College basketball is weird. One night you’re watching a triple-overtime thriller between blue bloods, and the next, you’re scouring the deepest corners of the internet to find a stream for a SWAC showdown in Alabama.
That’s basically where we are. Honestly, looking at today's ncaa basketball schedule, it isn’t the kind of slate that makes casual fans cancel their dinner plans. There are no top-ten matchups. No "Game of the Century" hype. But if you’re a real hoop head, Mondays are actually where the profit—and the grit—is found.
Arizona just grabbed the #1 spot in the AP Poll today, leapfrogging the field after Michigan finally tripped up against Wisconsin. While the Wildcats aren't playing tonight, the ripples of that new poll are felt everywhere. People are talking about Nebraska being #8. Nebraska! They haven’t been this high since 1966.
The Grind: Today’s NCAA Basketball Schedule Highlights
Monday is traditionally the domain of the mid-majors and the HBCU conferences. It’s "Big Monday" for the MEAC and the SWAC. These games are fast, they’re loud, and they often come down to a single possession.
In the MEAC, we’ve got Delaware State heading into D.C. to face Howard at 7:00 PM ET. Howard is a tough out at Burr Gymnasium. At the same time, North Carolina Central is taking on Morgan State. If you want to see pure, unadulterated defensive pressure, that’s your game.
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Over in the Southland, it’s a full-on sprint. McNeese State is hosting Nicholls at 7:30 PM. McNeese has been a mid-major darling lately, and that environment in Lake Charles is legitimately intimidating for visiting teams.
- Navy @ American (7:00 PM ET): Classic Patriot League tactical battle.
- Southern @ Bethune-Cookman (7:00 PM ET): High-energy SWAC vibes.
- Alcorn State @ Alabama State (7:00 PM ET): Important for conference seeding even this early.
- Mississippi Valley State @ Texas Southern (8:00 PM ET): Texas Southern usually starts slow but dominates in January.
Why Today Matters for the Rankings
You might think a game between Maryland-Eastern Shore and Norfolk State doesn't impact the Top 25. Directly? No. But the "Monday Night Slates" are where the bottom of the bracket is built.
The selection committee looks at everything. When a team like Norfolk State (playing tonight at 7:00 PM) puts together a dominant conference run, they become that "15-seed that nobody wants to play" in March. We’ve seen it happen. We've seen Norfolk State bust brackets before.
Speaking of rankings, the new AP Top 25 released today is a wild ride. Arizona is the new king, followed by Iowa State at #2 and UConn at #3. The Big 12 is absolutely flexed right now with five teams in the top 15. If you're wondering why your favorite team dropped, look at Michigan—they fell to #4 after that Wisconsin loss. It’s a reminder that in this era of college hoops, nobody is safe.
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Watching the Women’s Side
Don't sleep on the women's schedule either. Earlier this evening, Alabama took down Missouri 74-63 in Columbia. It was a physical, SEC-style game that showed exactly why the Tide are a problem this year.
The biggest story in the women's game today isn't even a game being played—it's Texas Tech. The Lady Raiders are 18-0. They’re ranked #17 and they have a chance to tie a program record for consecutive wins tomorrow. But today is about the prep, the recovery, and watching the rest of the Big 12 beat each other up.
Actionable Strategy for Following the Slate
If you're actually trying to track today's ncaa basketball schedule and not just scroll past it, here is how you handle a Monday night:
First, check the ESPN+ listings. Almost all of tonight's mid-major action lives there. It’s the cheapest way to see the next bracket-buster before they become famous.
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Second, pay attention to the point spreads in the SWAC games. These teams play notoriously different styles at home versus on the road. Texas Southern at home is a completely different animal than they are on a neutral court.
Third, keep an eye on the "undefeated" tracker. Arizona, Iowa State, and Nebraska are the headlines, but the pressure builds every single day they don't play. The psychological weight of that "0" in the loss column changes how teams practice on Mondays.
The madness isn't just a March thing. It’s a cold Monday night in January thing. It's about Navy trying to get a road win in a half-empty gym because those are the wins that get you to the tournament. Grab some wings, turn on the "small" games, and appreciate the hustle.
Next Steps for the Savvy Fan:
Verify the start times for the West Coast games, as several Southland and SWAC matchups have local tip-offs that can catch East Coast viewers off guard. Check the updated NET rankings tomorrow morning to see how tonight's results shifted the "Quad 3" and "Quad 4" landscapes for the conference leaders.