Although March is still weeks away, the looming madness of the Big Dance is beginning to make its presence felt this month. Preparing us for the coming tournament are big rivalry games such as the Duke-North Carolina war. Meanwhile, the NBA goes deeper into the second half of its season, which means games are starting to feel like playoff matches.
Top Basketball Games This Month
February 6: Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]It will be interesting to see how the Wildcats will perform after getting their first loss of the season. The Ducks have a high-scoring offense and could be a dangerous opponent, especially when overlooked.
February 7: Indiana Pacers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Two top contenders in their conferences meet for the second time this season. The Trail Blazers beat the Pacers last December 2nd 106-102, despite Paul George’s 43 points.
February 8: Michigan Wolverines vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Wolverines play the first of their four consecutive games against Top 25 teams on their schedule against the Hawkeyes, whom they beat 75-67 last January 22nd.
February 15: Florida Gators vs. Kentucky Wildcats
The Gators have only two games left on their schedule against a Top 15 team and both of those games will be matches against the Wildcats. The first game will be at Lexington mid-February.
February 11: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers
This is the fourth meeting of the Thunder and Blazers and this game could serve as another preview of the Western Conference finals. Portland has won the first two meetings this season, while the Thunder won the most recent one.
February 12: Syracuse Orange vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Syracuse barely escaped fellow ACC-transferee Panthers in the first meeting this season with a 59-54 home win last January. However, this time around, it’s the Orange’s turn to play on the road.
February 12: Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Never mind the fact that between these two teams, only Duke is ranked in the Top 25. Rankings aside, its important to remember that this is college basketball’s biggest rivalry.
February 16: Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays
The last time these two top Big East teams met, Creighton drowned the Wildcats with a record-setting 23 3-pointers for a lopsided 96-68 victory,
February 19: Houston Rockets vs. LA Lakers
Dwight Howard and the Lakers parted ways acrimoniously last season. Expect the focus on this game to be put on Howard, who will be playing the Lakers on the road for the first time since last season. For sure, the crowd will let him hear it.
February 20: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant and LeBron James meet anew when the Heat visit the Thunder for the two teams’ last meeting of the regular season. In their first game last January 29, the Thunder toppled the Heat at South Beach 112-95.
February 22: Syracuse Orange vs. Duke Blue Devils
The first meeting was an instant classic. It was a birth of a new ACC rivalry as Syracuse managed to survive Duke in that game with an overtime 91-89 win against the Blue Devils. For the game this month, it’s the Orange’s turn to brave the road and play Mike Krzyewski’s squad in front of a loud Cameron Indoor Stadium crowd.
February 23: Michigan State Spartans vs. Michigan Wolverines
The No.9 Spartans look for revenge against Michigan, who beat them last January 25 as a No. 21 underdog.
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