On The Menu: Sunday, November 15, 2015

Game information courtesy Matt College Sports on TV Website, which has even more games listed. Be sure to read his post detailing this season's broadcast/webcast changes, since there are many.

All times are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

Main Courses

Iona Gaels at Valparaiso Crusaders (Beaver Showcase), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
I will be in attendance at the RAC for this one, which features two of the top mid-major squads in the country. Both of whom could win at least a game in the NCAAs and might actually have at-large hopes. The winner will get the early advantage in the race. The Gaels and Crusaders both return the bulk of their squads that claimed conference regular season titles in 2015, though Valpo was the only team of the two to make the Tournament. This is the Gaels' opener, while the Crusaders topped IPFW on Friday.

New Mexico Lobos at New Mexico State Aggies, 9 p.m. (AggieVision/ESPN3)
The Lobos and Aggies continue to defy convention—or is that embrace tradition—by playing a home-and-home non-conference series (the pair meet again at the Pit on Wednesday, December 16th). While New Mexico State is again the overwhelming favorite in the stripped-down WAC, New Mexico aims to rebound from a down season that saw them miss the postseason for the first time since 2007. Both won on Friday: the Lobos dropped Texas Southern, while the Aggies took care of Houston Baptist.

Cal Poly Mustangs at UCLA Bruins (Maui Jim Maui Invitational), 10 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks Main and LA)
The Mustangs and Bruins each dropped close ones on Opening Night. Cal Poly couldn't upend UNLV in their first Maui on the Mainland contest, falling by two, while UCLA fell at Pauley to Monmouth, who might challenge Iona in the Metro Atlantic race. As usual, the pressure is on Steve Alford already and things could get worse if the Big West contender steals a win this evening.

Ranked Appetizers

Vermont Catamounts at No. 23 Purdue Boilermakers (Hall of Fame Tip-Off), 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Fairfield Stags at No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (CBE Hall of Fame Classic), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Siena Saints at No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers (2K Classic Benefitting Wounded Warrior Project), 8 p.m. (ESPNU)

Out of this group, the game I'll be most interested in is the last one, if only to see how the Badgers respond to being stunned by Western Illinois on Sunday night.

Other Intriguing (?) Options

Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Ohio State Buckeyes, 12 p.m. (ESPNU)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bucknell Bison, 1 p.m. (CBSSN)

Robert Morris Colonials at Cincinnati Bearcats, 2 p.m. (FS Ohio/ESPN3)

North Dakota State Bison at Illinois Fighting Illini (at Springfield, Ill.), 3 p.m. (ESPN3)

Nicholls State Colonels at Florida State Seminoles, 3 p.m. (ESPN3)
Coppin State Eagles at Iowa Hawkeyes, 5 p.m. (BTN)
South Alabama Jaguars at North Carolina State Wolfpack (FanDuel Legends Classic), 6 p.m. (ESPNU)

On an opening weekend full of what we used to call "Red Line Upsets," Wake Forest had better watch itself in Lewisberg—KenPom projects the game as a narrow 74-73 Demon Deacon win. So should Illinois in its second game in Springfield.

Florida State and Nicholls State both join Iona in opening their 2015-16 campaign today, while N.C. State is another team to watch following a shocking Opening Night defeat—a beatdown administered by CAA contender William & Mary.

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