On The Menu: Tip-Off Marathon, Part II

Game information courtesy Matt College Sports on TV Website, which has even more games listed.

All times listed are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

Tip-Off Marathon Specials

Valparaiso Crusaders at Rhode Island Rams, 10 a.m. (ESPN2)
On Sunday, I got to see the Crusaders run Iona ragged. They look very much the part of a team that can do some damage in March and even be a potential at-large selection. This morning, Valpo will take on a Rams team that will have to adjust to life without its best player, guard E.C. Matthews, who looked to be a favorite for A 10 Player of the Year before injuring his knee in Rhody's win over American Eagles on Friday.

Alabama Crimson Tide at Dayton Flyers (Advocare Invitational), 1 p.m. (ESPN)
If only Anthony Grant were still coaching the Tide as they visit his alma mater today. These two are on separate sides of the bracket in Orlando, so they can only meet on day three. Both of these teams won their openers back on Friday, though the Flyers had a far easier time with Southeast Missouri than Bama did with an atrocious Kennesaw State team.

Colorado Buffaloes at Auburn Tigers, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
The third rematch of the Marathon features a Tiger team looking to avenge a two-point loss in Boulder last season. Considering both of these teams should struggle to compete this season, it might be a good time for an afternoon nap.

No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners at Memphis Tigers. 5 p.m. (ESPN)
After failing to reach the postseason in 2015, the Tigers need to make a statement to cool Josh Pastner's hot seat. A home win over the Big 12 contenders from the west would help.

DePaul Blue Demons at Penn State Nittany Lions (Gavitt Tip-Off Games), 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
If you must... You couldn't have put one of the other Gavitt Tip-Off Games ahead of this one so it could claim the title of "first"?

No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 5 Duke Blue Devils (Champions Classic in Chicago), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
I'll be returning to the United Center for the first time since, well I don't want to speak about that March afternoon 13-and-a-half years ago, to check out tonight's doubleheader. Game one is the game we didn't get in the National Final last year, thanks to Wisconsin's heroics in the National Semifinals. Since change is the only constant in college hoops, the Blue Devils' and Wildcats' new talent will take the lion's share of the attention this evening. Skal Labissiere and Jamal Murray vs. Brandon Ingram and Derryck Thornton: which freshmen do you think shine in this matchup?

Curiously, thanks to both the Blue Devils and Wildcats playing on Friday and Saturday, these two squads enter tonight with a combined 4-0 record.

No. 9 Wichita State Shockers at Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Last season, the Shockers blew by the Golden Hurricane in a post-Thanksgiving matchup in Kansas. Tulsa will look to reverse that outcome and grab a vital win for their March profile in the process.

Georgetown Hoyas at No. 3 Maryland Terrapins (Gavitt Tip-Off Games), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Hoyas and Terps last met in 2008 and last played in College Park in 1973! Even after Georgetown lost to Radford on Saturday afternoon, this is still a highly-anticipated matchup in the Washington, D.C. area. You just have to hope it can live up to the hype considering the early appearance of a gulf in class between the two.

No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 13 Michigan State Spartans (Champions Classic in Chicago), approx. 10 p.m. (ESPN)
This is a rematch of the Orlando Classic final that I missed due to illness last November. The Jayhawks were the only one of tonight's four attendees to fail to make a return trip to Indy for the Final Four after last season's Champions Classic. While the freshmen are the players to watch in game one, the Jayhawks' and Spartans' veterans will lead the way in the nightcap. Yes, Denzel Valentine and Matt Costello still feature for MSU, while Perry Ellis still hasn't left Lawrence.

Options On (Gasp) Other Networks

Missouri Tigers at Xavier Musketeers, 6:30 p.m. (FS1)
While the Tigers took care of Wofford and UMES with less trouble than expected in their two CBE Hall of Fame Classic home games, they'll find a trip to Cincinnati to play the Musketeers a far stiffer test.

Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 11 Villanova Wildcats (Gavitt Tip-Off Games), 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
After last season's struggles, a decent Cornhusker showing at the Pavilion would be a good sign heading into a crucial season for Tim Miles.

Iona Gaels at Oregon State Beavers (Beavers Challenge), 10 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks Main and Oregon)
The Gaels will look to dust themselves off after Sunday's, um, unpleasantness, and attempt to stun an improved Beavers squad in Corvallis. OSU defeated non-DI Northwest Christian by 22 in their opener on Friday night.

Be sure to follow @ChrisDobbertean on Twitter and to like Blogging the Bracket on Facebook and Google Plus.