College basketball weekend preview

This weekend of college basketball is shaping up to be one of the best of the 2025-26 season, with two top-4 matchups.

The games to keep an eye on are listed in order of my personal preference, and the ones I believe will be the best.

1. Michigan vs. 3. Duke Saturday 6:30 ET

It’s rare to have a nonconference matchup with this much firepower this late into the season, and yet, here we are.

Michigan and Duke are set to square off in what should be a highly contested game from start to finish in Washington, D.C.

The Wolverines are going into this game winners of 11 in a row, with their most recent win against Purdue in Mackey Arena on Monday.

One of the best transfers this year, Yaxel Lendeborg (7.5 rebounds per game), will lead Michigan into this game as an elite two-way player. Look for him to anchor a Michigan defense that allows only 68.8 points per game.

Don’t sleep on point guard Elliot Cadeau either. Averaging 5.5 assists per game, look for the North Carolina transfer’s experience against the Blue Devils to work in the Wolverine’s favor.

For Duke, they may not have the home court advantage of the “Cameron Crazies” for this game, but what they do have is their own “Cameron Crazy” in elite freshman Cameron Boozer.

Averaging 22.8 points per game (4th in the country), he’ll spearhead a Duke offense that averages 83.0 points per game.

Supplemented by the elite shooting of Isaiah Evans (36.1% from 3) and the interior presence of Patrick Ngongba II, Duke has the makings of a team ready to take down number one.

This matchup certainly has all the makings to be one of, if not the best, games in college basketball all year.

4. Arizona vs. 2. Houston Saturday 3:00 ET

In a league as great as the Big 12, these two teams have been above the rest this year, and they match up in Houston for an ultimate showdown.

Arizona lost two in a row after starting 23-0, but they rebounded Tuesday with a home win over BYU, 75-68.

The Wildcats, most likely without star freshman Koa Peat, will have to rely on others to step up, and they are more than capable of doing so.

Look for senior point guard Jaden Bradley (4.7 assists per game) to lead Arizona, and freshman Brayden Burries to hit timely shots (15.5 points per game). They’ll need it against a Houston defense that gives up only 61.6 points per game (2nd in the country).

For the Cougars, they have their own star freshman in Kingston Flemings. Leading the team in points and assists per game, head coach Kelvin Sampson can trust him in games like this.

He’ll dish to great shooters Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan to help keep the Arizona defense honest. Coming off a close loss at Iowa State, expect the Cougars to come out swinging.

This game can also be one of the games of the year, and expect the Fertitta Center to be jumping all game long.

5. UConn vs. Villanova Saturday 5:30 ET

One of the Big East’s premier rivalries is on display for the final time in the regular season, and could determine how the conference looks in a few weeks.

UConn and Villanova are two schools that have combined for 4 of the last nine national titles, and they each look for another signature win.

Connecticut is coming off a stunning loss at home to Creighton, 91-84, on Wednesday. The Huskies certainly want to come out and prove that their performance in that game was just an outlier.

Keep an eye on guards Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. to run the show for UConn, and for sharpshooters Alex Karaban and Braylon Mullins to knock down plenty of 3-pointers.

For Villanova, they have continued to win in the Big East, and they have revenge on their mind after almost beating Connecticut on January 24, falling 75-67 in overtime.

Riding a six-game winning streak and with homecourt advantage now, Villanova should feel confident they can take down the Huskies.

Led by seniors Tyler Perkins and Duke Brennan on the inside, and young guys Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay on the perimeter, the Wildcats really have no one who can catch fire.

This game should have a Big East tournament atmosphere, and maybe these teams will meet again in Madison Square Garden come March.

6. Iowa State vs. 23. BYU Saturday 10:30 ET

Another ranked matchup takes place later in a game that will showcase the depth of the Big 12.

Iowa State and BYU will square off, with both teams seemingly going in opposite directions.

The Cyclones are riding high after home wins over Kansas and Houston and have won 7 of their last 8 games.

They have a plethora of players who can be the alpha, including the sensational Tamin Lipsey (5.3 assists per game, 2.2 steals per game) and sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic (51.3% from 3, best in the country).

The Cougars, on the other hand, are trending downward, having lost six of their last 9 games.

Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa is a bright spot for the Cougars, leading the nation in scoring at 24.8 points per game, and point guard Robert Wright III (4.8 assists per game) is capable of leading the offense.

BYU really needs this win, but the Hilton magic might travel with the Cyclones to Provo to stall the Cougars.

Nick Bannon is a first-year student studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email him at nwb5355@psu.edu