Non-Conference Games To Watch

(Posting about a week early. Anyway, guys, I’m planning on writing a column every Sunday previewing the upcoming week’s games, so I didn’t go too in-depth. Plus, I’m building a Charlie Weis statue for my yard. Kinda looks like the Hunchback. Whatev.)

This non-conference season is shaping up to be one of the best. The list includes a contest that could match the #1 and #2 teams in the nation, NCAA teams playing top mid-majors, and tournament stocked with possible blockbuster matchups from the second round to the finals. Folks, we’re not that far away from the non-conference season with key games that could decide whether a contender is actually a pretender.

TOP TOURNAMENTS

2K Sports College Hoops Classic- Assuming the top four teams make it out of their respective regionals with ease playing on their home court, the semifinal and final games at MSG will be great. The first game pits Michigan State vs. Texas on November 16 and St. John’s vs. Maryland later that night. The finals then will be on the 17th.

NIT Season Tip-Off- This tournament is one to watch. The second round games are very entertaining, nationally televised matchups, including Notre Dame/Butler vs. Indiana on November 14, UNC-Wilmington vs. Tennessee on the 14th, North Carolina vs. Winthrop/Iona on November 15 and Baylor vs. Gonzaga on Nov 15. All of those games are on the ESPN family of networks. We’re looking at UNC/Gonzaga and Tennessee/Indiana semis at MSG, potentially, with the finals looming.

Paradise Jam- Final four teams barring major upset will be Alabama, Iowa, Xavier and Villanova. Two teams are down, two are up. Should make for a fascinating tournament with many storylines.

CBE Classic- This tournament, formally known as the Guardians Classic, is organized very similarly to the Coaches vs. Cancer (2K). I’m assuming Duke and Stanford meet in the semis on November 20, and Marquette faces Texas Tech that same night, with the final on the 21st. It hasn’t been announced, but expect these games to be on ESPN straight from Kansas City.

Maui Invitational- Nothing will ever beat the epic games we witnessed last season, but this field might be almost as competitive. Besides Chaminade-UCLA, every other game will be wildly entertaining. Oklahoma plays Memphis, Purdue plays Georgia Tech and DePaul vs. Kentucky….all on the same day (Nov 20). Wow. With this tournament, any of these teams can match up in the later games (5 vs. 6, etc.) I’ll be glued to the TV for this tourney.

ACC Big-Ten Challenge Top Games
November 28- Florida State at Wisconsin, Maryland at Illinois, Indiana at Duke
November 29- Ohio State at North Carolina, Michigan State at Boston College

November
November 12- Arizona at Virginia
November 18- Wichita State at George Mason
November 24- Florida State at Pittsburgh
November 25- Florida vs. Kansas (Vegas)
November 25- Wichita State at LSU
November 25- George Mason at Creighton
November 29- Kansas State at California

Week of December 2-9
December 2- Georgetown at Duke
December 2- Kentucky at North Carolina
December 2- Texas vs. Gonzaga (Neutral)
December 2- Wichita State at Syracuse
December 2- Kansas at DePaul
December 3- Florida at Florida State
December 5- Oklahoma State vs. Syracuse (MSG)
December 5- Louisville vs. Arizona (MSG)
December 5- Texas A&M at LSU
December 6- Memphis at Tennessee
December 9- UCLA vs. Texas A&M (Anaheim)
December 9- Xavier vs. Creighton
December 9- Wisconsin at Marquette
December 9- Kentucky at Indiana
December 9- LSU at Texas

Week of December 10-17
December 16- Pittsburgh at Wisconsin
December 16- Kentucky at Louisville

Week of December 18-25
December 20- LSU at Washington
December 20- Memphis at Arizona
December 21- Gonzaga vs. Duke (MSG)
December 21- Virginia Tech vs. Seton Hall (MSG)
December 21- Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State
December 23- Ohio State at Florida
December 23- Boston College at Kansas
December 23- Michigan at UCLA
December 23- Texas at Tennessee

January
January 3- Gonzaga at Virginia
January 3- Kansas State at Xavier
January 6- Connecticut at LSU
January 13- Tennessee at Ohio State
January 20- Texas at Villanova (Wachovia)
January 20- Indiana at Connecticut
January 27- North Carolina at Arizona

February
February 11- Connecticut at Georgia Tech
February 17- Washington at Pittsburgh
February 17- Memphis at Gonzaga

I'm sure more great games will spring up as the season progresses. Looking at that list, I can't wait for this year to start. Very promising for my Irish.....