Five things to watch on opening day for college basketball
The curtains part on the 2014-15 season Friday with a modest slate that serves as a sad reminder that college basketball still has the most uninspiring opening day in sports.
None of the 23 nationally ranked teams in action face one-another. Only a few games even feature two major-conference foes.
College basketball’s true tip-off event won’t come until late Monday night when ESPN’s annual 24-hour marathon begins, but there are still a few appetizers worth diving into Friday night while awaiting next week’s main course. A look at what to watch for on the first day of the new season:
1. Pitino vs. Pitino: The most intriguing aspect of Friday night’s marquee game doesn’t involve any of the players on the floor. It’s the battle of wits between the two men on the sideline. On Louisville’s bench is the legendary Rick Pitino, who has won two national championships, seven regional finals and more than 600 games in his storied career. On Minnesota’s bench is Richard Pitino, the son of a coaching icon and a man who is just beginning to carve his own legacy. Unlike their sole other meeting when Rick’s Cardinals waxed Richard’s upstart Florida International team two years ago, this game promises to be competitive. Louisville features speedy guards Terry Rozier and Chris Jones as a perimeter complement to frontcourt anchor Montrezl Harrell. Minnesota counters with high-scoring guards Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu, both of whom played a key role in leading the Gophers to the NIT title last spring.
2. A first glimpse of the freshmen: Unlike last season when Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle and Aaron Gordon were already well known nationally before playing their first college games, this year’s freshman class lacks that level of star power. Nonetheless, there are still a handful of elite prospects, most notably consensus No. 1 overall recruit Jahlil Okafor of Duke. The polished center makes his college debut Friday when the Blue Devils open against an overmatched Presbyterian team that lost 26 games a year ago. Most of the other top freshmen in action Friday face similarly meager competition. Skilled 7 footer Karl Towns will show off his inside-outside game when top-ranked Kentucky hosts Grand Canyon University. Explosive wing Stanley Johnson will launch his college career against Mount St. Mary’s. And Kansas’ opener against UC Santa Barbara will provide a showcase for forward Cliff Alexander and wing Kelly Oubre.
3. Who’s on upset alert? Even though the vast majority of Friday’s games feature a power-conference team tuning up for the rest of the season against a small-conference foe, it’s important to remember that not all mid-major fodder is created equally. There are a handful of teams capable of pulling big upsets. Seventh-ranked Florida can’t afford to sleepwalk through its opener against preseason CAA favorite William & Mary, which returns conference player of the year candidate Marcus Thornton and reigning league rookie of the year Omar Prewitt. The Gators lost four senior starters from last year’s Final Four team and will be without suspended former McDonald’s All-American Chris Walker. Besides the Gators, 11th-ranked Wichita State ought to be careful at home against a New Mexico State team that has been to three straight NCAA tournaments and returns standout guard Daniel Mullings and plenty of size inside. Stanford also should be on alert against a Wofford team that is the favorite to win the Southern Conference and return to the NCAA tournament.
4. In-state bragging rights: One of the few things Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory has managed to accomplish during his otherwise unremarkable tenure is never losing to rival Georgia. Gregory will try to extend a three-game winning streak Friday night when the Yellowjackets host the Bulldogs in a matchup played several weeks earlier than usual this season as a result of scheduling conflicts. Another win won’t be easy for Georgia Tech to secure after losing four starters from a team that went 6-12 in the ACC last season. The return of standout guard Marques Georges-Hunt will help, as will the arrival of four key transfers expected to crack the rotation: former Maryland forward Charles Mitchell, ex-Mississippi forward Demarco Cox, guard Josh Heath from South Florida and forward Robert Sampson from East Carolina. Georgia is trying to build off a strong finish last season. The Bulldogs return seven of their top nine players from a team that went 12-6 in the SEC but fell short of an NCAA tournament bid.
5. Donnie Tyndall’s uncomfortable debut: Much of the focus entering Donnie Tyndall’s first meaningful game as Tennessee head coach isn’t on the Volunteers’ matchup with 17th-ranked VCU. Instead the discussion has centered on the corners Tyndall may have cut before arriving in Knoxville and how costly it could be for him if the NCAA determines he committed a major violation for the second time in his career. Tyndall reportedly is days away from meeting with NCAA investigators about whether some of his former players at Southern Mississippi received improper financial support. Previously in 2010, Tyndall’s Morehead State team received two years of probation for a lengthy and impermissible relationship with a booster who influenced recruits. Tyndall could certainly earn back some good will among Tennessee fans if he could manage to upset VCU with a roster lacking a true point guard or enough quality big men. The Vols have been practicing against six defenders to prepare themselves for the Rams’ trademark full-court pressure.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
