College Basketball: Four best games for the opening week

Key Players:

Nate Mason-Minnesota

Mason is one of the best all-around players in the Big Ten. He is an elite scorer, great facilitator, and heart and soul of the Gophers. Coach Pitino relies on the experience of Mason to shine during crunch time, as they look for crucial buckets and defensive stops to close out a game. Mason teaming up with Amir Coffey make for quite a one-two punch, that will be hard for Providence to stop. Mason is such a drain on the opposing teams as he can score from anywhere on the floor. Providence will try and cut off the driving lanes for Mason, but he is such a good passer and shooter that it may not matter. If Mason can freely get into the lane and able to move freely on offense, it could be a long night for the Friars defense.

Rodney Bullock- Providence

Bullock is going to serve a giant role in this game for the Friars. Minnesota is great on offense with Mason and Co., but they also have the premier shot blocker in the Big Ten in Reggie Lynch. Lynch protects the rim and doesn’t give up much on the defensive side. Lynch also shows a penchant for getting opponents big men into foul trouble. Bullock is the best offensive threat for Providence, and he just so happens to get a lot of his points in the paint and will defend the opposing team’s big man. Bullock needs to find a way to neutralize Lynch and find creative ways to score the ball. Bullock is also going to need to avoid fouling because, if he is out of the game, Providence has a much different dynamic. Bullock vs. Lynch is going to be a dogfight the entire game.

Score Prediction:

Minnesota has the deeper roster and so many pieces that are hard to prepare for. Minnesota can play defense as well as score the ball. The Gophers have a ton of natural scorers and have guys like Reggie Lynch who can both score and play stellar defense. The Gophers enter the season with high expectations and are not looking to disappoint.

Providence currently possesses the best roster in Ed Cooley’s tenure. The Friars are going to win a lot of games, but opening the season against this Minnesota squad is no easy task for anyone. The Friars are going to have to rely on more freshmen and younger players than Minnesota will have to. Ed Cooley will have his team prepared to play, and if Bullock and company can make shots against this Minnesota defense this game will be close.

Minnesota playing this game at “The Dunk” is not to their advantage, as Providence is a hard team to beat at home. Providence can hopefully swing their home court advantage and use it to keep them in the game longer. Minnesota is too strong, and have too much depth; the Friars appear to be outmatched. The fact that Lynch is still roaming the middle for the Gophers is going to be a huge factor, and what will ultimately send Minnesota home happy.

Minnesota- 80 Providence- 68