With Selection Sunday just days away, the Madness is nearly upon us. Men’s college basketball conference tournaments are now in full swing and most of the nation’s top teams will be in action on Thursday.
The day started with a scary moment in Duke’s ACC opener against Georgia Tech. Projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg sprained his ankle and needed to be helped off the court just before halftime. The Blue Devils held on for a nervy win, but coach Jon Scheyer was noncommittal on Flagg’s status moving forward.
Later on Thursday, two-time defending national champion UConn returns to Madison Square Garden to try to remind everybody why the Huskies are so dangerous in March.
This week may just be a prelude to the Big Dance, but there’s a crush of worthwhile action to tune in for in the power conferences and beyond. (Scroll for live updates.)
Thursday’s best games:ACC
No. 1 Duke 78, No. 8 Georgia Tech 70
No. 4 Wake Forest vs. No. 5 UNC, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN or ESPN2
Big 12
No. 4 BYU 96, No. 5 Iowa State 92
No. 2 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Baylor, 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 6 Kansas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
SEC
No. 8 Ole Miss 83, No. 9 Arkansas 80
No. 5 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Texas, 3:30 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Oklahoma, 9:30 p.m. | SEC Network
Big East
No. 5 Marquette 89, No. 4 Xavier 87
No. 3 UConn vs. No. 6 Villanova, 9:30 p.m. | FS1
Big Ten
No. 8 Oregon 72, No. 9 Indiana 59
No. 5 Wisconsin 70, No. 13 Northwestern 63
Best of the rest
Boise State vs. San Diego State, 5:30 p.m. ET | CBSS
UNLV at Utah State, 11:30 p.m. ET | CBSS
Live32 updates
The ESPN broadcast is now showing Cooper Flagg off his feet, being wheeled in a wheelchair to get examined: