The final week of the regular season has arrived, and the end could not be better. In the final week, there are seven AP Top 25 matchups and multiple games where there could be regular season titles clinched. Along with that, the first automatic bids out of 32 will be secured this weekend.
As the final day of the regular season is Sunday, let’s look at the biggest races and games decided this week.
Big 12 regular season title down to Houston and Iowa State; Kansas looks to improve resume on Saturday
While the two don’t play each other this week, Houston and Iowa State are the only two teams with shots at the top seed in next week’s Big 12 Tournament. Houston is in first place, leading by one game in the standings. The Cougars can clinch the regular season title if they win just one game this week. The only scenario in which Iowa State can come from behind and steal the regular season title away is if the Cyclones win and Houston loses.
Bracket Matrix, a site that compiles 104 bracketologies, states that Kansas has fallen off the No. 2 seed line. Despite being a lock to go dancing, the Jayhawks have a chance to boost their resume with a massive game at Houston.
Oklahoma and Texas are bubble teams that face off on Saturday. Kansas State and Cincinnati also have work to do for any chance at making the NCAA Tournament.
Most important games in the Big 12 this week:
No. 1 Houston at UCF (7 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+)
No. 20 BYU at No. 6 Iowa State (9 p.m., ESPN2)
No. 6 Iowa State at Kansas State (Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN2)
Oklahoma at Texas (Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN)
West Virginia at Cincinnati (Saturday, 2 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+)
No. 14 Kansas at No. 1 Houston (Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPN)
No. 11 Baylor at Texas Tech (Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN2)
Duke and North Carolina battle for ACC regular season title; Bubble teams on last chance to improve resume before ACC Tournament
The ACC is weaker this season, with just two teams ranked in the AP Top 25. Those two are Duke and North Carolina, who will face off at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday night for the top seed in next week’s ACC Tournament. The only other team that seems to have clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament is Clemson, who will wrap up their season against another bubble team after hosting Syracuse on Tuesday night. The bubble teams with work ahead of them are Wake Forest, Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. It’s an important week for a conference that might only have three bids in the NCAA Tournament.
Most important games in the ACC this week:
Clemson at Wake Forest (Saturday, 6 p.m., ACC Network)
No. 7 North Carolina at No. 9 Duke (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN)
NC State at Pittsburgh (Saturday, 7:45 p.m., The CW)
Georgia Tech at Virginia (Saturday, 8 p.m., ACC Network)
Three-way race for SEC regular season title with Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina; Texas A&M and Mississippi State aim to improve chances at NCAA bid
While Tennessee controls its destiny in the SEC, there are scenarios for Alabama and South Carolina to clinch the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament. Tennessee only has to win one of their games this week to clinch the regular season championship. Alabama would need to win as well as have Tennessee lose. South Carolina would need Tennessee and Alabama to lose, along with the Gamecocks winning. This month isn’t called “March Madness” for nothing. There is a chance for a chaotic final week in the SEC regular season.
It seems guaranteed that the SEC has at least six teams make the NCAA Tournament. However, that number can increase to eight if Texas A&M and Mississippi State can improve their resumes this week.
Most important games in the SEC this week:
No. 4 Tennessee at No. 17 South Carolina (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Mississippi State at Texas A&M (9 p.m., ESPNU)
Arkansas at No. 16 Alabama (Saturday, noon, ESPN)
Texas A&M at Ole Miss (Saturday, 2 p.m., CBS/Paramount+)
No. 17 South Carolina at Mississippi State (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network)
No. 15 Kentucky at No. 4 Tennessee (Saturday, 4 p.m., CBS/Paramount+)
Arizona and Washington State battle for final Pac-12 regular season title; Colorado and Utah look to improve NCAA hopes
The final season of Pac-12 basketball is not full of championship contenders outside Arizona. Washington State is the only other team ranked in the AP Poll. Those two teams have a shot at the Pac-12 regular season title. Along with that, Colorado and Utah can improve their resumes.
Most important games in the Pac-12 this week:
Washington at No. 18 Washington State (Thursday, 9 p.m., FS1)
Colorado at Oregon (Thursday, 9 p.m., ESPN2)
No. 5 Arizona at UCLA (Thursday, 9:30 p.m., ESPN)
Utah at Oregon State (Thursday, 11 p.m., ESPNU)
Colorado at Oregon State (Saturday, 5 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
Utah at Oregon (Saturday, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
No. 5 Arizona at USC (Saturday, 10 p.m., ESPN)
The first automatic bids are set to be clinched this weekend
Saturday will be the first day a team can punch their ticket to March Madness, and there will be at least one mid-major conference championship game every day from Saturday until March 13.
Here is a list of the conference championship games until our next article:
Ohio Valley Conference Championship (Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN+)
Big South Championship (Sunday, noon, ESPN2/ESPN+)
Missouri Valley Championship (Sunday, 2 p.m., CBS/Paramount+)
ASUN Championship (Sunday, 2 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN+)
Sun Belt Championship (Monday, 7 p.m., ESPN+)
SoCon Championship (Monday, 7 p.m., ESPN+)