Opening Week (Non-UConn) Game Thread

[Tenspro2002]

Villanova beating UCLA would have been a big scalp for the conference -- big missed opportunity there.

That's the sort of win that would have buoyed the whole BE in terms of the computer numbers.

 

[superjohn]

Georgetown still getting run by Dartmouth. Down 13 under 7 minutes left.

 

[87Xfer]

G'town down by 13 to Dartmouth w 6 minutes to go

 

[Mr. French]

just came here to chime in about Dartmouth - Georgetown a big ooooof

 

[HuskyHoosier]

Even though GT losing - Aminu Mohammed looks really good. Will be fun watching his career progress in college and potentially NBA.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Ewing has to figure out a way to keep players from wanting to leave.

 

[nwhoopfan]

10:30 PM:

Texas @ Gonzaga - ESPN2: This will be my “Sunday Morning Coffee” game before yard work. The amount of talent in the front court is insane: Timme, Holmgren, Mitchell, Disu, Bishop…

Timme unstoppable to start the game.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Just finished watching the Gonzaga/Texas game. I would have loved to see this matchup in two months once Texas can get a chance to get its chemistry together, but still, very impressive win for the Zags.

I can't imagine another team with greater title hopes than Gonzaga.

Start with Drew Timme. His hands in the low post are elite level: his ability to catch tough pass while defended well (Christian Bishop is a heck of an interior defender), adjust his footwork and score with touch is some of the best I've ever seen.

The rest of their starting lineup is so well-balanced: Nembhard is their steady senior distributor with elite length, Bolton is their veteran microwave scorer/bucket-getter, Holmgren is their stretch rim-protector and Strawther is their glue guy.

Off the bench, their development of Anton Watson has been impressive as he brings the team a much needed physical post defender they haven't had since Brandon Clarke.

Just total domination by the Zags.

It was interesting hearing Fraschilla talk about Tre Mitchell: this isn't the A-10 anymore...he seems totally outmatched by the speed and athleticism of the Zags. This was the first game where I've thought yes, I love UConn's frontcourt, but this is the first time I've been totally cool with Tre Mitchell not committing w/ UConn.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Here's my bonus Sunday preview:

Noon:

Yale @ Seton Hall - FS1: Potentially an interesting game, but even though Yale should be one of, if not, the best team in the Ivy, I’m not confident they will be gelled together after a year off. Greenwich’s Jack Molloy is a big part of Yale’s future and will be an interesting prospect to see develop

1 PM:

Florida State @ Florida - ESPN: Great opening weekend in-state game. Leonard Hamilton is one of my favorite coaches and it seems like he’s never rebuilding, just retooling. Houston transfer Caleb Mills will be a big scoring boost while the top-30 freshman wing duo of Matthew Cleveland and Jalen Warley will be exciting to see how they fit in Hamilton’s system.

Florida won the Myreon Jones sweepstakes and are a team mostly built by transfers. I don’t think he’s playing Sunday, but I wish Keyontae Johnson a speedy recovery. Hope to see him on the court soon.

3 PM:

South Dakota State @ Stephen F. Austin- ESPN+: Very good mid-major matchup. South Dakota State is arguably the top team in the Summit, returning FIVE double-digit scorers, three of which averaged 15+ last season. SDSU has good size too: their starting lineup clocks in at 6’4, 6’4, 6’6, 6’7 and 6’8.

SFA, the former Southland stud, is entering its first year in the WAC and should be a top-tier team thanks to three of their best players returning for a fifth year. Gavin Kensmil is their stud, a 6’7 260 monster in the post. SFA is known for two things: causing turnovers (3rd in nation last year) and offensive rebounding (7th in nation).

5 PM:

Western Kentucky v South Carolina - ESPNU:

I feel like people are sleeping on WKU. Yes, all-time great Charles Bassey is gone, but Stansbury has done a nice job plugging in his spot with DePaul transfer Jaylen Butz and 7’5! Jamarion Sharp. BC/Maryland transfer Jarirus Hamilton has started the season averaging 16.5 ppg. Amongst their returnees, sophomore point guard Dayton McKnight is averaging 26.5/7/5 and the team will be even stronger once former Cincy wing Keith Williams plays.

For South Carolina, I’ve always like Frank Martin coached teams: not very gifted in skill, but they work their butts off.

 

[NowInStorrs]

Saint Bonaventure down 9 to Canisius with 11 minutes left.

 

[NowInStorrs]

It was basically all Bonnies after that point though. They won by 9.