
College basketball - where a Tuesday can feel like a Saturday. With another terrific slate on tap, let's dive through our previews and predictions as conference play rolls on.
#17 St. John's @ Georgetown
No Big East team is playing better basketball right now than St. John's, winners of six in a row now going on the road to play a Georgetown team that's gone cold ever since their best start in years. The Hoyas have been a total disaster in recent years but looked to be turning a corner amidst a 12-2 start, but they've dropped five of their last six and fallen well out of the NCAA Tournament picture. In such a down year for the Big East with signature wins at a premium, Georgetown needs this one badly. They were the better team for much of their first meeting with the Johnnies, opening up as much as a 15-point first half before ultimately collapsing in a disappointing last-minute loss. With the Red Storm riding high and Georgetown expected to enter this one with no shortage of desperation hoping to snap out of this funk, I like a Hoyas team that already went to the wire with St. John's steal this one at home
Prediction: Georgetown wins 74-71
The Wildcats are heavy underdogs coming off a loss and facing several key injuries ahead of a road tilt in Knoxville, and they're in danger of falling further out of this unforgiving SEC race if they're not back and healthy. Both of these suffered narrow losses on the road at Vanderbilt within a week of each other this month, and neither is carrying much momentum with a combined 8-7 record in conference play. But the Vols can't be too dejected after their hard-fought battle Saturday against Auburn, and they return home where they're still yet to lose a game this season, or even have a game come within single digits. That being said, a Kentucky team expected to be without Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr is going to have more trouble scoring than they have at any point this season, and I think the Volunteers take this one rather comfortably at home.
Prediction: Tennessee wins 77-66
Providence @ Seton Hall
We've seen both these Big East programs have their moments in recent years, but coaching changes have led them to some darker days sitting at .500 and well behind .500 respectively more than halfway through this season. The Friars' Super Bowl was last Saturday as they 'welcomed' Ed Cooley back to a raucous crowd at Amica Mutual Pavilion, and it may be admittedly hard to carry that same energy into tip-off tonight in a likely uninspiring crowd out in Jersey. But many teams have, with no trouble, overcome the obvious letdown spot against this lifeless Pirates team - their only home in conference play was an OT win over DePaul. Providence has to have some added confidence after Saturday, and they should ride that to a potentially sloppy but still manageable win here tonight.
Prediction: Providence wins 68-60
Wake Forest @ #21 Louisville
Not many would've expected Louisville to be one of the ACC's two ranked teams approaching February, but Pat Kelsey's turnaround has arrived sooner than expected with the Cardinals back in the national forefront. Wake has quietly played some good basketball in conference play sitting at 7-2 and playing Duke as tough as anyone in the conference has on Saturday, though the only ACC success they've had away from home has come against the true bottom feeders of the conference. Louisville has been as hot as anyone with nine wins a row and their first entry to the top 25 coming yesterday afternoon, so they'll have some added buzz to them tonight with the first ranking next to their name in more than four years. I don't view the Demon Deacons too far below Louisville as a whole, but with a resurrected crowd on their side the whole way the Cardinals should be able to figure this one.
Prediction: Louisville wins 80-74
Oklahoma @ #13 Texas A&M
This game should be closer than Vegas is giving it credit for between two teams with very similar records and having played a down-to-the-wire first meeting, especially with the Aggies coming off a devastating loss to Texas that still figures to be in the front of their minds. Oklahoma got some momentum back with a narrow road win over Arkansas, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Aggies come out of the gates slow after their disastrous second half against archrival Texas. Nevertheless, homecourt advantage in conference play should never be underestimated, and this game will stay close throughout. A&M will find their footing eventually, and I think they squeal it out here at home.
Prediction: Texas A&M wins 67-63
North Carolina @ Pittsburgh
There's no way to sugar coast it - UNC has been bad - but after a promising non-conference showing, things have similarly unraveled as of late for Pitt. Their only win over the last four weeks came in a narrow, unimpressive victory for Syracuse, while the Tar Heels' last three games have all come right down to the final possessions with a 1-2 record to show for it. It's hard to pick which of these teams has less going for them entering today, but the biggest external factor for either team has to be their showdown with Duke lurking this Saturday. That should at least give them reason not to sleepwalk into this one, but playing on the road is never easy and a program like Pitt will never not get up for when North Carolina comes to town. I've got all the reason to think this game comes right down the wire, but I think this more talented UNC squad barely gets it done and enters Cameron Indoor Stadium with just a bit of much-needed momentum.
Prediction: T