Well folks, the basketball season is upon us. I will give individual previews for each team over the next week or so but wanted to put up a guide for this weekend’s entertaining action.
Game of the Week:
Minnesota vs Louisville (Played in Puerto Rico)
We all know that the teams are coached by father-son combo of Rick Pitino and Richard Pitino but this is overlooking something rather important…these are good teams. Louisville has won two straight league titles (Big East and American) and will be a factor in the ACC from the get-go. Minnesota returns a lot of talent from a club that got hot late last season and made an impressive run to win the NIT championship.
Friday, 7:30 / 6:30, ESPN / WatchESPN app
Friday Slate:
Illinois vs Georgia Southern, 9 / 8, no TV – UI started hot last year but a 7-11 campaign in league dropped them to just 20-15. Ga Southern returns key cogs Jelani Hewitt and Angel Matias but this duo can only do so much. Eagles keep it close for the opening 10 minutes but the Illini pull ahead as this thing goes along.
Indiana vs Miss Valley St, 7 / 6, BTN – A strange off season for the Hoosiers thanks to countless arrests and suspensions to start the season. This could affect them against a more talented team but the Delta Devils should provide little resistance.
Iowa vs Hampton, 9:30 / 8:30, ESPN3 – The Pirates are a MEAC contender but their front line height is not enough to worry Iowa. They play great defense and should be competitive for most of the first half but eventually the bigger front of Iowa will wrestle this thing in their favor.
Maryland vs Wagner, 7:30 / 6:30, no TV – Wagner was a solid team a year ago, unfortunately they were a veteran team that is starting from scratch this year with all their key contributors gone. Maryland should have no issues against the inexperienced Seahawks.
Michigan State at Navy, 9 / 8, CBSSN – The first round of the Veteran’s Classic should be a soft start to the season for MSU. Despite the success Navy athletics has in other sports, their basketball team continues to struggle, finishing dead last in the Patriot last season.
Northwestern vs Houston Baptist, 8 / 7, no TV – NU was pretty bad last year but HBU was worse. The program, which is still in its D1 infancy, went just 6-25 a year ago.
Ohio State vs UMass Lowell, 7 / 6, no TV – the talented Bucks should have no problems with UML, which went just 10-18 (8-8 in the America East) last year.
Penn State vs Morgan State, 7 / 6, no TV – Morgan St was a factor in the MEAC last year going 11-5 but they still were under .500 overall (15-16). Penn State won’t be confused with Wisconsin this season, but they should be able to hold home serve against the Bears.
Purdue vs Samford, 7 / 6, no TV – The Boilermakers may have finished in last place last season but they get a soft opener to 2014 as Samford is coming off a rough 20 loss campaign.
Wisconsin vs Northern Kentucky, 9 / 8, BTN – Even the best teams have fits playing at the Kohl Center. UW should overwhelm NKU and ease to a 20+ point victory.
Saturday Slate:
Michigan vs Hillsdale, 2 / 1, no TV – exhibition game
Sunday Slate:
Illinois vs Coppin State, 6 / 5, no TV – With the bulk of the scoring gone from a team that went just 12-20 a season ago, Illinois has to love their chances against the new look Eagles.
Nebraska vs Northern Kentucky, 2 / 1, no TV – The Huskers were a strange team last year going 11-7 in league after an 0-4 start to league play. Overall they went an impressive 19-13 and played in the NCAA tournament. They won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year though as they start the season nationally ranked thanks to an impressive returning cast. This team may have started shaky, dropping a game to UAB and barely beating NIU but they gelled during Big Ten play and are a sleeper in the league. Long story short, the Norse of NKU (fantastic name by the way) face a very long shot at pulling the upset.
Penn State vs Fordham, 5 / 4, BTN – Fordham limped to a 2-win A-10 season but should be improved thanks to having several key players back. Jon Severe received a trial by fire as a freshman and Ryan Rhoomes/Ryan Canty are nice pieces but PSU counters with D.J. Newbill and Ross Travis; both played well a season ago and with Tim Frazier out of the program, they will get even more of the spotlight. Expect a 2-0 weekend Lion faithful.
Purdue vs IUPUI, 3 / 2, BTN – The Jags won just won league game a year ago en route to a dismal 6-23 finish. Purdue should have no worries in this one.
Rutgers vs George Washington, 7 / 6, BTN – The Scarlet Knights are coming off a rough 12-21 (5-13) season with just one star returning in Myles Mack. They have their work cut out for them from the start as GW went 24-9 with an 11-5 mark in the stacked A-10. Among their victims last year was Miami, Creighton, Maryland, Georgia, VCU and this very Rutgers team. Several players are back included Kethan Savage and Kevin Larsen. Of all the Big Ten teams there are only two games I see as losses. Minnesota vs Louisville and this one here.
Wisconsin vs Chattanooga, 1 / 12, ESPNN – Z Mason and Gee McGhee are gone but Casey Jones and Ronrico White are very talented players. The Mocs look to contend again in the SoCon but don’t have the talent to compete a whole 40 minutes versus the balanced Badgers.
Big Ten and Counting 