We’re within the house stretch of the calendar earlier than the season begins. College students are again on campus. The times are getting quick (boo). The summer season warmth is starting to chill down.
However, that additionally means we now have schedules to stay up for. Groups throughout the nation have dropped their non-conference (and even a number of convention) slates. And that definitely will get our mouths watering for opening day on Nov. 4.
With the season solely two months away, we right here at Mid-Main Insanity picked out a number of contests we now have our eyes on for the primary handful of days of the 2024-25 season.
For a full breakdown of those contests, hearken to the Mid-Main Insanity Podcast.
The Subject of 68 Opening Day Showcase is a triple header on the primary day of the season on the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. These are three of the video games spotlighted.
Under are the video games mentioned on the episode
Charleston vs. Southern Illinois (males; Nov. 4 at midday ET)
In one of many earliest video games of the season, Charleston and Southern Illinois face off within the tipoff of the Subject of 68 Opening Day Showcase at midday ET.
Charleston is coming off consecutive seasons with at the very least 27 wins and journeys to the NCAA Event. The Cougars can be led by new head coach Chris Mack following the departure of Pat Kelsey to Louisville. Ante Brzovic is the highest returning scorer after pouring in 12.1 factors an evening final 12 months.
SIU is coming off a 19-13 season in a tricky Missouri Valley Convention. The Salukis are additionally below a brand new head coach as Scott Nagy assumes the reigns. They are going to look to exchange Xavier Johnson, who averaged a team-best 22.2 factors per sport final season.
Saint Louis vs. Santa Clara (males; Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. ET)
That is the second sport of the triple header in Sioux Falls.
Saint Louis is starting a brand new period with Josh Schertz taking on this system. He introduced with him star gamers Robbie Avila and Isaiah Swope from everybody’s favourite NCAA Event snub Indiana State. They led the Sycamores to the NIT title sport and now look to deliver the Billikens again to prominence after a 13-20 season.
Santa Clara has posted three straight 20-win seasons below Herb Sendek. The Broncos have additionally been above .500 within the WCC in every of these seasons after failing to take action in seven of the earlier eight campaigns. Gibson Jimerson returns for his ultimate season after averaging 15.8 factors per sport final season.
McNeese State vs. South Dakota State (males; Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. ET)
This contest between two convention champions and NCAA Event individuals from final season closes out the night time on the Pentagon.
McNeese had a historic season in Will Wade’s first 12 months main this system with 30 wins, eight greater than this system’s earlier greatest. The Cowboys reached the NCAA Event for the primary time in additional than 20 years. They return three of their prime 4 scorers in Christian Shumate, Javohn Garcia and DJ Richards Jr.
SDSU received the Summit League for the second time within the final three seasons. The Jackrabbits are with out a number of key items from final 12 months’s championship crew. Summit League Participant of the 12 months Zeke Mayo transferred to his hometown Kansas Jayhawks. William Kyle III left for UCLA. Luke Appel and Charlie Easley graduated and are enjoying abroad.
Marshall at Toledo (ladies; Nov. 4)
This matchup is a part of the MAC-SBC Problem.
Marshall is coming off its first NCAA Event look since 1997. The Thundering Herd went 26-7 and 17-1 in convention within the lone season below head coach Kim Caldwell, who departed for Tennessee. Juli Fulks now leads the Herd, who misplaced three of their 4 scorers who averaged at the very least 14.5 factors with solely Aislynn Hayes again.
Toledo has posted at the very least 28 wins in every of the final three seasons, going 86-17 in that stretch, together with 52-4 within the MAC. Tricia Cullop’s squad has received three straight convention common season titles and claimed at the very least one victory in a postseason event every year. However she departed for Miami, and Ginny Boggess assumed the pinnacle teaching duties.
FAU vs. Indiana State (males; Nov. 4)
FAU and Indiana State had been two of the highest mid-majors final season and have not too long ago made deep runs in March. The Owls went to the Last 4 in 2023, and the Sycamores performed within the NIT championship sport final season.
The Owls return solely two gamers who noticed motion final season in Tre Carroll and Jack Johnson, which equates to 5 % of their scoring. So, it will likely be a brand-new crew for first-year head coach John Jakus, who changed Dusty Could.
The Sycamores will even have a brand new head coach in Matthew Graves, who replaces Josh Schertz. Jaden Daughtry is the main returning scorer, and he managed simply three factors per sport final season.
Missouri at Memphis (males; Nov. 4)
It’s the second straight season Memphis and Missouri are enjoying the opening week of the season. Penny Hardaway’s Tigers picked up a 15-point win on the street final season throughout their sturdy non-conference exhibiting. Now the Tigers from the SEC come to FedExForum to return the home-and-home. Memphis mentioned goodbye to its prime six scorers from final 12 months’s veteran crew.
Vermont at UAB (males; Nov. 4)
Each golf equipment are coming off NCAA Event appearances.
The Catamounts have participated within the Massive Dance in every of the final three seasons. They’ve posted at the very least a .667 profitable proportion in every of the final eight years. John Becker’s membership returns its prime two scorers in TJ Lengthy and Shamir Bogues.
The Blazers have gone dancing in two of the final three years and have claimed at the very least 19 wins in every of the final seven campaigns. Of their first 12 months within the AAC, Andy Kennedy’s squad went 12-6 and claimed a No. 12 seed within the Massive Dance after profitable the convention tourney. UAB returns three of its prime 4 scorers, led by Yaxel Lendeborg.
South Florida at Charleston (males; Nov. 8)
As talked about earlier, Charleston has certified for the NCAA Event in every of the final two seasons and tallied at the very least 27 wins every year.
USF had a large resurgence in Amir Abdur-Rahim’s first 12 months. The Bulls went 25-8 and 16-2 within the AAC, which was first within the league. It marked simply the second time within the final 23 years that they completed above .500 in convention play. Regardless of developing quick within the convention semis, they superior to the second spherical of the NIT. They mentioned goodbye to their three double-digit scorers however deliver again Kobe Knox, Jayden Reid and Brandon Stroud.
Richmond at Fairfield (ladies; Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. ET)
It is a showdown between two NCAA Event individuals.
Fairfield registered the very best season in class historical past at 31-2 and went undefeated towards MAAC foes. Their two losses had been by three towards Vanderbilt within the non-conference and to Indiana within the NCAA Event. The Stags return their prime 5 scorers, led by Meghan Andersen and her 15.1 factors per sport.
Richmond punched its ticket to the NCAA Event for the primary time in 19 seasons final 12 months, the place it drew a ten seed. The Spiders went 29-6 and 16-2 within the Atlantic 10. Three of their 4 double-digit scorers are again, with Maggie Doogan returning after posting 15.4 an evening.
