Northwestern had shown a frustrating tendency to lose focus in the second half of games recently, but it was the team's strong play after intermission in its last time out that allowed it to extend its winning streak to eight games. The need for the Wildcats to play a full 40 minutes figures to grow considerably over the next two-plus weeks, however, as they begin a stretch of four of five on the road Tuesday when they open Big Ten play at Penn State.

Two teams enjoying long winning streaks look to get their Big Ten Conference season off to a strong start when Illinois visits Maryland on Tuesday night. The Fighting Illini have won six consecutive games – their longest streak in more than two years – while Maryland boasts five straight victories, which began with an impressive 71-70 triumph against Oklahoma State.

South Carolina begins its final week of non-conference play with a matchup that should be nothing more than a tune-up as it hosts NCAA Division II Lander on Tuesday. The 25th-ranked Gamecocks have lost two of their last three games but should be able to get back on track against the Bearcats, who have dropped three straight and five of their last six. 

Texas began the season as one of the top teams in the nation, but it will enter Big 12 play soon with plenty of work to do. The Longhorns look to end their challenging non-conference schedule on a positive note when they host Kent State on Tuesday.

Syracuse looks to bounce back from one of the worst losses of the Jim Boeheim era when it hosts longtime program punching bag Cornell on Tuesday. The Orange have beaten the Big Red 36 consecutive times, but nothing is guaranteed with the way the team has been playing lately.

Wisconsin is settling into the season nicely and the No. 14 Badgers look to record their eighth consecutive victory when they host Rutgers in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Tuesday. Wisconsin suffered November losses to ranked Creighton and North Carolina squads but has won by an average of 27.4 points during its winning streak.

Two teams that have been a bit surprising in the non-conference portion of the season square off when Michigan State travels to Minnesota for both teams' Big Ten opener on Tuesday. The Spartans were expected to be a Top 25 team all season long, but injuries and youth have made it difficult for coach Tom Izzo's team to be consistent, while the Golden Gophers have surprised with their consistency in a 12-1 start.

Two schools that figure to challenge for the conference title face off when SMU travels to Memphis on Tuesday night in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Mustangs were picked third while the Tigers were tabbed to come in fifth in a preseason poll of AAC coaches.