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College basketball this week: Big tests for No. 1 Kansas, starting at West Virginia

Eddie Timanus
USA TODAY Sports

As January nears its end, the intensity around college basketball is picking up as the sport takes center stage. Here are a few noteworthy matters that will unfold over the next few nights.

Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III.

Game to watch

No. 1 Kansas at No. 8 West Virginia, Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Jayhawks will keep the top position in the coaches poll. But this trip to Morgantown kicks off a challenging week, with the next stop taking them to Kentucky for a top-five showdown Saturday. The Mountaineers, meanwhile, will see their ranking dip by the time they take the court thanks to a two-game skid. WVU, however, already has knocked off one No.-1 team, Baylor, on its home floor this month.

Player to watch: Caleb Swanigan, Purdue

The Boilermakers’ sophomore forward is a double double machine. His 19-point, 12-rebound outing Saturday in Purdue’s victory against Penn State was his 10th in 11 games and 16th of the season. He’ll look to keep it rolling as the Boilermakers visit reeling Michigan State on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

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No. 13 Arizona, with Allonzo Trier back, makes statement vs. No. 3 UCLA

No. 18 Duke flies past Miami with dominant second half

Kansas State hands No. 8 West Virginia second upset loss of week

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Conference to watch: American

There are many weeks to go, of course, but the AAC would appear to be well-positioned to send multiple representatives to the Big Dance. A couple of the league’s top teams have opportunities for quality midweek victories.

SMU has handled its business at home, but the Mustangs could use a road win to help overcome some damaging pre-conference losses. They head to UCF Wednesday (6 p.m. ET, ESPNews), though the Knights will be trying to stay in the league’s upper division themselves after Sunday’s tough loss at Memphis.

AAC leader Cincinnati then looks to help out the league’s overall profile on Thursday as the Bearcats take on cross-town rival Xavier (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The Musketeers snapped a three-game skid Sunday against Georgetown after a brutal Big East stretch, and they will have plenty of motivation for this rivalry clash.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK IN COLLEGE HOOPS

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