Worldwide Sports News

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard. And noticed.

The Houston Rockets need a point guard.

Although it’s not as bad as it seems.

There’s a difficult path, as it pertains to acquiring an external one. Houston is just $1.2 million under the apron.

The NBA’s hard cap is real.

We know this.

We’ve seen Rockets coach Ime Udoka deploy a hodgepodge of methods toward replacing Fred VanVleet.

Or attempting to.

No option has been perfect. Amen Thompson running point takes him away from his best offensive skills, which is attacking, cutting to the rim and slashing.

Instead, it leaves him at the top of the key, oftentimes standing around and/or taking low-percentage threes.

Kevin Durant has been relied on to handle some of the playmaking and offensive initiation, but he’s rather turnover prone. Especially when blitzed or trapped.

Reed Sheppard is a good option, save for the fact that he gets hunted defensively. He’s thrived in an off-ball role.

JD Davison is a decent fall back, but you don’t necessarily want to be relying on a two-way signee for offensive playmaking and creation.

Especially not the bulk of it. And he’s the best pick-and-roll point guard on the roster.

According to Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime, the Rockets have interest in New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado.

“Jose Alvarado.. The Houston Rockets—they have kind of did some background on Alvarado.”

Alvarado is a defensive pest. He’s also the type of player who you hate when he’s not on your team but absolutely love to have on your team.

He’s a hell of a spark off the bench and is infectious.

In 22 minutes of action, he averages 7.9 points, 3.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds one steal, 42.4 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from three (4.4 attempts) and 82.6 percent from the foul line.

He has a player option next season worth $4.5 million and has a $4.5 million number this season also, making him a realistic target, should they decide to look into making a move.

There will be competition for his services, however, as Haynes also reported the New York Knicks are interested in Alvarado’s services as well.

Before the season began, everyone had a different opinion about how the Celtics would fare.

Some people naively thought they would plummet to the bottom of the East and tank for hometown kid AJ Dybantsa. Others thought they would hang around and perhaps make a surge if, and only if, Jayson Tatum returned. Most thought they would end up right around .500 or maybe a bit better (I was in that group).

Very few genuinely believed that, more than halfway through the season, they would be 11 games above .500 and second in the East. If you did, kudos to you, but I certainly didn’t.

So, how have they done it? Well, a lot goes into it, but from my perspective, here are ten reasons they’re still contenders.

1. Jaylen Brown has gone from outstanding to unstoppable.

I think we can all officially stop debating whether or not Jaylen Brown is capable of thriving as the No. 1 option on a contender. I thought Brown would embrace this role and excel in it, but I didn’t expect this level of pure domination.

Brown has upped his scoring (22.2 to 29.8), rebounding (5.8 to 6.7) and assists (4.5 to 4.8) per game from last year, while also improving his efficiency (46.3 to 48, 32.4 to 36.4, 76.4 to 79.1). He’s taking over games, leading by example and making life easier for everyone around him. His teammates have followed suit.

2. They’ve stuck with what’s worked in the past.

When the season began, people fairly wondered if the Celtics could continue their 3-point shooting prowess without Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.

The answer is a resounding yes. They still have Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. Add in Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza and some young guys who are improving in that area, and that’s a whole lot of offensive firepower.

Boston is second in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game (15.6), second in 3’s attempted per game (42.4) and seventh in 3-point percentage (36.8). Last year’s percentage? 36.8. How’s that for consistency?

3. Returning catalysts have expanded their roles.

While Brown has elevated his game, White, Pritchard, Hauser and Neemias Queta have embraced more opportunity as well.

Some of White’s shooting numbers are down, but he’s averaging more points (16.4 to 17.6), rebounds (4.5 to 4.6) and assists (4.8 to 5.4) than last year and is still everywhere defensively. Pritchard is posting career-highs in minutes, points, assists and rebounds as well, and Hauser hasn’t missed a shot in 2026. Queta is handling a lot of responsibility on an undersized team and making it look easy.

I’m always amazed how seamlessly NBA players can adjust to greater responsibility, but the thing about this team is that those adjustments are leading to wins.

4. Young guys are ready when their number is called.

It can be hard to play some nights and sit on the bench others, but this group hasn’t flinched in that respect. Joe Mazzulla tends to mix and match based on the opponent, and the young players on the roster deserve credit for staying ready and pouncing when they get the chance.

Jordan Walsh is playing some of the best basketball of his career and is a menace defensively. Baylor Scheierman is starting to figure it out, holding his own defensively and displaying his unique ability as a playmaker. Hugo González has a chance to be special and is just scratching the surface.

5. The new guys have fit in seamlessly.

Simons, Garza and Josh Minott have exceeded expectations and bought into the overall identity of the group. Simons is a starting-caliber player coming off the bench, Garza is often the glue for this team and Minott has been a pest and insane athlete when healthy.

6. They’ve made strides on the glass.

The Celtics are now 10th in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.1) and sixth in offensive rebounds per game (12.7). They were never going to be at the very top in that category, and that’s OK. As long as they’re holding own, and not letting teams bully them inside, they’ll be in most games. Teams like the Pistons and Rockets are tough matchups because of their size, but the Celtics are capable of finding creative ways to compensate.

7. Everyone has bought into playing defense.

Already-elite defenders like Brown, White and Queta have taken the next step. Players like Pritchard, Hauser, Simons and Garza, who are probably sick of constantly hearing about their defensive shortcomings, continue to prove people wrong. Guys like Walsh, Minott and González have provided contagious energy.

Defense was a way bigger question mark than offense, and so far, the Celtics have passed the test and then some. They’ve allowed the second-fewest points in the league (109.8), behind only the Thunder, which is extremely impressive.

8. They’ve leaned into playing at their own pace.

I expected this team to play a run-and-gun style of offense, but so far, it’s been just the opposite. The Celtics are dead last in the league in pace (96.43) and have had the third-fewest possessions (4,140) in the league. They’re dictating the action and making teams play their style. That’s generally an indicator that the ball is moving and they’re turning down good shots for great ones.

9. Joe Mazzulla is coaching at an extremely high level.

The players deserve the bulk of the credit for items 1 through 8, but Mazzulla and his staff deserve praise as well.

Mazzulla inherited one of the best situations in NBA history, but he’s proving day by day that his early success wasn’t just a product of his circumstances. He’s one of the best coaches in the NBA and has found a sustainable winning formula with this team.

10. They’re playing with joy and for one another.

Body language is important in sports. You can tell when players are sick of one another and aren’t bought in for the greater good. This team is clearly united and relentlessly pursuing a common goal. Of course, winning can lead to buy in, but without the buy in, wins can be hard to find.

This could be a season to remember, and oh yeah, that Tatum guy is making steady progress.

In the first video of the series “Building Dreams,” presented by Self, we see the beginning of the 2025-2026 season through the eyes of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

As the season progresses, the latest installment continues to follow Castle and Harper as they develop their on court Slash Brotherhood and their off court antics. The two are really like brothers.

Castle won the Rookie of the Year award last season, the fourth for the San Antonio Spurs. Harper has an impressive skillset and came into the NBA ready to compete. Both a aggressive, fearless, and lightning quick.

This episode introduces David Jones Garcia and his emergence into the league. Jones Garcia has a great story. He’s been that underdog that has Spurs fans in his corner.

Ther first episode launched at the beginning of December. The latest episode became available yesterday. At this pace, there could be a half-dozen videos by season’s end.

Enjoy, Pounders.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

These are the dog days of the season. Legs get heavy. Minds wander. Teams start peeking at the calendar, counting down the days until the All-Star break like it is a lifeboat. But in Phoenix, this part of the schedule feels different. Even on nights off, you can stare at the standings and feel real hope. Other teams lose, you inch up, and that only happens because you have earned the right to care.

So yeah, like most of you, I have been scoreboard watching. Quietly rooting for Western Conference chaos. I even threw a little money on the perfect Suns scenario last night. And if you have lived this life long enough, you know how that usually ends. Something always goes sideways.

Being a Suns fan teaches you to expect turbulence. But right now, even with that history, it feels okay to look up and dream a little. And for once, the basketball gods did not pull the rug out from under Phoenix.

While the Suns rested, the rest of the league finally caught up in games played. Houston is still sitting at 42, two fewer than Phoenix, but that math always evens out. You cannot hide forever.

So we had three games circled, three little stress tests for the standings, and all three broke the Suns’ way. Houston lost in overtime to Philadelphia, a Sixers team Phoenix had already handled, even if that version was missing Joel Embiid and Paul George. I do find an odd delight in seeing their boards flooded with the “KD is so good, why do we keep losing” conversations. Hmmm. I think I have some reasons why…

Chicago then did the funniest thing imaginable and knocked off Minnesota 120-115, pushing the Timberwolves a half game behind the Suns. And then came the battle of Los Angeles. Clippers versus Lakers, in an actual home building, not that rented Crypto situation. The Clippers took care of business by winning 112-104, stayed hot, and reminded everyone why the Play-In is not a place you want to be. Because they are lurking.

So what does it all mean? It means the Suns are fifth in the Western Conference. Fifth. In late January. The last time Phoenix was sitting fifth this late was March 1, 2024. They are tied with Houston at 9.5 games back of OKC, and sit 2.5 games back of Denver.

That is real. That is earned. And for once, the night broke exactly how a Suns fan dreams it up, without the universe stepping in to ruin the ending.

None of it matters if you do not take care of your own business. The Suns have a real opportunity tonight as Houston plays Detroit. Beat Atlanta, and you move ahead of Houston and slide into fourth place in the West. Simple math. Hard reality.

The problem is the building. Atlanta has been a house of horrors for Phoenix. They have not won there since March of 2014. That is not a typo. That is a decade of weird bounces, bad vibes, and games that get away.

Scoreboard watching is fun. Tossing a little money on the perfect parlay is fun too, especially when it hits. But all of that is noise if you do not handle what is in front of you. Focus on Atlanta. Play clean. Finish the trip. Let everything else sort itself out. Tonight, that is the job.

Jayson Tatum’s long morning workout in Detroit and the competitiveness that followed that night confirmed dreams that the Celtics could contend this season. Jaylen Brown looked like the best player on the floor early, Boston won the offensive rebounding battle again over one of the league’s most physically imposing teams and Brown barely missed a game-winning leaner over Tobias Harris that would’ve tied the season series 2-2.

Elsewhere, a fading Knicks squad remained 1.5 games behind Boston as their season continued spiraling. The Celtics rolled over conference rivals Miami and Atlanta on their recent road trip, and entered Wednesday in an effective tie with Denver for the top offense in the NBA and 14th in defense, amounting to a tie with Detroit for the best net rating (+7.4) in the Eastern Conference. And however much Joe Mazzulla stresses it could all disappear tomorrow, this Celtics team proved itself as a legitimate contender in the first half of the season.

“We have to make that decision every day, so I’m not sure we can say, ‘this is where we’re at now,’” Mazzulla said in Atlanta. “We could lose it all tomorrow, so it’s everything. It’s just the process that goes into winning, defending at a high level, understanding the details, rebounding, offensive execution, time-and-score, situational basketball, game plan execution. We have to make the decision every day to get better.”

Mazzulla and the players never considered this anything other than another season to compete. The payroll reductions, comments about prioritizing getting Tatum back on the floor and a relative lack of front court depth the front office assembled signaled another direction: a step back that never happened due to excellent coaching, individual player developments across the board and relatively full health throughout the first half.

Still, decisions loom about setting the Celtics up best for the long term, Boston is still relatively high above the tax, and the team could use another consistent rotation player especially if Tatum can’t return this season. Brad Stevens, Bill Chisholm and company at least owe it to this group to stand pat and allow this team to play out the year.

However, reports have painted mixed signals about that direction. Old talks between the Celtics and Nets resurfaced about what would amount to an Anfernee Simons salary dump. Other interest in expensive upgrades inside like Ivica Zubac or Jaren Jackson Jr. reflect the team’s willingness to explore the other direction. The trade deadline could involve both for the Celtics as they focus on moves that’ll help them both now and in the long-term over short term fixes. There has also been some signal that ownership won’t strictly mandate payroll or tax reductions for the sake of doing so. Simons, long a subject of speculation over his status given his $27.7 million salary, has fans of his first half performance and in the building.

“I think a lot of teams are really in let’s see how everything looks as time moves on,” Brad Stevens said in December. “Everybody’s a work in progress … we’re all still trying to figure out who we are and what we can be. We will not put a ceiling on this group. If it makes sense for us to look for things that can help us, we certainly will, but it all has to be within good deals and it all has to be within the ultimate goal … retooling so we’re in a position to compete for what we want to compete for.”

Brown’s start to the season proved sustainable through his consistent availability and ability to beat different defenses. He received the most All-Star media votes in the Eastern Conference, and would likely finish at least in the top-five if MVP votes came in today. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have managed one of the league’s best ball control back courts. Defensively, they’ve managed their rebounding issue, forced turnovers and used that to dominate the possession game. The Celtics, on many nights, look like they’re in full control and fought with the Pistons, split their New York matchups and recently took the Spurs to crunch time. They’ve only looked overmatched by the Rockets on a back-to-back that also marked their fifth game in seven nights.

Of course, they’re as vulnerable as anyone, losers to the Jazz, Nets, Blazers and Pacers with their speed, athleticism and size deficiencies on display in Detroit. The Celtics touted losing the 50-50 balls as a reason for falling short. They’ve changed their lineups constantly throughout the season and have to find a different closing group on most nights. There’s still an enormous amount riding on Neemias Queta staying on the floor. White and Pritchard have often struggled to convert shots against extra defensive attention, and they only recently rose into a tie for seventh in three-point percentage. They’ve opted for a quantity over quality approach to offense that they’ve needed to back up with elite offensive rebounding that might not sustain into the playoffs.

“Obviously, we’re less talented than we have been before, less experienced than we have been before, so this is the style of basketball we have to play,” Brown admitted in October. “We have to double down on it if we want to be successful. I think Joe has done a good job of that.”

That’s involved aggressive crashing, calculated defensive risk-taking that also involves fouling more and in turn utilizing more depth than in recent years. The Celtics’ rotation reached down to two-way rookie Amari Williams at one point this season and consistently involved 12 of their 14 available active roster players. Only Xavier Tillman Sr. and Chris Boucher have consistently sat outside their rotation this year, with the Celtics giving a nod to the Pacers’ layered, almost hockey style lineup attack that they utilized on the way to the Finals last season.

That makes the looming deadline complicated, given the culture, array contributions and connectivity of their start. Boston still projects to pay over $230 million between payroll and tax for this year’s team, and another season spent above the tax line would maintain their repeater tax penalty status through at least 2027-28. They still have long-term holes to fill and with each passing week, it becomes more unlikely than likely that Tatum impacts a significant portion of this season. Yet Brown looks the part of a player good enough to lead a team deep into the postseason, the top-end talent on the roster does what Mazzulla wants them to do at an elite level and the depth contributors fit in almost perfectly.

The Celtics have a flawed roster in a league now built to ensure each one has some flaws. Their room for error in any series remains small and full health, along with some breaks from their opponents missing bodies, have undoubtedly padded their record to begin the year. But enough is real here to make this group more than deserving of seeing out their season together — what’s become the greatest pleasant surprise of my Celtics lifetime through the first half of the season.

“Start of the season, the expectations weren’t high,” Brown said on Wednesday. “But these guys, they came in and worked day-in and day-out, and last year, we were second in the east, that we finished? We’re halfway through the season and we’re second in the east, so that’s just a testament to the work ethic, the resiliency of our head coach, of our leadership and that’s a testament to where we are right now.”

It's one of the most exciting things to watch yet one of the most excruciating places to be in college basketball: the NCAA tournament bubble.

Even though Selection Sunday is more than 50 days away, there are teams already approaching desperation mode, in need of impressing the selection committee — or it could make for an uncomfortable ride in March.

It's already time to start looking at resumes and figuring what teams need to ensure their spot in the Big Dance. Welcome to the bubble watch, where we'll examine teams on the fence in the recent USA TODAY Sports Bracketology:

UCLA

• Record: 13-6 (3-2)
• NET Ranking: 40
• Quad 1 record: 2-5
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four).
• Quality wins: vs. Purdue
• Bad losses: vs. California (neutral)

It's been a largely disappointing season for the Bruins, unable to live up to the preseason expectations by not playing up to marquee opponents. The new year got off to a tough start with three losses in five games, pushing UCLA further away from NCAA tournament certainty. It tremendously helped its case by beating Purdue for that first signature win of the season. The schedule gets lighter now with Northwestern next, and it doesn't leave the West Coast again until the middle of February. A winning streak is a must.

New Mexico

• Record: 15-4 (6-2)
• NET Ranking: 41
• Quad 1 record: 1-3
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
• Quality wins: at Virginia Commonwealth
• Bad losses: at New Mexico State, at Boise State

Eric Olen's first season in Albuquerque had a bumpy start with a 3-2 record, but the Lobos have righted the ship with a 12-2 record since. However, this current stretch doesn't have any real significant wins, and the loss to Boise State inflicted some real damage. There was the chance against San Diego State but New Mexico couldn't pull of the late road comeback. The next week includes Quad 2 games at Nevada and UNLV, which it can't afford to drop.

Ohio State

• Record: 13-5 (5-3)
• NET Ranking: 35
• Quad 1 record: 1-4
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
• Quality wins: vs. UCLA
• Bad losses: at Pittsburgh, at Washington

You never know what team you're going to get with Ohio State, who crumbled against Washington but then looked solid against UCLA right after. While it doesn't have any major win, the Buckeyes benefit from having a strong NET ranking, thanks to some close games against top-tier squads. The chance to really make a statement is now with trips to Michigan and Wisconsin coming up, as the loss to Pittsburgh looms large.

TCU

• Record: 12-7 (2-4)
• NET Ranking: 46
• Quad 1 record: 2-4
• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)
• Quality wins: vs. Florida (netural), vs. Wisconsin (neutral)
• Bad losses: vs. New Orleans, vs. Notre Dame, at Utah

The season-opening loss to New Orleans immediately made it a tough road for TCU, and it hasn't gotten any easier despite some real good wins against Florida and Wisconsin in November. The shocking loss to Kansas started a four-game losing streak that was punctuated with a head-scratching defeat to Utah. It's getting harder for the Horned Frogs with Baylor and Houston next, needing at least one win to avoid tumbling.

Creighton

• Record: 12-8 (6-3)
• NET Ranking: 59
• Quad 1 record: 1-5
• Projected seed: First four out
• Quality wins: at Villanova
• Bad losses: vs. Kansas State, at Providence

Starting 5-5 with a Quad 3 loss wasn't ideal for Creighton, but it could have been redeemed with a strong start to Big East play. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone that way. The Bluejays haven't taken advantage, picking up just a win against Villanova that finally got them a Quad 1 win, only for it to be wiped out with a loss to Providence. Creighton just avoided disaster by barely getting past Xavier, and it needs to get a win streak going, starting with an easy opportunity against Marquette.

Baylor

• Record: 11-7 (1-5)
• NET Ranking: 53
• Quad 1 record: 1-6
• Projected seed: First four out.
• Quality wins: at Oklahoma State
• Bad losses: at Memphis

Baylor has yet to catch up with the rest of the Big 12, finding itself in another odd position. Even though it lost to Memphis, it finished nonconference play 10-2. It's gone bad since with a 1-5 conference start, and while they've all been Quad 1 games, that won't cut it for any tournament candidate, especially a NET ranking so high. Simply put, Baylor needs to get out of the Big 12 basement, starting with TCU and Cincinnati up next.

Texas

• Record: 11-8 (2-4)
• NET Ranking: 43
• Quad 1 record: 3-5
• Projected seed: First four out
• Quality wins: at Alabama, vs. Vanderbilt
• Bad losses: vs. Arizona State (neutral), vs. Mississippi State

Sean Miller had a largely unimpressive start in Austin and it's been an up-and-down start to the SEC schedule. Texas started 0-2 with a bad Quad 3 overtime loss to Mississippi State, but then got some marquee wins in Alabama and Vanderbilt, handing the Commodores their first loss of the season. The Longhorns have slid again with back-to-back losses, now owning an 0-3 Quad 2 and 3 record. That can be forgiven if Texas can pick up wins against Georgia and Auburn to even out the Quad 1 record.

Indiana

• Record: 12-7 (3-5) 
• NET Ranking: 37
• Quad 1 record: 0-6
• Projected seed: First four out
• Quality wins: none
• Bad losses: vs. Minnesota

The lack of quality wins says it all for Indiana, with the Hoosiers still looking for a notable victory to prove it belongs in the field. They swung and missed at every opportunity in the nonconference schedule and in the early part of the Big Ten slate, currently on a four-game losing skid that included three top-10 teams. The Hoosiers need to get a Quad 1 win soon, and it will have three chances in the next four games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament bubble watch: Teams on outside looking in March Madness

As the NBA All-Star Game approaches, the race for Most Valuable Player is clearing up.

Early injuries have impacted the race, and Denver Nuggets do-it-all center Nikola Jokić is the latest player to fall victim. Jokić has missed the last 12 games, which has momentarily pushed him out of consideration. When he’s on the floor, he has as good an argument as anyone, but it’s hard to justify his position in the Top 5, given his current absence.

The Nuggets, however, have been encouraged with the progress he has made, so that could change very quickly.

Here's the latest iteration of the USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings:

The NBA trade deadline is fewer than two weeks away, and teams are assessing the market, potentially working up viable offers.

It has been a fairly quiet leadup, with the lone trade so far being the one that sent Trae Young to the Wizards and CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Hawks.

Still, there are plenty of stars and big names who may be available in deals, if the price is right. None is bigger than Giannis Antetokounmpo, though a lot has to happen for him to not only become available, but also for the Bucks to find an offer that works and move him.

In any case, here’s a look at possible landing spots for the biggest NBA trade targets:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Things appear to be deteriorating by the day in Milwaukee, with Antetokounmpo clearly frustrated. But even if he does ask out — and he would need to do so soon — he’s a generational player that Milwaukee wouldn’t move for just any offer. The Bucks, who are lacking draft capital, would need to ensure that they’re getting appropriate value for the two-time MVP.

Most likely landing spot: Stays in Milwaukee

This comes with a massive caveat: if Antetokounmpo is eventually moved, a deal in the offseason would be far easier to execute. But if the relationship really sours, and Antetokounmpo does ask out, the Heat, Warriors and Lakers are viable spots, though — frankly — just about every team will be lining up for his services.

No matter where your college allegiances lie, it’s worth remembering that Mother Nature is always undefeated. As we look at this weekend’s Starting Five, therefore, we remind everyone that logistics might hamper the schedule in some locales, particularly in the eastern half of the country.

We think, however, that the items offered here for your Saturday viewing enjoyment will go on as scheduled. But of course fans should check on game day through official channels. And, above all, if you’re traveling, please be safe.

With all that out of the way, here’s the Starting Five for a potentially snowy January 24.

No. 24 North Carolina at No. 15 Virginia

Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN2

This one was moved up a couple hours in hopes of getting it in ahead of the storm. The action on the court should be hot enough for all, however, as the Cavaliers are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Tar Heels got in a needed get-right game against Notre Dame following a rough west-coast trip. The inside-out combo of Thijs De Ridder and Malik Thomas have been carrying the scoring load for UVa. The Tar Heels do most of their damage in the paint via Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, but they’ll need a few treys to drop as well.

Villanova at No. 3 Connecticut

Time/TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, Fox

They’re accustomed to winter weather in the northeast, and this one is early enough that it should tip off on time. It’s an important contest for both parties, as there are fewer opportunities for high-end wins in the Big East this year. Bryce Lindsay leads a deep Wildcats’ backcourt that will have to be ready for UConn’s relentless ball pressure. The Huskies haven’t exhibited the wire-to-wire dominance of their recent championship runs, but having center Tarris Reed healthy again has been a major boost at both ends of the floor.

No. 11 Illinois at No. 4 Purdue

Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, Fox

The Boilermakers return home after splitting on their trip to Los Angeles. They don’t get much of a break, however, as the Fighting Illini bring an eight-game winning streak into Mackey Arena. Purdue floor general Braden Smith is coming off a bad shooting night at UCLA, but he’s still handing out over nine assists a game. Illinois will be without guard Kylan Boswell (hand) for a couple more weeks, but the Illini were able to compensate for his absence in their most recent outing against Maryland.

No. 6 Houston at No. 12 Texas Tech

Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The game of the day might once again involve the Red Raiders, who staged a late rally a week ago to overtake Brigham Young. They now hope to turn the tables on the Cougars, who handed them their lone league loss to date in Houston back on Jan. 6. Since that four-point squeaker against the Red Raiders, Houston dismissed its last three opponents in blowout fashion. Tech’s dynamic duo of J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson have been getting some timely help from LeJuan Watts of late. They’ll all have their hands full with the Cougars’ three-headed monster on the perimeter of Emanuel Sharp, Kingston Flemings and Milos Uzan.

Tennessee at No. 17 Alabama

Time/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

In addition to being a key SEC contest for both squads, there’s a curiosity factor for this contest with the Crimson Tide at the epicenter of the sport’s latest eligibility litigation. If Charles Bediako does play, it will likely be for a limited number of minutes backing up Aiden Sherrell, though he would give the Tide another option in the interior defense, which has unquestionably been an Achilles heel for this group. All of this of course is of little concern for the Volunteers, who have struggled to make shots when needed. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament remain the primary options, but both have seen their shooting percentages dip in conference play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball schedule features five huge games this weekend