By: William Smythe

The last weekend of the regular season is upon us. Conference tournament seeding and regular season titles still hang in the balance – well, at least in the ACC – while several teams have already clinched their respective conferences. Kansas, Alabama, UCLA, Purdue and Marquette have already gained the regular season title for five of the six major conferences; this would be the Golden Eagles’ first Big East title in program history. 

Even with many of the at-large spots locked in, Saturday couldn’t be more important for teams on the bubble and top-25 programs looking to ascend in the rankings. The “witching hour” of sorts for college basketball, this last weekend of conference play will likely replicate what we’ll see in the Big Dance: anarchy. 

What’s on the docket today? Let’s dive in. 

ACC title up for grabs (put Duke-North Carolina on hold)

Unbelievably, Duke and North Carolina’s matchup tonight holds zero ramifications for the ACC regular season title. As we all thought before the season, Miami, Virginia and Pitt are the sole contenders to take a share of the title (or win outright, but you have to depend on Louisville).

Pitt squandered a chance at an outright victory after a horrendous loss on the road to Notre Dame, yet they have a bounce-back opportunity at Miami – a team they beat by three over a month ago. 

All three teams are currently tied at 14-5 in the ACC. It is now a question of whether Miami or Pitt will take their share of the ACC title, while we have to imagine that Virginia takes care of business against a 4-26 Louisville in Charlottesville. 

A tie-breaker will only count against the Cavaliers in the ACC Tournament, since they lost to both teams earlier this season. Either the Hurricanes or the Panthers – whose ascendancy has come as a surprise after years of mediocrity – will break the mold in 2023 even if they tie with Virginia. Miami hasn’t won the regular season title since 2013, while the Panthers don’t even have one to boast. 

The 6 PM matchup in South Florida will shape up to be a classic, with two teams playing for everything early in March. 

Big 12’s elite face stiff road tests, Kansas-Texas matchup looms

Things would have looked a lot different if no. 9 Texas stole one away from no. 22 TCU last week. The Longhorns are now officially out of contention for the Big 12 title and are stuck in a three-way tie for second – with a win over the no. 3 Jayhawks only significant for seeding both in the conference tournament and in the Big Dance. Pride, of course, is on the line for the Longhorns in Austin. 

Vegas backs Texas, and for good reason. Coach Rodney Terry’s crew hasn’t lost in the Moody Center since January 3rd against Kansas State. Having already fallen to the Jayhawks in Lawrence earlier this season, 88-80, the Longhorns will be fired up and ready to salvage some dignity – and gain some seeding points – in a matchup that could’ve lived up to the billing if not for the TCU loss.

I’ll side with the house and take Texas to cover against Kansas – giving them a greater chance at a high seed in the Big 12 tournament and keeping them firmly in the two-seed conversation come March Madness.

Two other Big 12 squads – no. 11 Kansas State and no. 22 TCU – will take to the road and attempt to end their regular season on a high note. Facing the wildly inconsistent West Virginia (12-4 home, 3-8 away), the Wildcats have nonetheless found themselves as road ‘dawgs in Morgantown; with wins over then-no. 11 Iowa State, no. 15 Auburn and no. 14 TCU at home, the Mountaineers don’t welcome opposing teams with open arms. 

However, don’t look too far into home court advantage. The Wildcats are still trying to play their way into a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and have shown resolve on the road – having beaten Texas and then-no. 19 Baylor in back-to-back away games. They’ve been inconsistent as of late, yet a combination of point guard Markquis Nowell (16.8 ppg) and forward Keyontae Johnson (17.6 ppg) can break through the Mountaineers’ press. 

No. 22 TCU is in trouble against Oklahoma. Following a massive home win against Texas, the Horned Frogs may be primed for a letdown this afternoon. 

Arizona-UCLA must-see TV in another edition of “Pac-12 After Dark”

Mick Cronin’s Bruins have benefited from a lighter Pac-12 schedule. The outright winners of the “Conference of Champions,” UCLA has won nine straight and haven’t lost in Pauley Pavilion all season. Now – with the Pac-12 all but wrapped up for the Bruins – a win over the no. 8 Wildcats would likely cement their status as a one-seed in the Big Dance.

Arizona’s been sketchy on the road – having lost most recently to a 13-17 Stanford by nine – but their frontcourt could test the Bruins in a heavyweight Pac-12 matchup.

Wildcat forward Azuolas Tubelis (19.7 ppg) should match up with the Bruins’ Jaime Jaquez Jr. (17.3 ppg) – a mano-y-mano battle for Pac-12 Player of the Year. Don’t be surprised if one of the two (or both) get into some foul trouble in a physical contest down in the paint. Stanford managed to force four fouls off of Tubelis – who scored a season-low four points.

Here’s the dilemma: if Purdue falters, UCLA could take the one spot in the East. Now, if they fall to the two line, they could potentially secure that spot in the West. Would Cronin’s unit rather play in front of the SoCal faithful, or bump up to the one seed and navigate an East Coast crowd? I say the former, so I guess the Bruins win in both scenarios here against Arizona.

Other notes:

• Villanova hosts no. 14 UConn at 7:30; the Wildcats need a win to give them a glimmer of hope at gaining an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament
• Duke-North Carolina looks to shift back to the Tar Heels thanks to the series’ parity
• No. 23 Kentucky needs to bounce back against Arkansas after losing to Vandy at Rupp
• No. 12 Tennessee will enter “The Jungle” at Auburn as road ‘dawgs
• Watch out for an upset of no. 2 Alabama by no. 24 Texas A&M (even though Vegas loves the Aggies in this one)