College Hoops Viewing Guide For Thursday, November 17, 2016

This list of games is not exhaustive by design. For a full schedule and more specific information about coverage—particularly for ACC RSN, ASN, CSN, and FSN games—visit Matt’s College Sports on TV Website.

If you’re only able to listen to tonight, check out TuneIn’s college basketball lineup.

All times are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

Tire Pros Invitational Quarterfinals (Primer)

All four games will air on ESPNU.

Instead of a trip to San Juan, these eight teams are gathered at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, which will also host the AdvoCare Invitational (as usual) next week. On Sunday, I’ll be in attendance for the final four games of this one.

The first game in each doubleheader looks to be the most interesting, with the opener between Clemson and Davidson particularly vital for a pair of teams that look bubble-worthy at worst.

Here’s the full bracket.

ESPN Events

Gildan Charleston Classic Quarterfinals (Primer)

As I wrote in the primer, it would be a shock if the defending national champions didn’t sweep through this tournament. The real drama, in my opinion, will come in the bottom half, where the fight to play the Wildcats in Sunday’s final should be fierce and fairly even. The host Cougars, who have yet to reach the final in their two previous Charleston Classic appearances, might never have a better chance at playing in the showcase.

Here’s the full bracket.

ESPN Events

2K Classic Benefitting Wounded Warrior Project Semifinals (Primer)

Both games will air on ESPN2.

In contrast to the Charleston event, the 2K Classic looks to be the most balanced of the early season tournaments. All four teams enter with perfect records, with three of the four sweeping their on-campus games. The exception is Marquette, who obliterated Vanderbilt on Opening Night in the Veterans Classic. They’ll play their final 2K Classic game against IUPUI on Tuesday.

The preliminary rounds featured little drama, other than Pitt’s double-OT 93-90 win over MAC contender Eastern Michigan on Friday. The Panthers opponent tonight, SMU, won both of their games at Moody Coliseum—following up a 28-point victory over Gardner-Webb with a 27-point triumph over those same Eagles. To me, they’re the most dangerous team in this bracket after the first week, and the American Athletic Conference might need a strong Mustang performance in New York to balance out UConn’s early struggles.

Logos from SportsLogos.net

Non-Tournament Action Of Note

Long Beach State 49ers (1-2) at Louisville Cardinals (2-0) (Battle 4 Atlantis), 4 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)

The 49ers’ death march of an early season slate continues with an odd late afternoon tip on the banks of the Ohio.

Providence Friars (1-0) at Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) (Gavitt Tip-Off Games), 7 p.m. (BTN)

Ed Cooley’s squad cruised past America East favorite Vermont in its first game post-Dunn and Bentil. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes haven’t set the world on fire in picking up closer than expected wins at Navy and back in Columbus against N.C. Central.

Temple Owls (1-1) at UMass Minutemen (1-1), 7 p.m. (ASN/NESN Plus/MASN2/Comcast Network Philadelphia)

This game won’t be quite so exciting without John Chaney and John Calipari on the sidelines. Both squads are coming off disappointing Monday night losses—the Owls fell at home to New Hampshire, while Ole Miss broke UMass hearts in Oxford.

St. Bonaventure Bonnies (1-0) vs. Florida Gators (2-0) at Lakeland, Fla., 7 p.m. (SEC Network+)

I will be in the building for this contest, which is part of the Gators’ barnstorming tour of the state during the latter stages of renovations to the O’Connell Center. Both of these squads found themselves with burst bubbles last March, though UF looks more likely to dance this season, particularly as they’re a trendy pick to finish behind Kentucky in the SEC. The Gators used suffocating defense to topple FGCU and Mercer in Jacksonville over the weekend, while the Bonnies opened the year with a 10-point win over St. Francis (Pa.).

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0) at DePaul Blue Demons (1-0) (Gavitt Tip-Off Games), 9 p.m. (FS1)

Will we get our first “DePaul lost” tweet of the season tonight? The Scarlet Knights cruised past Molloy (not in Division I) and Drexel in their first two, while the Blue Demons only defeated visiting Robert Morris by six on Sunday.

Seton Hall Pirates (2-0) at Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0) (Gavitt Tip-Off Games), 9 p.m. (BTN)

This will be a good test for a dangerous, underrated Pirate team as well as for a Hawkeye squad that demolished a pair of teams from outside the Top 300 in KenPom over the season’s first weekend.

Valparaiso Crusaders (3-0) at Oregon Ducks (1-1), 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network National and Oregon)

Last November, the Ducks defeated the Crusaders by six. Alec Peters and company return with the aim of reversing that result. Oregon might not be in the mood, however, thanks to Tuesday’s surprising loss at Baylor.

Connecticut Huskies (0-2) at Loyola Marymount Lions (1-1), 10 p.m. (Spectrum Sportsnet/SNY/ESPN3)

The Huskies will look to pick up their first win of the season while on a layover for their trip to Maui. Their chances are rosy, as the Lions don’t yet have a win over a Division I foe—thanks to an opening win over Vanguard and 15-point road setback at Nevada.

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