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...
Memphis Opens At Home With Momentum After Iowa State Stunner
Memphis comes home carrying a real early-season jolt after opening with an 80-74 win over Iowa State in South Dakota on Nov. 2. The Tigers now get their first chance to play in front of the FedExForum crowd on Nov. 7, when VCU visits in a matchup that should tell a little more about how quickly this group can turn a strong neutral-site start into something sustainable.
The schedule only gets busier from there, with the broadcast slate already mapped out and the national spotlight following along on ESPN+. For Memphis, the home opener is more than a ceremonial first step in front of its own fans. It is the next checkpoint after a statement win, and an early test of whether the momentum from that Iowa State result travels well into the building where the Tigers will spend so much of their season. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Reid Just Gave Memphis Fans A Reason To Believe
Jayden Reid gave Memphis exactly the kind of late-game lift it has been searching for, pouring in 32 points in an 89-88 win over VCU that had the Tigers hanging on until the final seconds. It was a night when Memphis did not shoot free throws well overall, but the Tigers found enough poise at the line when it mattered most to survive a game that could have easily slipped away.
Rihards Vavers also gave the offense a needed boost, knocking down four of five shots from beyond the arc and helping stretch the floor against a tough opponent. For Memphis, the bigger takeaway may be what this kind of finish can mean going forward: a tight win over a quality team, a guard who can take over late, and enough perimeter production to suggest there is more to build on than just one encouraging result. [Read more 🡒]