Preview Roundups
November 16, 2017
Illinois St. at South Carolina 11:30 AM ET
Despite winning his first two games by a total of 39 points, South Carolina's Frank Martin spent an inordinate amount of time after his team's most recent victory talking about how he has let his team down. The sixth-year coach will try to get the Gamecocks to tie up their loose ends Thursday when they face Illinois State in first-round action of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in Carson, S.C., which is hosting the event this season following the devastation on the island following Hurricane Maria.
Auburn at Indiana St. 11:30 AM ET
Already having hammered a Power Five opponent, Indiana State hopes to do it again Thursday as it takes on Auburn in the first round of the Gildan Charleston Classic in South Carolina. The Sycamores pounded in-state rival Indiana by 21 points in their opener, but they’ll face a tough task trying to slow down an Auburn team that hit triple digits in a season-opening win over Norfolk State.
Old Dominion at Temple 1:30 PM ET
Temple will be the last NCAA Division I team to open its season when it faces Old Dominion on Thursday in the first round of the Gildan Charleston Classic in South Carolina. The Monarchs are trying to start with a 3-0 record for the third time in the last four seasons.
Clemson at Ohio 5:00 PM ET
Clemson hopes to continue its history of success in the Gildan Charleston Classic, which it opens Thursday in South Carolina with a first-round game against Ohio. The Tigers are in the tournament for the third time, having won it in 2008 and claiming a runner-up finish in 2013.
Iowa State at Appalachian St. 5:30 PM ET
Iowa State was prepared for a rough 2017-18 season, but the first two games of the season suggest coach Steve Prohm has his work cut out for him just trying to get his team to maintain some degree of respectability. The Cyclones attempt to set aside two lopsided losses to begin the season Thursday when they face Appalachian State in first-round action of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in Carson, S.C.
Nebraska at St. John's 6:30 PM ET
St. John's will have one night off before taking the floor once again as it hosts Nebraska on Thursday as part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The Red Storm improved to 2-0 with an easy 80-55 victory over Central Connecticut on Tuesday, while the Cornhuskers head on the road for the first time following Monday's 86-67 rout of North Texas.
Florida A&M at Miami-Florida 7:00 PM ET
Florida A&M's road trip continues as the Rattlers head south to Miami looking for their first victory for new coach Robert McCullum. The 12th-ranked Hurricanes are off to a 2-0 start after Sunday's 89-55 victory over Navy and remain almost unbeatable at home with 29 wins in their last 31 games at the Watsco Center.
North Florida at Florida 7:00 PM ET
Rice transfer Egor Koulechov hopes to produce another strong effort after his dazzling debut in a Florida uniform when the seventh-ranked Gators host road-weary North Florida on Thursday night. Koulechov, who was a first team All-Conference USA pick last season, drained 6-of-9 from 3-point range en route to 34 points in a 116-74 rout of Gardner-Webb on Monday to tie the school record for scoring in the first game as a Gator.
Virginia Tech at Saint Louis 7:00 PM ET
A contrast in styles will be on display Thursday when Virginia Tech takes on Saint Louis at the 2K Classic in New York City. Virginia Tech is one of the highest scoring teams in the nation so far this season, while the Billikens once again boast a strong defense.
Chicago St. at Notre Dame 7:00 PM ET
Senior All-American Bonzie Colson recorded back-to-back double-doubles to start the season but his services might not be needed long when No. 14 Notre Dame hosts Chicago State on Thursday. The Cougars lost games against Iowa and Purdue by an average of 51 points and don't possess the type of talent to keep this one close for long.
Southern Miss at Michigan 7:00 PM ET
Michigan looks for its second 3-0 start in as many seasons when it concludes the mainland portion of the Maui Invitational at home against Southern Miss on Thursday. The Wolverines opened the new campaign with an 86-66 win over North Florida before grinding out a 72-65 victory against Central Michigan, and hope to extend their non-conference home winning streak to eight games in their first-ever meeting with the Golden Eagles.
Texas Southern at Ohio St. 7:00 PM ET
Ohio State looks to remain perfect under new coach Chris Holtmann when it hosts Texas Southern in a non-conference contest Thursday night. The Buckeyes have won their first two contests this season while the Tigers come into the contest looking for the first win of 2017-18.
Presbyterian at NC State 7:00 PM ET
Kevin Keatts brought his up-tempo style with him to North Carolina State after a very successful stint at UNC Wilmington which included two trips to the NCAA Tournament in three years and a 72-28 record. The Wolfpack would look for another big-scoring night as they continue a busy pre-ACC schedule with their fourth game in seven days when Presbyterian visits Thursday in the campus portion of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Coppin St. at Cincinnati 7:00 PM ET
Cincinnati would like to be known for two things this season: its relentless trap defense and unparalleled balance on the offensive end. The 13th-ranked Bearcats have been sensational in both aspects through their first two games, and will look to continue building on that as they host Coppin State on Thursday night.
Missouri at Utah 8:00 PM ET
Missouri and Utah have been on cruise control so
far as each has opened the season with a pair of double-digit home victories. The
tasks grow much tougher, though, Thursday night as the Tigers and Utes clash in
an intriguing early-season nonconference barometer game in Salt Lake City.
Samford at Louisiana State 8:00 PM ET
The Will Wade era at LSU got off to a rousing start and the Tigers will try to build off an impressive 40-point victory in their opener when Samford pays a visit on Thursday night. Wade, who coached VCU to the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons, watched his new team shoot better than 60 percent from the field and get 27 points from freshman Tremont Waters in a 99-59 victory over Alcorn State on Friday.
Tulsa at Western Michigan 8:00 PM ET
Tulsa coach Frank Haith believes Junior Etou can be a force on offense regardless of where he is on the court and made it clear to his 6-8, 235-pound senior forward about how he felt. Coming off one of the finest games of his college career, the 23-year native of the Congo will attempt to prove his fourth-year head coach right again Thursday when the Golden Hurricane square off against Western Michigan in first-round action of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in Carson, S.C.
Oral Roberts at Oklahoma State 8:00 PM ET
Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton wants to see more stifling defense when the Cowboys host in-state rival Oral Roberts on Thursday as part of the Progressive Legends Classic. The Cowboys are allowing 56.0 points through two games, holding opponents to 31.6 percent shooting and forcing 15.5 turnovers.
Grambling State at Iowa 8:05 PM ET
Iowa has yet to be seriously tested during the young season and will take aim at a 3-0 start when it hosts Grambling State on Thursday. With five players averaging at least 10 points, the Hawkeyes have put up more than 90 in back-to-back games out of the chute, shooting 45.1 percent from 3-point range.
Xavier at Wisconsin 8:30 PM ET
Wisconsin and Xavier battled in one of the more memorable games of the 2016 NCAA Tournament and the two schools face each other for the first time since that encounter when the Badgers host the No. 17 Musketeers on Thursday. Wisconsin rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit in the epic contest and stunned Xavier when Bronson Koenig drained the winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Badgers in the Sweet 16.
Wofford at California 9:00 PM ET
After playing limited minutes off the bench last season, California guard Don Coleman is capitalizing on his opportunity under first-year coach Wyking Jones. The 6-foot-3 junior looks to continue his hot start Thursday against visiting Wofford, which was picked to finish fifth in the Southern Conference preseason media poll.
Providence at Washington 9:00 PM ET
Providence came up short in its first test of the season, but a shot at redemption is right around the corner. The Friars will face off against Washington on Thursday in the 2K Classic at New York City.
Cal. State - Bakersfield at Arizona 10:00 PM ET
Arizona 7-foot freshman forward Deandre Ayton is considered a likely top-three NBA lottery pick next spring and has drawn comparisons to Kevin Garnett. But heading into Thursday night's home game with Cal State Bakersfield, Ayton, despite notching a pair of double-doubles, has arguably been only the second best player so far for the fifth-ranked Wildcats.