Rooting for Villanova Basketball all Saturday

The Villanova Wildcats will take on the Seton Hall Pirates today for a second Saturday in a row. But this time, it’s for the Big East Tournament Championship at 6PM EST on FOX, and much of Nova Nation will be at Madison Square Garden to cheer on our team. But why stop there? Here are 10 games (plus a few more) to keep an eye on as you flip through the channels to catch all the college basketball action today. And because it’s the last Saturday before the Big Dance, we’ve got EVERY D1 game that’s being played today. Go Cats!

Penn Quakers vs Harvard Crimson, 12:30 EST

Root For: Penn | Nova Impact: Medium | KenPom: Penn -1 | TV: ESPNU

There’s really no danger of Villanova’s loss to Penn falling out of Q2, but perception would be improved greatly if the Quakers were to win the Ivy League Championship. Besides, let’s get as many Philly teams dancing as we can. Go Quakers!

#19 Wisconsin Badgers vs #6 Michigan State Spartans, 1:00 EST

Root For: MSU | Nova Impact: Small | KenPom: MSU -5 | TV: CBS

While a Wisconsin win would be better for Nova’s numbers, it’s all about seeding at this point. The Badgers project as a low 4 seed, high 5 seed right now, and that’s the ceiling for Villanova. The more schools that can be cleared out of their path the better. Go Sparty!

Florida Gators vs #22 Auburn Tigers, 1:00 EST

Root For: Florida | Nova Impact: Medium | KenPom: Auburn -2 | TV: ESPN

Auburn and Villanova are neck and neck in the seeding race, and the last thing the Wildcats need is the Tigers pulling off a surprising SEC Championship run. An upset loss to Florida on the other hand, that’s not going to help your seed. Go Gators!

#8 Tennessee Volunteers vs #4 Kentucky Wildcats, 3:00 EST

Root For: Kentucky | Nova Impact: Small | KenPom: Tenn -1 | TV: ESPN

I know you don’t want to, but it’s time to root for Kentucky again. Especially since Villanova is now facing a Seton Hall team that beat them for a third time in the Big East Tournament Championship. It’s all about the numbers folks, and Nova isn’t going to be fighting for seeds with these two any time soon. Go Cats!

Memphis Tigers vs #11 Houston Cougars, 3:00 EST

Root For: Houston | Nova Impact: Small | KenPom: Houston -6 | TV: ESPN2

These teams both have 5 games against teams on Nova’s schedule this season, but Houston’s are more impactful after playing both Temple and UConn twice. On top of that, the better the Cougars do the more it helps Temple’s resume now that they’ve fallen out of the AAC tournament and will be squarely on the bubble tomorrow. Go Cougs!

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs #10 Michigan Wolverines, 3:30 EST

Root For: Michigan | Nova Impact: Medium | KenPom: Michigan -9 | TV: CBS

As usual, we’re rooting for the teams on Nova’s schedule first and foremost. Even if they did give the Wildcats one of their worst losses in recent history. Then again, Nova’s done pretty well in the Tournament against teams that blew them out in the regular season in recent history too. Go Blue!

Wichita State Shockers vs #24 Cincinnati Bearcats, 5:00 EST

Root For: Wichita State | Nova Impact: Medium | KenPom: Cincinnati -6 | TV: ESPN2

Cincinnati is one of the few teams currently bracketed behind Villanova that has both the opportunity and the resume to jump the Wildcats if they stumble. The Wichita State could do Nova a big favor in cutting down the Bearcats before they have a chance to points. Go Shockers!

Iowa State Cyclones vs #17 Kansas Jayhawks, 6:00 EST

Root For: Kansas | Nova Impact: Large | KenPom: Kansas -1 | TV: ESPN

This is one of the rare instances today where an impactful team on Nova’s schedule can also knock off a team the Wildcats are competing for a seed with. Iowa State sits just below the Wildcats right now, but a Big 12 Championship over Kansas could give them the boost they need to jump Nova. Go Jayhawks!

Bowling Green Falcons vs #18 Buffalo Bulls, 7:30 EST

Root For: Bowling Green | Nova Impact: Small | KenPom: Buffalo -11 | TV: ESPN2

Pesky Buffalo has hung around long enough to contend with Villanova for a 5 seed. However, the Bulls have a lot more to lose if they lost to Bowling Green than if Nova lost to Seton Hall. It’s unlikely, but hopefully this could turn into a bid-stealing upset. Go Falcons!

#12 Florida State Seminoles vs #5 Duke Blue Devils, 8:30 EST

Root For: FSU | Nova Impact: Medium | KenPom: Duke -6 | TV: ESPN

Florida State will be Villanova’s biggest win going into Selection Sunday, so we’re going to root for them regardless. That said, a win over the most talented team in college basketball would be a huge cherry on top. Go Noles!

Other Teams To Root For

UMBC over Vermont, 11AM EST on ESPN2

Rhode Island over St. Bonaventure, 1PM EST on CBSSN

Norfolk State over North Carolina Central, 1PM EST on ESPN2

Princeton over Yale, 2:30 EST on ESPNU

Saint Louis over Davidson, 3:30PM EST on CBSSN

Georgia State over Texas State, 4:00 PM EST on ESPN+

San Diego State over Utah State, 6:00 PM EST on CBS

Prairie View A&M over Texas Southern, 6:00 PM EST on ESPNU

Georgia Southern over UT Arlington, 6:30 PM EST on ESPN+

Montana over Eastern Washington, 8:00 PM EST on ESPNU

Old Dominion over Western Kentucky, 8:30 PM EST on CBSSN

Abilene Christian over New Orleans, 9:30 PM EST on ESPN2

Grand Canyon over New Mexico State, 10:00 PM EST on ESPNU

Washington over Oregon, 10:30 PM EST on ESPN

UC Irvine over CSU Fullerton, 11:59 PM EST on ESPN2