March has arrived, and the only thing college basketball fans can predict this month is the unpredictable. With several conferences still in their regular seasons, here are three games happening tonight that could have major implications for the rankings and final tournament bracket.
How These Games Will Impact March Madness
No. 18 Purdue at Illinois
The Big Ten is gearing up for its first-ever 15-team tournament bracket, and one of its final games is a tilt between two of the top seven teams in the conference. Head coach Matt Painter and the Boilermakers travel to Champaign-Urbana to take on the Fighting Illini, with Wisconsin right on their tail in the standings.
Illinois, despite an illness that spread through the locker room earlier in the season, has won their last two games, including against No. 15 Michigan, their last time out. Head coach Brad Underwood has led the top-scoring offense and top-rebounding team in the Big Ten, which Painter made note of in his postgame presser after Purdue’s win against Rutgers.
“We can’t get to that point of getting into transition and getting them on their heels if we don’t get rebounds,” Painter said. “Now we’re getting ready to have the greatest challenge in that area because Illinois is one of the best rebounding teams in the country.”
Painter concluded by saying that his players played well enough in their last game that they could carry it over into their next game. Purdue vs. Illinois will air on FOX at 8 p.m. tonight.
Dayton at VCU
VCU received the most voting points of any school not ranked in the Top 25, which makes their upcoming game against Dayton very important for their tournament hopes. The Rams look to finish as outright Atlantic 10 regular-season champions, but George Mason is only one game behind them, which gives head coach Ryan Odom an incentive to handle business on their home floor.
The Rams have both the top-scoring offense, and the lowest-scoring defense in the A-10. They’re also winners of nine straight, 15 of their last 16, and top three in the conference in rebounds and blocks. The Flyers have won their last three but lost 73-68 at home against these Rams on Feb. 7.
ESPN gives VCU an 83% chance to win, and it will have to finish strong to leave no doubt on its resume. Dayton vs. VCU will air on ESPN 2 at 7 p.m. tonight.
Arkansas-Little Rock at Southeast Missouri State
There’s no ranking here, but the Ohio Valley Conference is only a few games away from crowning a champion to send to the national tournament. The Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State finished as regular-season champs, but they have two more games to win if they want to dust off their dancing shoes for the first time in two seasons.
2025 OVC Tournament Bracket is now set. See you in Evansville! pic.twitter.com/MXZdXcUnWg
— SEMO Men’s Basketball (@SEMOMBB) March 2, 2025
Little Rock has one of the best defenses in the conference. Allowing only 67 points on average a night and swatting over five blocks per game, both top two in the OVC. That defense will have to shine tonight if they want to shock the conference and help send themselves to the Dance in SEMO’s place.
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The Trojans gave SEMO one of their five conference losses on Jan. 14. The Redhawks got their lick back on Feb. 11, and this rubber match will determine if they can make it to the major tournament or settle for the NIT.
Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Southeast Missouri State will air on ESPNU at 8 p.m. tonight.
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