College basketball schedule today: Duke, Alabama and LSU headline October 8 exhibitions

College basketball fans don't have to wait until November to get an early look at some of the nation's most interesting programs.

Thursday, October 8, brings three exhibition matchups featuring Duke, Alabama and LSU, with each game offering a different storyline.

Duke will welcome Belmont to Cameron Indoor Stadium for its first preseason scrimmage. Alabama begins its exhibition schedule against Furman, while LSU coach Will Wade makes a fascinating return to McNeese, where he previously helped build one of the country's most successful mid-major programs.

None of Thursday's results will count toward regular-season records, but all three games offer an opportunity to evaluate new players, lineup combinations and potential areas of concern.

Here's everything college basketball fans need to know about Thursday's schedule.

Thursday, October 8 college basketball exhibition schedule

Belmont at Duke
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
TV/Streaming: ACC Network Extra

Furman at Alabama
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV/Streaming: Not televised or streamed

LSU at McNeese
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles, Louisiana
TV/Streaming: Not televised or streamed

Duke vs. Belmont: An interesting reunion in Durham

Duke's first preseason scrimmage features a familiar face on the opposing sideline. Belmont coach Evan Bradds previously worked on Jon Scheyer's staff at Duke before taking over his alma mater's program.

That connection gives Thursday's matchup additional intrigue.

Duke is introducing several important new pieces, including Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, while attempting to establish an offensive identity following the departures of Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans.

The Blue Devils also have returning talent, including Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba II.

Belmont should provide a useful early test for a Duke team with significant national championship expectations.

Fans can watch the scrimmage on ACC Network Extra beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Alabama vs. Furman: Nate Oats gets his first look

Alabama begins its three-game exhibition schedule against Furman at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide will use the matchup to evaluate a roster preparing for another demanding SEC season.

Nate Oats' offensive approach makes Alabama one of the country's most interesting teams to follow, particularly when new players are being introduced into the system.

Furman is also a respected mid-major program with recent NCAA Tournament experience, making the Paladins an intriguing preseason opponent.

Thursday's game will not be televised or streamed. Fans unable to attend can follow live statistics through Alabama's official athletics website.

LSU vs. McNeese: Will Wade returns to Lake Charles

The most interesting storyline of the night might come from Louisiana. LSU coach Will Wade returns to McNeese for an exhibition against the program he previously led.

Wade helped establish the Cowboys as a major force in the Southland Conference before eventually returning to LSU.

McNeese has continued winning under Bill Armstrong, capturing another Southland Tournament championship last season and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.

Now Armstrong welcomes Wade back to Lake Charles.

The Cowboys also return talented guard Larry Johnson, who averaged 17.4 points last season.

LSU is attempting to build its own identity under Wade, and Thursday's matchup provides an immediate opportunity to evaluate the Tigers against a successful mid-major opponent.

The game will not be broadcast, but live statistics will be available through McNeese's athletics website.

What's next on the exhibition schedule?

The preseason continues Friday, October 9, with several more interesting matchups. North Carolina meets USC in Greensboro, Richmond visits Virginia and Saint Louis travels to Nebraska.

Those games will provide additional opportunities to evaluate programs before the regular season begins in November.

For Thursday, however, the spotlight belongs to Duke, Alabama and LSU.

Three games. Three very different storylines.

And another early reminder that college basketball season is almost here.

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