SouthernCollegeSports.com

SCS.com With the month of January now at its midpoint, teams all across the country are settling into the conference play routine. Some squads are falling by the wayside, while others are proving they are worthy of the hype they garnered with impressive non-conference victories earlier in the season. As a new week approaches and we head towards the back half of January, there is another huge slate of hoops action on the agenda. Among the top games are league matchups between Texas and Oklahoma State in the Big XII, North Carolina and Clemson in the ACC, Northern Iowa and Missouri State in the MVC, and Arizona and Southern Cal out west in the Pac-10. Read on to see a list of all the top games on the schedule in the days ahead.

MUST-SEE GAMES

Connecticut at Pittsburgh
Tuesday 6:00 PM CST ESPN2

The Huskies have gotten off to a sluggish start in Big East play, while the Panthers have roared out of the gates. Will any of that change when they meet on Tuesday?

Texas at Oklahoma State
Tuesday 8:00 PM CST ESPN2

These two are both among the favorites to take home the Big XII title this year. The young Longhorns have gotten off to a 3-0 start. Meanwhile, how will OSU respond after their loss at Kansas last week?

North Carolina at Clemson
Wednesday 6:00 PM CST ESPN

Both teams lost on the road over the weekend, though the Tigers' defeat was just their first of the season. Who gets back on track this Wednesday?

Northern Iowa at Missouri State
Thursday 7:00 PM CST

Both the Panthers and Bears find themselves a game out of first in the MVC standings heading into the week, but each of these teams is likely to be in the race until the end.

Arizona at Southern Cal
Thursday 9:30 PM CST

These two aren't the favorites in the Pac-10, but they'll both have a lot to say about who does come out on top once things are all said and done.

OTHER TOP MATCHUPS

MONDAY

Marquette at Louisville - 6:00 PM CST

Creighton at Wichita State - 7:00 PM CST

Missouri at Kansas - 8:00 PM CST

TUESDAY

Connecticut at Pittsburgh - 6:00 PM CST

Iowa at Indiana - 6:00 PM CST

Maryland at Virginia - 7:00 PM CST

Kentucky at South Carolina - 8:00 PM CST