College Basketball Watchability Rankings: Duke and Michigan State set to do battle

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 04: Grayson Allen #3, Marvin Bagley III #35, Javin DeLaurier #12, Wendell Carter, Jr. #34, Gary Trent, Jr. #2 and Marques Bolden #20 of the Duke Blue Devils react from their bench against the Bowie State Bulldogs at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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Here’s what to watch for in the first full week of the 2017-18 college basketball season.

College basketball is already in full swing after a busy opening weekend schedule, with many more intriguing games to come.

While there wasn’t necessarily a marquee game on opening night, Friday provided a few interesting results, including a perfect 13-0 showing from the SEC. In the only ranked matchup of the weekend, No. 25 Texas A&M trounced No. 11 West Virginia 88-65, an impressive result given the absence of star forward Robert Williams due to suspension.

Elsewhere, the Archie Miller era at Indiana got off to an awful start with a 90-69 loss to an Indiana State team that finished near the bottom of the Missouri Valley last year. No. 5 Kentucky also has some concerns after trailing Utah Valley by nine points at the half and barely squeaking by Vermont over the weekend, although the Wildcats managed to pull off both victories.

That was just a warmup, as the first full week of college basketball action features a number of games to keep an eye on before early season tournaments really start to get underway. Headlined by the Champions Classic, here are five games to watch this coming week.

5. Creighton at Northwestern

Chris Collins guided the Wildcats to their first NCAA Tournament berth in school history, nd has much loftier goals with a talented roster in 2017-18. Passing an early season test against Creighton on Wednesday night would be a nice boost for a Northwestern team that finds itself in the unfamiliar position of carrying high expectations.

With much of last year’s production back, the Wildcats opened the season at No. 19 and are projected by some to finish as high as second in the Big Ten. Things got off to a shaky start, as the Wildcats had to hold off a late rally by Loyola Maryland in a 79-75 win on opening night, and can’t overlook St. Peters ahead of the Creighton matchup.

Northwestern returns its top five leading scorers from a year ago plus long-range specialist Aaron Falzon, who missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury. Scottie Lindsey led the way against Loyola with 26 points, with Bryant McIntosh and Derek Pardon chipping in 16 apiece.

While Creighton did not start the year in the top 25, Greg McDermott’s team has the upside to get there soon enough. With Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas returning to form one of the best backcourts in the nation, the Bluejays should have another high-powered offense.

The duo combined for 45 points in a solid 92-76 victory over Yale on Friday before the Bluejays took down Alcorn State over the weekend. Picking up a road win over Northwestern could be a huge resume-booster by the end of the season.