College basketball fans won't have to wait until Saturday for an outstanding weekend of action. Friday features several nationally ranked programs facing meaningful nonconference challenges, including Ohio State's meeting with UConn and Arizona's difficult road assignment at Auburn. Virginia and Maryland renew a familiar rivalry, while several other programs look to maintain momentum following impressive opening-week performances.
The schedule also provides opportunities for teams attempting to recover from early disappointments. Duke, Illinois and Kentucky return to action following losses Tuesday night, while Michigan State looks to build on its Champions Classic victory over the Blue Devils. With games stretching from the late afternoon into the evening on the West Coast, Friday offers something for nearly every college basketball fan.
Ohio State and UConn provide Friday's biggest early attraction
Fourth-ranked UConn enters Friday with considerable momentum after defeating defending national champion Michigan during the opening week. The Huskies face Ohio State at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, providing another opportunity to strengthen their early résumé against Big Ten competition. Dan Hurley's team has already demonstrated its ability to compete against elite opponents, and Friday offers another valuable examination.
Arizona's visit to Auburn provides an equally compelling late-night attraction. The 12th-ranked Wildcats travel to Neville Arena for a demanding road assignment against an SEC opponent capable of making the environment particularly difficult. Arizona and Auburn tip off at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Virginia and Maryland renew a familiar rivalry
Sixth-ranked Virginia travels to Maryland for another intriguing nonconference contest between programs that previously competed together in the ACC. The Cavaliers have an opportunity to secure a meaningful road victory, while Maryland can deliver an early statement against a nationally ranked opponent. The game tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Another interesting former conference rivalry takes place when DePaul visits Northwestern. Both Chicago-area programs have opened the season with three consecutive victories, giving their annual meeting additional significance. Friday also features Georgetown at Clemson, Pittsburgh at Butler and Mississippi State at Xavier, providing several attractive games beyond the ranked teams.
Friday's college basketball schedule: Selected games and TV information
All times Eastern.
*Northwestern's official schedule lists two possible tipoff times. Check the final broadcast assignment.
Don't overlook Friday's mid-major games
UIC takes its unbeaten record to Saint Mary's for its first road game of the season, providing an excellent opportunity to evaluate the Flames against an established West Coast program. Illinois State also faces a difficult road assignment at North Dakota State, while UC San Diego travels to Utah State for another attractive late-night contest.
George Washington hosts Harvard with an opportunity to improve to 4-0, and Southern Miss visits an unbeaten Texas State team. Those games might not receive the same attention as the nationally ranked programs, but they could provide meaningful early information about several potential conference contenders.
Friday's schedule offers an outstanding introduction to another busy weekend of college basketball. With important nonconference games, familiar rivalries and opportunities for emerging programs to establish themselves, there should be no shortage of interesting developments before Saturday arrives.
GameTimeTV/streamNorth Alabama at No. 17 Miami5 p.m.ACC NetworkTexas A&M-Corpus Christi at Florida State5 p.m.ACC Network ExtraBryant at Rutgers6 p.m.Big Ten NetworkGeorgetown at Clemson6 p.m.ESPNUPittsburgh at Butler6:30 p.m.PeacockMerrimack at No. 1 Florida7 p.m.SEC NetworkNorthern Arizona at No. 24 Kentucky7 p.m.SEC Network+Tennessee State at No. 11 Tennessee7 p.m.SEC Network+Sam Houston at No. 3 Illinois7 p.m.Big Ten PlusPrairie View A&M at No. 22 Vanderbilt7 p.m.SEC Network+Northern Iowa at No. 5 Michigan State7 p.m.FS1Georgia at North Carolina7 p.m.Check local listingsOhio at Purdue7 p.m.Check local listingsHarvard at George Washington7 p.m.Check local listingsIona at Hofstra7 p.m.Check local listingsTroy at NC State7 p.m.Check local listingsOhio State vs. No. 4 UConn7:30 p.m.TNTSouth Dakota at Drake7:30 p.m.ESPN+North Carolina Central at Liberty7:30 p.m.Check local listingsSIUE at No. 2 Duke8 p.m.The CWNo. 6 Virginia at Maryland8 p.m.PeacockCentral Arkansas at No. 19 Arkansas8 p.m.SEC Network+Texas Southern at Murray State8 p.m.ESPN+Illinois State at North Dakota State8 p.m.Check local listingsSouthern Miss at Texas State8 p.m.Check local listingsSeton Hall at No. 18 Alabama9 p.m.SEC NetworkNo. 12 Arizona at Auburn9 p.m.ESPN2Mississippi State at Xavier9 p.m.Check local listingsStanford at UNLV9 p.m.Check local listingsBall State at SMU9 p.m.Check local listingsDePaul at Northwestern9 p.m.*Big Ten NetworkUIC at Saint Mary's10 p.m.ESPN+UC San Diego at Utah State10 p.m.Check local listingsEast Texas A&M at Portland10 p.m.Check local listingsArkansas-Pine Bluff at California Baptist10:30 p.m.Check local listings
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