Friday's Big Weekend Preview

Have you caught the Madness yet? Have the overtime games and drama and court-stormings started to whet your appetite for the awesomeness that is the NCAA tournament?

Well, you should be saying "yes," especially because this week is primo time for you and your buddies to hit the town and argue over bubble teams. 

Conference tournaments are taking place as you read this—the fates of big-time Big East schools and mid-majors you've never heard of in the same precarious, win-all-or-nothing situation. It's tense. It's compelling. And it's absolutely sweet. 

But, it's not all college basketball. As always, you've got plenty of options from which to choose to have yourself the best weekend possible. Still, we'll pick the best ones to make it easy for you.

Big East Tournament Final

When: Saturday, 9 p.m. (ET)

TV: ESPN

Why You Should Watch 

The Big East Tournament is a sure thing, a lock of locks.

It seems to never, ever, ever disappoint. Great teams. The Garden. Overtimes. There really is everything a basketball fan could wish for. 

Just look at what we've seen already. While we were at work, Cincinnati and Georgetown treated us to a pair of overtimes (not to mention an upset). It just seems to happen at this event.

So, while the weekend itself is loaded with good college basketball games, make sure to find yourself a seat for the championship game on prime time. 

Celtics at Lakers

When: Sunday, 3:30 (ET)

TV: ABC

Why You Should Watch 

Two words: Lakers, Celtics. 

Yes, it really is as simple as that. You're a sports fan, you know as much. We love tradition and big names, and this rivalry has both. Plus, it helps that the last time they played was super entertaining.

Final score: 88-87 Lakers. 

And if this game can be anywhere near as good as the Knicks-Celtics game last Sunday (aka "when Rondo went for a triple-double in an overtime win against Linsanity"), it has to be must-watch. 

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Kobalt Tools 400

When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: Fox

Why You Should Watch 

Basketball overload? It's definitely prone to happen this time of year, so there's always the option of taking a literal left turn over to NASCAR country.

The traveling series, with its 43 cars and 38,000 horsepower, hightails it to Vegas this weekend for the Kobalt Tools 400. 

Like in any sport, fast starts are essential, and this third race of the season is big for folks like Jimmie Johnson, who finds himself mired in the back of the standings after a rough couple of weeks.

Conversely, Denny Hamlin (pictured at left), could make his points lead even more formidable with another big win. 

ACC Tournament Final

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. (ET)

TV: ESPN

Why You Should Watch

With apologies to the Big Ten and SEC (which Kentucky turned into its personal playground this year), the ACC tourney is the one that captures a national audience and reels them in.

It wouldn't hurt, either, if it's Duke vs. UNC, which always has a way of being rather epic. 

One thing's for sure, though: This is the perfect primer for what is the biggest, best, can't-miss moment of the weekend...

NCAA Selection Sunday

When: Sunday, 6 p.m. (ET)

TV: CBS

Why You Should Watch

You should watch exactly for the scene depicted at left.

Not only do you get all the seedings and find out whose bubbles are burst, but you get to see the pure, honest-to-God excitement on the faces of smaller programs when their names are called. 

You can't deny scenes like that make sports great. Not only is it the perfect way to end the weekend, but it's the perfect kickoff to a week of basketball bliss.