It is another solid slate tonight, and I have picked out 10 games most on my radar around the country.
St. Mary’s at Gonzaga
The Game of the Night tonight is in Spokane. I honestly think this is the best Gonzaga team of all-time, and it very well could be one of the best St. Mary’s teams, as well. Matthew Dellavadova is one of the best players that no one has ever heard of. But, this Zags team is absolutely loaded, and this is not the last time you will hear me say this, but they are a legitimate national title contender. They are that good.
Temple at Xavier
A little homerism in me here giving this one second-billing, but it is opening night in a brutal A-10 for the Owls and it is on the road against one of their most bitter rivals. The Musketeers are in a rebuilding year, but that does not mean they are not very dangerous. This is one of the bigger games on the schedule for the Owls, especially because a lot of momentum can be gained or lost with the conference opener.
Florida Gulf Coast at USC-Upstate
As my homerism for Temple gave them second-billing, my affinity for the low-major conferences gives this one third-billing. But, trust me, while these teams “national relevance” will all depend upon their play in the A-Sun tournament, this is a pretty huge game for anyone who has any interest in Atlantic Sun basketball. With the possible exception of Mercer (who did lose a head-scratcher to Kennessaw State last week), these two teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the league this year. They are two programs that are enjoying D-I success for pretty much the first time, and their rosters have been built for this year. So, at the risk of sounding overdramatic, this could one of the bigger games in the history of these two programs, as they are both at the top of the standings of a league where one of them will likely win. Spartanburg will be buzzing tonight.
Arizona at Oregon
Okay, okay, it is time to get to the “important” conferences. This is the biggest battle of “rich” teams tonight, as the undefeated Wildcats travel to Eugene for their biggest road test yet this year. Dana Altman’s Ducks are way ahead of schedule on their rebuild and really might contend this year. A win tonight would go a long way in determining that.
Michigan State at Iowa
Philly’s own Fran McCaffery has the Hawkeyes back to Big Ten relevancy – now it is time to grab some national attention, which a win over Sparty would certainly do. However, Tom Izzo’s boys are coming off of a drubbing of Purdue and are still undervalued on the national scene. They will – as always – be heard from come March.
Miami (FL) at North Carolina
What is going on in Chapel Hill? A bad noncon led into a 9-point loss at UVa to open the ACC schedule. Now, the Heels return home to the Dean Dome really needing a W against a pretty tough opponent. The injury to Miami’s Reggie Jackson makes them look more like a tenuous bubble team than a potential Sweet 16 contender, but there is still talent there, and the Heels better watch out.
Detroit at Youngstown State
Youngstown State has been one of the many pleasant surprises from the Horizon this year, but now they have to bring it into league play. They split their first two league games – both on the road – and now they will get a real test from Ray McCallum and the Titans, who may just be smelling blood in the Horizon waters with the Valpo home loss to Loyola (IL) to kick off league play. Detroit is 2-0 with a couple of home wins in the league, but now they get to show themselves with a tough road test.
Northwestern State at Oral Roberts
There is a real chance that Stephen F. Austin is simply too good and will run away with the Southland title this year. But, if that doesn’t happen, one of these two teams will be the team that runs them down. Clearly the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the league this year, NW State and ORU are both chasing the Lumberjacks and both will need wins like these to catch them. ORU has opened their first SL season with a couple of good road wins, while NW State has two home wins, but two dominating home wins. This could tell us a lot about both teams.
Oakland at South Dakota State
Oakland was supposed to be in a rebuilding year, while the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State were supposed to run away and hide with the Summit League this year on the back of future NBA’er, Nate Wolters. Well, things don’t always go as planned, as Oakland had a very good noncon and has started 2-1 in league play. The Jackrabbits, on the other hand, struggled though an admittedly tough noncon schedule, but have brought those struggles into the league, particularly their last game – a 3-point loss in the Thunderdome against an inferior South Dakota team. Time to right the ship for SD State or they might have trouble catching this Oakland team for 3rd-place, let along tracking down North Dakota State and Western Illinois in the top two spots.
Long Island at Wagner
The NEC is totally upside-down. Bryant is on top, while the two preseason favorites, Robert Morris and Long Island, would not even make the NEC tournament as it stands now. At least Wagner seems to have righted their wobbly noncon ship to grab a couple of wins to start league play. LIU – who is absolutely loaded and has no excuse for their 5-9 start and 0-2 in league play – is desperate. Meddle will be tested tonight on Staten Island.
