m. ET, ESPN) with an eye toward becoming the first team to enter its conference tournament undefeated since St. Joseph's in 2004. It was the Bears, however, who came the closest to upending Wichita State in Missouri Valley play. The Shockers rallied from a 19-point deficit to force overtime before prevailing 72-69 back on Jan. 11 in Springfield.

WORDS OF THE WEEKEND: "Obviously, we played very well tonight, one of our best games of the season," Arizona coach Sean Miller said. "You might make the argument that the game against Colorado and tonight's game were the best back-to-back games we've played all season." — Arizona coach Sean Miller following the Wildcats' 87-59 rout of California Wednesday night. They'll look to keep it going Sunday against Stanford (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU).

DAYS UNTIL SELECTION SUNDAY: 16.

ON DECK: Ranking the top 10 games to watch this weekend. (Times Eastern).

Starting Five

1.) No. 5 Syracuse at No. 11 Virginia (ACC) | Saturday, March 1, 4 p.m., ESPN

• About the Orange (26-2, 13-2): Syracuse finally fell from the unbeaten ranks with back-to-back losses last week, first falling to lowly Boston College and then narrowly losing on a controversial call at Duke. Now the Orange get a chance to respond to that dose of adversity in a pivotal ACC showdown. Freshman point guard Tyler Ennis, an ACC player of the year candidate, has struggled as of late — going 2-for-10 from the field in Syracuse's Feb. 22 loss to the Blue Devils.
• About the Cavaliers (24-5, 15-1): Virginia has rattled off 12 consecutive victories and is out front in the ACC. But it's going to take the same humble mindset and hard-nosed play the Cavs have used all season to grind out the final stretch en route to a championship. Tony Bennett's squad wears teams down with its man-to-man defense and dictates the tempo with a patient, slow-paced offense.
• Star watch: Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (16.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Trevor Cooney (12.8 ppg). Virginia guard Malcolm Brogdon (12.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and guard Joe Harris (11.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg).
• My pick: Syracuse. The Orange's matchup 2-3 zone could take the Cavaliers out of their offensive rhythm but UVa has enough weapons to stay in the game. This matchup with ACC title implications will hinge upon interior play, and the rebounding battle will be crucial. A key individual matchup to keep an eye on will be Virginia's Akil Mitchell on Syracuse's Fair.

2.) No. 12 Cincinnati at Connecticut (AAC) | Saturday, March 1, noon, ESPN

• About the Bearcats (24-4, 13-2): Cincinnati lost a nail-biter to Louisville on Feb. 22 to make the AAC race much more interesting. The Bearcats and Cardinals are tied at the top of the league, so every game is a must-win. Sean Kilpatrick continues to have a stellar season — scoring his 2,000th point in last week's 28-point performance vs. Louisville. Kilpatrick joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in Bearcats history to reach 2,000.
• About the Huskies (22-6, 10-5): Connecticut has struggled to be consistent in AAC play and had a four-game winning streak snapped in Sunday's loss to Southern Methodist. UConn ranks ninth nationally in blocked shots per game, but the Huskies' interior presence hasn't provided the boost that's been needed in close games. Junior forward DeAndre Daniels (12.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg) hasn't been at his best, going 2-for-10 from the field in UConn's loss to SMU.
• Star watch: Cincinnati guard Kilpatrick (20.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and forward Justin Jackson (11.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg). UConn guard Shabazz Napier (17.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.5 apg) and guard Ryan Boatright (12.6 ppg, 3.5 apg)
• My pick: UConn. In the last meeting between the two teams, the home crowd fueled Cincinnati to a 63-58 win, but Napier was just 2-for-12 from beyond the arc. That's not likely to happen again, especially at home for Connecticut. The Bearcats will need another strong outing from its main catalyst, Kilpatrick, who had 26 points in the last showdown on Feb. 6.

3.) No. 6 Kansas at Oklahoma State (Big 12) | Saturday, March 1, 9 p.m., ESPN

• About the Jayhawks (22-6, 13-2): Kansas has won four in a row after a close overtime loss to Kansas State on Feb. 10. The Jayhawks have been vulnerable in Big 12 Conference play, but each of their losses came on the road. It'll take a determined effort for this young group to win KU's 10th consecutive regular-season title — with two of the last three games away from home. Kansas is one of the best shooting teams in the country, ranking second in the nation at 50% from the floor.
• About the Cowboys (18-10, 6-9): Oklahoma State ended a disastrous seven-game losing streak with a 22-point bounceback win against Texas Tech. Marcus Smart returned after a three-game suspension and his versatility was on full display — 16 points, 10 assists and six steals. Smart, Markel Brown and Le'Bryan Nash are defensive ballhawks and if there's one thing the Cowboys do well, it's turning turnovers into points. OSU ranks 20th nationally in turnover margin.
• Star watch: Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins (16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and forward Perry Ellis (13.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart (17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.6 apg) and guard Markel Brown (16.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
• My pick: Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks got the best of the Cowboys in the last matchup between these two teams on Jan. 18. Much has changed since that time when both were seen as title contenders. But just because Oklahoma State is out of the title race, it doesn't mean there won't be something to play for — now living on the NCAA tournament bubble. Expect the Cowboys to have a chip on their shoulder and ride the home crowd for an upset.

4.) Stanford at No. 3 Arizona (Pac-12) | Sunday, March 2, 8 p.m., ESPN2

• About the Cardinal (18-9, 9-6): Stanford, which had been hanging around the bubble for much of February, improved it's positioning with a three-game winning streak. An 83-74 victory against UCLA on Feb. 22 bolstered the résumé significantly, but a win against a top 10 team would limit any sweating come Selection Sunday. Johnny Dawkins has a deep, experienced roster. Dwight Powell, an athletic 6-10 forward, is one of the best players in the Pac-12 and he's complemented by a veteran backcourt. Wing player Anthony Brown, who missed most of last season due to hip surgery, has been a key force.
• About the Wildcats (26-2, 13-2): Arizona hasn't exactly been dominant since losing starter Brandon Ashley, but the Wildcats appear to be getting more and more comfortable, evidenced in a 27-point road win against Colorado on Feb. 22. Aaron Gordon bounced back from a three-point performance vs. Utah. The freshman star had 23 points and eight rebounds in the win vs. Colorado.
• Star watch: Stanford guard Chasson Randle (18.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and forward Dwight Powell (14.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg). Arizona guard Nick Johnson (16.2 ppg) and forward Aaron Gordon (11.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg).
• My pick: Arizona. Stanford has plenty of momentum, but the Wildcats are still one of the best teams in the country, particularly on the defensive end—ranking fifth nationally in both scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.

5.) Minnesota at No. 16 Michigan (Big Ten) | Saturday, March 1, 6 p.m., Big Ten Network

• About the Gophers (17-11, 6-9): Minnesota could be playing its way out of the field of 68, dropping back-to-back games to Illinois and Ohio State last week. The Gophers have lost six of their last nine and while their NCAA tourney credentials include notable victories, a grueling Big Ten schedule seems to be sinking this squad. Minnesota has great guard play behind the Collins brothers, but struggles to find offensive production from its frontcourt.
• About the Wolverines (19-7, 11-3): Michigan completed a sweep against Michigan State, beating its archrival for the second time on Sunday to surge to the top of the Big Ten Conference standings. After starting league play 8-0, the Wolverines have won four of their last six, a testament to the strength of the Big Ten and Michigan's vulnerability. When the Wolverines are shooting the ball, they're one of the most dangerous teams in the country. When they're not, they're certainly beatable, evidenced in a Feb. 16 double-digit home loss to Wisconsin.
• Star watch: Minnesota guard Andre Hollins (14.8 ppg) and guard Deandre Mathieu (11.9 ppg, 4.3 apg) Michigan guard Nik Stauskas (16.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg) and forward Glenn Robinson III (13.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg).
• My pick: Michigan. The Wolverines are surprisingly positioned to win the Big Ten after a shaky non-conference season and plenty of doubt without preseason All-American Mitch McGary. The Wolverines should be able to shake this pesky squad as it did Jan. 2 in the Big Ten opener, beating the Gophers 63-60.

Off the bench

6.) No. 8 Saint Louis at Virginia Commonwealth (Atlantic 10) | Saturday, March 1, 6 p.m., ESPN2

7.) No. 4 Louisville at No. 22 Memphis (AAC) | Saturday, March 1, 2 p.m., CBS

8.) No. 17 Iowa State at Kansas State (Big 12) | Saturday, March 1, 7 p.m., ESPNU

9.) Gonzaga at Saint Mary's (West Coast Conference) | Saturday, March 1, 10 p.m., ESPN2

10.) No. 10 Creighton at Xavier (Big East) | Saturday, March 1, 5 p.m., FOX Sports 1

Scott Gleeson, a national college basketball writer/digital producer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.

Contributing: Eddie Timanus.