A title-game rematch headlines 10 college basketball games you can’t miss during opening week | Deadspin

A strong start to the schedule

There is no single scheduling formula for reaching the NCAA Tournament under the NET rankings. Florida opened 13-0 two years ago after a non-conference slate featuring several in-state opponents, showing that teams can take different approaches.

The case for tougher early games is simple: compelling matchups give fans a reason to watch. Notre Dame and Villanova opened the season Sunday morning in Italy, while the regular season begins Monday.

Mid-major test in Sioux Falls

The Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon includes eight consecutive games starting at midnight. Its Sioux Falls matchup between Murray State and Tennessee State could carry national relevance.

Murray State is favored to win the Missouri Valley, while Tennessee State is favored to represent the Ohio Valley in the NCAA Tournament again. The preview points viewers to Murray State’s Roman Domon.

Rivalries and new faces

Florida and Miami meet on neutral ground in Tampa, with attention on big men Reuben Chinyelu and Somto Cyril. Cyril played for Georgia last year and was ejected after a Flagrant 2 foul against Chinyelu.

Ohio State and BYU face off in Salt Lake City, where the focus is on their highly regarded young players. Ohio State features Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith; BYU’s Bruce Branch III averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in exhibition play.

In Las Vegas, former Pac-12 rivals UCLA and Arizona meet. UCLA’s 17-year-old Serbian player Nikola Kusturica reportedly received a two-year, $12 million deal, while Arizona returns Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov and adds Caleb Holt.

Big tests for ranked hopefuls

LSU faces New Orleans, which has rebranded as LSU New Orleans and adopted purple and gold. The preview raises questions about how many players Will Wade can dress for LSU.

Missouri brings a highly regarded recruiting class to face in-state rival Saint Louis. McDonald’s All-American point guard Jason Crowe, Jr., is among the Tigers’ leading newcomers; he set California’s prep scoring record by 1,059 points.

Michigan and UConn meet at TD Garden in a rematch of last year’s national championship game. Michigan has Final Four MVP Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, while UConn features Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins.

More early-season matchups

Nebraska’s lone returning starter from its first Sweet 16 team is shooter Pryce Sandfort, and Fred Hoiberg has recruited veterans around him. The Cornhuskers play Providence, whose new coach, Bryan Hodgson, arrived from USF with a rebuilding mission and transfers from several schools.

Maryland and Georgetown meet in Uncasville, Conn., after Buzz Williams’ arrival at Maryland helped revive the local matchup. Maryland spent heavily to rejoin the Big Ten mix, while Georgetown is seeking its second NCAA bid since 2015.