Today we have some really early games featuring some great young guards but the main events are going on this evening ...
Marquee Matchups
7:00pm Albany @ Syracuse – Kris Joseph recently scored his 1,000th career point as an Orange earlier last week putting him in elite company. Now with the ‘Cuse playing Albany, who had been given a drubbing by Pitt this past Friday, look for them to run them into the ground early and for Joseph to pad that career point total.
9:00pm Kentucky vs. Kansas – This is a game to watch. Kentucky is stacked with young guns while Kansas has the veteran savvy (or what would constitute it in this college basketball day and age) and it should be like watching to gorillas staking territory on the Nature Channel. Both teams have the talent but it should come down to who’s deeper on the bench and that would go to the Wildcats. Kyle Wiltjer has come off the bench in the first game and he put in some work going off for 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and an assist in 19 minutes of action. I can’t predict how much he’ll play in this game but expect it to at least be very productive.
And for the rest of the men …
2:00pm San Diego State @ Baylor – Brady Heslipwill be looking to lead the young Bears team against a San Diego State team that isn’t exactly the same edition of last year. Regardless, look for Heslip to let loose from deep when given the chance, that is if he’s not busy passing to Quincy Miller or Deuce Bello for a score.
4:00pm Rhode Island @ Texas – After an impressive debut, Myck Kabongo will look to follow up the performance today. I wouldn’t expect him to put up the shooting numbers that Pangos did last night but I would think that he’ll have his share of ohhs and ahhs in this game.
7:00pm Harvard @ Holy Cross – In his first game as a sophomore, Laurent Rivard hit for 16 points on only six made field goals, including four treys. With the Crimson playing Holy Cross, expect that the double teams for his teammate Keith Wrightto allow for more long range bombs from Rivard.
7:00pm Lehigh @ Fairleigh Dickinson
7:00pm Rio Grande @ Cleveland State
7:00pm IUPUI @ Ark-Little Rock
7:00pm South Carolina @ Elon
7:00pm Reinhardt @ Tennessee Tech
7:00pm Eastern Michigan @ Texas Southern
7:00pm Montreat College @ Western Carolina
8:00pm Bucknell @ Vanderbilt– Bucknell has lost its season opening game to Minnesota by a fair margin (12 points) and this Vanderbilt team will not be any easier, especially after they had already lost to Cleveland State last week. The Bison will need to rely on the outside shooting of Bryson Johnsonto keep defenses honest in the middle for the pre season Patriot Player of the Year Mike Muscala. Vandy will be looking to D up hard and they for sure don’t want a repeat of that blowout loss from Saturday.
8:05pm Saint Louis @ Southern Illinois
8:30pm Pepperdine @ Arizona State
9:00pm Iowa State @ Drake– After beating Lehigh a few days ago, Iowa State should be looking to come into Drake’s home floor and take them out early or it could be a game. Toronto’s Melvin Ejim only managed 6 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes due to foul trouble. If he stays out of foul trouble in this game, I would think he’d be looking to make a statement.
9:05pm Northern Colorado @ Wyoming
9:05pm South Dakota @ Eastern Washington
10:00pm Santa Clara @ UC Santa Barbara
10:00pm Austin Peay at California
11:00pm Colorado State @ Stanford – Will this be the game that Dwight Powell comes back from the sprained ankle?
And now for the ladies …
6:00pm Mount St. Mary’s @ Maryland-Eastern Shore
6:30pm Monmouth @ Wake Forest
7:00pm Temple @ Northeastern
7:00pm Colgate @ Cornell
7:00pm Kent State @ Robert Morris
7:00pm Binghamton @ Siena
7:00pm Iona @ Bryant
8:00pm Wisconsin @ Marquette – In what looks like a battle for the state, Marquette will be looking to defend it’s home court against a pack of badgers. Canadian Katherine Plouffe had 19 points, 4 boards, 2 dimes and 3 steals in the win over Mississippi Valley State and should continue to on that pace tonight.
8:00pm Western Kentucky at Northwestern
8:05pm Mississippi Valley State @ Nebraska – Vancouver’s Kaitlin Burke started off her senior season in the starting lineup and with 8 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in a very efficient 15 minutes of action. Against Mississippi Valley State, she could be on track for a similar night.