Men’s college basketball fans will be in for a treat this Saturday, as a loaded NCAA schedule awaits cage enthusiasts in the nation and around the world. Some of these games are intriguing, especially the top showdown of the day, which features two of the top freshmen players who may likely be picked No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2026 NBA draft.
Top 5 Men’s College Basketball Games To Watch in Saturday Night’s Action
The stacked Saturday schedule opens with a Big 12 Conference clash expected to offer a glimpse of the future.
1) No. 13 BYU vs No. 14 Kansas
Location: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN/ESPN app
The projected top two picks in the 2026 NBA draft will try to lead their respective teams to crucial wins on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa faces Kansas’ Darryn Peterson in a showdown that could affect their draft stock in the next four months.
Dybantsa is averaging 23.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for the Cougars (17-3, 5-2 Big 12), who have been solid this season despite losing two of their last three games to Texas Tech and Arizona.
On the other hand, Peterson has been a standout for Kansas (15-5, 5-2 Big 12) when he is healthy. In 10 games, the 6’6″ guard has tallied 21.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, and 1.0 spg. He is capable of scoring from all sides of the court, and experts have compared him to a young Kobe Bryant.
The hope is that Peterson, who didn’t play in Sunday’s game against Kansas State due to a sprained ankle, will suit up and give Dybantsa a run for the money as NBA scouts are expected to watch the two standout stars go at it in a nationally-televised game.
MORE: Is Darryn Peterson Playing Today? Latest Injury Update for the Kansas Star
2) Saint Mary’s vs No. 6 Gonzaga
Location: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN/Fubo
The opening salvo of the West Coast Conference rivalry between Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga tips off on Saturday at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington. The Bulldogs (21-1, 9-0 WCC) hope to keep their unbeaten conference slate intact when they tangle with the Gaels (19-3, 8-1 WCC).
Gonzaga is riding high on a 14-game winning streak, but is coming off a close 68-66 win over San Francisco (13-10, 5-5 WCC). On the other hand, Saint Mary’s has won two straight since losing to Santa Clara in a WCC matchup on Jan. 17.
Last year’s edition of the rivalry did not favor the Bulldogs as the Gaels won their home-and-away series by an average of 5.5 points.
3) Kentucky vs No. 15 Arkansas
Location: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, AR
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN/Fubo
No. 15 Arkansas (16-5, 6-2 SEC) hosts Kentucky (14-7, 5-3 SEC) in a showdown that could bring some changes in the Southeastern Conference standings and the AP Poll Top 25 after Week 13.
The Razorbacks are on a three-game winning streak, beating Vanderbilt, LSU, and Oklahoma, and will aim for their fourth straight win when they host the Wildcats at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mark Pope’s Kentucky, on the other hand, is coming off a 25-point loss to Vanderbilt in its last game on Jan. 27.
Last season, John Calipari’s Arkansas beat Kentucky 89-79 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
4) No. 2 UConn vs Creighton
Location: CHI Health Center Omaha, Omaha, NE
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: Fox/FOX Sports App
No. 2 UConn (20-1, 10-0 Big East) seeks to gain vengeance against the team that had its number last season in Creighton (12-9, 6-4 Big East) in a conference clash on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Huskies and the Bluejays split their regular-season games last season, but Creighton had the final say when it beat UConn 71-62 in the Big East Tournament semifinal. Dan Hurley’s team has yet to lose in 10 conference games and is on a 16-game winning streak, highlighted by an 87-81 win over Providence in its last game on Jan. 27.
Meanwhile, Creighton is coming off an 86-62 loss to Marquette. It was the third setback in five games for the Bluejays, who have lost by an average of 15.3 points in those defeats.
5) No. 1 Arizona vs Arizona State
Location: Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: TNT/DIRECTV
No. 1-ranked Arizona (21-0, 8-0 Big 12) looks to keep its unbeaten record intact when it tangles with cross-desert foes Arizona State (11-10, 2-6 Big 12) at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
The Wildcats, who lead their all-time rivalry with the Sun Devils 164-87, seek to win for the seventh straight time since February 25, 2023. Arizona has won its previous six encounters, including a 45- and 19-point blowouts in February 2024 and March 2023, respectively.
Bobby Hurley hopes to finally claim his first rivalry win in almost three years for the Sun Devils over his Wildcats counterpart Tommy Lloyd, who is looking to keep his immaculate record intact in the Big 12 Conference encounter at the Arizona desert.
