Much has been made about the underwhelming schedule opening men’s college basketball this year. In the season’s first four days, there were a total of only four games between two high-major opponents, and just two of those featured a ranked team. That hasn’t meant an absence of drama: Michigan State going down at the hands of James Madison was a stunner, and the Baylor vs. Auburn showdown Tuesday was a high-level game between two teams with major upside. Still, there’s been a real absence of marquee matchups, a problem the sport needs to address moving forward.
That all changes Friday. It’s an action-packed slate of games featuring multiple potential national title contenders. And perhaps the best part: Most are being played on campuses rather than neutral courts, meaning we should get some pretty epic atmospheres as well. Here’s a primer on the games to watch and what to expect.
All game times are Eastern.
