Top Five: The best college hoops games
by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports
Here are our top five games for the week of Nov. 15-21 (all times p.m. Eastern):
Saint Joseph’s at No. 21 Notre Dame | Friday, Nov. 16, 9:30, TruTV
About the Hawks: Saint Joseph’s returns five starters, including Carl Jones (17 points per game last season) and Langston Galloway (15.5 ppg).
About the Irish: All five starters also return for Notre Dame. Forward Jack Cooley (12.5 ppg, 8.9 rebounds per game) is the engine that gets the Irish running, while Jerian Grant (12.3 ppg) and Eric Atkins (12.1 ppg) form a strong backcourt.
The matchup: Notre Dame didn’t look fantastic in its season opener against Evansville and will need to play better to avoid an upset by one of the top midmajors.
Our pick: Saint Joseph’s
No. 11 North Carolina at Long Beach State | Friday, Nov. 16, 11, ESPNU
About the Tar Heels: With four top recruits joining returning starters Dexter Strickland and Reggie Bullock, the Tar Heels remain one of the best teams in the country. James Michael McAdoo should have a breakout sophomore season.
About the 49ers: They are a favorite to win their third consecutive Big West title thanks to returners Mike Caffey and James Ennis.
The matchup: This isn’t the typical early-season game in which a midmajor sets itself up to get pummeled by a top program. The key is that the Tar Heels are playing on the road, which is the right recipe for any upset.
Our pick: North Carolina
No. 10 Florida at Middle Tennessee | Saturday, Nov. 17, 4
About the Gators: They looked freakishly good in an 84-35 demolition of Alabama State. They lost Bradley Beal to the NBA but return just-as-lethal scorer Kenny Boynton (15.9 ppg).
About the Blue Raiders: Coach Kermit Davis brings back eight of his top nine scorers from a 27-win team, including seniors JT Sulton (10.3 ppg ) and Jason Jones (19 points on 9-for-9 shooting in the opener). All of the ingredients to make the NCAAs.
The matchup: This might appear a cakewalk for the Gators, and it should be if they show up on their home floor. If not, Middle-Tennessee could pull off … [For more on Top Five: The best college hoops games, click here.]
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