One of the nice things about college basketball is you get legit matchups right from the jump There is none of this opening against half-steppers and also-rans. And so it is that the pre-season #1 Michigan Spartans came to lose their first game of the season, 69-62, to Kentucky, who has been crowned your new #1. But fear not, Michigan State has plenty of time to fight their way back up to the top spot. That journey continues this week at Seton Hall, as just one of a mountain of great hoops on Sling this week.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Evansville Purple Aces (1-0) vs. #1 Kentucky Wildcats (2-0)
7pm ET on SEC
DeAndre Williams dropped 26 points in the Purple Aces’ season opener last week en route to a 79-75 win over Ball State, overcoming 17 turnovers with 9-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc. The Wildcats popped to the top of the charts with a 69-62 win in their opener over then #1 Michigan State as Tyrese Maxey came off the bench to score 26, then they decimated Eastern Kentucky 91-49 behind Nick Richards’ 21-10 effort.
#14 Oregon Ducks (2-0) vs. #13 Memphis Tigers (2-0)
9pm ET on ESPN
The Ducks won both games last week, the latter a 106-75 trouncing of Boise State as Anthony Mathis scored 30 points on 10-of-12 shooting. The Tigers beat South Carolina State 97-64 as James Wiseman went 28-11 with 3 blocks, then doubled up Illinois-Chicago 92-46 as Wiseman went 17-9 with 5 blocks.
Wednesday, Nov. 13
#10 Villanova Wildcats (1-0) vs #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0)
7pm ET on FS1
The ‘Cats won their opener against Army 97-54, with freshman Jeremiah Robinson-Earl leading the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds. The Buckeyes kicked off the season with wins over Cincinnati, 64-56, and UMass-Lowell 76-56, with 6-9 junior Kaleb Wesson averaging 10.5 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists.
Indiana State Sycamores (0-1) vs #4 Louisville Cardinals (2-0)
8pm ET on ACCN
Jordan Barnes’ 19-9-4 against Dayton wasn’t enough to lead the Sycamores to victory, as they fell 86-81 in their opener. Louisville’s 6-7 junior forward Jordan Nwora averaged 22 pints and nine rebounds in his team’s 87-74 win over Miami and their 78-55 win over Youngstown State.
Thursday, Nov. 14
Towson Tigers (2-0) vs #15 Florida Gators (1-1)
7pm ET on ESPN2
The Tigers eviscerated some school called Bryn Athyn, 100-31, for their second win of the season, as they out-rebounded them 51-22, had 19 steals and eight blocks and held them to 12-of-50 shooting, including 0-for-12 from three-point land. The Gators opened with a 74-59 win over North Florida before falling 63-51 to Florida State in an ugly game in which the two teams combined to make just 32.3 percent of their field goal attempts.
#3 Michigan State Spartans (1-1) vs #12 Seton Hall Pirates (2-0)
8:30pm ET on FS1
After being crowned the pre-season #1, the Spartans dropped their opener against Kentucky, 69-62, before rebounding to beat Binghamton 100-47. Cassius Winston’s 19 ppg and 7.5 apg both lead the team. The Pirates have opened the season 2-0 behind Sandro Mamukelashvili’s team best 14 ppg.
Friday, Nov. 15
Georgia State Panthers (1-1) vs #2 Duke Blue Devils (2-0)
7pm ET on ACCN
Hope you didn’t shed all your tears for Bryn Athyn, because the Panthers took Brewton-Parker to the woodshed, to the tune of 104-35, before losing 84-80 to College of Charleston. Duke barely survived their opener against Kansas, winning 68-66 with Tre Jones leading the team in points, rebounds and assists with 15-6-7, then beat up on Colorado State 89-55.
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-2) vs #6 UNC Tar Heels (2-0)
9pm ET on ACCN
The Runnin’ Bulldogs are winless following games with Furman and Western Carolina, despite Bronx-born guard Jose Perez’ 16-6-2.5. Cole Anthony led the Tar Heels to victories over Notre Dame and Wilmington, averaging 27 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Ohio Bobcats (2-0) vs #10 Villanova Wildcats (1-0)
Noon ET on FS2
Ohio’s 6-3 guard Jason Preston averaged in 13.5 points, 6.5 boards and 12 dimes in the teams first two wins over St, Bonaventure, 65-53, and Heidelberg, 88-50. The Wildcats are gunning for an eighth straight NCAA berth and their third title in five years.
Columbia Knights (0-2) vs #9 Virginia Cavaliers (2-0)
Noon ET on ACCN
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously remarked that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, so what would the famed hermit make of the Knights opening their season with a pair of 65-63 losses to Lafayette and Wake Forest? Speaking of consistency, the Cavaliers have held both Syracuse and James Madison to 34 points, outscoring them by 1 and 31 respectively.
Sunday, Nov. 17
#15 Florida Gators (1-1) vs UConn Huskies (1-0)
3pm ET on ESPN
Kerry Blackshear Jr. leads the Gators with 15 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Christian Vital did it all in the Huskies’ 89-67 win over Sacred Heart, scoring 17 points with seven rebounds, three assists, and seven steals.
North Carolina Central Eagles (t0-1k) vs #4 Louisville Cardinals (2-0)
5pm ET on ACCN
The Eagles were down by just two at the half, but fell 94-64 to Stephen F. Austin in their opener. Louisville coach Chris Mack has led his teams to the tourney in 9 of his 10 seasons in the NCAA.
Stats through Monday, courtesy of SRCBB
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