The game of the week starts in about 40 minutes as #4 Pitt takes on #1 UConn in a battle of Big East heavyweights.

All times ET…

College Hoops
Mon, 7 PM: #4 Pitt @ #1 UConn (ESPN)
Tues, 7 PM: #5 Michigan State @ #21 Purdue (ESPN)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Providence @ #7 Louisville (ESPN2)
Thurs, 11:00 PM: #19 Washington @ #15 UCLA

NBA
Tues, 10:30 PM: Hawks @ Lakers
Wed, 8 PM: Magic @ Hornets (ESPN)
Thurs, 8 PM: Spurs @ Pistons (TNT)
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Celtics @ Jazz (ESPN)

NHL
Mon, 7 PM: Rangers @ Blues (Versus)
Mon, 8 PM: Senators @ Predators (TSN)
Tues, 7 PM: Sabres @ Maple Leafs (TSN)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Canadiens @ Capitals (TSN)

It’s a great week to be a college basketball fan as ESPN and ESPN2 have at least one Top 25 matchup each day of the week, highlighted by the Syracuse/UConn and North Carolina/Duke doubleheader on Wednesday. It’s an extra special week because the Big 12, ACC, Big East and Pac-10 are all represented. For those that have the NBA League Pass, Wednesday is a big night as there are no fewer than 12 games scheduled (including three or four nice matchups).

College Hoops
Mon, 9 PM: #16 Kansas @ #19 Missouri (ESPN)
Tues, 7:30 PM: #12 Marquette @ #13 Villanova (ESPN2)
Wed, 7 PM: #22 Syracuse @ #1 UConn (ESPN)
Wed, 9 PM: #3 North Carolina @ #5 Duke (ESPN)
Thurs, 9 PM: #6 UCLA @ #18 Arizona St. (ESPN)

NBA
Tues, 7:30 PM: Nuggets @ Heat
Wed, 7 PM: Nuggets @ Magic
Wed, 8 PM: Celtics @ Hornets
Wed, 9 PM: Lakers @ Jazz
Thurs, 9:30 PM: Celtics @ Mavericks (TNT)

NHL
Mon, right now: Rangers @ Devils (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Sharks @ Bruins (Versus)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Senators @ Sabres (TSN)

Think it’s a coincidence that the second Lakers/Celtics showdown is the week after the Super Bowl? Now that the NFL season is finally over, it’s up to basketball to step into the spotlight. David Stern is no dummy.

NBA
Mon, 7 PM: Mavs @ Magic
Mon, 8 PM: Blazers @ Hornets (NBA TV)
Tues, 9 PM: Spurs @ Nuggets
Wed, 7:30 PM: Heat @ Pistons
Wed, 8:30 PM: Blazers @ Mavs (NBA TV)
Thurs, 8 PM: Lakers @ Celtics (TNT)
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Mavs @ Jazz (TNT)

College Hoops
Mon, 7 PM: #1 UConn @ #7 Louisville (ESPN)
Tues, 7 PM: #13 Purdue @ Ohio St. (ESPN)
Wed, 8:30 PM: #19 Minnesota @ #14 Michigan St.
Wed, 9 PM: #3 Duke @ #10 Clemson (ESPN)

NHL
Mon, 7 PM: Blues @ Red Wings (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Capitals @ Devils (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Blues @ Blue Jackets (Versus)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Maple Leafs @ Sabres (TSN)
Thurs, 7 PM: Bruins @ Senators (TSN)
Thurs, 9:30 PM: Blackhawks @ Flames (TSN)

Here’s what’s on tap in the world of sports television through Thursday…

(All times ET)

College Football
Mon, 8 PM: #10 Ohio St. vs. #3 Texas – FOX
Tues, 8 PM: #22 Ball St. vs. Tulsa – ESPN
Thurs, 8 PM: #2 Florida vs. #1 Oklahoma – FOX

College Basketball
Mon, 7 PM: #10 G’town @ #13 Notre Dame – ESPN
Tues, 7 PM: #5 UConn @ #22 West Virginia – ESPNU
Wed, 7 PM: Davidson @ #2 Duke – ESPN
Wed, 9 PM: Gonzaga @ #25 Tennessee – ESPN2

NBA
Mon, 7:30 PM: Spurs @ Heat – NBA TV
Tues, 10:30 PM: Hornets @ Lakers
Wed, 7 PM: Magic @ Hawks
Wed, 7:30 PM: Rockets @ Celtics
Wed, 9 PM: Heat @ Nuggets – ESPN
Wed, 9 PM: Hornets @ Jazz
Wed, 10 PM: Pistons @ Blazers

NHL
Mon, 7 PM: Penguins @ Rangers – Versus
Tues, 7 PM: Wild @ Bruins – Versus
Tues, 7:30 PM: Panthers @ Maple Leafs – TSN
Wed, 7:30 PM: Canadiens @ Rangers – TSN

NFL
Mon, 8:30 PM: Packers @ Bears – ESPN

College Football
Tues, 8 PM: #9 Boise St. vs. #11 TCU – ESPN

NBA
Mon, 9 PM: Blazers @ Nuggets
Tues, 7 PM: Rockets @ Cavaliers
Tues, 8 PM: Lakers @ Hornets – NBA TV
Tues, 10 PM: Nuggets @ Blazers
Thurs, 12 PM: Hornets @ Magic – ESPN
Thurs, 2:30 PM: Spurs @ Suns – ABC
Thurs, 5 PM: Celtics @ Lakers – ABC
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Mavericks @ Blazers – TNT

College Hoops
Tues, 7 PM: Butler @ #12 Xavier
Tues, 9:30 PM: #8 Texas @ Wisconsin – ESPN2

NHL
Mon, 7 PM: Pittsburgh @ Buffalo – Versus
Tues, 7 PM: Boston @ New Jersey – Versus
Tues, 10 PM: Vancouver @ San Jose – TSN