#if you just pick them to avoid picking a side in the UNC vs Duke blood feud you also go in the Cowardly Duke Fan bucket

[queenlua]

i keep meeting people from North Carolina, & every time i casually ask "oh are you a UNC fan or a Duke fan," instead of NOBLY AND LOUDLY STIRRING TO DEFEND THEIR TEAM, they get a hunted, panicked look in their eye and mutter "oh i don't really follow basketball"

and ok sure that might be true for some of them, but. for the record, i am treating that & other non-answers as "they're a Duke fan, and a coward about it" until further notice

[junker-town]

College basketball TV viewing guide: Kansas vs. Kentucky highlights loaded Saturday

Two of college basketball’s most storied programs will meet in Lexington for a top five showdown, but that’s just a small piece of Saturday’s puzzle.

It’s the final weekend of January, which means the time has come for the true national title contenders to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, and the teams currently on the wrong side of the bubble to begin making their move towards an at-large bid.

While this weekend is typically defined by high-profile in-conference showdowns, this year, we’re treated to a nice change of pace with the Big 12-SEC Challenge. The good news is that the event is giving us Kentucky vs. Kansas. The bad news is that it’s not giving us a whole lot else. Thankfully, there are some extremely interesting matchups in the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 to pick up the slack.

Don’t be turned off by the fact that Saturday’s slate features just one game with multiple top 25 teams. These are the days where things typically go completely off the rails.

Here’s everything we’re watching on Saturday.

MUST WATCH

No. 6 Florida State at Syracuse (12 p.m./ESPN2)

After playing six straight games against top 25 teams and winning five of them, Florida State went on the road and was inexplicably hammered by Georgia Tech Wednesday night. The 22-point loss has the Seminoles looking for a bounce-back victory to avoid any questions about their legitimacy. As for Syracuse, if the Orange are going to rack up enough quality wins to play themselves onto the right side of the bubble, it feels like the run needs to begin here.

No. 9 North Carolina at Miami (1 p.m./CBS)

Winners of seven straight since a stunning loss to Georgia Tech on New Year’s Eve, North Carolina has established itself as the team to beat in the ACC. In order to keep their winning streak alive, the Heels will have to dispatch of a Miami squad that has won 22 of its last 23 home games. The Hurricanes also get a shot at No. 6 Florida State on their home floor Wednesday night. Winning at least one of those games would provide a huge boost to a postseason resume that is currently decent, but far from guaranteeing them a spot in the field of 68.

No. 2 Kansas at No. 4 Kentucky (6:15 p.m./ESPN)

Saturday’s marquee game is also the only tilt of the day that features two top 25 teams. Kansas and Kentucky were both dealt in-conference road losses earlier this week, but neither of those defeats altered the fact that these are two of the top 10, if not top five, teams in the country.

The Jayhawks enter Saturday’s showdown dealing with a little bit of controversy. First, there was the indefinite suspension of big man Carlton Bragg that was announced late Thursday night. Second, there is the ongoing police investigation into an alleged rape that took place at the dorm where the basketball players reside. Five of Bill Self’s players are listed as witnesses on the police report, and Self admitted earlier this week that the investigation has become a “major distraction” for his team.

A major distraction isn’t a good thing to have when facing a talented Kentucky team that is coming off the sting of 82-80 loss at Tennessee Tuesday night. The loss also put added pressure on the Wildcats to take care of business against Kansas if they want to better their chances of earning a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday. UK went 1-2 during the non-conference portion of its season against currently ranked teams, and the SEC won’t provide the Wildcats with ample opportunities to rack up quality wins.

More important than all that stuff is the simple fact that it’s effing Kansas versus effing Kentucky. Get yourself in front of a television.

SHOULD WATCH

No. 14 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech (12 p.m./ESPNU)

The Georgia Tech thing is getting weird. If they can up their ACC record to 5-4 by beating a Notre Dame team that is coming off its worst performance of the season -- a 17-point home loss to Virginia — then I’m all for Josh Pastner being handed the league’s Coach of the Year award at the season’s halfway point. He can also be President.

No. 25 Florida at Oklahoma (2 p.m./ESPN)

This was supposed to be the Big 12-SEC Challenge’s secondary showcase game, but Oklahoma being three games under .500 sort of ruins all that. Florida losing this game would be a bad, bad look for the SEC.

No. 22 Maryland at Minnesota (2:15 p.m./Big Ten Network)

In two weeks, Minnesota has gone from the most pleasant surprise in the Big Ten to a team that has lost four straight and is in desperate need of victory to avoid going into full-on panic mode. In order to make that happen, they’ll have to take care of a Maryland squad that is 3-0 on the road in the Big Ten.

No. 17 Duke at Wake Forest (3 p.m./ACC Network)

It’s a battle of the weirdest team in college basketball versus the team with the weirdest profile in college basketball. Wake Forest is just 12-8 and hasn’t beaten any team of real significance, but the computers love them. Duke, well, Duke is dealing with way too much ish to compress into a single paragraph.

No. 10 Oregon at Colorado (9:30 p.m./Pac-12 Network)

This is worth watching just to see if Dillon Brooks is going to be able to take the court after his brush with death Thursday night.

So brave.

WORTH WATCHING UNLESS YOU HAVE A VALID EXCUSE

Texas A&M at No. 18 West Virginia (12 p.m./ESPN)

Three weeks ago West Virginia knocked off the No. 1 team in the country, and then promptly dropped two of their next three games to unranked foes. The Mountaineers knocked the No. 2 team in the country off earlier this week, and now comes an opportunity to show that they’re better suited to handle success this time.

No. 15 Wisconsin at Rutgers (12 p.m./Big Ten Network)

One time Rutgers beat a Wisconsin team that was good enough to play in the national title game, and the Scarlet Knights then lost their next (and last) 15 games of the season. I’m saying this could happen.

Arkansas at Oklahoma State (4 p.m./ESPNU)

Kentucky/Kansas is obviously the Big 12-SEC Challenge’s showcase game, but this one may have the most significance for the two teams involved. According to SB Nation Bracketologist Chris Dobbertean, Arkansas is currently barely on the right side of the bubble, while Oklahoma State is one of the first four teams out of the tournament.

Georgetown at No. 11 Butler (8 p.m./CBS Sports Network)

You know there’s going to be Bulldog footage, and really that’s all that matters.

No. 3 Gonzaga at Pepperdine (10 p.m./ESPN2)

Pepperdine is way down this year, but the environment is always extremely rowdy when Gonzaga comes to town. Plus, you can’t join in the upcoming storm of Gonzaga is the most overrated team ever/Gonzaga is the best team ever debated without having actually seen Mark Few’s team play. I mean, you can, but you’ll know the truth inside, and you’ll feel ashamed when you turn the lights out at night.

IF YOU WANT TO JUST CHECK THE BOX SCORE, THAT’S OK ... BUT CHECK THE BOX SCORE

Clemson at Pittsburgh (12 p.m./ACC Regional)

It’s the battle for the bottom in the ACC, as these two teams which began the season seeming like solid bets to make the NCAA tournament enter this game with matching 1-6 records in league play.

UCF at Tulsa (12:30 p.m./ESPNews)

Tacko Fall.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Also, Frank Haith. But mostly, Tacko Fall.

Kansas State at Tennessee (2 p.m./ESPN2)

The theme of one team having way more to lose than to gain is a pretty consistent one in this year’s Big 12-SEC Challenge. The subject this time is Kansas State, which won’t significantly bolster its tournament resume with a win in Knoxville, but can have it take a significant hit with a loss to a Tennessee team that is riding high after stunning Kentucky.

St. Bonaventure at Rhode Island (2 p.m./NBC Sports Network)

Dan Hurley will probably be get really mad at some point, and that’s always fun.

LSU at Texas Tech (2 p.m./ESPNU)

Losers of six straight now, LSU has been beaten by 30 or more points on four separate occasions this season. Basically, LSU is your friend who gets down by 10 early in 2K and then spends the rest of the game shooting halfcourt shots and saying they don't care.

Providence at Marquette (2 p.m./Fox Sports Networks)

This is a place where the Golden Eagles can’t slip up if they want to keep the good times rolling.

Northern Iowa at Drake (2 p.m./CBS Sports Network)

The Missouri Valley looks like a two-horse race between Wichita State and Illinois State, but you can still tune in and see if an opportunity to tweet a killer Drake joke presents itself.

DePaul at No. 16 Creighton (2:30 p.m./FS1)

There is only one cure for a two-game losing streak spawned by the soul-crushing loss of your star point guard for the season to a knee injury. I don’t think I have to tell you what that cure is.

Texas at Georgia (4 p.m./ESPN)

Arguably the two most disappointing teams in their respective conferences go at it with ... well, with really not much on the line.

Pride? No, not pride. A win? Yeah, I guess that’s it. With a win on the line.

Iowa State at Vanderbilt (4 p.m./ESPN2)

Look at the spiel about Kansas State above and insert Iowa State here. The Cyclones have little to gain and much to lose.

New Mexico at Nevada (4 p.m./CBS Sports Network)

The Mountain West is likely a one-bid league once again, and you want that one bid to go to Nevada. Crazy comebacks and Cam Oliver. That’s all you need to know.

UNC Wilmington at William & Mary (4 p.m./NBC Sports Regional)

These were the two preseason favorites in the Colonial. Bill and Mary is a disappointing 10-9 overall and 4-4 in league play, while Wilmington has rolled to a perfect 9-0 start in the conference and is 20-2 overall. The Seahawks need to be on your radar.

Illinois at Penn State (4:30 p.m./Big Ten Network)

Honestly, you don’t even need to check the box score. This shouldn’t be on here. That’s on me.

No. 5 Baylor at Ole Miss (6 p.m./ESPN2)

The matchups for this thing were obviously made well in advance of the start of the season, but man, you want to talk about a swing and a miss here.

Auburn at TCU (6 p.m./ESPNU)

It’s Jamie Dixon vs. Bruce Pearl in the “Yes, I’m Really Coaching Here Bowl.” Also, TCU could really use this W.

Mississippi State at Alabama (6 p.m./SEC Network)

Whatever, they didn’t even want to be a part of your dumb challenge. They’d already made plans to hang out way before they’d even heard about your thing.

Colorado State at San Diego State (6 p.m./CBS Sports Network)

Colorado State is just one game back in the Mountain West standings and looks to continue its winning ways against a San Diego State team that has been uncharacteristically inconsistent.

Oregon State at Utah (7 p.m./Pac-12 Network)

Oregon State is undeniably atrocious, but Building the Dam has a plan.

Step 1: every team loses every game for the rest of the season Step 2: Oregon State wins out Step 3: we win the national championship https://t.co/qkRG5MyuWF

— Building the Dam (@BuildingTheDam) January 26, 2017

I’m sure there’s a crack in there somewhere, but I sure as hell can’t find it.

Ohio State at Iowa (8 p.m./ESPN2)

There is no such thing as a “must-win” game in January, and don’t let anybody ever tell you any differently. That said, this feels like it’s about as close to one as you can get for Ohio State.

Tulane at Connecticut (8 p.m./ESPNU)

UConn weekly status check: Still bad.

No. 23 South Carolina at Missouri (8:30 p.m./SEC Network)

The SEC has two ranked teams and three with a pulse, and one which fits both categories didn’t even get picked to play in the Big 12 Challenge. Sure, Missouri is as close as you can get to playing a Big 12 team without actually playing a Big 12 team — the cubic zirconia of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge — but they still don’t count.

Temple at Houston (10 p.m./ESPNU)

This is typically where Temple starts beating everyone in their conference and their bizarro resume starts to make even less sense.

No. 21 Saint Mary’s at Santa Clara (11 p.m./Comcast Sportsnet California)

SNL is a re-run, so watch a top 25 team play basketball. I think SNL’s a re-run. Even if SNL’s not a re-run, watch a top 25 team play basketball.