NCAA Men's College Basketball 2010-11: Week 1 Preview

The season is almost here. No more waiting, predicting, previewing, wasting time looking at recruits in the 2013 class because you’ve already exhausted your knowledge of all the others, or developing your own formula for the RPI because you just don’t trust the real one. I hope that your wall size bracket has been taken down from last year because that has no application in the new season (just ask UNC). It’s a whole new ballgame.

Starting Monday, college basketball tips off for the 2010-2011 season and there are so many questions to be answered. Personally, I am quite ready. Football can satisfy my thirst for only so long before the Tar Heels shoot down my hopes and dreams once again. The BCS can’t ever get it right and the NFL is just an elitist diva that thinks it’s more important than any other sport.

The point I’m trying to make is that the purest sport, the one that is always present, free of any lockouts, trades, or seduction with money and benefits. College Basketball presents one of the most magical periods of the year, especially towards March. It takes over the hearts and minds of the country.

So why not be ready for this to start?

As the season begins, here’s my guide to week one. Exactly what you need to know for the beginning of the season.

Games of the Week:

There are no top-25 teams playing each other this week, and there are only nine games total before Friday, but the weekend holds endless possibilities for upsets, surprises and breakouts. Pay attention to these games this week.

Rhode Island @ (5) Pittsburgh – Mon Nov. 8, 7:00 PM, ESPNU

The season officially tips off as Jaime Dixon’s Panthers host the tourney hopeful Rhode Island Rams. At Led by standouts Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker, the panthers look to keep their home court a dominant place to play. However, the Rams have been a pesky bubble team in the past and they have an experienced team that could test the Panthers in their first game.

Northern Iowa @ (10) Syracuse – Fri, Nov. 12, 7:00 PM

No one could possibly forget Ali Farokhmanesh’s clincher against the Kansas Jayhawks last season in the second round of the NCAA tourney. This year, no Farokhmanesh and not many other returning players, but that doesn’t mean that the Panthers can’t sneak up on some people.

This game also provides an opportunity to check out freshman Fab Melo and Dion Waiters. Don’t expect too much out of the Panthers; Syracuse should win this one handily.

(20) Georgetown @ Old Dominion – Fri, Nov. 12, 7:00 PM

This game is the first possible upset alert of the season. With difficult matchups at a premium this week, Georgetown’s first road game may be a very difficult win. Old Dominion actually beat the Hoyas on the road last year and managed to beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the NCAA tournament first round.

Two of the Monarchs' top three scorers are back for this season. Georgetown may be a tad overrated this year as well so look for a close one here.

Teams That Need A Win:

(8) North Carolina Tar Heels (Fri vs. Lipscomb)

The Tar Heels have been notorious during the Roy Williams era for losing games that they absolutely should not have lost. After last season, they can’t afford to lose another possible game. I would say that this game is an easy win, but you never know. After all Carolina doesn’t have any of its top three scorers returning this year. The fan base needs this win as much as the team does.

West Virginia Mountaineers (Fri vs. Oakland)

After losing most of their offense, the Mountaineers need a win to get back to being respected. Most people have counted them out as a young team this season that won’t have much success.

However, guards Truck Bryant and Joe Mazzulla have been around for long enough that they’ll be able to lead this team with efficiency. If West Virginia can break out of the box quickly this season, be ready for them to work their way into the top 25 early this season.

Breakout Player

Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Everyone has been awaiting the debut of the talented freshman all offseason. Well it’s here now and we’ll see how he performs under the spotlight. Can he carry the Workload in Chapel Hill, or will he flop like a fish out of water. Only time will tell, but this first game will reveal loads on his future.

Thoughts

Watch out for Memphis this season. In his second season as a head coach, Josh Pastner brings in a stellar recruiting class. His tutelage under Lute Olsen should lead to a very successful career at Memphis.

Hopefully, the addition of three more teams won’t diminish the tournament. Although I was quite against the number of teams rising to 96, hopefully the last four in will make the first part of the tournament even more exciting.

A shout out to the Appalachian State Mountaineers, who, after vehemently working to bring coach Buzz Peterson back last year and almost making the tournament, got screwed by Peterson once again and are trying to succeed like they did last year. Hopefully Donald Sims, the best player you’ve never heard of, will lead the Mountaineers to the tournament again.