Michigan State has soared to No. 7 in the rankings after an undefeated stretch in December and January. But if the Spartans want to prove they’re the best team in the country, February will be their ultimate test. Their gauntlet begins on Saturday with a road matchup against USC in Los Angeles, a game that presents a key challenge for both teams. The Spartans (18-2, 9-0 Big Ten) enter February riding a 13-game winning streak and sitting atop the Big Ten standings. However, their upcoming schedule is among the toughest in the nation. Michigan State will play eight games this month, five of which are on the road, and six against teams ranked No. 33 or better in the NET

Michigan (15-5, 7-2 Big Ten) is back on track after a rough stretch that included a 91-64 blowout loss to Purdue. However, a bounce-back win over Penn State (76-72) has kept the Wolverines in the mix for a top Big Ten finish. Head coach Dusty May simplified the team’s approach following the Purdue loss, focusing on two key areas: Michigan’s twin 7-footers (Goldin and Wolf) could pose a major problem for Rutgers, especially with the Scarlet Knights missing their top center, Emmanuel Ogbole (knee injury). Rutgers (11-10, 4-6 Big Ten) is coming off an impressive 79-72 win at Northwestern, led by five-star freshman Ace Bailey’s 37-point explosion. Bailey shot 13-of-20 from the field and 5-of-8 from three in a dominant

Pitt enters Saturday’s matchup against Wake Forest with momentum on its side, having won two straight games following a rough stretch in ACC play. Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons are hoping to bounce back at home after dropping consecutive games. The Panthers (14-6, 5-4 ACC) responded to a four-game losing streak with back-to-back wins, defeating Syracuse 77-73 last Saturday and taking down North Carolina 73-65 on Tuesday. Their late-game execution against the Tar Heels—outscoring them 14-2 over the final five minutes—highlighted their ability to lock in defensively when it matters most. Head coach Jeff Capel emphasized that Pitt’s defense has been the key to their resurgence. Offensively, Pitt’s backcourt has been dynamic. Jaland Lowe has been on fire, averaging 20.2 points

Under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey, No. 21 Louisville (16-5, 9-1 ACC) is one of the biggest surprises in college basketball this season. After winning just 12 total games over the past two seasons, the Cardinals have already surpassed that total and are in the mix for an ACC regular-season title. A dominant 72-59 win over Wake Forest on Tuesday extended Louisville’s winning streak to 10 games, its longest since the 2019-20 season. That defensive focus has been a game-changer. Kelsey’s aggressive, pressure-based system has turned Louisville into a top-tier defensive team, an identity shift that has fueled its rise in the ACC standings. Georgia Tech (9-12, 3-7 ACC) has been competitive but has struggled to close out games. Tuesday’s