When and where: Saturday at noon ET (ESPN, ESPN360.com), Verizon Center

Outlook: Villanova is starting a rough stretch in the Big East, hitting the road against the big shots in a back-loaded, A-list TV schedule. The Wildcats could lose three or four games in February yet still be one of the four best teams in the country. Georgetown is in yet another bounce-back game and must get great performances from its star trio of Greg Monroe, Austin Freeman and Chris Wright.

The Hoyas do not have depth, but that is not as big a deal as people like to make it out to be. It is not about who plays or for how long but rather about how the team plays, and Georgetown needs to play efficiently on offense and defense. Both the Hoyas and the Wildcats are better offensively than defensively, and Villanova is better than Georgetown offensively. The key will be matchups and which jersey is able to win its respective matchup.

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Christopher Szagola/Icon SMIGeorgetown will need a big afternoon from Chris Wright against Villanova's guard-happy offense on Saturday.

Best matchup: Wright and Scottie Reynolds. Wright is the Hoyas' barometer. When he plays well, Georgetown usually wins. When he plays average basketball or worse, Georgetown has a hard time beating a really good team. Wright was magnificent in the Hoyas' win over Duke but just average in their loss to Syracuse. He is a poor man's Jameer Nelson but a better shooter, and he may not be the poor man's version for very long. Reynolds is having a great season for the Wildcats and has matured into an efficient scorer from a volume scorer. He is the toughest cover in the Big East.

Most important matchup: Monroe and Antonio Pena. Monroe is the most versatile post man in the Big East, maybe in the country. He is a lefty who can face up, drive another big and wheel into the lane, and when he's assertive, he can be a big-time scorer. Pena has really improved and has post moves and athleticism. The key is doing it against a guy who is as good and as big as Monroe and has a similar big-time reputation. Pena is able to have his way with guys he is better than but has yet to really bring it against someone better than he is. He is capable of it; he just needs to do it.

Georgetown's biggest challenge: Can the Hoyas keep Villanova out of the lane? When in man or zone defense, the Wildcats are very good at getting into the lane and making plays and challenged shots. Expect Georgetown to play some zone because very few teams want to guard Jay Wright's ball screens all game long. With length and good athletes, Georgetown can defend, but can it guard the ball and keep it out of the paint?

Villanova's biggest challenge: Can the Wildcats guard Monroe? Whether Pena, Mouphtao Yarou, Maurice Sutton or possibly Reggie Redding has to switch off on him, somebody has to guard Monroe on every possession. Villanova can switch every screen on the perimeter, trap some and not worry about matchups. But the Cats must worry about Monroe.

Who will win? Villanova is the better team, but because Georgetown is coming off a loss and playing at home, I'm taking the Hoyas in this one by a bucket.

When and where: Saturday at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN360.com), Assembly Hall

Outlook: Michigan State has been very good but not great this season. The Spartans have very good guards and some very solid big guys but lack something special to score in the paint. Raymar Morgan is the big guy who can reach that level, but he needs to be special consistently for Michigan State to be a champion. Illinois has all the pieces to be an NCAA tournament team and win when it gets there, but it needs consistent leadership and toughness.

Illini coach Bruce Weber recounted after his team beat Iowa on Wednesday that former coach Lou Henson had said the Illini need to "grind it out," and that is their new mantra. They need to continue to be tough-minded on offense and defense.

Illinois runs a motion offense with multiple entries and set plays, and Demetri McCamey can break it off and go on his own to create opportunities. Michigan State is tough to prepare for because the Spartans run a ton of set plays and can call any one of them out of a timeout, when Tom Izzo's coaching is at its best. A team also must be concerned about the break when playing Michigan State. The Spartans run a "numbered break" that puts wings in the same lane every time, and they really push the ball. If you get back, you can make the Spartans take a quick, questionable jump shot.

AP Photo/Harry CabluckMichigan State will need Raymar Morgan to be at his best when the Spartans visit Illinois.

Most important matchup: McCamey and Kalin Lucas. McCamey is the heart and soul of the Illini, and when he plays well, they are really good. McCamey is a big, strong scoring guard and can be a beast when he is on his game. Lucas, who sprained his ankle in the Spartans' loss to Wisconsin on Tuesday, is the best guard in the Big Ten. If he cannot play, Korie Lucious will become the Spartans' most important player.

X factors: Mike Tisdale and Morgan. Tisdale can score and is long enough to shoot over any post defender that Michigan State can throw at him. Morgan, meanwhile, can be the best player on the floor. But he has been subject to ups and downs; he can score 20 or have a bagel.

Watch out for: Mike Davis and Draymond Green. Davis hit a big shot against Iowa when he looped around behind a McCamey drive and canned a beautiful jumper. He is a great rebounder and an improved player. Green is very skilled and one of the best sixth men in the nation. He needs to assert himself and make good decisions. Green can be an outstanding player, and he needs to make plays more often rather than hanging back and deferring to others. It would not be selfish of him to take over and actually would be appreciated by his teammates. He just needs to understand how to be assertive and process the game. He will get there, but the Spartans cannot afford to wait. This is an important stretch for them.

Who wins: Much will depend upon Lucas. If he plays and is close to 100 percent, the Spartans will win. If he plays and is less than that, Illinois will win. If he doesn't play at all, I think Michigan State could play like UCLA did in the 1995 title game when Tyus Edney was out. Lucious could take over the point, and Michigan State would win with an inspired effort.

Saturday

Xavier at Dayton (ESPN2, noon ET): Xavier already won the first game of the season against rival Dayton. If the Musketeers beat the Flyers again, Dayton will be toast for an at-large tournament berth. The Flyers (0-5 versus RPI top 25) are below the radar with Xavier, Charlotte, Temple, Rhode Island and Richmond above them in the Atlantic 10 standings. Can we say must-win for Dayton?

Wake Forest at Virginia (noon ET): Well, Virginia is tied atop the ACC standings. The Cavaliers had the early jump start with a 3-0 mark but then hit a bit of a minor skid. Now they're right there again at 5-2. Winning in Charlottesville could be a tourney tiebreaker for some teams this season because Virginia Tech has won there. If Cavs coach Tony Bennett keeps this up, he could lock up the coach of the year award in the ACC.

Temple at Richmond (ESPNU, 2 p.m. ET): Temple needs to stay with Xavier and Charlotte atop the Atlantic 10. Richmond, meanwhile, is just a game behind. If the Spiders win (they've yet to beat an RPI top 25 team) the A-10 race will get even more jumbled. The NCAA tournament selection committee will have to think long and hard about this conference's standings.

Texas at Oklahoma (ESPN, 4 p.m. ET): The Longhorns have been hitting the road hard with games at Kansas State (loss), at Connecticut (loss) and at Oklahoma State (win) sandwiched around a home loss to Baylor. The Horns essentially have to win this game against the disappointing Sooners if they want to have the Kansas game to take on even more meaning Monday night. If they lose to the Sooners, suddenly the Horns will be three games behind Kansas and unlikely to catch the Jayhawks for the Big 12 title.

Monroe

BYU at UNLV (4 p.m. ET): The Cougars are just a game ahead of UNLV in the Mountain West standings. BYU won the first matchup with Jimmer Fredette nursing a strep throat. He's healthy now, which means the Runnin' Rebels had better not lose with him on the perimeter. The Thomas & Mack Center should be rocking for the Cougars' arrival. UNLV has won four in a row and hits the rough patch of its schedule with BYU, New Mexico and at San Diego State on tap.

Baylor at Texas A&M (4 p.m. ET): These are two of the hottest teams in the Big 12. Baylor won at Texas this past weekend, and A&M just picked up a huge road win at Missouri. The Aggies and Bears have three losses apiece in the Big 12, and if the NCAA tournament selections were made before tipoff, each would have a strong argument for inclusion into the field of 65. Should be a fun one.

Gonzaga at Memphis (ESPN2, 4 p.m. ET): Memphis is trying to rebuild its case for an at-large berth. The Tigers took the first step in a critical homestand this week with a win over Conference USA rival UAB. Taking out Gonzaga in one of the few remaining key nonconference matchups across the country would be critical for their résumé. Against the Blazers, Wesley Witherspoon finally gave Elliot Williams some help. Gonzaga destroyed Portland on Thursday night after getting stunned at San Francisco. The last time the Zags had a short turnaround and needed to fly to their next game, they got off to a great start against Illinois before losing the lead and then needing overtime to win in Chicago.

San Diego State at New Mexico (6 p.m. ET): The Lobos took out BYU in their last significant home game. If UNM beats San Diego State, it will do two things: stay on the heels of BYU and UNLV in the chase for first in the Mountain West and likely push San Diego State closer to NIT status. The Aztecs are in a perilous position with a 5-3 record and a weak nonconference résumé.

South Carolina at Tennessee (ESPN, 6 p.m. ET): The Gamecocks are the new "it" team with a win over Kentucky at home and then a last-possession victory over Georgia. Tennessee had a last-second win over Florida to stay a game ahead of the Gamecocks and Gators in the loss column in the SEC East. The winner of this game will stay within striking distance of Kentucky and Vandy. Catching UK is unlikely, but Vandy is still ripe to be taken for second.

Sunday

Syracuse at Cincinnati (2 p.m. ET): Why should you care? The Orange will know by Sunday whether Villanova has suffered its first conference loss at Georgetown -- and whether the Orange can lay claim to a first-place tie. DePaul nearly clipped Cuse, which now goes against a tougher, more physical and talented team in Cincinnati. The Bearcats desperately need a win over an upper-tier Big East team, as they're hanging on with a 5-4 conference record. If they lose, suddenly South Florida or Marquette could pass them in the standings.

The college basketball season is about to hit the midpoint of conference play, which means teams are beginning to position themselves for coveted NCAA tournament at-large bids.

Here's a look at five games that might affect the NCAA tournament bubble this weekend:

Saturday

Mississippi State at Florida (ESPN360, 1:30 p.m. ET): Both SEC teams have pretty mediocre computer profiles, so neither one can afford many more losses. The Bulldogs are tied atop the SEC West standings but have lost three of their past four games, including a 75-72 defeat at Vanderbilt on Wednesday night. The Gators keep finding ways to win games and beat Alabama 66-65 on the road Thursday night on guard Erving Walker's jumper with 11 seconds to play. Florida played a much more difficult nonconference schedule than Mississippi State, but the Gators are only 2-5 against RPI top 50 foes.

Clemson at Virginia Tech (ESPN360, 4 p.m. ET): The Tigers got a much-needed victory on Sunday, beating Maryland 62-53 at home to end a three-game losing streak. With an RPI rating of No. 32, the Tigers seem to be in pretty good shape. But they're only 2-4 against RPI top 50 foes. Meanwhile, the Hokies have won four of five games, including a 74-70 win over North Carolina at home on Thursday night. But they played a pretty soft nonconference schedule, so they probably need to beat some of the ACC's upper-echelon teams.

Tulsa at UTEP (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET): The Golden Hurricane and Miners -- and not four-time C-USA regular-season champion Memphis -- are tied atop the league standings. Tulsa has won nine of its past 10 games, including a 73-69 victory over Marshall on Wednesday. The Miners have won six games in a row, including a 65-58 win over Houston on Wednesday night. Tulsa has a better overall profile, but neither team has beaten an RPI top 25 opponent.

Arizona State at Washington (10:30 p.m. ET): It just seems as though every Pac-10 team is doing its best to be left out of the NCAA tournament. Arizona State and Washington are suddenly the woebegone league's best chance at earning an at-large bid. The Sun Devils have won six of their past eight games, including an 81-70 victory at Washington State on Thursday night. The Huskies have won three games in a row, including an 81-75 win over Arizona on Thursday night. Both teams have RPI rankings outside the top 60, so there's still a lot of work to do.

Sunday

North Carolina at Maryland (2 p.m. ET): This might be defending national champion North Carolina's last chance at staying in the NCAA tournament at-large hunt. The Tar Heels have lost six of their past eight games, including a four-point loss at Virginia Tech on Thursday night. Although the Tar Heels seem to be grossly lacking confidence, Maryland might be the ACC's hottest team. The Terps have won five of their past six games, including a 71-67 victory at Florida State on Thursday night. The Terps didn't do a lot during nonconference play, so every ACC victory will help their cause.