College Basketball Kicks Off: What to Expect on Opening Night

College basketball is back, and the first night of the season is packed with exciting matchups. While it's not the most star-studded night, there are plenty of games worth watching. One of the biggest games of the night is Florida vs. Arizona. Florida, the reigning national champion, will be tested early in the season. The Gators have a strong frontcourt, but the focus will be on their new backcourt, featuring transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Arizona, on the other hand, has a lot of talent but lacks experience. Senior point guard Jaden Bradley will be a key player for the Wildcats, but the spotlight will be on freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. If they can handle the pressure, Arizona has a chance to upset Florida. Another exciting game is BYU vs. Villanova. BYU is coming off a strong season and has added some talented new players, including freshman All-American point guard Robert Wright III and potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa. Villanova, meanwhile, is starting a new era under coach Kevin Willard. Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis will be a player to watch, as he's not afraid to take risks. In addition to these matchups, there are 17 other ranked teams in action. While they are all favored to win, upsets can happen early in the season. Some of the top games to watch include Houston vs. Lehigh, UConn vs. New Haven, and Michigan vs. Oakland. Another game to keep an eye on is Boston College vs. Florida Atlantic. Boston College head coach Earl Grant is under pressure to perform, and a win over a respected opponent would be a good way to start the season. Florida Atlantic, meanwhile, is coming off a strong season and will be a tough opponent. Finally, the Field of 68 crew has organized an all-day marathon of games on its YouTube channel. Some of the matchups are worth ignoring your responsibilities for, including Bradley-St. Bonaventure and South Dakota State-Merrimack.