College basketball’s opening week keeps rolling Saturday, and the slate has a little bit of everything: a longtime regional rivalry in Washington, a nonconference test in Memphis, and a handful of chances for smaller programs to make noise against unfamiliar opponents.
The headliners are Maryland at Georgetown and VCU at Memphis, two games that should tell us something real about where those programs stand this early in the season. Maryland and Georgetown tip at 7:30 p.m.
ET at Capital One Arena, while Memphis hosts VCU at 3 p.m. ET at FedExForum.
Maryland and Georgetown are meeting for the 69th time, with the Terrapins owning a 38-30 edge in the series. Georgetown got the last word a year ago, beating Maryland 70-60 in College Park, so the Hoyas get a shot at back-to-back wins in the rivalry. The matchup also puts Ed Cooley and Buzz Williams in the same spotlight, with both programs trying to build momentum after difficult stretches.
Maryland comes in off a 96-67 win over Bucknell, while Georgetown opened with an 80-58 victory over Loyola Maryland. The game will air on Peacock and the NBC Sports Network YouTube channel.
Memphis, meanwhile, already has one eye-catching result on its résumé. The Tigers opened with an 80-76 win over No.
18 Iowa State, then get to defend home court against a VCU team looking for a strong nonconference win of its own. Memphis has won 24 straight home openers, and the Rams will try to end that run.
The two teams have played tight games before, including Memphis’ 85-80 overtime win in December 2023.
There’s also a useful measuring-stick game in Louisville, where the Cardinals host Morehead State at noon ET on ACC Network Extra. Louisville beat Chattanooga 84-70 in its opener.
Morehead State dropped its first game to Western Kentucky before bouncing back with a win over Virginia-Lynchburg. The Cardinals have the clearer talent edge, but this is still a chance to sharpen the rotation before the schedule gets tougher.
Drexel’s home opener brings another interesting matchup, with Colgate visiting at 2 p.m. ET on FloCollege.
The Dragons were handled 89-60 at Virginia in their first game, while Colgate arrives with its usual reputation as a Patriot League contender. For Drexel, it’s a chance to reset at home.
For Colgate, it’s an early road test that could pay off later.
A few other Division I games are also on the board Saturday, including Pacific at Bradley and Northwestern State at Murray State, both at 8 p.m. ET, plus Sacramento State at Santa Clara at 10 p.m.
ET. Fans should check official school schedules for the latest streaming details and any changes to tipoff times.
Friday already delivered a couple of notable results, with UConn beating Michigan and Saint Louis taking down Missouri. Saturday doesn’t have quite the same volume of national attention, but it still offers plenty of chances for teams to make an early statement.
That’s the real value of this part of the calendar. Wins can help shape a postseason résumé, and losses can expose problems before conference play begins.
Maryland and Georgetown are chasing rivalry bragging rights. Memphis and VCU are trying to prove their ambitions are for real.
Louisville, Drexel and the rest are looking for the kind of early-season results that can set the tone for what comes next.
In Other News...
Louisville Showed Off Something Fans Have Been Waiting To See
Louisville gave its fans a look at the kind of complete performance they have been waiting to see, rolling past Morehead State 107-57 in a game that was never really in doubt after halftime. The Cardinals controlled the opening half, then turned it into a runaway with a dominant second-half surge, while also imposing their will on the glass with a 59-rebound effort that underscored just how one-sided the night became.
Obi Ekezie led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and he was far from alone as several Louisville players reached double figures. For a team trying to build momentum and show more consistency, it was the sort of balanced, physical showing that can carry real weight beyond one lopsided final score. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Faces A Troubling Receiver Question Before Georgia Tech
Louisvilles passing game is heading into Week 10 with a real question mark as it gets ready to face Georgia Tech, and the concern centers on Lawayne McCoy. The star wide receiver is expected to miss an extended period because of a knee injury, leaving the Cardinals to sort out how they want to attack a defense that will be watching their receiving depth closely.
For a team trying to keep its momentum, losing a player like McCoy changes the feel of the matchup before it even kicks off. Louisville will have to lean on its remaining options and adjust on the fly, all while balancing a week that has already brought plenty of attention across the program, from footballs injury concerns to basketball notes involving former Cardinal Mikel Brown Jr. and coach Pat Kelseys push for more consistency. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Has A Big Chance To Flex Its ACC Identity Again
Louisville gets another chance to reinforce what it has become in the ACC when Georgia Tech comes to town in Week 10. At 5-3 and riding a three-game winning streak, the Cardinals have steadied themselves after an uneven start, and the matchup sets up well for a team that has leaned on a physical, productive ground game led by Isaac Brown.
Georgia Tech arrives in a rough spot, having dropped three straight while trying to sort out its defensive issues, which is part of why Louisville is favored by two touchdowns. For the Cardinals, this is the kind of game that can say plenty about where they stand in the league hierarchy, especially if they can keep controlling the line of scrimmage and make another clean statement at home. [Read more 🡒]