Saturday’s (2/18) National College Basketball Games to Watch
No. 10 Tennessee vs. Kentucky
After back-to back brutal losses, the Tennessee Volunteers did something that many schools aspire to do whenever they get the chance: defeat the top ranked team in the nation.
On Wednesday, Rick Barnes’s Volunteers beat Nate Oats’s Crimson Tide in Knoxville, marking the eighth time this season the No. 1 team in the nation has lost this season. Tennessee currently sits in third place in the SEC standings.
The Kentucky Wildcats come into Saturday in fourth place in the SEC.
Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe motions down court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Athens, Ga.
Last season’s national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe is putting together another tremendous season. In 24 games this season, he is averaging 15.8 points per game and 13.2 rebounds per game.
Tip-off is at noon CT, and you can watch on CBS.
No. 19 Iowa State vs. No. 12 Kansas State
Two of the Big 12’s biggest surprises will meet on Saturday in Ames.
Kansas State has been scuffling recently. They have only won two of their last seven contests including losses to unranked Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Jerome Tang will be looking to get his guys back on track as they hit the road for a third straight game to face an Iowa State team that is coming off a victory over No. 22 TCU.
Iowa State's backcourt has been a staple in their offensive attack. All three of their starting guards average double digits in points.
Tip-off is at 1:00 p.m. CT, and you can watch on ESPN.
No. 9 Baylor vs. No. 5 Kansas
The two top dogs in the Big 12 meet again on Saturday after their battle in Waco where the Bears came out on top 75-69.
Since their first meeting, the Jayhawks have gotten back on track, winning five of six games since then. Forward Jalen Wilson is still having an amazing season being one of the few returners from last season’s national champion team. He’s still averaging over 20 points per game and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Something to keep an eye on for Baylor is the on-court production of freshman phenom Keyonte George. He only played 22 minutes last Saturday against TCU and scored four points, and only scored six points in 32 minutes against West Virginia Monday. He was productive in other aspects on Monday hauling in nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
Tip-off is at 3:00 p.m. CT, and you can watch on ESPN.
