College Hoops Viewing Guide For Thursday, November 24, 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.

Well, at least half of Wednesday’s finals were competitive. The Houston Cougars broke the Vermont Catamounts’ hearts, as Devin Davis popped in a lay-up as time expired to give the Cougars a 72-71 win in the Gulf Coast Showcase final. Later, the Valparaiso Crusaders needed both a 26-point, 12-rebound night from Alec Peters and a 23-point one from Shane Hammink to top the BYU Cougars in the Men Who Speak Up Main Event final, 92-89.

On the other hand, the Purdue Boilermakers used a huge 53-30 second half to overwhelm the Auburn Tigers 96-71 in the Cancun Challenge championship game. A whopping six Boilermakers scored more than 10 on the night, led by Carsen Edwards with 21. In the Maui Jim Maui Invitational finale, the North Carolina Tar Heels ran their record to 7-0 by smoking the Wisconsin Badgers 71-56, thanks in no small part to Kennedy Meeks’ “Mr. Everything” performance of 15 points and 16 boards.

No championships will be awarded today, but four tournaments open play today and tonight.

Battle 4 Atlantis Semifinals (Primer)

If Michigan State starts as slowly against Baylor as it did against St. John’s on Wednesday night, it might want to start making plans to play in the third-place game on Friday afternoon. The Bears overwhelmed VCU late to slide into today’s opener, so they’ll provide a stiffer challenge for the Spartans than the Red Storm provided.

In the second semifinal, Louisville will be tested by a tenacious Wichita State squad that can actually shoot the ball. That’s something the Cardinals’ quarterfinal opponent, Old Dominion, didn’t really do all that well (at least from outside) in what ended up as a 68-62 U of L overtime win in Wednesday’s nightcap.

AdvoCare Invitational Quarterfinals (Primer)

ESPN2 will air all four games.

The second game of each of today’s doubleheaders at Walt Disney World should be excellent. Miami‘s efficient offense will get its best test yet in Stanford to close the early session. However, the finale between Seton Hall and Florida (who should have a lot of crowd support, including yours truly) potentially shaping up as the best game of the day. It feels like an NCAA 4 vs. 5 second round game, with the Pirates’ shooting likely to give the Gators’ fits and UF’s length a potential disruptor for the Hall.

Here’s the updated full bracket.

ESPN Events

NIT Season Tip-Off Semifinals (Primer)

ESPNU will air both games.

Both Temple (New Hampshire) and Illinois (Winthrop) already lost on-campus games as part of this event, while Florida State and West Virginia have cruised through the early portion of their respective schedules.

Here’s the updated full bracket.

ESPN Events

Directv Wooden Legacy Quarterfinals (Primer)

I’m far more optimistic about UCLA‘s chances in this event than when I wrote the event primer back in August. With Lonzo Ball running the show, the Bruins’ offense is on fire, scoring below 100 just once (and that was a 20-point win over San Diego). And with Dayton shorthanded in the frontcourt, the Bruins and Virginia Tech look to be the favorites in this event.

Once again, the updated full bracket.

ESPN Events

Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational Semifinals (Primer)

FS1 will air both games.

Even though Arizona hasn’t looked awesome at times in opening the season with four wins, the Wildcats are rather heavy favorites to leave the Orleans Arena with the trophy. Santa Clara hasn’t beaten a team ranked better than 319th in KenPom yet, while Vanderbilt will enter its game with Butler an underdog. The Commodores lost their final on-campus contest in this event on Monday, 75-72 at the hands of Bucknell.

GCI Great Alaska Shootout Quarterfinals, Night Two (Primer)

CBSSN will air both games.

Last night, Buffalo raced past host Alaska Anchorage and Nevada Wolf Pack slipped past Oakland to qualify for Friday’s semifinals. This evening, two 2016 NCAA teams who have combined for a single win so far this season—Iona and Weber State—will look to join them.

Logos from SportsLogos.net.

Non-Tournament Action Of Note

Montana Grizzlies (1-4) at Ole Miss Rebels (4-1) (Paradise Jam), 4 p.m. (SEC Network+)

This is the only non-neutral site game of the day. It’s odd timing, but there is a plus for Rebel fans staying in Oxford for the holiday.

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