College Basketball: What to Watch During Thursday's Action

Believe it or not, there is less than two months until that greatest of days in college basketball. The day when all teams dream to hear their names called: Selection Sunday.

With the conference schedules well underway and each team having somewhat found its identity, this is when the season is really defined.

A middling team that goes on a winning streak can earn itself a higher seed in the tournament or the inverse could happen and a Top 10 team could collapse under the pressure of conference play.

No matter which side of the coin your favorite team falls on, the season could turn on any given night now that January is nearly over and March is on the horizon.

So with six games involving ranked teams on display Thursday night, including four in the Top 10, here are three things to watch out for.

The Best Rivalry in the West 

During the last couple of seasons, the Pac-12 has seen something of a revival. After floundering about with only one— if that—elite team for years, this season has been different. Arizona (16-2) and Utah (14-3) are both thriving.

But while the Pac-12 struggled to get a national foothold on the West Coast of the U.S., there was another conference—and in particular a rivalry—that rose to the top.

Gonzaga (18-1) might receive all of the attention, currently ranked No. 3 in the country and having claimed a No. 1 in the tournament before, but Saint Mary’s (15-3) has been the one team which refuses to bow down to the Zags.

Consistently one of the hardest-fought battles in the country, Thursday night’s matchup is one worth staying up for despite the 11 p.m. ET tipoff.

It will be one of the first times this season that many have had a chance to watch Gonzaga play, but this game is more about Saint Mary’s.

The Gaels, who have been alternating between the NIT and NCAA Tournament for the past few years, will look to get over the hump and claim the West Coast Conference title this year from the heavily favored Zags.

Even if Gonzaga is victorious yet again, it will be a chance to watch a team that could make a Cinderella run come March.

Who Exactly Is Indiana This Season? 

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Most teams have figured out their identity this far into the conference season. But despite compiling a 4-1 Big Ten record and finding its way into the AP Top 25 this week, Indiana (14-4) remains a bit of a mystery this year.

The Hoosiers are on a three-game winning streak, but two of those wins came against struggling Penn State and Illinois, and the other was at home against Ohio State, a giant question mark itself.

With losses on the schedule against Eastern Michigan and Georgetown, not to mention devastating losses at the hands of Louisville and Michigan State, there isn’t much for Indiana to hang its hat on this year.

Wins against the Buckeyes and SMU earlier this year don’t look as impressive as they did at the time and might not mean much come March.

That could all change against No. 13 Maryland (17-2), which is set to visit Assembly Hall Thursday night.

If Indiana can overcome the Terps, then Indiana could jump into the discussion of one of the country's best. A loss could mean dropping off, but either way, this could be a season-defining game for head coach Tom Crean’s squad.

Will the ACC See a Monumental Upset?

This season was supposed to be a great one for the ACC. While the Big Ten has been considered the top conference in the country for years, it is hard to argue that the expanded ACC has taken the title this year.

But while Duke (15-2), North Carolina (14-4) and Louisville (15-3) were all expected to be good this season and have lived up to expectations, the two biggest surprises are on display Thursday.

Yes, Virginia was a No. 1 seed last season, but many doubted the Cavaliers' staying power heading into the year. We're 17 games into the season, and head coach Tony Bennett’s squad is still undefeated and doesn’t look to slow down anytime soon.

The other surprise has come in the form of Notre Dame (17-2). The Fighting Irish started the year off unranked but have only lost twice this year and find themselves currently in the Top 10.

Neither team faces an extremely stiff challenge Thursday, as Virginia hosts Georgia Tech (9-8) while Notre Dame travels to Virginia Tech (8-9), but a team cannot be elite if it can’t win the games it is supposed to.

Both should win handily, but anything can happen in conference play, so you never know.