Games to watch during the 2019-20 college basketball season

The first night of the college basketball season will not disappoint. Madison Square Garden will be the scene of a dandy doubleheader featuring the top four teams in The Associated Press Top 25. First, No. 3 Kansas takes on fourth-ranked Duke, which tries to move on from losing the Big Three of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish. These teams last met during the 2018 regional finals, when Bill Self's Jayhawks won, 85-81, in overtime.

In the nightcap at MSG, the top-ranked Spartans begin their quest for what many believe has the makings of a national championship season. Michigan State boasts the country's best player in guard Cassius Winston (18.8 points per game, 46.0 field-goal percentage, 7.5 assists). No. 2 Kentucky does not have that one superstar but has enough above-average pieces to keep the Spartans honest. 

There is plenty of hype surrounding Penny Hardaway's stellar freshmen class led by McDonald's All-Americans in 7-foot-1 James Wiseman and 6-9 Precious Achiuwa. This should be a great early test for Memphis' youngsters, facing an Oregon squad that returns plenty of talent from last season's group that reached Sweet 16 as a No. 12 seed.

Back to the Spartans. However, this matchup is more about being a barometer for Seton Hall. Led by scoring machine Myles Powell (23.1 ppg in 208-19), the veteran Pirates are filled with high expectations this season. Getting a shot at what should still be the No. 1 team in the country in just its third game will offer a good look at just how good the Hall might be. 

While this matchup might not be on the radar of the casual college hoops fan, it's worth giving a look. As part of the Jamaica Classic, this has the potential to be a fun contest. Both teams are ranked to open the season, and the Tigers are looking to build on a run to the Sweet 16 despite the issues surrounding coach Will Wade. Utah State, meanwhile, features one of the nation's best offensive players in senior guard Sam Merrill (20.9 ppg, 46.1 field-goal percentage).

It's another massive early season get-together between two national powers. Michigan State snapped a seven-game losing streak in this series when it pulled out a 68-67 victory over the top-seeded Blue Devils in last season's regional final. After Duke's hope of an expected national title opportunity officially ended, it doesn't have to wait long for a chance at payback. 

This is a rematch of one of the most entertaining games of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Virginia's path to the national championship was not an easy one if we recall, and that was certainly the case against the Boilermakers in the regional final. The Cavaliers overcame 42 points from Carsen Edwards to win 80-75 in overtime. Most of the stars from that meeting have moved on, but it should still be a competitive contest on the final day of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Backed by 6-foot-9 Kaleb Wesson (14.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and arguably the Big Ten's top freshman class, the Buckeyes have reason to feel good about themselves. While they'll host Villanova in the middle of November, this will be their first true road game and a solid opportunity to see if they can seriously contend on a national stage. By the way, Carolina has won seven straight over Ohio State.

Here's another meeting between two teams that are ranked to begin the season and also have some high hopes for 2019-20. Arizona has one of the most touted freshmen in the country in guard Nico Mannion. Baylor, meanwhile, has 6-foot-10 Tristan Clark (14.6 ppg, 73.7 field-goal percentage, 6.3 rpg) back healthy and poised to make his team a contender in the Big 12.

Sticking with the Wildcats, for years, it was Gonzaga that usually had something to prove in this matchup. The roles are reversed at the moment, as the Zags look for a third consecutive victory in this series. However. Gonzaga has lost plenty from its 2019 regional finalist squad, and Arizona gets this one at the friendly confines of the McKale Center.

In a span of 11 days, Gonzaga plays at Washington, at Arizona and then welcomes the Tar Heels to "The Kennel" as we again revisit the get-together of the 2017 national finalists. The Zags and North Carolina open the season eighth and ninth, respectively, in the AP Poll, and this will be the most anticipated matchup played on Gonzaga's home floor in Spokane — which should make for quite the raucous scene, even while taking place during the school's winter break.

Kansas earned some payback from that 2018 Final Four drubbing at the hands of Jay Wright's Villanova team with a 74-71 win last season. When the teams meet just before Christmas in Philadelphia, we should have a better idea about each program than we do entering the season. Both programs always have talent, but whether it's enough to contend for a national title remains to be seen. 

The hype of this annual rivalry game between Bluegrass State powers should be amped up, considering both schools open the season ranked among the top five teams in the country. Kentucky has won two straight and six of the last seven in the series with the Cardinals. The Wildcats have also won the last five meetings at home dating to 2008.

As many as four teams seem to have a legitimate chance of winning the ACC regular-season title, at least to begin the campaign. However, the Cardinals and Blue Devils seem to be the two most talented teams entering the season. That can obviously change come mid-January, but at the least, both schools would appear to be good enough to be in the hunt of a league crown. 

We mentioned Baylor as a team to watch in the Big 12, but Florida should be up there with Kentucky when it comes to serious SEC contenders. The Gators begin the season ranked sixth in the country, thanks in large part to the addition of 6-10 Virginia Tech graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr. (14.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.4 apg). Florida rolled to an 81-60 victory when these teams met in January 2018.  

Last season Texas Tech finished above Kansas in the Big 12 standings, as the teams split the regular-season series. This will be the first meeting of 2019-20, and the Red Raiders have won just once over their last 15 trips to Allen Fieldhouse. Texas Tech lost plenty from last season's national finalist, but Chris Beard seems to get the best out of any team he coaches. These two will conclude the regular season in Lubbock.

Seton Hall, and those associated with the Big East, believe it has a legitimate chance to win the conference in 2020. If so, that path has to go through Villanova, the longtime kings of the league. On paper, the Pirates might have a slight edge in overall depth, but Wildcats coach Jay Wright knows how to prepare his team for the rigors of a conference season. These teams play again in New Jersey on March 4.

It's the greatest rivalry in college basketball, and the fun begins in early February at Chapel Hill. Both teams lost some major, elite talent from last season, but these programs don't rebuild. They reload. North Carolina has won three straight at home against the Blue Devils, but each of those contests was decided by nine or fewer points.

The top dogs in the West Coast Conference, Gonzaga remains the favorite. However, the Gaels, led by senior guard Jordan Ford (21.1 ppg, 48.9 field-goal percentage), have the talent to potentially close the gap — and certainly win this first meeting of the season on their home floor. Saint Mary's, though, has lost three straight and nine of the last 11 at home in the series.

We know Michigan State is not only the Big Ten favorite but also is expected to be in the hunt for a national championship. Maryland, though, might have something to say about the former. The Terrapins open the season ranked seventh in the AP Poll and feature two of the top players in the nation in Anthony Cowan Jr. (15.6 ppg. 4.4 apg) and 6-foot-10 Jalen Smith (11.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg). This will show just how much they've really got under the hood.

This is another instance where a conference title could be on the line. On paper, the Gators and Wildcats appear to be the most likely contenders for the SEC crown, and if all goes to plan for both, each could be in the mix for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky won both meetings in 2019 after the Gators did the series double in 2018.

The defending champion Cavaliers lost big names like Kyle Guy, De'Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome, but they should not be written off as a contender in the ACC. As mentioned, Duke, which obviously lost much as well, will be in that same hunt. This is the only time these teams will meet this season; the Blue Devils took both matchups in 2018-19. 

We're thinking the Atlantic 10 regular-season title could come down to this contest. VCU returns its top four scorers from last season's 25-win team that also claimed the league's regular-season championship. Davidson, meanwhile, finished second in that race and has a good one in Icelandic guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson (16.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.8 apg).

The Tar Heels and Blue Devils take their act to Cameron Indoor, where North Carolina won last season. While it's possible neither of these teams will be playing for the ACC regular-season title by this time, we know there will not be a lack of intensity as both should be relatively polished heading into March Madness.

We touched on the expectations that Memphis has for itself this season, but Houston tied the Tigers as the preseason pick to win the American Athletic Conference, In fact, the Cougars received three more first-place votes than Memphis. All that means is there's a good chance the AAC regular-season title will be on the line in this finale.