The NBA 2013-2014 season is really close, meaning NCAA Men's Basketball will also soon tipoff. The pros see action on Tuesday and exactly two weeks from today, the Men's NCAA Basketball schedule will once again be active. Check out the full schedule with all the weekend's matchup as the season opener is 14 days away.
Somebody start the countdown!
The Louisville Cardinals are the reigning champions. They will start their quest to repeat and win back-to-back national titles for the first time since Florida accomplished the feat back in 2007 and 2008. Theyhave a couple of key guys returning; guards Russ Smith and Kevin Ware, forwards Luke Hancock and Montrezl Harrell. Smith led the team in scoring, while Hancock and Ware had their moments in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Ware went viral after suffering a horrifying leg injury, while Hancock played great ball during the tournament. Montrezl had almost a block a game, which is a huge keep for the Cardinals as they will look for a dynamic presence in the paint after the departure of Gorgui Dieng, who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Aside from the defending champions, who enter the Coaches Poll ranked third in the nation, there is No. 1 Kentucky, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 4 Duke and a surprising No. 5 Arizona Wild Cats team in the Top 5. New Mexico surprised many in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, so they come into the season ranked 20th in the polls.
Kentucky, Michigan State and Duke all start their season on Nov. 8. The defending champs will take off on Saturday Nov. 9 along with New Mexico. Here's a look at these guys' opponents for their 2013-2014 season openers.
Kentucky (1) vs. UNC-Ashville Bulldogs- 7 p.m. ET, Nov. 8
McNeese St. vs. Michigan St. (2)- 7 p.m. ET, Friday, Nov. 8
Charleston vs. (3) Louisville- Saturday, Nov. 9
Davidson vs. Duke (4)- Friday, Nov. 8
Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Arizona (5)- Friday, Nov. 8