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Preview Roundups

November 20, 2014

Texas A&M at Dayton 10:30 AM ET

A promising Texas A&M squad gets its first major test after a 41-point victory in the season opener when it takes on Dayton to start play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Thursday. The Aggies scored 109 points and shot 56.8 percent from the field to beat Northwestern State last Friday to set up a battle with the Flyers, who reached the Elite Eight last season before losing to Florida. Dayton returns two of its top three scorers -- Dyshawn Pierre and Jordan Sibert – from that 26-win team.

Southern California at Akron 12:30 PM ET

USC does not have any seniors on the roster and only three juniors, and the inexperience is apparent in the early going. The Trojans will try to climb above .500 when they open the Charleston Classic against Akron on Thursday. Second-year coach Andy Enfield brought in a strong recruiting class and is working on turning some of that athleticism into scoring while maintaining intensity on the defensive end.

Charleston at Connecticut 12:30 PM ET

Shorthanded Connecticut is expected to get at least one key performer back when it opens the Puerto Rico Tip-Off against Charleston on Thursday. North Carolina State transfer Rodney Purvis is set to make his debut for the No. 17 Huskies after sitting out the 66-53 victory over Bryant last Friday due to a one-game NCAA suspension, and Omar Calhoun (sprained knee) also is closing in on a return. Purvis, a 6-4 guard, averaged 8.3 points in 2012-13 as a freshman for the Wolfpack.

Drexel at Miami-Florida 3:00 PM ET

Two games into the season and Miami (Fla.) is already exceeding expectations. The Hurricanes will try to avoid a letdown when they open the Charleston Classic against Drexel on Thursday. Miami earned a 69-67 victory over No. 7 Florida on Monday despite welcoming nine new players to the roster this season and is leaning on Kansas State transfer Angel Rodriguez to lead the offense in the early going.

New Mexico at Boston College 5:00 PM ET

New Mexico looks to keep its unbeaten season intact when it faces Boston College in the first round of the ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament Thursday. Coach Craig Neal's squad is perfect through two games despite using a number of newcomers in its rotation as Neal is still working on finding the right combination of lineups. The Eagles are coming off a disappointing loss to Massachusetts in which it led by as many as 13 in the first half but ended up falling by nine.

Penn St. at Charlotte 5:00 PM ET

Penn State’s new-look backcourt has started fast, but it may be the team’s suffocating defense that has stood out the most. The Nittany Lions look to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2011-12 on Thursday when they play Charlotte in the opening round of the Charleston Classic. Freshman Shep Garner has combined with holdover D.J. Newbill to account for 45.5 percent of the team’s scoring thus far, while Penn State has limited its first two opponents to a combined 30.2-percent shooting.

Detroit at Michigan 6:00 PM ET

Michigan coach John Beilein has been around long enough to know what November games mean. The schedule is usually pretty soft out of the gate, the wins are traditionally going to be there, and at the end of the day, it’s more about how his Wolverines compete, how they finish opponents off, and how they move forward to the next quest. You will likely see all of that mesh together on Thursday, when No. 22 Michigan plays host to Detroit in the regional round of the Legends Classic.

Texas at Iowa 7:00 PM ET

A trip to Madison Square Garden can create plenty of distractions for a young basketball team, but Texas' roster appears wise beyond its years. Fresh off a pair of home victories to open the season, the 10th-ranked Longhorns head to the Big Apple on Thursday to take on No. 25 Iowa in the 2K Classic. "We just wanted to come out and compete these first two games before heading to New York," said Texas guard Isaiah Taylor. "New York is a business trip for us."

Virginia-Lynchburg at East Carolina 7:00 PM ET

East Carolina coach Jeff Lebo realizes his top offensive squad is not his best rebounding group, which makes avoiding big deficits critical. The Pirates, who host Virginia-Lynchburg on Thursday, found that out in Tuesday’s 83-79 loss to UNC Asheville, in a contest where East Carolina cut a 16-point deficit to four but allowed 17 points off 13 offensive rebounds. “Rebounding is going to be an issue for us all year,” Lebo admitted after his squad was beaten on the boards 43-27.

Grambling State at Purdue 7:00 PM ET

Purdue closes out a three-game, season-opening homestand Thursday when it hosts Grambling State. The Boilermakers are off to a 2-0 start for the ninth time in 10 years under Matt Painter with wins over Samford (80-40) and IUPUI (77-57). This is the Boilermakers final tune-up before facing Kansas State on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational.

Navy at Providence 7:00 PM ET

Providence continues a busy early-season slate when it hosts Navy on Thursday in the second of four Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament games, which continues over the weekend at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. The Friars picked up a 66-45 win over Binghamton on Monday in their first game of the event and the second of five games in nine days to begin the season. Ed Cooley's squad meets Florida State on Saturday and Notre Dame on Sunday before finally getting a solid chunk of time off.

Texas Southern at Tennessee 7:00 PM ET

Tennessee has plenty of things to work on heading into Thursday's game against visiting Texas Southern, but rebounding is at the top of first-year coach Donnie Tyndall's list. "I thought I'd emphasized (rebounding) since Day 1 but I obviously haven't done a good enough job," Tyndall said Monday. "It's got to be a point of emphasis." The Volunteers were outrebounded 49-42 and gave up 23 offensive boards in an 85-69 loss to VCU on Friday.

Maryland - E. Shore at VCU 7:00 PM ET

VCU aims for its 22nd consecutive home victory when it hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore on Thursday in the Legends Classic. The 15th-ranked Rams opened the event with an 87-78 win over Toledo on Tuesday, extending the nation's fifth-longest active home winning streak. The Hawks are playing on back-to-back nights after taking down Mount St. Mary's 53-41 on the road Wednesday.

Jacksonville at N.C. State 7:00 PM ET

Anthony “Cat’’ Barber is the lone point guard on North Carolina State’s roster, which means he’ll see considerable action when the Wolfpack host visiting Jacksonville on Thursday. Barber is making the most of his playing time and through two games the sophomore is averaging 20 points, 6.5 rebounds and six assists in wins over Jackson State and Hofstra. Playing 67 of a possible 80 minutes, Barber has committed just one turnover.

Eckerd College at Central Florida 7:00 PM ET

If the season opener is any indication, UCF could be in for a long season with two freshmen and a sophomore in the starting lineup, and not much experience throughout the rest of the squad. The Knights on Thursday will be allowed to take another baby step when they host Division II member Eckerd. "The best thing is that we're 1-0,'' coach Donnie Jones told the school website after Sunday's 64-55 victory over Stetson.

Fordham at Maryland 7:30 PM ET

Maryland concludes a three-game homestand to open the season when it plays Fordham on Thursday. The Terrapins have an average winning margin of 35 points in their two games, the first time they have accomplished that feat since 2006-07. Forward Dez Wells is off to a hot start, averaging 22.5 points and shooting .654 from the floor in victories over Central Connecticut State 93-57 and Wagner 82-48. .

Cornell at South Carolina 7:30 PM ET

South Carolina coach Frank Martin talked about how his team improved as a result of playing a difficult opponent last time out. His Gamecocks will have plenty of chances to show off their progress beginning on Thursday when they face Cornell in the opening round of the Charleston Classic. After opening the season with a 25-point rout of North Florida, South Carolina began a stretch of four games in six days with Tuesday’s 69-65 home loss to Baylor.

George Mason at West Virginia 7:30 PM ET

West Virginia looks to continue its early-season success when it takes on George Mason in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday. The Mountaineers have a pair of double-digit wins under their belt, with a solid mix of defense and rebounding leading the way. The Patriots were stunned by Cornell in their season opener, followed by a three-point escape from Princeton on Sunday.

Southern Methodist at Indiana 8:00 PM ET

One team will earn a potential resume-building win Thursday when Indiana hosts SMU in the Hoosiers Showcase. Indiana opened the five-team, round-robin event with an 83-64 win over former coach Mike Davis and Texas Southern. The No. 23 Mustangs have split their first two contests, pounding Lamar 93-54 in their first game in the Hoosiers Showcase before losing 72-56 at No. 11 Gonzaga on Monday.

New Orleans at Texas Christian 8:00 PM ET

Experienced TCU will try to continue its hot start when it hosts New Orleans on Thursday. Third-year coach Trent Johnson isn't surprised - or satisfied - with the 2-0 start. "What I let them know (after Monday's win against Washington State) is what went on right now is what's been expected of them," Johnson said. "But I don't really have to tell them that. In that locker room they believe they can be a good basketball team, they believe they can play with some consistency versus good teams."

Mississippi Valley State at Tulane 8:00 PM ET

Tulane brings back four starters from last season, including three double-figure scorers, but the Green Wave started 2014-15 with a dismal offensive showing Monday against Wake Forest. The Green Wave host Mississippi Valley State on Thursday eager to move past a 71-49 loss in the opener during which Tulane shot just 15 percent from the field in the second half and misfired on 19-of-20 3-point attempts. “For whatever reason, I thought we were not in a rhythm,” Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said.

Bucknell at Villanova 8:00 PM ET

With stiffer competition on the horizon, No. 12 Villanova continues play in the Progressive Legends Classic on Thursday when it hosts Bucknell. The Wildcats, who are coming off an 81-44 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday, will tackle No. 15 VCU and then either No. 22 Michigan or Oregon when the event moves to Brooklyn next week. Five Villanova players average in double figures, led by Dylan Ennis (14.5) and Kris Jenkins (12.0), who came off the bench to score a career-high 15 on Monday.

Southern at Mississippi 8:00 PM ET

After taking to the road to notch its first win of the season, Ole Miss returns home to host Southern in the first round of the Emerald Coast Classic. The Rebels shook off a season-opening loss to Charleston Southern by knocking off Troy on Monday, thanks in large part to 21 points from Jarvis Summers. Coach Andy Kennedy saw positives in his team's first win but knows it has a long way to go, telling reporters, "We rebounded much better and we made some shots but we're still a work in progress."

North Florida at Northwestern 8:00 PM ET

Northwestern guard JerShon Cobb had one subpar outing and one solid performance and he is looking for more of the latter as the Wildcats host North Florida on Thursday. Cobb struggled to five points in a season-opening win over Houston Baptist but bounced back to score 16 points in Northwestern’s 69-56 victory over Brown on Monday. “I missed some easy shots Friday and I thought just by playing, I’d make them this game,” Cobb told reporters. “I just shot my shot.”

South Florida at UAB 8:00 PM ET

After a 2-0 start, USF takes its show on the road for the first time under new coach Orlando Antigua as it visits UAB on Thursday. Antigua, who came to the Bulls after spending four years as an assistant under John Calipari at Kentucky, says keeping his squad focused away from home means sticking to the basics. "You have to rely on the things you work on every day," he told the school web site, adding, "Those things don't change no matter where (you are.)"

Franklin Pierce College at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET

Very few teams had to deal with as much preseason hype for their opener than Minnesota did, with coach Richard Pitino going up against his father, Rick, and the No. 8 Louisville Cardinals. But now, a week past that televised family affair, the Golden Gophers can finally settle into the season and prepare for the tough Big Ten season that awaits. That started Tuesday versus Western Kentucky and can continue on Thursday at home against Franklin Pierce in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Southern Miss at Alabama 9:00 PM ET

Alabama will try to complete a sweep of a three-game season-opening homestand when it hosts unbeaten Southern Miss on Thursday. It marks the first meeting since 2007 between the two schools with the Crimson Tide holding a 20-5 lead in the all-time series, including a 14-2 edge in Tuscaloosa. The Golden Eagles have never won in six previous games in Coleman Coliseum but came close in the last meeting between the two teams won by the Crimson Tide, 79-77.

Syracuse at California 9:00 PM ET

There have been plenty of positives in Syracuse's first two games, but Jim Boeheim loves to focus on what his team can do better. In this case, Boeheim wants to see more aggression and better decision making from freshman point guard Kaleb Joseph, who has scored a total of nine points with 11 assists in the Orange's first two games. Joseph will be in the spotlight Thursday evening when No. 24 Syracuse takes on California in the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Lipscomb at Vanderbilt 9:00 PM ET

Damian Jones had the best-scoring game of his career in Vanderbilt’s opener and the 6-10 sophomore attempts to post another strong showing when the Commodores host Lipscomb on Thursday. Jones tallied 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and also grabbed 12 rebounds as Vanderbilt rolled to an 83-56 win over Trevecca Nazarene. Lipscomb split its first two games, recording an easy win over Berry before losing to Belmont on Monday.

Loyola Marymount at Arizona St. 9:00 PM ET

Arizona State is 2-0 heading into Thursday’s home game against Loyola Marymount, but coach Herb Sendek knows his team is far from a finished product. The Sun Devils lost 64 percent of its scoring from last season and are learning how to generate offense without star point guard Jahii Carson, who declared for the NBA Draft. The early signs have been encouraging with 6-10 forward Eric Jacobsen averaging 10.5 points and eight rebounds in wins over Chicago State and Bethune-Cookman.

Cal. State - Bakersfield at San Diego St. 10:30 PM ET

Two days after defeating a ranked Utah team, No. 16 San Diego State takes a step down in competition Thursday when the Aztecs host Cal State Bakersfield. JJ O’Brien recorded the sixth double-double of his career in Tuesday’s 53-49 victory over Utah, which was held to 32 percent shooting. San Diego State, which signed coach Steve Fisher to a three-year contract extension Wednesday, should have little trouble with a Roadrunners team that was picked to sixth in the WAC preseason media poll.

Nicholls State at UCLA 11:00 PM ET

UCLA continues to ease into the slate when it hosts Nicholls State on Thursday night. The Bruins, still trying to fill holes left by three starters who bolted for the NBA, are off to a 2-0 start averaging nearly 100 points. Returning guard Norman Powell leads UCLA in scoring with an average of 19 points.