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It is Week 12 of the men’s college basketball season. Here are the top-10 games to watch this week, according to Andy Katz.

📊 See the latest men’s basketball NET rankings

1. Houston at Texas Tech

How to watch: 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN

The Cougars and Red Raiders already played one of the best games of the season. Houston won round one. 

2. Illinois at Purdue

How to watch: 3 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX

The Illini have the depth and the scoring to beat Purdue in Mackey. The key will come down to how Kylen Boswell defends Braden Smith.

3. Vanderbilt at Arkansas

How to watch: 9 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN

The Commodores and Hogs are coming off losses. The loser will have three losses and suddenly be in a deeper hole for winning the regular season. 

4. Tennessee at Alabama

How to watch: 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN

The Vols are trying to avoid four losses already in the SEC. This is a key keep pace game for both teams. 

5. Southern California at Wisconsin

How to watch: 4 p.m. ET Sunday on Big Ten Network/Peacock

The Trojans nearly clipped Purdue. There will be plenty of big-time scorers on the floor with Chad Baker-Mazara, Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. 

6. Washington at Nebraska

How to watch: 9 p.m. ET Wednesday on Big Ten Network

The Huskies are struggling but the Huskers are going for 19-0!

7. Purdue at UCLA

How to watch: 10 p.m. ET Tuesday on Peacock

This is a make or break game for the Bruins. They have to get this one to change the narrative while the Boilermakers are going for the LA sweep. 

8. San Diego State at Grand Canyon

How to watch: 11 p.m. ET Wednesday on FS1

The Lopes shocked Utah State and will go for another MWC takedown of a top team and send notice that they are in the title chase. 

9. North Carolina at Virginia

How to watch: 2 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN

The Tar Heels got swept in the Bay Area. The Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the country. 

10. St. John’s at Xavier

How to watch: 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday on TNT

This is the first of two father-son matchups in the Big East with Rick and son Richard Pitino. 

Andy Katz is an NCAA.com correspondent. Katz worked at ESPN for 18 years as a college basketball reporter, host and anchor. He’s covered every Final Four since 1992, and the sport since 1986 as a freshman at Wisconsin. He is a former president of the United States Basketball Writers Association. Katz can also be seen covering college basketball on Big Ten Network during the regular season. Follow him on Twitter at @theandykatz.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.

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