The men’s basketball league starts exploring the idea of not playing cupcakes, while the women’s basketball league continues to challenge themselves.
Onwards to the second week of the season we go! It was something of a rough week for teams on the men’s basketball side of the aisle who miiiiiight have come into the season thinking they had a bright and shiny future ahead of them. I wrote a bit about that, so go check that out if you missed it. It was arguably a worse week on the women’s basketball side of the league, as five teams have already taken a loss as I write this on Sunday morning and Villanova opens their season against Wake Forest this afternoon. Only Xavier’s loss to San Jose State was an objectively bad loss for the league, but still: Five losses before touching Sunday’s slate of five games. Not ideal!
Tuesday, November 12: Villanova Wildcats at Saint Joseph’s Hawks (4pm Central, CBS Sports Network) — Hey, look, it’s the first time a Big East men’s basketball team is playing a road game this season…… and somehow, it has turned into a must-win game for Kyle Neptune’s entire tenure as Villanova head coach. Seems bad, and that’s before I note that KenPom.com only has the Wildcats favored by 4.
Wednesday, November 13: Butler Bulldogs vs RV Indiana Hoosiers (6pm Central, FloSports) — This one lost its luster after the Hoosiers got clipped at home by Harvard, and I presume they’re going to lose that top 25 ranking on Monday afternoon. [Editor’s Note: down to just three points of votes.] Still though, it’s a big spot for Austin Parkinson and his team to get a high profile opponent into Hinkle Fieldhouse. Hopefully it’s still a home game in terms of the fan composition……
Wednesday, November 13: Seton Hall Pirates at Hofstra Pride (7pm Central, MSG Network) — I think it would be a very bad idea for Dylan Addae-Wusu and Friends to follow up getting clipped at Walsh Gym by Fordham with losing on the road at Hofstra. The Pride might have a shot to compete for the CAA title this season, so you know that they’re going to give the Pirates their full attention.
Thursday, November 14: RV Creighton Bluejays at #10 Kansas State Wildcats (5:30pm Central, FS2) — This is an incredible matchup to get early in the season, as it’s two teams that absolutely believe they should be hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament come March facing off. K-State has had two demolitions to this point of the year and Ayoka Lee didn’t even play in the opener. The Bluejays took a road loss to a very good South Dakota State in their opener, which is why they’re not #21 any more [Editor’s Note: I wrote that before the poll came out, and I’m shocked that they’re down to just 5 points.], and they have to get through a Monday home opener against a very good Drake team before they get here.
Friday, November 15: Villanova Wildcats vs Virginia Cavaliers (4pm Central, TNT) — What a fun week for Villanova this has turned into. I don’t know if it’s a really good idea to pull the plug on Kyle Neptune if VU turns this neutral site game in Baltimore into their second loss of the week and third of the season, mostly because I don’t know if it fixes anything….. but it’ll be real interesting to see what decision is made on the Main Line.
Friday, November 15: #2 Connecticut Huskies vs #14 North Carolina Tar Heels (5pm Central, ESPN2) — I don’t think I have to explain why a ranked vs ranked game at a semi-home site for the ACC team is on this list. Go watch Paige Bueckers.
Friday, November 15: #15 Marquette Golden Eagles at RV Maryland Terrapins (7pm Central, FS1) — Hey, look! Shaka Smart’s squad has gone from being the only Big East men’s basketball team to play a top 100 KenPom.com team in the first week of the season to being the first Big East men’s basketball team to play a Power 5 opponent that’s projected as an NCAA tournament team! AND they’re going on the road to do it! Kevin Willard’s Terrapins are 2-0 after two cupcake clubberings and they’ll host Florida A&M on Monday before MU throws them their first challenge of the season.
Saturday, November 16: RV Xavier Musketeers at RV Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11am Central, FS1) — I like that these two teams continue to play each other as a tribute to Skip Prosser. The fact that it’s a game that both teams would find useful to push them into NCAA tournament consideration is honestly secondary to me.
Saturday, November 16: Georgetown Hoyas vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Noon Central, NBC) — I’m not saying that you should care a lot about this one, I’m saying you should keep in mind that Georgetown has beaten two cupcakes in unspectacular but not dramatic fashion so far and this is their only game of the week. The Irish might be improved over Micah Shrewsberry’s first team, and it will be interesting to see what the Hoyas do here. Watch it? Maybe not. Check the scoreboard on Sunday morning to see what happened? Definitely.
Sunday, November 17: #22 St. John’s Red Storm vs New Mexico Lobos (11am Central, FS1) — PITINO FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT. RICK VS RICHARD AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN! WHATCHA GONNA DO, BROTHER, WHEN FAMILYMANIA RUNS WILD ON YOUUUUUUUU??
Sunday, November 17: Butler Bulldogs at RV Vanderbilt Commodores (2pm Central, SEC Network+) — I think I appreciate what Butler is trying to do with their schedule here, but if they go 0-2 with a loss here and a loss to Indiana earlier in the week, I worry about what it’s going to do to their mental chemistry for the rest of the season. I’m just saying they needed overtime to beat Milwaukee at the Klotsche Center, that’s all.
Here’s the full men’s basketball schedule for the week!
Here’s the full women’s basketball schedule for the week!