On-Court Obsession: Going To Be Long and Late

Settle in early and don't expect to go anywhere for a while. Games start at noon and heck, the last one is scheduled to tip-off at midnight (Eastern).

Let's get right into it, because there is a cornucopia of choices to plow through.

12 PM ET

Big Ten quarterfinals, Michigan-Ohio State, ESPN: The Buckeyes should roll, but it is still a rivalry game. Plus, there has to be something to watch at this hour.

Other options:

ACC quarterfinals, Virginia-Duke, ESPN2

Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, St. Bonaventure-Temple, Comcast SportsNet Northeast

2 PM ET

Big Ten quarterfinals, Illinois-Wisconsin, ESPN: Which Illinois team shows up? The team that beat Wisconsin in Madison or the team that couldn't beat Minnesota at home? The Illini probably don't need a win to make the NCAA Tournament, but getting pounded might push them more than expected.

Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, Rhode Island-St. Louis, CBS College Sports Regional (2:30 PM ET): Good luck finding this game unless you live in St. Louis or Rhode Island (great TV deal, A-10). Huge bubble game implications for both teams and several other hopefuls.

ACC quarterfinals, Miami-Virginia Tech, ESPN2: Splitting with Miami is part of what has kept VT as a bubble team. The Hokies are in now, but this would leave a mark.

3 PM ET

SEC quarterfinals, Ole Miss-Tennessee, SEC Network and ESPN FullCourt: Ole Miss' NCAA Tournament hopes ride on this game. Lose and at best they are sweating and hoping to be one of the last teams in the field. Win and they are in great shape by beating a ranked Tennessee team.

4 PM ET

Conference USA quarterfinals, Tulsa-UTEP, CBS College Sports: Huge bubble implications. UTEP is in the NCAA Tournament with the season they have had. No one else from C-USA is going unless they win the automatic bid. Tulsa is the highest seed remaining in C-USA after the upsets in the other half of the bracket.

4:45 PM ET

Patriot League Championship, Lafayette-Lehigh, ESPN2: Nerd basketball at the highest level. Good news, John Feinstein is not involved in the telecast.

6:30 PM ET

Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, Dayton-Xavier, FoxSports Ohio and FoxSports (Cincinnati) Ohio: Dayton may or may not have to win the A-10 to make the NCAA Tournament. They absolutely have to win this game to stay in the discussion. Xavier is safe.

Big Ten quarterfinals, Northwestern-Purdue, Big Ten Network: This is all about Purdue getting a two or three seed in the NCAA Tournament. Showing that the loss of Robby Hummel is not the absolute end.

7 PM ET

Big 12 semifinals, Texas A&M-Kansas, Big 12 Network, Altitude, ESPN FullCourt: No deep meaning. It should just be a really good game.

ACC quarterfinals, Georgia Tech-Maryland, ESPN2: Maryland would like to get up to a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. Georgia Tech is still a complete unknown. Maybe they are in, maybe they are out.

Big East semifinals, Georgetown-Marquette, ESPN: Just should be tight all the way. Marquette doesn't seem to have any other kind of game but close ones.

SEC quarterfinals, Florida-Mississippi State, SEC Network, ESPN FullCourt (7:30 PM ET): Pure bubble. Florida kept some doubt by struggling for good while with Auburn. Mississippi State has not failed to fail in every opportunity to make a case to play next week.

9 PM ET

Big East semifinals, Notre Dame-West Virginia, ESPN: The hottest team in the Big East against the most talented.

Big 12 semifinals, Baylor-Kansas State, Big 12 Network, Altitude, ESPN FullCourt (9:30 PM ET): The Big 12 is all chalk in the semifinals. If you like to watch good basketball, this is the place to be.

Mountain West quarterfinals, San Diego State-New Mexico, CBS College Sports: San Diego State is trying to make sure there is no doubt they should be in the NCAA Tournament. New Mexico is trying to ice a two seed.

Big Ten quarterfinals, Minnesota-Michigan State, Big Ten Network: Michigan State is still looking to show they should be a high seed.

Pac-10 semifinals, UCLA-California, Fox SportsNet: If Cal falls, the Pac-10 is almost certain to make it a two bid conference.

10 PM ET

SEC quarterfinals, Georgia-Vanderbilt, SEC Network, ESPN FullCourt: Georgia under first year coach Mark Fox has improved late in the season. They could spoil Vandy's hopes for a three or four seed.

11:30 PM ET

Mountain West quarterfinals, UNLV-BYU, CBS College Sports: More chalk in the semis. The second and third place teams in the MWC. Both should make the NCAA, but UNLV needs this game more.

Pac-10 semifinals, Stanford-Washington, Fox SportsNet: Stanford? What the hell are they doing in the semis? Washington is primed to make their case to be the second at-large if they take care of this game.

12 AM ET

WAC semifinals, New Mexico State-Nevada, ESPN2: Completely overlooked because the Mountain West has been so good, the WAC has some pretty good teams as well.