Virginia vs. Towson: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Tournament MVP Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates with teammates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 71-63 during the championship game of the 2018 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images /

Virginia Basketball opens the season against the Towson Tigers as part of an interesting non-conference schedule that features local schools.

TV schedule: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 7:00 p.m. ET. ACCN

Arena: John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers open the 2018-19 campaign, ironically, against another team that hails from the Maryland area and dons the same colors as last year’s Cinderella-team, the UMBC Retrievers. The Towson Tigers shouldn’t pose as many problems as the Retrievers but the Cavaliers will be ready to set the tone early with their play.

The Cavaliers have taken an interesting route with this year’s non-conference schedule, hosting a number of teams from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. Their second game of the season will come against a scrappy George Washington Colonials squad.

Despite last year’s results, this is arguably the best offensive team head coach Tony Bennett has had in his tenure. With Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter leading the way, this team will be an early favorite to win the ACC and should play like it against the Tigers.

Be on breakout watch for forward Mamadi Diakite. Diakite came on strong towards the end of last season, especially during conference tournament play and could emerge as a key player in the starting rotation in 2018-19.

Towson posted an 18-14 record in 2017-18, but they did fall 63-59 to the Pittsburgh Panthers during their non-conference slate last season. After starting the year with a 10-1 record, they sputtered to an 8-13 finish. Due to transfers and graduation, they’ve lost their six leading scorers from last year’s squad, including big man Zane Martin, who left for the New Mexico Lobos.

dark. Next. Virginia Cavaliers Season Preview

The two teams have faced each other a total of five times, despite residing in neighboring states, with the Cavaliers winning all of them. Virginia won the last meeting, 57-50, on Dec. 30, 2011. It will be an adjustment for the Cavaliers as a new season begins, but they should win this one easily.

Prediction: Virginia 74 – Towson 51

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