Louisville-N.C. clash heads key games of week

The regular season is winding down. Bubble teams are fighting for spots in the NCAA Tournament. And teams in the AP’s Top 25 are jockeying for position in the bracket.

The penultimate week of the regular season features several games that could affect which teams get the highest seeds.

In the ACC, No. 7 Louisville plays Wednesday at No. 8 North Carolina in a game that could have No. 1 seed implications.

The Tar Heels have been projected as a top seed after Baylor’s two losses last week dropped the Bears to No. 9 in the AP poll. North Carolina (23-5, 11-3) was the ACC’s top seed when the preliminary rankings were released and leads both the Cardinals and No. 10 Duke by a game in the conference.

The marquee game of the week in the West is No. 5 UCLA at No. 4 Arizona on Saturday in the Pac-12’s first matchup of top-5 teams in nine years.

The Wildcats (25-3, 14-1 Pac-12) were ranked behind Oregon in the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s preliminary rankings but could be in position for a top seed in the tournament if they keep winning.

Arizona played without center Dusan Ristic (ankle sprain) and point guard Kadeem Allen (dislocated finger) for most of its weekend trip through Washington, yet still won both games. Coach Sean Miller said both players are expected to return Thursday against Southern California.

UCLA has won five straight since a 96-85 loss to Arizona started a two-