While the college basketball season began in earnest over the weekend, there weren’t too many marquee games on the schedule, and the sport was forced to compete with college and pro football. That won’t be the case when ESPN’s fourth tip-off marathon begins. The event features 19 men’s games spanning roughly 25 hours, starting at 12:00 Tuesday morning.
I’m too old to stay up for the whole thing, but for those of you wishing to check it out, I can offer you two things: 1) a link to the complete schedule of the games and commentators and 2) my thoughts and predictions for each contest.
Washington State at #23 Gonzaga – 12:00 AM EST (ESPN)
The Zags had to come back from a second-half deficit to beat Eastern Washington in their opener. Gonzaga’s big men were the difference with Robert Sacre and Elias Harris combining for 38 points and 18 rebounds, and both should give the Cougars fits inside.
Gonzaga still needs someone to emerge at the point (see 11 assists and 17 turnovers in the opener), while the backcourt duo of Reggie Moore and Faisal Aden forms the strength of Wazzu. Both players are a little banged up already, so it’s difficult to predict how effective they might be. The Cougars are picked to finish toward the bottom of the Pac-12, and it’s going to take time for them to find their stride without Klay Thompson around to pace the offense.
- Gonzaga-Washington State Pick: Gonzaga
Northern Iowa at Saint Mary’s – 2:00 AM EST (ESPN)
Both teams come in 1-0, and Northern Iowa’s win at Old Dominion was an impressive way to get their season started. In fact, the MVC had a few solid performances over the weekend, with Missouri State winning by 23 at Nevada and Evansville knocking off Butler in OT. The Panthers hit nearly 40 percent from deep but got to the free throw line just seven times.
Meanwhile, the Gaels beat Fresno Pacific by 40, led by a career-high 25 from Rob Jones. Eight players scored at least six points, and the team tallied 25 assists on 35 made field goals. Jones will likely lead the team in scoring, but the player to watch is Matthew Dellavedova, one of the nation’s most underrated guards.Â
- Northern Iowa-Saint Mary’s Pick: Saint Mary’s
Cal State Northridge at Hawaii – 4:00 AM EST (ESPN)
Cal State Northridge lost their opener to USC and is expected to finish toward the bottom of the Big West, while Hawaii is breaking in a number of new players but is a potential sleeper team in the WAC. The Rainbow Warriors have a solid frontcourt tandem with Vander Joaquim and Josten Thomas, but guard Zane Johnson should lead them in scoring after averaging nearly 16 points last year and knocking down over 40 percent from deep.Â
- Cal State Northride-Hawaii Pick: Hawaii
Drexel at Rider – 6:00 AM EST (ESPN)
The Dragons are one of the preseason favorites to win the Colonial, while Rider got blown out by Robert Morris in their opener before surprisingly testing Pitt in their second contest. But when the game starts at 6:00 AM, you can throw out the records.
It’s hard to believe this will be Bruiser Flint’s 11th year at the helm for Drexel, and it’s easily one of his most talented teams. Forward Samme Givens averaged a double-double last season and is a monster on the offensive glass despite his 6-foot-5 frame. Look for Givens, guard Chris Fouch, and a tenacious Drexel defense to be the difference here.
It’s also worth noting that Andy Katz and Doug Gottlieb will be calling this game. Here’s hoping Katz makes it through the marathon in a bit better shape than he did a couple years ago, when it looked and sounded like he had been drug behind a truck for its duration.Â
- Drexel-Rider Pick: Drexel
Morehead State at College of Charleston – 8:00 AM EST (ESPN)
No offense to this year’s squads, but this game is a year too late now that Kenneth Faried and Andrew Goudelock are gone. Morehead State got blown out by NC State on Sunday, which means a quick turnaround for this early morning tilt. Charleston beat Holy Cross by nine in their opener and placed four guys in double figures, led by 18 points from Antwaine Wiggins and a double-double from Trent Wiedeman.
One guy to watch here is freshman Adjehi Baru, who posted 11 points and eight boards in his debut, but 17 turnovers compared to nine assists is a potential red flag. Perhaps most importantly this is a rare opportunity to inject some Stephen Bardo into your morning routine. I’ll let you decide whether that is a good thing or not.Â
- Morehead State-College of Charleston Pick: College of Charleston
Kent State at West Virginia – 10:00 AM EST (ESPN)
West Virginia held off a tough Oral Roberts team in their opener, but they were thoroughly outrebounded and had 21 turnovers in the process. Kevin Jones got his senior year off to a good start with 20 points and eight boards, and the Mountaineers got some nice contributions from their freshmen with Aaron Brown, Gary Browne, and Jabarie Hinds combining for 28 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, and six steals.
Kent State watched rival Akron knock off Mississippi State in the opening week but has yet to play a game of their own. The Zips bring back four starters from a team that won 25 games last season, led by MAC Player of the Year Justin Greene. They also boast the reigning Defensive POY and Sixth Man and add Juco All-American Chris Evans to the mix. The Flashes have players who can pressure the ball and give West Virginia fits on the glass, which makes this my upset special.
Bill Raftery is calling this one, so it’s a great chance for some “early onions!”
- Kent State-West Virginia Pick: Kent State
Belmont at #9 Memphis – 12:00 PM EST (ESPN)
The Bruins nearly pulled off a road win at Duke, but in the process they showed why so many people (including yours truly) are high on them this year. Their second road trip is a shorter one and gives them another shot to pick up a signature win.
This will be Memphis’ first game of the season, and it will be interesting to see the strides their heralded sophomore class made in the offseason as well as highly-touted freshman Adonis Thomas. Among a number of matchups to watch here is a point guard showdown between Belmont’s Kerron Johnson and Memphis’ Joe Jackson and a battle inside featuring BU’s Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders and Memphis soph Tarik Black.
Belmont clearly isn’t intimidated to play major programs away from home, and just to show I am firmly on the bandwagon, they’re upset number two.
In other good news, it’s way too early for Jimmy Dykes to pull out any kind of Jimmy’s Jet graphic while calling the game. Thank God.Â
- Belmont-Memphis Pick: Belmont
San Diego State at #12 Baylor – 2:00 PM EST (ESPN)
The Aztecs are in rebuilding mode after losing a ton from last year’s Top Five squad, but they are off to a 3-0 start. They are led by guards Chase Tapley and Jamaal Franklin, who scored a career-high 31 points off the bench on Sunday.
Baylor is without top returnee Perry Jones as he serves a suspension for improper benefits, but freshman Quincy Miller has stepped up in his absence with 17 points in each of his first two games. The Bears are absolutely loaded up front, while they are continuing to sort out their backcourt rotation before they get into the meat of their schedule. Expect at least a couple highlight reel dunks from athletic forward Quincy Acy.Â
- San Diego State-Baylor Pick: Baylor
Rhode Island at Texas – 4:00 PM EST (ESPN)
The Rams lost their opener in an overtime shootout with George Mason and are picked to finish in the lower half of the Atlantic 10. Guard Jamal Wilson went off for 38 points in 41 minutes after scoring just 172 points over his first three seasons at URI, but what will he do for an encore?
The Longhorns blew out Boston in their first game, led by 28 points and eight assists from J’Covan Brown, one of the team’s only returning players. A couple Texas freshmen to watch are point guard Myck Kabongo, who had seven dimes in his debut, and backcourt mate Julien Lewis, who poured in 18 points in the season-opening victory.Â
- Rhode Island-Texas Pick: Texas
Florida International/George Mason at Virginia Tech – 6:00 PM EST (ESPNU)
GMU will be the likely opponent in this matchup and should provide a great test for the Hokies as part of the preseason NIT. The Patriots have a terrific player in Ryan Pearson, who totaled 28 points and 12 boards in the opener, as well as guards Vertrail Vaughns and Sherrod Wright, both of whom scored 17 points.
Virginia Tech beat ETSU by 11 in their first game, although they played without top guard Errick Green, who sat out with an Achilles injury. He said he hoped to miss only one game, and the Hokies will need him in this one. Freshman Dorian Finney-Smith had an impressive debut for the VT with 10 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, so keep an eye on him. Injuries have limited depth on a team that lost a lot from last season, and Va Tech shot poorly in the opener. This should be one of the better games of the day.
- FIU/George Mason-Virginia Tech Pick: George Mason
#6 Duke vs. Michigan State – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN)
After facing North Carolina and Duke in their first two games, Michigan State might be looking for a new approach to scheduling.
It’s hard to know how many conclusions can be drawn from Sparty’s opener given the uniqueness of the venue, but I was certainly impressed with their effort on the glass, a staple of some of Tom Izzo’s best teams over the years. While Draymond Green grabbed 18 rebounds, he also missed 13 shots and had five turnovers, so the Spartans need more from him offensively. The same can be said of their backcourt tandem of Keith Appling and Brandon Wood, who combined for just 12 points and one assist.
Duke got quite a scare from Belmont before boatracing Presbyterian, which enabled Coach K to tie Bob Knight for the most all-time wins. Through two games, the signs point toward Mason Plumlee becoming a reliable contributor, and freshman phenom Austin Rivers is already leading the team in scoring. Seth Curry has been decent at the point, and Ryan Kelly has turned in a couple double-digit scoring efforts. I’m still not sold on Duke from a defensive standpoint on the outside, but I’m also not sure Michigan State will be able to take full advantage of that.
I think the Spartans can keep it close with toughness and rebounding, but I just don’t see enough reliable scorers from them at this stage of the season.Â
- Duke-Michigan State Pick: Duke
Albany/Brown at Syracuse – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN3)
In the interest of space, I’m going to breeze through some of these ESPN3 tilts. The Orange played nine guys at least 16 minutes in the opener and should win handily over either opponent. I’m interested to see if soph Dion Waiters can keep up his hot streak after pouring in 14 in the opener.
- Albany/Brown-Syracuse Pick: Syracuse
Rutgers at Miami (FL) – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN3)
I love the intensity of Rutgers coach Mike Rice, but they are relying heavily on younger players, particularly in the backcourt. The Hurricanes are essentially the exact opposite with a number of talented guards but virtually no one inside thanks in large part to injury. Consequently, I think Rutgers soph Gilvydas Biruta could give them some trouble inside, but the veteran backcourt of Miami should be the difference.Â
- Rutgers-Miami Pick: Miami (FL)
LaSalle at Villanova – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN3)
After going off for 27 points in the opener, I want to see what guard Dominic Cheek does for an encore. Look for another big game from big man Mouphtaou Yarou as Nova rolls.
- LaSalle-Villanova Pick: Villanova
#10 Florida at #3 Ohio State – 8:00 PM EST (ESPN2)
These two teams won by a combined 71 points in their openers, but there were a few things to take away from those blowouts.
Florida’s quartet of guards was as advertised, scoring 62 points (including 11 made three-pointers) with 12 assists and just one turnover. Patric Young logged a double-double inside to complement their strong outside game, but he will obviously have his hands full with Jared Sullinger.
Sullinger picked up right where he left off with 19 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. He made 10 free throws and even knocked down a three-pointer. William Buford, Aaron Craft, and DeShaun Thomas were solid as expected, but Lenzelle Smith also played well. He posted eight points, seven rebounds, and two steals in just 20 minutes, so I am interested to see if he can replicate that against tougher competition.
This should be one of the day’s most competitive games and your first chance to catch Dan Dakich on the mic this season.Â
- Florida-Ohio State Pick: Ohio State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Oklahoma State – 8:00 PM EST (ESPN3)
Let’s be honest, with the other games here you probably aren’t tuning in to this one. But if you do, be sure to check out Oklahoma State’s LeBryan Nash, who scored 13 points in his debut and should be one of the nation’s top freshmen.Â
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff-Oklahoma State Pick: Oklahoma State
#2 Kentucky vs. #13 Kansas – 9:00 PM EST (ESPN)
This will be the first chance to get a look at this year’s crop of Kentucky freshmen on national TV.
The Cats beat Marist by 50 in their first game, and first-year phenom Anthony Davis got his college career off to an impressive start with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. The other three UK freshmen all scored at least 14 points, and soph Doron Lamb dished out eight assists. I didn’t even mention preseason SEC Player of the Year Terrence Jones, who along with Davis will be charged with defending Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, who posted a double-double in KU’s opener.
The Jayhawks assisted on 30 of 41 made baskets, and deft passing will be critical if Kansas wants to bridge the talent and depth gap between these teams. I’ll also be watching the leadership of Tyshawn Taylor and whether Travis Releford can continue his emergence after spending his first few seasons on the bench.
Brace yourself for Dickie V in this one, although is anyone else surprised he isn’t calling the game in which Coach K can earn his record-breaking win?Â
- Kentucky-Kansas Pick: Kentucky
Austin Peay at #24 California – 10:00 PM EST (ESPN2)
The Governors come in 0-1 after losing by nine to Middle Tennessee State. The guy to watch for them is TyShwan Edmondson who went for 20 points in the opener and averaged over 17 points a year ago.
The Bears feature a terrific backcourt duo in Allen Crabbe and Jorge Gutierrez. Through two games, Crabbe has 45 points and has drained 9-of-17 from deep. He’s one of the nation’s best emerging scorers, and he may well battle it out with Gutierrez for Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. Gutierrez is one of my favorite players to watch and does a little of everything for this team, as evidenced by his 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in the two Cal victories. The combination of Crabbe and Gutierrez might be enough in this game, but the Bears really need other players to step up and be consistent contributors if they intend to challenge for the Pac-12 title.
Dave Flemming and Shawn Farnham will be calling their second game of the marathon after having called the Northern Iowa-Saint Mary’s tilt earlier in the day.Â
- Austin Peay-California Pick: Cal
Colorado State/SMU at Stanford – 11:00 PM EST (ESPNU)
The Cardinal blew out Central Arkansas in their opener and should win handily over Fresno State on Monday. Freshman Chasson Randle got his career off to a good start with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while fellow guard Aaron Bright hit four out of five from deep.  Stanford also has Josh Owens inside, which should be enough to get past either potential opponent. If SMU can beat Colorado State though, Owens may have his hands full inside with Robert Nyakundi.
- Colorado State/SMU-Stanford Pick: Stanford
Enjoy the games everyone. College hoops is officially back!
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Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.
