Tuesday Tip-Off: Ohio State, Michigan State in top-5 clash

AT THE WATER COOLER: Two top-10 clashes are on tap today, including the first top-five showdown of 2014 as No. 3 Ohio State puts its unblemished record on the line at No. 4 Michigan State (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). In a season dominated early by talk of numerous touted freshmen, these teams are built around experienced upperclassmen and could be more tournament-ready come March.

Seniors such as Spartans G Keith Appling and F Adreian Payne will have the Breslin Center crowd on their side, but Buckeyes scoring leaders LaQuinton Ross and Lenzelle Smith Jr. are familiar with the grind of playing on the road in the rugged Big Ten.

The night's other marquee matchup is in the Big 12, where No. 9 Baylor looks to end No. 7 Iowa State's perfect start (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The Bears are 0-11 at Hilton Coliseum.

ALSO ON DECK: A look at the rest of the best matchups to watch/monitor.

— No. 2 Syracuse at Virginia Tech (9 p.m.)

— Georgia Tech at No. 13 Duke (7 p.m., ESPNU)

— Tennessee at LSU (7 p.m., ESPN)

— Kansas State at TCU (8 p.m.)

NUMBER OF THE DAY: 7.5.

Creighton player-of-the-year candidate Doug McDermott would be having an impressive enough senior season even if one looked only at his scoring (24.7 ppg) and shooting numbers (49.1% overall, 42.7% from three-point range, 90% from the free throw line). But he's also putting in work on the boards, leading the Bluejays with 7.5 rebounds a game. McDermott & Co. take their show on the road today for a Big East clash with DePaul (9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1).

WORDS OF THE DAY: "He's a great player. I wouldn't trade him for anybody at the 2 position, and we play him at the point at the end of the games. He's such a luxury to have because he can make shots, he can handle the ball. He's getting to the point that he's an all-around player, not just a shooter." — Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin on Sean Kilpatrick, who has helped the Bearcats to a 2-0 start in the American Athletic Conference. They'll try for 3-0 today at Houston (9 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network). The Cougars also are 2-0 in the AAC.

DAYS UNTIL SELECTION SUNDAY: 68

***

Scott Gleeson, a national college basketball writer/digital producer for Paste BN Sports, is on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.

Eddie Timanus, a colleges sports writer and the polls editor for Paste BN Sports, is on Twitter @EddieTimanus.