Gary Williams and Maryland could deliver a knockout punch on their home floor Sunday afternoon to North Carolina. (AP)

It’s the most bloated college basketball Saturday of the year. We’ll get to it in a minute. I do want to focus in on the two Sunday games that are noteworthy: North Carolina-Maryland (2 ET) and Syracuse-Cincinnati (2 ET).

First, Maryland. This is a team that, last season, never came up in big spots. Gary Williams has publicly acknowledged his disdain over rumors about his job security. That notion seems to have floated out into the ether now that the Terrapins are knocking on the door of getting back into the Top 25. If it wins over UNC, I expect it to happen. Here we’ve got two teams truly traveling in opposite directions. UNC is woozy, dizzy, bloodied and bumbling. Maryland needs to not waste any time in delivering the knock-out punch. If the Tar Heels can pull it together for a win, then, even if briefly, it will seem like little has changed in the ACC’s pecking order.

Baylor and Va. Tech could be a combined 36-8 after Saturday.

Cincinnati, a team that defeated Maryland this season, is faced with a must-win against Syracuse. Ha. Yeah, OK. The Bearcats continue to grasp on to the wins from Maui. Imagine if the timeline had played out as it was supposed to it and the Bearcats hadn’t gone to Hawaii? Now the 14-8 Bearcats, who haven’t had a good win since UConn (and what does that tell you?) will drop to below .500 in the Big East if they can’t pull off the upset. Orange fans know Syracuse is going to lay a dud somewhere before the Big East tournament. I don’t think this is the game though; Cincinnati matches up miserably against ‘Cuse.

A stuffed, stacked Saturday

But, to be honest, it’s not a GREAT Saturday. There’s an assload of games, but only one that has two Top 25 teams playing each other.

At least one game has already been postponed in the Virgina/Maryland area due to the snowpacolypse, but Villanova at Georgetown will avoid such drama. This is one of those quintessential noon ESPN games that makes you put off going to the grocery store until 2:30.  (Be sure to flip back and forth between this and Xavier-Dayton, too.) The Hoyas have faced what I think it’s the most ridiculous in-conference schedule gauntlet compared to any other team. Plus, they had Duke last weekend. Hoyas have gone 3-3 in the past six games. Villanova is still under-appreciated, despite its No. 2 ranking. Feel like fate will have Georgetown pull this one out.

The other big ankle story of this weekend (aisde from Dwight Freeney) is how Kalin Lucas’ joint will fare come Saturday night. (Some nice subterfuge by Gary Parrish to start his column today.) How hyped can you get for an Illinois team that’s been having issues and is yet to garner a quality win (sorry, Northwestern) in the Big Ten? I say Sparty wins by at least 15.

Tulsa and UTEP are both 7-1 in Conference USA. It’s a terrific game, and it’ll be on ESPN2. (TV times listed below.) The Golden Hurricane doesn’t have a top-50 win yet. So there’s some real incentive here. Guarantee you this somewhat-critical tilt will be overlooked by almost everyone. Not here. C-USA is a multi-bid league. Either of these teams could play themselves into something as high as a 7-seed, should they continue to win.

UNLV and forward Chace Stanback could really use a big win on Saturday against MWC leaders BYU. (AP)

BYU at UNLV (Saturday, 4 ET) is a great one, folks. I think the Cougars end up winning the Mountain West by at least two games, but here’s a loss they could take and not dwell on. From an MWC perspective, it has to hope Vegas steals one at home to keep the dream of four bids alive. Vegas is 18-4 and 6-2 in conference.  They’re tied with …

New Mexico, which hosts San Diego State (Saturday, 6 ET). It’s the last great weekend for the MWC, as its four top teams are playing each other.

In the ACC, I’m looking at Clemson at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 4 ET) to be the best game of the weekend. Va. Tech is riding high after getting revenge against UNC, while the Tigers are trying to build a winning streak after dropping three straight games. The Hokies would be 18-4 if they won. Damn, kids, nobody saw that coming.

I say Sparty wins by at least 15.

The battle of the superstar mid-major conferences comes at you Saturday with Gonzaga at Memphis. The Tigers need the game so much more. In fact, if they lose, they’re probably fourth in the pecking order in Conference USA. They wouldn’t have a top-50 win, and that is a stain that can’t be won’t be washed off. Stat that means nothing: Gonzaga has never won in FedEx Forum.

Baylor at Texas A&M (Saturday, 4 ET). Baylor would be damn close to a lock if it got this road win and improved to 18-4. Baylor and Va. Tech could be a combined 36-8. I love this sport.

Something’s gotta give

Seton Hall at Pittsburgh. Teams have dropped a combined seven of their last 10. The Pirates are six feet under with a loss, though.

Mississippi State at Florida (Saturday, 1:30 ET). Will the Gators squeak out another close one? UF is playing with fire.

Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (Saturday, 1:30 ET). Loser really puts itself in a tight spot.

Watch out for the trap! (Bolded teams in danger)

Vanderbilt at Georgia.

Wright State at Butler.

Indiana at Northwestern.

Alabama at Ole Miss.

Minnesota at Penn State.

Missouri at Colorado.

Quick shots

—After putting up 16 against Tennessee, can LSU crack 50 against Kentucky?

—Think Devan Downey’s just a little excited to be playing against frantic-with-the-ball Tennessee? Gamecocks would have serious boasting privileges if they could lay claim to W’s over the SEC’s two best teams.

—Richmond would get right back into the thick of the A10 with an upset over Temple.

—Duke losing against Boston College before its game against North Carolina would set up a number of unneccessary “these two quintessential teams are not so great this season” storylines. Duke, please win.

On the tube nationally …

SATURDAY

»No. 2 Villanova @ No. 7 Georgetown; noon ET (ESPN).

»Xavier @ Dayton; noon ET (ESPN2).

»No. 6 West Virginia @ St. John’s; noon ET (ESPNU).

»No. 10 Kansas State @ Iowa State; 2 ET (ESPN2).

»No. 10 Duke @ Boston College; 2 ET (ESPN).

»No. 19 Temple @ Richmond; 2 ET (ESPNU).

»No. 16 Wisconsin @ Michigan OR California @ UCLA; 4 ET (CBS).

»No. 9 Texas @ Oklahoma; 4 ET (ESPN).

»No. 17 Gonzaga @ Memphis; 4 ET (ESPN2).

»South Carolina @ No. 14 Tennessee; 6 ET (ESPN).

»Southern Illinois @ No. 24 Northern Iowa; 6 ET (ESPN2).

»Nebraska @ Kansas; 6 ET (ESPNU).

»Wright State @ Butler; 8 ET (ESPN2).

»No. 5 Michigan State @ Illinois; 9 ET (ESPN).

»Tulsa @ UTEP; 10 ET (ESPN2).

»Arizona State @ Washington; 10:30 ET (Fox Sports Net).

SUNDAY

No games broadcast nationally.

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