
Here's what you need to know in college hoops for Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Oh boy. Ohhh boy. It's Wednesday. We have some basketball tonight. UNC-Louisville. Butler-Villanova. Duke-Syracuse. Oregon-California. Let's get down to business.
What to watch for today (Hint: everything)
• No. 7 Louisville (22-5) at No. 8 North Carolina (23-5) in a game that in all likelihood will determine the No. 1 team in the No. 1 conference in the country. The Tar Heels have won 11 of their last 13 games, including back-to-back 24-point wins. Lousiville has won 10 of its last 13, but their past three wins have all been by five points or fewer. (9 ET, ESPN)
• No. 22 Butler (21-6) at No. 2 Villanova (26-2): The Bulldogs are the proud owners of one of Villanova's two losses this season (66-58 on Jan. 4). The Wildcats have already locked up the regular-season Big East title. (9 ET, FS1)
• No. 10 Duke (22-5) at Syracuse (16-12): The Blue Devils had a rocky middle of the season, but they've won seven in a row and sit in second place in the ACC. Syracuse has dropped three in a row, but does have two top 10 wins in its past seven games. (7 ET, ESPN)
• No. 6 Oregon (24-4) at California (18-8): California has dropped two road games in a row and Oregon has won its past three. California leads the all-time series 84-58 and has won seven of the last 10 meetings. (9 ET, ESPN2)
In case you missed it
• NC State had lost seven games in a row by an average of 17.7 points a game before Tuesday night's matchup with Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where the Yellow Jackets have some NCAA tournament hopes. But the Wolfpack pulled out the 71-69 win after Tech missed a great look at a game-winning three-pointer.
• No. 9 Baylor took down Oklahoma 60-54, completing a season sweep for only the third time during the Big 12 era.
• No. 13 Florida had little trouble with South Carolina, winning 81-66 (Watch the highlights here). The score was tied with under a minute left in the first half before KeVaughn Allen picked up a quick steal and finished with this nasty dunk. Florida never trailed after that.
• No. 11 Kentucky beat Missouri, 72-62. The Wildcats host Florida on Saturday with the SEC title in the balance. Both are 23-5, 13-2 in the conference.
• It took an overtime period, but No. 14 Purdue held off Penn State 74-70. Check out the highlights.
• ICYM yesterday's ICYMI, here's our reaction to this week's AP Top 25 and our look behind the numbers of the rankings.
Stat of the day
62-2 -- With its 109-83 win over Evansville, Wichita State improved to 62-2 at home in the past four years. That's the second best home winning percentage in that time behind Arizona (66-1).
VIDEO: Newcomer spotlight
Maryland had to replace four starters around Melo Trimble this year. One of those is freshman Anthony Cowen. The 6-foot guard leads Maryland in assists, is third on the team in scoring and has the Terps looking like a lock for their third straight NCAA tournament. WATCH
Bracket tip of the day: How important is it to pick Final Four teams correctly?
The first Thursday and Friday of March Madness may be the two most entertaining days on the sports calendar. Buzzer-beaters, unthinkable upsets and shenanigans everywhere. You name it, those two days have it.
They also carry a misconception among those who fill out NCAA tournament brackets. You’ve heard this after the first day or two: “My bracket is done.”NCAA.com's Joe Boozell explains why that doesn't have to be the case in this edition of the Bracket Beat.
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Mark your calendar
Selection Sunday: March 12
First Four in Dayton: March 14, 15
First Thursday of the NCAA tournament: March 16
Final Four in Phoenix: April 1-3