2016 NCAA College Basketball Opening Night Preview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
We are seven months from one of the greatest shots in NCAA Tournament history when Kris Jenkins nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer as Villanova won the title 77-74 over North Carolina. Now it’s time to kick off another season of college basketball as the majority of the nation play their opening game on Nov. 11.
On opening night there are only two games in which ranked teams face off and both games will be in the Armed Forces Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The opening game of that doubleheader will be No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 12 Michigan State. The night cap will be No. 11 Indiana vs. No. 3 Kansas.
These four teams will have the honor to perform in front of the men and women of the United States military on Veterans Day and just under a month from the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Arizona vs. Michigan State
Arizona will be a young team this season. The Wildcats will be tested in the opener in one of their toughest games on the non-conference portion of the schedule. This year the Wildcats will be led by sophomore guard Allonzo Trier who averaged 14.8 PPG and shot 36.4 percent from behind the three-point arc last season. Michigan State will also be a young but talented team. The Spartans will rely on talented freshmen Miles Bridges and Joshua Langford and senior Eron Harris against the Wildcats.
Indiana vs. Kansas
Indiana advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last year but despite losing four-year starter Yogi Ferrell, the Hoosiers will just as talented this season. Players to watch this year will be sophomore center Thomas Bryant and junior guard James Blackmon Jr. Kansas is one of the most talented teams in the nation and have a phenomenal backcourt consisting of Frank Mason III, Devonte Graham, and sensational freshman Josh Jackson.
Other games involving the Associated Press Top 25 Teams
Marist vs No. 1 Duke
Stephen F. Austin vs No. 2 Kentucky – Kentucky is young but is a scary team.
Lafayette vs No. 4 Villanova
Army vs No. 5 Oregon
No. 6 North Carolina vs Tulane
Lehigh vs No. 7 Xavier
No. 8 Virginia vs UNC-Greensboro
Central Arkansas vs No. 9 Wisconsin
Evansville vs No. 13 Louisville
Utah Valley vs No. 14 Gonzaga
McNeese State vs No. 15 Purdue
Pacific vs No. 16 UCLA
Nevada vs No. 17 St. Mary’s
Wagner vs No. 18 Connecticut
Colgate vs No. 19 Syracuse
Mount St. Mary’s vs No. 20 West Virginia
Incarnate Word vs No. 21 Texas
UMKC vs No. 22 Creighton
Dartmouth vs No. 23 Rhode Island
Savannah State vs No. 24 Iowa State
American vs No. 25 Maryland
Photo credit: CJonline.com; No. 4 Devonte Graham