Normally tonight’s New Mexico-BYU matchup would focus on two things: The Cougars’ avenging their lone MWC loss and their impending regular-season conference crown.
Instead, it opens the post-Brandon Davies era. How does coach Dave Rose adjust to life without his best post player? We’ll get our first glimpse tonight.
Expect the Cougars (27-2, 13-1) to go guard heavy – Jimmer Fredette, Jackson Emery and Charles Abouo could each go 36 minutes – and for little-used forwards James Anderson and Logan Magnusson to get a chance to impress. If they heat up from outside (14 3s vs. SDSU), Davies won’t be missed nearly as much.
But a cold night from beyond the arc will happen. Only question now is when. (10 p.m. ET, The Mtn.)
(All times ET)
North Carolina at Florida State, 7 p.m. (ESPN): BYU wasn’t the only school to take a player hit Tuesday. UNC won’t have freshman forward Reggie Bullock the rest of the tear because of knee surgery. Bullock’s absence isn’t nearly as crucial as Davies to BYU, but it’s important because of the Heels’ lack of frontcourt depth. Bullock’s also a decent outside shooter. This’ll matter in two weeks.
Texas A&M at Kansas, 9 p.m. (ESPN2): The Jayhawks are closing in on their seventh straight Big 12 title. For context, Roy Williams never won more than four in a row. How’s he done it? Bill Self cares about those Big 12 crowns. A lot.
Cincinnati at Marquette, 7 p.m. (ESPN3): What if I told you Marquette (18-11, 9-7) was the third-best team in the Big East? Would you think I was drunk? Well, read this and tell me differently.
UConn at West Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPN2): Kemba Walker is a Superhero. Also, his ballhogging isn’t a big deal. Our guys like the UConn guard.
UAB at Southern Miss, 7 p.m.: If the Blazers (20-7, 10-4) win their final two games, they’ll clinch their first outright Conference USA title. Southern Miss (21-7, 9-5) is no pushover at home, though. The Golden Eagles have only lost once at home this season. The winner may very well earn consideration for an at-large NCAA tourney bid.
EAST
St. Bonaventure at Duquesne, 7 p.m.
Fordham at La Salle, 7 p.m.
Temple at Massachusetts, 7 p.m.
George Washington at Rhode Island, 7 p.m.
Richmond at Saint Joseph’s, 7 p.m.
Connecticut at West Virginia, 7 p.m.
Miami (Ohio) at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
SOUTH
Memphis at East Carolina, 7 p.m.
North Carolina at Florida St., 7 p.m.
Providence at Louisville, 7 p.m.
Maryland at Miami, 7 p.m.
UAB at Southern Miss., 7 p.m.
SMU at UCF, 7 p.m.
Northwestern St. at Nicholls St., 7:30 p.m.
Mississippi at Auburn, 8 p.m.
LSU at Georgia, 8 p.m.
SE Louisiana at McNeese St., 8 p.m.
Houston at Tulane, 8 p.m.
Clemson at Duke, 9 p.m.
Pittsburgh at South Florida, 9 p.m.
MIDWEST
Iowa at Michigan St., 6:30 p.m.
Saint Louis at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Ball St. at W. Michigan, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Xavier, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Iowa St., 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati at Marquette, 8 p.m.
E. Michigan at N. Illinois, 8 p.m.
Rutgers at DePaul, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Northwestern, 8:30 p.m.
Texas A&M at Kansas, 9 p.m.
SOUTHWEST
Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa at Rice, 8 p.m.
Sam Houston St. at Stephen F.Austin, 8 p.m.
Texas-Arlington at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 8 p.m.
Cent. Arkansas at UTSA, 8 p.m.
Texas St. at Lamar, 8:05 p.m.
Mississippi St. at Arkansas, 9 p.m.
Marshall at UTEP, 9:05 p.m.
FAR WEST
TCU at Air Force, 8 p.m.
Portland St. at N. Arizona, 8:35 p.m.
Utah at Colorado St., 9 p.m.
CS Bakersfield at Boise St., 9:05 p.m.
Idaho St. at Montana St., 9:05 p.m.
Sacramento St. at N. Colorado, 9:05 p.m.
New Mexico at BYU, 10 p.m.
E. Washington at Weber St., 10:05 p.m.
Utah St. at New Mexico St., 11 p.m.
Long Beach St. at UC Riverside, 11 p.m.
TOURNAMENTS
Atlantic Sun Conference
At Macon, Ga.
First Round
No. 2 East Tennessee State vs. No. 7 Campbell, 2:30 or 9 p.m.
No. 1 Belmont vs. No. 8 Kennesaw State, 2:30 or 9 p.m.
Ohio Valley Conference
At Nashville, Tenn.
First Round
No. 5 Tennessee State vs. No. 8 Tennessee-Martin, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Eastern Kentucky vs. No. 7 Southeast Methodist, 9 p.m.
Patriot League
First Round
Times TBA
No. 8 Army at No. 1 Bucknell, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Colgate at No. 2 American, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Lafayette at No. 3 Holy Cross, 7 p.m.
No. 5Navy at No. 4 Lehigh, 7 p.m.
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