With College Basketball Season set to start here are 10 games in the month of November you should keep a eye out for #Dan 10 (tie): Boston College @ Providence Date: November 8 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. Fox Sports 1s inaugural slate of college hoops launches with a long-standing rivalry from the old Big East days, before Boston College left for the ACC in 2005. Its also the debut of FS1s primary broadcast team for Big East games — Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (above). 2. BC returns its top five scorers from last season — Olivier Hanlan (15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds), Ryan Anderson (14.9 points, 8.0 rebounds), Joe Rahon (10.1 points, 3.7 assists), Lonnie Jackson (8.7 points, 2.7 rebounds) and Patrick Heckmann (8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds). 3. As a freshman last season, Hanlan (above) scored in double figures in 23 of his last 25 games — including a 41-point explosion against Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament. 4. Providences senior duo of guard Bryce Cotton (19.7 points) and forward Kadeem Betts (14.8 points, 7.2 rebounds). 5. Last years BC-Providence tilt went down to the wire, with Anderson (24 points) securing the Eagles victory with a pair of layups. For good measure, Cotton rolled for 33 points. 10 (tie): Louisiana Monroe @ Kansas Date: November 8 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. This game marks the highly anticipated debut of Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins (above), the nations top schoolboy last year and presumptive favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in next summers NBA draft. 2. The Jayhawks lost their five top scorers from last season — Ben McLemore, Jeff Withey, Travis Releford, Kevin Young and Elijah Johnson — adding more pressure for Wiggins (the son of longtime NBA player Mitchell Wiggins) and Perry Ellis to carry KU this year. 9: Minnesota vs. Syracuse (Maui Invitational) Date: November 25 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. This years Maui Invite has a good, but not elite field of Syracuse, Minnesota, Gonzaga, Baylor, California, Arkansas, Dayton and host Chaminade. The Orange and Golden Gophers, at least on paper, could be the best quarterfinal matchup of Thanksgiving Monday. 2. C.J. Fair (14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds — above) doubly stands as Syracuses best returning player and the preseason favorite for ACC player of the year. 3. Syracuse will get a shot at two Big Ten teams in eight days, taking on Minnesota in Maui and Indiana in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge (Dec. 3). 4. Guard Andre Hollins (above) leads a guard-oriented Gophers team in Richard Pitinos first season as head coach. Pitino, the son of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, will bring an up-tempo attack to Minneapolis, which should be an interesting contrast against the physical nature of the Big Ten. 8: Georgetown vs. Oregon (South Korea) Date: November 8 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. The Ducks and Hoyas will open the season on the other side of the world — at a U.S. Army base in South Korea. 2. Markel Starks (12.8 points — above) and Greg Whittington (12.1 points, 7.0 rebounds) lead a Georgetown team thats likely stewing about its NCAA tourney loss to 15th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast. 3. In recent years, the Hoyas have loaded up on proverbial cupcakes during November and December, as a means of piling up victories — and building confidence. As a change, theyll take on Oregon and Kansas — presumptive Top 25 teams — during the holiday season. 4. Sophomore guard Damyean Dotson (11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds) leads an Oregon squad that returns four of its five top scorers from last year — Carlos Emory (11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds), Arsalan Kazemi (9.4 points, 10.0 rebounds) and Tony Woods (8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds) are the others. 7: Florida @ Wisconsin Date: November 12 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. This is a rematch from last years game in Gainesville, when the Gators shot 62 percent from the field (and 50 percent from 3-point range) and rolled over the Badgers, 74-56. 2. As preseason predictions go, The Sporting News has Florida (No. 12) and Wisconsin (No. 14) both ranked in the top 15. 3. Florida senior Patric Young (10.1 points, 6.3 rebounds — above) could be one of the countrys best power forwards by seasons end. 4. Sophomore forward Sam Dekker (9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds — above) leads a Badgers club that opens with St. Johns and Florida at home. 6: Michigan State vs. Oklahoma State (Brooklyn) Date: November 23 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. This is a hypothetical game, as Michigan State and Oklahoma State need to beat Virginia Tech and Seton Hall, respectively, before reaching the Coaches vs. Cancer final. 2. The Spartans, ranked No. 2 during the preseason, boast a dynamite core that includes veterans Branden Dawson, Keith Appling and Denzel Valentine, along with Adreian Payne and Gary Harris (above). 3. Cowboys guard Marcus Smart (15.4 points, 5.8 boards, 4.2 assists — above) is an All-America candidate and early favorite to be the first point guard taken in next summers NBA draft. 5: Ohio State VS Marquette Date: November 16 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. Ohio State and Marquette both got upended in the regional finals of last years NCAA tourney — falling to Wichita State and Syracuse, respectively — despite holding the higher seed for their matchups. 2. Numerous publications have Ohio State and Marquette tabbed as top-20 clubs during the preseason. 3. Guard Aaron Craft (10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists — above) leads a Buckeyes team that should once again compete for a Big Ten title and top-four seed in nexts years NCAA tourney. 4. Marquettes Jamil Wilson (above) and the Golden Eagles should be commended for scheduling clashes with Ohio State, Arizona State (Nov. 25), Wisconsin (Dec. 7) and New Mexico (Dec. 21) — before they go to work in the revamped Big East 4: Arizona vs. Duke (New York City) Date: November 29 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. Just like Michigan State-Oklahoma State ... Duke vs. Arizona is the hypothetical final of the preseason NIT. If this comes to fruition, it would feature two top-10 teams and viable Final Four contenders. 2. Arizona guard Nick Johnson (11.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists — above) and freshman Aaron Gordon (think Blake Griffin) headline perhaps the most talented Wildcats club of the Sean Miller era. 3. Guard Quinn Cook (above) and the Blue Devils are seemingly primed for a run at the ACC and national titles, fortified by a supremely talented frontcourt of Rodney Hood, Amile Jefferson, Marshall Plumlee and freshman stud Jabari Parker. 4. If this NIT final goes down, Duke would face Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan and UCLA in the first six weeks of the preseason. 3: Louisville vs. North Carolina (Uncasville, Conn.) Date: November 24 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity 1. Of this countdown, this is the third and final hypothetical championship game, assuming North Carolina gets by an underrated Richmond squad (four returning starters) ... and defending champion Louisville tops Fairfield in its semifinal. 2. Fortified by Marcus Paige (above), James Michael McAdoo (14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds), Isaiah Hicks, Desmond Hubert and Kennedy Meeks, the Tar Heels may have the depth and talent to run with the Cardinals early in the season. 3. UNCs on-court prospects would be higher if embattled star P.J. Hairston (practicing with the team, but not cleared for game action) can get out of coach Roy Williams proverbial doghouse. 4. Yes, Louisville has Russ Smith (18.7 points — above), Luke Hancock and Chris Jones patrolling the perimeter. But can the Cardinals repeat their Final Four/national title bid with Montrezl Harrell serving as a 6-foot-8 center? Especially if Chane Behanan (currently suspended, working his way back into Rick Pitinos good graces) gets sidetracked over the next few months? Either way, this is a great matchup before the Thanksgiving holiday. 2: Duke vs. Kansas (Chicago) Date: November 12 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity The two most anticipated games of the month occur on the same night ... in the same gym — with Michigan State-Kentucky in the opener and Duke-Kansas in the nightcap (Champions Classic). 1. Most teams would be paralyzed by the notion of a 6-foot-2 guard (Quinn Cook) serving as the teams returning leader in points, rebounds and assists; but thats not a big deal with Duke, as it welcomes freshman stud Jabari Parker and sophomore transfer Rodney Hood (Mississippi State) into the mix. Plus, the Blue Devils are set to ratchet up the expectations for the sophomore trio of Marshall Plumlee (the brother Miles/Mason), Rasheed Sulaimon and Amile Jefferson (above). Put it all together, and Duke may have its best blend of high-end talent since the 2010 championship team. 2. As for Kansas, weve already detailed the arrival of Andrew Wiggins in this countdown, and the immediate expectations of grandeur with the Jayhawks faithful. Is Wiggins good enough to be an All-American candidate right out of the chute? Is he great enough to pull a Kevin Durant and capture Player of the Year honors? 3. Sophomore forward Perry Ellis (above) enters the season with amped-up expectations, as well, after playing a secondary role on last years club. From Feb. 23 to March 16, spanning eight games, Ellis modestly notched double-figure points and/or six rebounds seven times. His coup de grace came in the Big 12 semifinals, when he registered 23 points and six rebounds against Iowa State, hitting 10 of 12 shots from the field. 1: Kentucky vs. Michigan State (Chicago) Date: November 12 Reasons To Pique Your Curiosity The two most anticipated games of the month occur on the same night ... in the same gym — with Michigan State-Kentucky in the opener and Duke-Kansas in the nightcap (Champions Classic). 1. Its not very often the nation gets treated to a 1-vs.-2 clash so early in the season, but thats exactly what well get on Nov. 12 at the United Center. 2. Kentucky coach John Calipari has reeled in another fabulous recruiting class, perhaps his greatest of all time (which is saying a lot). It begins with Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison and ends with Marcus Lee, James Young and Jordan Clarkson. All six were blue-chippers at the prep level ... and each one is expected to impact a program that has dominated the one-and-done era of college hoops. 3. The Wildcats boast two returning stars, as well, with 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein (8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks) and Alex Poythress (above), who could develop into the best perimeter wing in the country by seasons end. And that includes Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins. 4. Michigan State may be the quietest No. 2 team in some time, with its cast of low-key, but high-end performers, beginning with Keith Appling (13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists), Branden Dawson (above), Denzel Valentine, Matt Costello and the inside-outside combo of Adreian Payne and Gary Harris, who delayed their NBA journeys to help the Spartans claim the Big Tens first national championship since 2000. Incidentally, Michigan State claimed that seasons NCAA title. 5. The college game is still about the coaches, meaning Calipari and Michigan States Tom Izzo will command the spotlight in the days leading up to the Chicago showdown. 6. The hype for the Kansas-Duke/Michigan State-Kentucky doubleheader will be absurd ... but then again, no ones complaining. Its not like you have anything better to do on a Tuesday night in mid-November.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 23:46:02 +0000
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