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Rather than have the Big 12/SEC Challenge take place prior to the start of conference play, the two conferences have done something against the grain. Seeing the success that mid-majors have with Bracketbusters, the Big 12 and SEC decided to move the showdown between the two conferences to the last week of January. It has now been parked here for three years, and the interest has been much higher than it was back when this was taking place in November or December.... 

The Michigan State Spartans are in the middle of a comfortable stretch where they get to beat up on the lesser teams in the Big Ten. It’s definitely needed for the Spartans. The school was thumped by both Ohio State and Michigan despite being a moderate favorite in each game earlier this month, and needed to get some of its confidence back. Michigan State is hoping that it can keep up its recent form when it takes on the Wisconsin Badgers this Friday night.... 

Former Big 12 foes will collide in one of the late afternoon games of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday when the Kansas Jayhawks play host to the Texas A&M Aggies. These two teams have not met since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, so there is none of the familiarity that might be there if the move was more recent. Still, there is no doubt that the Kansas faithful will be there to welcome the Aggies back with a loud chorus of “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk.”... 

Although it doesn’t have the same intensity as the one on Tobacco Road, the rivalry between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the NC State Wolfpack is still pretty serious. That’s especially the case for NC State. The Wolfpack live in the shadow of their in-state rivals in nearly every sport and love to beat them whenever they get the chance. NC State already got a win on the gridiron this year, but a road win in the Dean Dome would be cause for raucous celebration in Raleigh.... 

The first game of this weekend’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge will highlight two teams that have never faced each other on the basketball court. The Florida Gators have been one of college basketball’s top programs over the last decade. However, Mike White is still looking to move out of the shadow of Billy Donovan and establish himself as a great coach in his own right. He can take another baby step in that direction with a win over the Baylor Bears on Saturday.... 

Amazingly, this weekend will mark the first time that the Texas Tech Red Raiders and South Carolina Gamecocks square off on the basketball court. Although neither one is known for its basketball prowess, both schools have had success in recent years. South Carolina made the Final Four last season, while Texas Tech made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost a decade two seasons ago. Currently, the Red Raiders are having their best season in years, and are looking to keep that momentum going.... 

The Miami Hurricanes showed well in the non-conference season, but have dealt with their fair share of struggles as the competition has improved in the ACC slate. The Hurricanes are barely hanging in the national rankings but can pick up a signature victory if they can knock off the Louisville Cardinals this week.... 

The Providence Friars have surprised many with their strong start to Big East Conference play, but it would be truly shocking if they keep at it this week. Providence will hit the road to face off against the No. 1 ranked Villanova Wildcats.... 

The Big 12 has proven to be one of the strongest conferences in college basketball this season, and the Kansas Jayhawks could take hold of it with a statement road win this week against the Oklahoma Sooners. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally and are among the best teams in a stacked conference.... 

The Kentucky Wildcats are in desperate need of a win. Kentucky’s grip on the SEC is slipping away from it after yet another loss to a divisional opponent. The Wildcats’ loss to Florida on Saturday was their third in conference this season, putting them behind three other teams in the SEC East. As bad as the loss was, for it to come at home was even worse. Rupp Arena is one of the toughest places to play in the country and to lose there is rough. Kentucky will look to defend its home court once again when it hosts the Mississippi State Bulldogs.... 

It’s been a rough year for the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin did not have a great run of things during its non-conference schedule. The Badgers finished non-conference play with a 7-6 record, and unfortunately, things have not gotten better since that point. They are just 3-4 in Big Ten play.... 

Defending a title is always tough. You don’t have to tell that to the North Carolina Tar Heels. North Carolina has not looked too sharp this year. UNC has had a real hard time on the road and suffered one of the biggest surprises of the season when it was knocked off by Wofford. The Tar Heels already have two ACC losses and can likely only lose one or two more to have any hope of winning the ACC in the regular season. They know they need to take care of business against the Virginia Tech Hokies.... 

The Illinois Fighting Illini have yet to win a game in conference, but at least they have been competitive in their last two. They took Iowa to overtime and lost by just one point on the road to Nebraska earlier this week. However, now they face the toughest team in the Big Ten.... 

The TCU Horned Frogs ripped through their non-conference schedule to start the season. TCU reeled off 12 straight wins, crushing almost every opponent its path before its first Big 12 game. That’s when things started to change. TCU has not been able to get any sort of traction against conference foes. The Horned Frogs have lost four of their six conference games and their two wins have come against teams with losing records. They are in desperate need of a win when the West Virginia Mountaineers come to town.... 

After making it to the Final Four last season, the South Carolina Gamecocks looked like they were on their way to a disappointing follow-up campaign. They lost three of their first four conference games, and they looked like they might finish at the bottom of the SEC East.... 

Supremacy in the SEC East will be on the line Saturday night when the Florida Gators travel to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky has already fallen to two SEC East rivals this season and has looked much more vulnerable than in season’s past. The streaky Gators are riding high again after a dominating win over Arkansas on Wednesday night, and they are looking to grab another road victory. If they win, they will be two games up on Kentucky.... 

Just three weeks into the Pac-12 season, every team has at least one loss and the race appears to be wide open. The Oregon Ducks have gotten off to slow start and certainly can’t afford to lose many more games if they want to stay close to Arizona. They’ve had success recently against the UCLA Bruins, winning three straight in Eugene and they look to extend that streak on Saturday night. UCLA is looking to rebound after what Steve Alford called his team’s poorest outing all season in a loss last week to Colorado.... 

A narrow win over Texas and a lost to Texas Tech at the start of Big 12 play had many questioning the legitimacy of the Kansas Jayhawks. But don’t doubt KU any longer, especially after a thrilling come-from-behind win on the road against a good West Virginia club. That might be the game that turns things around for Bill Self and his club, leading them to a record 14th straight conference title. There’s still plenty of basketball to be played and the Baylor Bears are no pushover.... 

An unexpected battle for first-place in the Pac-12 takes place Saturday afternoon when the Arizona Wildcats visit the Stanford Cardinal. The Cats are in their usual spot at the top of the standings, but the Cardinal have surprised with a fast start that has them locked in a duel with UA. Not many thought Stanford was in a position to be in first place at any point during the year after going just 6-7 in their non-conference slate, but the start of league play means everything.... 

The Duke Blue Devils already have two losses in ACC play, and can’t afford many more in the ultra-competitive conference. They shouldn’t have to worry about that on Saturday when they host the reeling Pittsburgh Panthers.... 

The Missouri Tigers seem like a possible bubble team for the NCAA Tournament at this point, and would love to improve their status with some key wins down the stretch. A big opportunity arises this week as they hit the road to face off against the Texas A-M Aggies.... 

Things have not gone well lately for the Florida State Seminoles. Florida State looked like it could make some noise in the ACC during non-conference play, but the Seminoles have cooled off over the past few weeks. The Noles are sitting at just 2-4 in conference play and have yet to win an ACC road game. They are hoping that they can break that streak when they travel north to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a Saturday matinee game.... 

Turnovers and defense will be on the agenda when the Texas Longhorns travel to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers this weekend. Both of these teams are known for their defensive prowess and both sides thrive off of forcing mistakes out of their opponent.... 

For the second time this season, we will see Bedlam on the court when the Oklahoma Sooners travel to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys this weekend. Oklahoma State has not had an easy go of it thus far in conference play, losing four of its first six Big 12 tilts. It hasn’t been all roses for the Sooners either. Oklahoma has lost some of its luster and lost by double digits in each of its last two road games. Perhaps staying in-state will hope the Sooners regain their form.... 

The top of the Big East is loaded and two of the best in the league square off in a top-25 battle when the No. 19 Seton Hall Pirates host the No. 11 Xavier Musketeers. Both teams are trying to stick near the top of the standings and holding on to the hope of catching No. 1 Villanova, so this matchup takes on a little extra in that regard. Winning at home is crucial in this conference and the Pirates have yet to taste defeat on their home floor, but they will be tested against the scrappy Musketeers....