The Olympics are over, but the sports calendar doesn't slow down. March Madness is a few weeks away, which means now is the perfect time to start paying attention to college basketball before the bracket chaos begins.

This weekend is highlighted by a marquee NBA showdown at Madison Square Garden, a Arizona vs. Kansas college basketball revenge game, and the NFL Combine in Indianapolis for anyone already missing football.

Here’s your weekend preview starting with what matters most.

The stakes: This game has all the makings of a can’t miss match up. It features two legitimate title contenders, a budding rivalry, and Victor Wembanyama at Madison Square Garden. San Antonio (42-16) has won 10 straight and owns one of the best records in the NBA. New York (37-22) sits third in the Eastern Conference and lost to the Spurs in a 134-132 thriller the last time these teams met. The Knicks get their shot at revenge at home and this one has the potential to be an NBA Finals preview.

What to watch for: Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-5 Spurs superstar is becoming the face of the NBA, and he's been particularly dominant against New York averaging nearly 32 points and 15 rebounds against them this season. In their last meeting he put up 31 and 13 before leaving early with a leg injury. Now he's healthy and playing at The Garden, one of the NBA’s most iconic venues, for the first time this season. Expect Wemby to be motivated and want to put on a show in this one.

The Betting Angle [Powered by WagerXpert]: We project San Antonio to open as a 2.5 point road favorite given their recent run. That said, New York is 19-11 against the spread at home this season, one of the best in the league. If San Antonio opens -2 or higher, we believe this is a great spot for the Knicks at home. They're coming off an embarrassing loss to Cleveland earlier this week and will be eager to make a statement in front of their home crowd.

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The stakes: This is the rematch of the regular season. On February 9th these teams played in a thriller where Kansas snapped Arizona's 23-game unbeaten streak. Arizona is looking for redemption on their home floor, and the winner will likely secure a #1 seed in the conference tournament. This is the game Arizona has had circled on their calendar ever since.

What to watch for: Keep an eye on Darryn Peterson. The Kansas guard is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but his inconsistent playing time has raised questions heading into draft season. He's been in and out of games without a clear explanation, and the media and scouts are paying attention. A strong, complete performance here goes a long way toward quieting the questions around his draft stock, while another early exit only adds more fuel to an already growing narrative. Saturday is a chance to put the questions to rest, or add to them.

The Betting Angle [Powered by WagerXpert]: We project Arizona as a 5.5 point favorite at home. The Wildcats are 18-1 on their home floor this season, and Kansas has been a different team on the road, going just 5-4 away from home. The revenge factor is real, and the numbers back Arizona to get the job done on their home court.

For anyone missing football, the NFL Combine kicks off this week in Indianapolis. Think of it as the league's annual pre-draft evaluation where teams gather to measure, interview, and watch prospects run drills. The results can significantly shift where players end up getting drafted. For example, last year Shedeur Sanders entered as a projected top-10 pick and ended up falling to the fifth round due to a poor showing at the combine and pre-draft process.

Here are the storylines worth following this week:

The No. 2 QB Race: Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is the consensus No. 1 quarterback in this class. Everything after that is up for grabs. Alabama's Ty Simpson currently holds the No. 2 spot, but LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State's Drew Allar, and Miami's Carson Beck all have a chance to move up boards with a strong performance at the combine this week.

Reuben Bain’s Measurements: Bain had some of the best pass rushing film in college football this season, but coming into the combine his arm length has been a concern. Yes, it sounds like a minor detail, but arm length matters at the position and he’s been measured with one of the shorter wingspans among edge rushers in recent years. Watch his athletic testing this week, if his speed, explosiveness, and agility numbers come in elite, those results could overshadow the measurement concerns and push him into the top 5 conversation.

The Jeremiyah Love Conundrum: Notre Dame's Love is the top offensive non-quarterback prospect in the class, but teams are hesitant on making the same mistake the Raiders did after watching Ashton Jeanty, last year's consensus top running back, get taken sixth overall and have a underwhelming rookie season. Love's combine performance will go a long way toward answering whether teams still value the position early.

Must-watch:

Worth Tuning In:

3. NFL Combine (Schedule) — Draft season officially begins. Worth keeping an eye on if you’re already missing football.

— Backdrop Sports

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