As we head into the start of college basketball this season, there is a handful of games this first week that should be notable and watched by fans. Most teams will play two games this week. However, whether teams surprised in the NCAA Tournament, brought in top recruits or returned major stars, these teams will provide great games in the first week of the college basketball season.
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5 – No. 15 Texas A&M at Ohio State
Last season didn’t start the way that the Aggies expected, but it ended just the way they wanted. The biggest question entering this season is whether or not that momentum can carry between seasons. Leading scorer Wade Taylor IV, who averaged 16.3 points per game last season, is back as the floor general of the team. The duo of Henry Coleman III and Julius Marble down low will not provide game-winning scoring, but it will protect the rim and grab rebounds at all costs. They should be fun to watch this season.
4 – Auburn at No. 20 Baylor
Baylor makes this list because it will be interesting to see the amount of influence and coaching ability that Scott Drew has. He lost Keyonte George and Adam Flagler to the NBA and LJ Cryer transferred to Houston. Jalen Bridges and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua are projected to be the only constants between last season and this season.
3 – No. 21 USC at Kansas State
USC will be one of those teams that starts out sub-Top 20 and could finish as one of the Top 10 teams in the nation. The Trojans brought back Boogie Ellis, who averaged 17.7 PPG, and Kobe Johnson. DJ Rodman transferred from Washington after averaging almost 10 PPG. Most importantly, they brought in the No. 1 player in the country Isaiah Collier to command the floor for this starting lineup. LeBron James’ son also committed to USC, but it is up in the air if Bronny will suit up this season. If he does, the perimeter of Ellis, James, and Collier will be the best in the country.
2 – No. 10 Florida Atlantic at Loyola Chicago
It will be exciting to see the bounce back from this Florida Atlantic team that was widely unknown until the NCAA Tournament last season. However, as we saw with last season’s No. 1 ranked UNC, last season’s NCAA Tournament success does not guarantee next season success. FAU lost no players to the portal or NBA and Johnell Davis is back to finish the job and get a championship this season. The chemistry with Alijah Martin and Vladislav Goldin should be at an all-time high this year.
1 – No. 12 Arizona at No. 2 Duke
In the only Top 25 matchup of the week, No. 12 Arizona will head on the road in an early tough contest against arguably the best team in the nation in No. 2 Duke. The Blue Devils are bringing back two outstanding sophomores in Kyle Filipowski, who averaged 15.1 PPG last season, and Tyrese Proctor. The Wildcats will be no walk in the park for Duke either. They added UNC superstar Caleb Love and SDSU’s Keshad Johnson to a lineup already with Oumar Ballo in the middle. Between the three of them, they averaged almost 40 PPG last year.
Watch NCAA Basketball this season on Fubo!
