As the calendar rolls into November, it is officially time to welcome college basketball back into our lives. Yes, as the Dallas Mavericks struggle and toil amongst the NBA’s mid tier, it is fair to catch
a wandering eye and look at what the future could hold. This year in college hoops, there is no shortage of star power, whether it be in returning players or amongst a star studded freshman group. The big names of Bryce James and Kiyan Anthony, sons of LeBron and Carmelo respectively, will catch much of the attention from your casual hoops observer. But the story of college basketball this season will be much more than just that.
Before we get into tournament season, we must get through a plethora of “buy games” and slop. But even in this first week of the season, we are still blessed with numerous quality matchups. So, if you find yourself looking for a basketball outlet that isn’t the Mavericks, here are some games you might be interested in.
November 3rd
Las Vegas is the host for our first set of big, neutral site games, as we will get both Florida vs Arizona and Villanova vs BYU on night one in Vegas. For game one, Florida brings very little back from their title team, but they did well in bring in Xavian Lee and Boogie Fland this offseason to pair with Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon. Arizona, meanwhile, has a couple of very talented freshmen in Koa Peat and Bryce James, who is of course Lebron’s son. There will be less star power in Nova vs BYU, although BYU’s AJ Dybantsa will certainly bring plenty enough for this one. Nova has a true freshman in Acaden Lewis who they like a lot, but the rest of the roster isn’t quite there yet. Outside of Dybantsa for BYU, Rob Wright came over from Baylor to bolster their guard room, and Richie Saunders somehow still has eligibility and remains a focal point of what they do.
November 4th
Texas vs Duke in a neutral site game in name only, as this will be in Charlotte. Texas might not have a “guy” like they did last year in Tre Johnson, but I am interested in Simeon Wilcher, the St John’s transfer. Duke has obvious talent that will be on display, as both Cam and Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr will each be making their anticipated debut’s here.
November 7th
Kansas at North Carolina (as an aside, more on campus games please) will make for an excellent Friday night view. On the Kansas side, true freshman guard Darryn Peterson will get his first taste of a true road atmosphere in Chapel Hill. I’m kind of intrigued by Flory Bidunga for KU as well, but I want to see it before I get carried away. UNC has plenty of meh, but Caleb Wilson was pretty highly touted and I’m not all the way out on Seth Trimble or Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans.
November 8th
This is the best slate of games of the week: Alabama at St John’s at Madison Square Garden will be cinema. Labaron Philon is our pet cat at Mavs Moneyball, and I like Aden Holloway enough to be interested in the Alabama backcourt. The Johnnie’s brought Ian Jackson back to NYC from North Carolina (he was a Bronx kid), and Zuby Ejofor should take a leap. Two clashing styles that should make for an interesting game, plus it’s at the Garden. Arkansas at Michigan State is fun, not sure it’s a vintage Izzo team but that’s typically when he does his best work. Coen Carr is an absolute freak of an athlete but not all that polished. Jeremy Fears (brother of Pelicans guard, Jeremiah Fears) is at MSU too. Admittedly, I don’t know much about their freshmen. Arkansas, meanwhile, is coached by John Calipari, so of course he has a good freshman. Darius Acuff is the guy for them, and I can’t wait to see him play real ball. Other games of interest that day include, but are not limited to: Oklahoma at Gonzaga, Vanderbilt at UCF and San Fransisco at Memphis.
November 9th
Indiana vs Marquette is your name brand game of the day here, as these are just two basketball blue blood brands that live this. Marquette is down this year, but Indiana with a new regime there now could be interesting. Texas A&M at Oklahoma State will be Texas A&M’s first chance to see what “Bucky Ball” looks like on the road, although this game would’ve been way more fun a couple years ago with OSU. North Texas plays a mourning Loyola Chicago squad without their fearless chaplain Sister Jean. UNT has a new coach, but I still expect a similar level of grotesque basketball that ends with them winning 61-56 a bunch.
November 10th
The last of our opening week buffet is Mississippi State vs Iowa State (again, less neutral site games please). Miss State has four guys who grew up playing ball in DFW, 3 of which stayed and played high school ball here. Iowa state with Otzelberger at the helm is a machine. Star guard Tamin Lipsey was hurt in the preseason, but should be ready to go by this game. The Cyclones will be right in the thick of the Big 12 race once again.
