The excitement of the college basketball tip-off marathon is behind us and teams are beginning to settle into their regular schedules. Things will ramp up again next week when Feast Week begins, but until then, there are a few scattered gems on the docket in college hoops.
College basketball schedule: No. 6 Arizona gets an early test at San Diego St.
The Wildcats visit the Aztecs while a few early-season tournaments tip-off.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
One of those gems could come on Thursday when Arizona visits San Diego State. Here’s a look at all the Top 25 games on Thursday, as well as some others to keep an eye on (all times Eastern):
No. 6 Arizona at San Diego St. (10:05 p.m.)
After grinding out a win against Cal Poly to start the season, the Wildcats rolled over Long Beach State on Monday. Arizona has five players averaging double figures in scoring through its first two games, including freshman Aaron Gordon, who has also averaged 10 rebounds.
San Diego State, which advanced to the Third Round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament before being upset by Florida Gulf Coast, counters with a more experienced lineup, led by senior Xavier Thames. He had 15 points in the Aztecs' season-opening win over UC Riverside and is the team's leading returning scorer.
Austin Peay at No. 13 Memphis (8 p.m., ESPN3)
Memphis is one of the few teams yet to open its season, but the long wait comes to an end on Thursday. Though the Tigers will be playing an over-matched opponent in Austin Peay, it will be an important season opener. The Governors will be Memphis’s only warmup before taking on No. 8 Oklahoma State next Tuesday on national TV.
The Tigers should have one of the nation’s best backcourts this season with Joe Jackson and Missouri transfer Michael Dixon leading the way.
William and Mary at No. 16 Wichita St. (CBE Hall of Fame Classic, 8 p.m.)
Wichita State opens the host portion of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic with an evening tilt against William and Mary. The Shockers will then face Tennessee State on Saturday before moving on to the championship rounds in Kansas City, featuring DePaul, Texas and BYU.
Fred VanVleet led the Shockers with 17 points in their 66-49 win over Western Kentucky during the ESPN Tip-off Marathon. Kadeem Coleby had 13 points and three blocks while Cleanthony Early added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Detroit at No. 19 Connecticut (2K Sports Classic, 7 p.m., ESPN3)
Like its conference foe Memphis, UConn features an elite backcourt. Shabazz Napier became the first Husky ever to record multiple triple-doubles in his career in UConn's win Monday afternoon over Yale. Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun have scored in bunches through the first two games, while guard Niels Giffey hit his first seven three-point attempts of the season, spanning UConn's wins over Maryland and Yale.
The Huskies will face Boston University on Sunday in the second regional game of the 2K Sports Classic before heading to Madison Square Garden to play Boston College in the semifinals next Thursday, then either Indiana or Washington next Friday.
Other games to watch:
Texas Southern at Miami (7 p.m.)
Toledo at Boston College (7 p.m.)
Yale at Rutgers (7:30 p.m., ESPN3)
Temple at Towson (7:30 p.m.)
Texas Tech at Alabama (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Loyola Marymount at Long Beach St. (10 p.m.)
Northwestern at Stanford (11 p.m., ESPNU)
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