NBA:
Monday, March 7th:
Portland Trailblazers at Orlando Magic at 7:00pm EST
Both teams come into this matchup 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Trailblazers have been playing much better basketball over the past month after battling through a lot of adversity and injury. They will have a tough test against Dwight Howard and the Magic on Monday night as Orlando has been playing great basketball since Howard called out his teammates two weeks ago. However the Magic will be without Howard in this contest after the center was suspended for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season.
New Orleans Hornets at Chicago Bulls at 8:00pm EST
It’s a battle of two of the top point guards in basketball as Chris Paul and the Hornets travel to Chicago to take on MVP hopeful Derrick Rose and the red hot Bulls. Chicago is coming off of a big road victory in Miami on Sunday afternoon and could be susceptible to a letdown, but this should be a great matchup between two playoff-bound teams.
Tuesday, March 8th:
Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns at 9:00pm EST
Both teams are battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with the Suns (1.5 GB) and the Rockets (3 GB) on the outside looking in at the Memphis Grizzlies. Steve Nash, who just moved into sole possession of 6th all-time in assists, will lead his Phoenix Suns against a Rockets squad that is 7-3 over their last ten games.
Wednesday, March 9th:
Oklahoma City Thunder at Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00pm EST
This just in: The Philadelphia 76ers are playing some of the best basketball in the entire NBA. Philly is 8-2 over their last ten games and 29-17 since starting the season 3-13. Doug Collins will lead his young bunch into a tough matchup against another young, up-and-coming team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC won a hard fought, 109-103 contest between these two teams in their last matchup. It should be another close game on Wednesday night.
Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Hornets at 8:00pm EST
The Dallas Mavericks are currently the hottest team in basketball. In a potential first-round playoff preview, Dallas will hit the road looking to remain in the win column against the Hornets. Look for Chris Paul to use his speed to his advantage against an aging Jason Kidd and for Dirk Nowitzki and David West to battle it out down low.
Thursday, March 10th:
Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat at 7:00pm EST on TNT
The preseason pick for an NBA finals matchup will take for the first time since Christmas day as Kobe Bryant leads the Los Angeles Lakers into Miami to take on the struggling Heat. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and company have lost four straight games in the closing seconds and have greatly struggled against elite teams across the league. Can the Heat show they belong in the conversation among the NBA’s best or will the Lakers look to make another statement that the NBA reigning champions are ready to defend their crown on Wednesday night?
New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks at 9:30pm EST on TNT
Carmelo Anthony and the rest of the New York Knicks will travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks in a nationally televised matchup. Dirk Nowitzki and Amare Stoudemire have battled many times over the years in the Western Conference and the two should have another great matchup on Thursday night. New York’s defense is their Achilles heel and Dallas should be able to exploit that to continue their winning ways.
Friday, March 11th:
Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00pm EST
Two of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference face off in this classic rivalry matchup. While it may not be the days of Wilt vs. Russell or Dr. J. vs. Larry Bird, it is nice to see both the Sixers and the Celtics playing good basketball. These two teams have played very close, hard fought games against one another this season including an overtime matchup and game deciding in the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Friday night should be no different.
Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls at 8:00pm EST
The Hawks are in the midst of a brutal stretch of games and are struggling without injured forward Josh Smith. Friday night won’t get any easier for Atlanta as they have to travel to the United Center to take on the Bulls.
Saturday, March 12th:
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks at 9:00pm EST
Two of the top three seeds in the Western Conference matchup for playoff positioning in this great weekend game. There is a ton of star power in this matchup highlighted by Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki.
Sunday, March 13th:
Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns at 3:30pm EST on ABC
After making a blockbuster trade back in November both the Magic and the Suns struggled to integrate their new talent before picking up their performance over the past month. Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu will take on their former squads in this nationally televised game.
College Basketball:
With just one week remaining before Selection Sunday conference tournaments will take place all over the country to determine automatic bids for the field-of-68.
ACC TOURNAMENT: March 10th – March 13th in Greensboro, NC
American East Championship: Stony Brook at Boston University on Saturday, March 12th at 12:02pm EST
Atlantic 10 Tournament: March 11th- March 13th in Atlantic City, NJ
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT: March 8th – March 12th at Madison Square Garden in NY
Big Sky Tournament: March 8th – March 9th in Greeley, CO
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT: March 10th – March 13th in Indianapolis, IN
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT: March 9th – March 12th in Kansas City, MO
Big West Tournament: March 10th – March 12th in Anaheim, CA
Colonial Conference Championship: VCU vs. Old Dominion on Monday, March 7th at 7:00pm EST
Conference USA Tournament: March 9th- March 12th in El Paso, TX
Horizon League Championship: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Butler on Tuesday, March 8th at 9:00pm EST
MAAC Championship: Iona vs. St. Peter’s on Monday, March 7th at 7:00pm EST
MAC Conference Tournament: March 8th, March 10th – March 12th in Cleveland, OH
MEAC Conference Tournament: March 8th – March 12th in Winston Salem, NC
Mountain West Tournament: March 8th – March 12th in Las Vegas, NV
Northeast Conference Championship: Long Island vs. Robert Morris on Wednesday, March 9th at 7:00pm EST
Pac 10 Tournament: March 9th – March 12th in Los Angeles, CA
Patriot League Championship: Lafayette at Bucknell on Friday, March 11th at 4:45pm EST
SEC TOURNAMENT: March 10th – March 13th in Atlanta, GA
Southern Conference Championship: Wofford vs. Charleston on Monday, March 7th at 9:00pm EST
Southland Conference Tournament: March 8th – March 12th in Katy, TX
Summit Conference Tournament: March 7th – March 8th in Sioux Falls, SD
Sun Belt Conference Tournament: March 7th – March 8th in Hot Springs, AK
SWAC Tournament: March 9th – March 12th in Las Vegas, NV
West Coast Conference Championship: Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s on Monday, March 7th at 9:00pm EST
Leave a Reply