Previewing the top 10 college basketball games this weekend

The best college basketball matchups this weekend. All times Eastern.

Duke at Virginia (ACC) | Saturday, 7 p.m. ESPN

• About the Blue Devils (17-3, 4-3): After losing two in a row, Duke rekindled its groove with three consecutive victories, two of them being on the road, before narrowly falling to Notre Dame on Thursday. Tyus Jones has been playing well as of late, finishing with 22 points in the Blue Devils' win against St. John's (Jan. 25) as well as their Jan. 19 victory against Pittsburgh. And big man Jahlil Okafor continues to bolster his player of the year candidacy with solid overall games despite double-teams. When this team is shooting well (ranking eighth nationally at 49.6% a game), it's difficult to beat. The loss of Rasheed Sulaimon (dismissed Thursday) will be felt.
• About the Cavaliers (19-0, 7-0): The Cavaliers haven't lost a game, and much of that can be credited to the nation's toughest defense (allowing 49.2 points a game). Good teams find ways to win when they're not shooting well, and Virginia is the epitome of that, evidenced by a Jan. 25 victory at Virginia Tech where the Cavaliers narrowly won despite shooting 35% from the floor. Justin Anderson continues to steer this team offensively. Virginia has shown it can beat teams with offensive firepower, edging Notre Dame (Jan. 10) on the road.
• Star watch: Duke center Jahlil Okafor (18.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and guard Quinn Cook (14.4 ppg). Virginia guard Anderson (13.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and guard Malcolm Brogden (13.3 ppg).
• The pick: Virginia. The home team and better overall defensive team should come away with this one. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, fresh off his 1,000th victory, will need to find ways to have his team dictate the tempo and not fall into Virginia's methodical pace. And Virginia, like most teams, will have to find ways to contain Okafor.

North Carolina at Louisville (ACC) | Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPN

• About the Tar Heels (17-4, 7-1): North Carolina has won six games in a row following a one-point loss to Notre Dame on Jan. 5 and that includes a big win against Syracuse on Monday. The Tar Heels share the ball well — ranking third nationally with 17.7 assists a game, which is fueled by Marcus Paige and J.P. Tokoto, who both average more than four assists per game. Freshman forward Justin Jackson is starting to hit his stride. And North Carolina's bigs rebound as well as anyone in the country, ranking fifth nationally in rebounding margin (10.1).
• About the Cardinals (17-3, 5-2): Louisville has only lost to good teams — with losses to Kentucky, UNC and Duke. If it wants to elevate its status, this team needs to beat the ACC's elite. Louisville's defense is vaunted as always, ranking 10th in blocks per game (5.9) and eighth in steals per game (9.3). Chris Jones (17 points, nine assists in a win against Pittsburgh Jan. 25) has been playing like a true veteran and injecting life into the rest of the group.
• Star watch: North Carolina guard Paige (14.1 ppg, 4.2 apg) and forward Kennedy Meeks (13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg). Louisville guard Terry Rozier (18.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and forward Montrezl Harrell (14.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg).
• The pick: Louisville. Home court and revenge will be the major factors. In the last matchup between these two teams, Marcus Paige's running layup with 8.5 seconds remaining lifted North Carolina to a 72-71 victory. If Virginia slips up in the ACC, both the Tar Heels and Cardinals will be in the thick of things for the ACC title race. That's why this matchup is so important.

Kansas State at Kansas (Big 12) | Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN

• About the Wildcats (12-9, 5-3): After a shaky non-conference slate (losses to Texas Southern and Long Beach State), Kansas State has won five of its last seven, which is a very solid mark for the Big 12. KSU's top player, Marcus Foster, has effectively bounced back after a scoreless game on Jan. 3 vs. Oklahoma State, and it's safe to say when the sophomore guard is producing, this team is very tough to beat. Senior forward Nino Williams has played big as of late, while senior big man Thomas Gipson needs to step up.
• About the Jayhawks (17-3, 6-1): In quest of its 11th consecutive Big 12 regular-season title, Kansas is beginning to look the part of champions — most notably in a Jan. 24 victory at Texas. In that game, freshman forward Cliff Alexander had 15 points and nine rebounds — numbers that he's capable of on a regular basis — and the Jayhawks had just three turnovers all game. Point guard Frank Mason III has been the difference-maker for KU, running the show while producing steadily.
• Star watch: Kansas State guard Foster (13.8 ppg) and forward Williams (11.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg). Kansas forward Perry Ellis (12.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and guard Mason III (12.9 ppg, 4.1 apg).
• The pick: Kansas. At Allen Fieldhouse and the Jayhawks are hot. This KU squad is starting to fully find its identity and beating dangerous teams like K-State at home will be necessary to win another league title. And that's exactly what the Wildcats are: Dangerous.

Oregon State at Arizona (Pac-12) | Friday, 10 p.m. Pac-12 Network

• About the Beavers (14-6, 5-3): Oregon State had gotten back on track since a setback loss at Washington on Jan. 15 with a mini three-game win streak, but then fell at Arizona State by 18 points. Gary Payton II continues to statistically dominate and carry this team, evidenced by his 21-point, 10-rebound performance in OSU's Jan. 24 win against USC. He also ranks third nationally with 2.9 steals per game. New coach Wayne Tinkle has preached defense and rebounding since he's arrived on the scene and the group has responded well, ranking 12th in scoring defense (allowing 56.9 ppg) compared to ranking 299th last season (75.6 ppg).
• About the Wildcats (19-2, 7-1): This Arizona team continues to get better, on display in a 23-point rout of Cal on the road Jan. 24 and then a 34-point beatdown of Oregon on Wednesday. The Wildcats need to keep winning to stay in the mix for an NCAA tournament No. 1 seed, and that shouldn't be a problem as the pieces continue to shape together for Sean Miller's talented squad. Arizona ranks seventh in field goal percentage (49.8%) and continues to shoot well. Stanley Johnson has been a force for this team (18 points, nine rebounds vs. Cal) and veteran floor general T.J. McConnell continues to run the show while stepping up offensively when needed (16 points in big win vs. Utah).
• Star watch: Oregon guard Payton II (13.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.0 apg) and guard Victor Robbins (10.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Arizona forward Stanley Johnson (15.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and forward Brandon Ashley (11.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg).
• The pick: Arizona. The Beavers stood a chance on their homecourt and made the most of it with a program-lifting, court-storming victory. But now they'll be facing a surging Arizona team on the road. In the first matchup, Oregon State limited the Wildcats to 24% three-point shooting and out-rebounded them 32-26. If the Beavers want to keep it close, they'll need to follow a similar game plan and make this a low-scoring affair.

Wichita State at Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley) | Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPN2

• About the Shockers (19-2, 9-0): Wichita State might not be drawing the same attention it did last season when it finished the regular season undefeated, but this year's batch of hard-nosed players are under a similar blueprint with plans to be just as scary in March. The Shockers have lost twice, at Utah on Dec. 3 and vs. George Washington on Dec. 25. They haven't shown any chance of letdown in Missouri Valley action, though. Gregg Marshall's group wins ball games on the defensive end, ranking ninth nationally in scoring defense (allowing 59.5 ppg). Ron Baker paces a balanced WSU offense that features four players averaging double figures.
• About the Panthers (19-2, 8-1): There's no mistaking Northern Iowa as the best team in the Valley behind Wichita, and the Panthers have supported that with eight consecutive wins in league play after starting with a narrow road loss to Evansville. That streak included a last-second road win against a tough Illinois State team followed by another close road loss. If UNI wants to significantly boost its already-strong NCAA tournament credentials, a victory against the conference's kingpin would certainly do it. Senior big man Seth Tuttle is the only player averaging double figures, but Ben Jacobson's deep roster features eight players averaging at least five points or more.
• Star watch: Wichita State guard Baker (16.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and forward Darius Carter (12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Northern Iowa forward Tuttle (15.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and guard Wes Washpun (8.8 ppg).
• The pick: Northern Iowa. Naysayers will pin the Missouri Valley as Wichita State and the rest of 'em. Well, this will be the Panthers' shot to shoot down that criticism on their home floor. They're fully capable, with a veteran roster that has potential to stage a March Madness run of its own.

Off the bench

6.) Memphis at Gonzaga | Saturday, 10 p.m., ESPN2

7.) Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Big 12) | Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN2

8.) Wisconsin at Iowa (Big Ten) | Saturday, noon, ESPN

9.) Alabama at Kentucky (SEC) | Saturday, 7 p.m., SEC Network

10.) Miami (Fla.) at Florida State (ACC) | Sunday, 12:30 p.m., ESPNU