College Hoops officially kicks off on November 9th after what has been perhaps the most exciting offseason in recent memory. The Big East kicks off opening night with eight matchups, and tallies 24 total games in the first week! All eight matchups on Tuesday night are at home for Big East Basketball teams.
Each University in the conference has stated that they will allow full capacity at all Men’s Basketball games. The world needs a full-capacity Hinkle Fieldhouse and that’s exactly what we’ll get on Tuesday night. Let’s take a look at the day one action around the conference:
Tuesday, November 9th
Mount St. Mary’s @ #4 Villanova
3:30 PM on FS1
Finneran Pavilion, Villanova, PA
Central Connecticut @ #24 UConn
5:30 PM
Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT
IUPUI @ Butler
5:45 PM
Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Fairfield @ Providence
6:00 PM
Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Niagara @ Xavier
6:30 PM
Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH
Mississippi Valley State @ St. John’s
6:45 PM
Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Creighton
7:00 PM on FS1
CHI Health Center Omaha, Omaha, NE
SIU Edwardsville @ Marquette
7:30 PM on FS2
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Game of the day: Fairfield at Providence. When David Duke had chosen to opt of the NBA draft, Ed Cooley reacted quickly and added Al Durham. Durham was a two-time captain for the Indiana Hoosiers and brings four years of Big Ten playing experience.
It’ll be fascinating to see how Jared Bynum and Durham fill the backcourt. Nate Watson looked fantastic in the exhibition against Stonehill and he should look to pounce on a lackluster Fairfield interior. However, this is a Fairfield team that returns quite a few pieces from last year’s squad which made the MAAC Championship.
Athletic wing A.J. Reeves (9.6 ppg) returns this year with a much different role. Reeves will be pushed to the forefront along with Nate Watson on opposing teams’ scouting report this year with David Duke gone.
If Reeves is able to step up to the challenge, the Friars could be playing in an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2018. 6-3 guard Alyn Breed is another name for Providence that will hold high importance. Breed started 13 Big East games last year to mixed results. If he can be a bit more productive in his sophomore season that’s just another option Ed Cooley can go to.