Did anyone miss Davidson's (#20 AP, #20 Coaches) run to the Elite Eight last March behind Stephen Curry and his three pointers? In case you do actually live under a rock, the Wildcats upset both Georgetown and Wisconsin before getting knocked out by the eventual champion Jayhawks.
The Mountaineers, on the other hand, made it to the Sweet Sixteen after knocking out Duke but wound up losing to Xavier. Over the course of last season, the Mountaineers hit 264 three pointers and shot .335 as a team.
But this a new season with a clean slate and both teams are looking to make a big run in March. This first true test for both teams and I am expecting nothing less then a great game.
Villanova @ Texas
Tuesday, Dec. 9 - 9:00 PM
Scottie Reynolds and the fast paced Wildcats (#25 AP, #25 Coaches) take on the Texas Longhorns (#8 AP, #8 Coaches) and their new–found defense in what will surely be a great game. Longhorns Coach Barnes has been quoted saying that this Texas team is one, if not the, best defensive team they have ever had, despite losing power players in D.J. Augustin and Kevin Durant prematurely to the draft the past two seasons.
The Wildcats have all five starters returning this year, and after a run to the Sweet Sixteen last March, they now have the experience to be a very dangerous team, not only in the Big East but in the league as a whole.
The last time these two teams met was January 20, 2006, when the Wildcats beat the Longhorns 76-69 in a neck and neck game. Expect another close game between these two ranked opponents.
Memphis @ Georgetown
Saturday, Dec. 13 - 2:00 PM
The Hoyas (#18 AP, #18 Coaches) first true test will come when they host the Memphis Tigers (#12 AP, #12 Coaches) on December 13.
Both teams have lost key players from last year's roster. The Hoyas are without Roy Hibbert, Jonathan Wallace, and Patrick Ewing, Jr. while the Tigers lost Derrick Rose to the first pick of the NBA Draft and senior Joey Dorsey and junior Chris Douglas-Roberts to the second round.
Both teams have a very promising freshman class as well and they both are looking for their new players to make an impact. The Tigers have guard Tyreke Evans, who many people deemed to be the best incoming shooting guard, to replace Rose, and Wesley Witherspoon and Angel Garcia to fill in the big man void. The Hoyas have Greg Monroe and Henry Sims, two big men with a lot of potential, and Jason Clark to fill in at shooting guard.
This game has a lot of potential to shake up rankings and show the college hoops world just how good both teams' impact freshmen are.
UCLA @ DePaul
Saturday, Dec. 13 - 7:00 PM
After starting Big East play last season 4-2 and finishing 2-10, the DePaul Blue Demons are looking to turn things around, and what better way then scheduling a non-conference game against a young UCLA Bruins (#4 AP, #4 Coaches) team.
The Blue Demons have the ability to play very well behind their two Big East All Rookie's Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal and pose a threat to an untested team. The Bruins did wind up with possibly the best 2008 freshman class, though, so it will be very interesting to see how this game plays out.
Xavier @ Cincinnati
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