Your inbox approves Men's coaches poll Women's coaches poll Play to win 25K!
NCAAB
Duke Blue Devils

Previewing the top college basketball games this weekend

Scott Gleeson
USA TODAY Sports

Setting up the top 10 games this weekend in order of watchability. All times Eastern.

Duke Blue Devils starters forward Amile Jefferson (21) and forward Harry Giles (1) and guard Grayson Allen (3) and guard Luke Kennard (5) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) wait to be introduced before the start of their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

1.) No. 7 Duke at No. 15 Louisville

Saturday, noon, ESPN

► About the Blue Devils (14-3, 2-2 ACC): While normally the absence of Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski — and the subsequent fill-in role of associate head coach Jeff Capel — would be the top story line for a Duke team, preseason National Player of the Year Grayson Allen has hogged the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, getting suspended one game for tripping a player against Elon and then getting caught in a similarly awry play against Boston College (Jan. 7) and then another sidelines pickle in Wednesday's blowout loss to ACC leader Florida State. Distractions aside, preseason title favorite Duke has to get it together, especially with the uncertain status of team leader Amile Jefferson, who missed the FSU game with a foot injury. The result was a 16-point drubbing that saw the Blue Devils get hammered in the paint. There's no doubt Duke is going through adversity, yet it's also a time to evolve. Allen’s shift to more point guard duties — he had a career-high 11 assists in a win vs. Boston College — could have Jon Scheyer-like payoff as the season progresses. Plus, freshmen Jayson Tatum (17.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and now-healthy Harry Giles, the one-time top prospect in the country, are starting to come to life.

► About the Cardinals (14-3, 2-2 ACC): Louisville’s 0-2 start in league play offset a near-perfect non-conference slate — a loss to No. 1 Baylor being the only blemish — that shotput the program into the top-10. Rick Pitino’s group is coming together, but the identity is similar to most of his teams: Ferocious on defense. This cast is particularly impressive at protecting the rim, ranking second in the nation in blocks (6.8 per game) and ranking fifth in field-goal percentage defense (37.5%). Yet where athleticism and tenacity help this team flourish on the defensive end — often igniting offensive runs — those traits don’t translate on the other end, as this is a dreadful shooting team that ranks in the 200s in field goal percentage and even worse from three-point range. High-flying sophomore Donovan Mitchell has been a bright spot as the Cardinals’ new offensive alpha dog, but only two other players are averaging double figures.

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

► Star watch: Duke guard Luke Kennard (20.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and guard Allen (15.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.3 apg). Louisville guard Mitchell (13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and guard Quentin Snyder (12.0 ppg, 3.9 apg).

► The pick: Duke. Homecourt advantage matters, as it did for the Cardinals against archrival and a similarly talented Kentucky team (Dec. 21). Without Coach K, the Blue Devils do seem particularly vulnerable, and even more so if they’re missing Jefferson. But look for Capel to show his coaching chops, and the continued help of a dynamic freshman class poised for a bigger impact to help Duke shift past midseason distractions…and an offensively limited Louisville squad.

2.) No. 10 Florida State at No. 12 North Carolina

Florida State Seminoles guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes reacts after an and-1 play against Duke.

Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN

► About the Seminoles (16-1, 4-0 ): If it weren’t for a loss to a completely mediocre Temple team, the Seminoles would be in the mix as the best team in the country. There’s no arguing that Florida State is playing like it as of late, knocking off ACC ranked foes Virginia, Virginia Tech and most recently Duke en route to a perfect start in the ACC. Leonard Hamilton has hauled in top-notch talent over the past few years, but this season seems to be the fruition of it all coming together. Dwayne Bacon’s return and holding off on the NBA was always going to make this team a contender, but it’s been the sum of all parts behind FSU’s stellar start. Freshman Jonathan Isaac, a 6-10 forward, has been ushered into the college game nicely. And junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes remains a dangerous offensive weapon, having scored 30 points in four minutes during a 2015 game vs. Miami. The Seminoles shoot the ball at a high rate, ranking sixth nationally at 50.8% a game.

► About the Tar Heels (15-3, 3-1): If UNC was trying to make a statement of sorts, in the wake of a setback loss to ACC bottom-feeder Georgia Tech (Dec. 31), that was certainly accomplished in a 51-point shellacking of N.C. State on Sunday. In response to the performance, coach Roy Williams said: “Well, we were pretty doggone good.” If the Tar heels can match that attack mode on both sides of the ball, an ACC title isn’t the only nets this team could be cutting down. The return of Theo Pinson had much to do with that blowout of the Wolfpack. The 6-6 utility man went scoreless but energized the team with hustle plays and a state line of five assists, five rebounds and four steals through 13 minutes. Justin Jackson has been the Tar Heels' best player and seems to have hit his full wave of potential this season, evidenced in a Dec. 17 loss to Kentucky in which he had 34 points. He’s scored more than 27 points four times this season.

► Star watch: Florida State guard Bacon (17.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and forward Isaac (12.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg). North Carolina forward Jackson (17.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and guard Joel Berry II (15.6 ppg, 4.6 apg)

► The pick: North Carolina. Depending on which way you look at it, an argument could be made that this is a matchup between the ACC’s two best teams. Regardless, this is a showdown that will be telling not only for the ACC race, but for NCAA tournament seeding; both have No. 1 seed potential should they keep improving over the second half of the season. This game will likely be won on the glass, where UNC excels. The ‘Heels lead the nation in rebounding margin (13.6) and that starts with big man Kennedy Meeks (12.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg), who will be a key player in this matchup.

3.) No. 21 Saint Mary’s at No. 5 Gonzaga

Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss has been playing like an All-American.

Saturday, 10 p.m., ESPN2

► About the Gaels (14-1, 4-0 WCC): Last season, the Gaels beat the ‘Zags twice en route to winning the regular-season West Coast Conference title. But falling to Gonzaga a third time, in the WCC tournament final, cost them a spot in the NCAAs. That’s the unfortunate circumstances of a mid-major, a reality coach Randy Bennett knows all too well. In order to avoid another snub, beating an undefeated top-five team on the road would send a nice statement to the NCAA selection committee. That’s especially the case for a team with an ugly non-conference stain — a Dec. 8 loss to UT-Arlington. Australian big man Jock Landale has been a pleasant surprise for Bennett, leading the team in scoring and nearly averaging a double-double. His blossoming has fit nicely with a veteran backcourt — the tandem of Emmett Naar and Joe Rahon — that is once again a huge strength. The Gaels are excellent on the defensive end, ranking third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 58.1 points a game.

► About the Bulldogs (15-0, 3-0): The Bulldogs are now the only remaining undefeated team in the country thanks to Baylor's loss to West Virginia earlier this week, and that fantastic start features wins against San Diego State, Florida, Iowa State and Arizona. Much of the credit goes to Washington transfer Nigel Williams-Goss, who has been playing like an All-American, shown in a Jan. 5 road win against San Francisco when he had 36 points and 11 rebounds. He has piloted coach Mark Few’s offense perfectly. Fellow transfer Jordan Matthews, who played for Cal last season, is a great mix with Williams-Goss in the backcourt. The health of veteran 7-footer Przemek Karnowski has also been key, while the emergence of freshman 7-footer Zach Collins (10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) gives the ‘Zags a rare frontcourt edge.

► Star watch: Saint Mary’s center Landale (18.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg) and forward Calvin Hermanson (11.3 ppg). Gonzaga guard Williams Goss (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.8 apg) and center Karnowski (12.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg).

► The pick: Gonzaga. This is a matchup between two mid-majors, sure, but it’s also a clash between two elite teams with great March potential. Saint Mary’s likely needs this more than the ‘Zags for their postseason aspirations, so that could lead to a chip on their shoulder or playing with too much pressure. While guard play will be a big part of the matchup — especially for Saint Mary’s stopping Williams-Goss — the game will likely be decided in the frontcourt, where the Gaels’ Landale and Hermanson will go up against Gonzaga’s bigs, Karnowski and Collins.

4.) No. 14 Xavier at No. 13 Butler

Butler celebrates after knocking off then-No. 1 Villanova.

Saturday, 2 p.m., Fox Sports 1

► About the Musketeers (13-3, 3-1 Big East): The reinstatement of veteran guard Myles Davis, who served a semester-long suspension for misdemeanor charges, is a boost that could bring Xavier back to the Final Four form it showed last season and was touted for in preseason. The Musketeers also have forward Kaiser Gates, who had a career-high 17 points in a Jan. 7 win against St. John’s, hitting his stride after missing the first five games following a knee surgery. While playing far from full strength, Xavier suffered back-to-back early December losses to Baylor and Colorado, then went on to surge before getting smashed on the road against top dog Villanova. Meshing Davis into the backcourt could be tricky, considering the three-headed monster lineup right now of Trevon Bluiett, Edmond Sumner and vastly-improved J.P. Macura. The threesome averages 38 points a game together. But for coach Chris Mack, that’s a good problem to have.

► About the Bulldogs (14-3, 3-2 Big East): Suffice it to say Butler is a bit schizophrenic, losing to the likes of mid-major Indiana State and Big East doormat St. John’s, and then last week stunning then-No. 1 and previously unbeaten Villanova. The Bulldogs' latest setback, a road loss to Creighton on Wednesday, is evidence of the Big East's parody at the top. Senior forward Kelan Martin has been the team’s sparkplug but it was freshman Kamar Baldwin who came up clutch in the Bulldogs’ narrow overtime win against Georgetown (Jan. 7). Baldwin had a career-high 16 points but more importantly held Big East scoring leader Rodney Pryor scoreless. It’s performances like this that help Butler beat teams that look better on paper, and coach Chris Holtmann is excellent at getting the most out of this group, evidenced by the upset of ‘Nova in which Holtmann orchestrated the Bulldogs to play “ugly.” And it worked beautifully. George Washington transfer Kethan Savage, a hero in that game, is the team’s X-Factor. As he eases into the offense, the more explosive Butler will be.

► Star watch: Butler forward Martin (16.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and forward Andrew Chrabascz (11.4 ppg, 5.1 ppg). Xavier guard Bluiett (17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and guard Sumner (15.3 ppg, 4.8 apg).

► The pick: Xavier. Although Butler has thrived playing at home in Hinkle Fieldhouse and they've beaten the team Xavier just lost big to, the refiningMusketeers are poised to make a statement and keep strong positioning in a tight Big East race that will likely come down to these two teams, as well as Villanova and Creighton.

Both Illinois State and Wichita State are 5-0 in the Valley.

5.) Wichita State at Illinois State (Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN2)

6.) No. 20 Notre Dame at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 2 p.m., ACC Network)

7.) No. 1 Baylor at Kansas State (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., ESPNU)

8.) Michigan State at Ohio State (Sunday, 1:30 p.m., CBS)

9.) No. 4 UCLA at Utah (Saturday, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Network)

10.) Miami at Pittsburgh (Saturday, noon, ACC Network)

HIGHLIGHTS: COLLEGE BASKETBALL ACTION THIS WEEK

Featured Weekly Ad