College Basketball Watchability Rankings: 5 games to watch in Week 2

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 13: USC guard Elijah Stewart (30) celebrates after USC guard Jordan McLaughlin (11) scores right before the 1st half buzzer during a college basketball game between the North Dakota State Bison and the USC Trojans on November 10, 2017, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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PROVIDENCE, RI – NOVEMBER 13: Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Nate Mason (2) in action during a college basketball game between Minnesota Golden Gophers and Providence Friars on November 13, 2017, at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI. Minnesota defeated Providence 86-74. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Alabama vs Minnesota

The Crimson Tide appear likely to break a six-year NCAA Tournament drought, and beating a ranked Minnesota team in the Barclays Center Classic on Saturday evening would be a huge nonconference resume booster.

While Alabama finished at 19-15 last season, Avery Johnson has the team trending upwards while doing some major work on the recruiting trail. Johnson’s team will likely sneak into the AP Poll behind a 3-0 start, including a 12-point win over Memphis to open the season.

Guard Collin Sexton has a real chance to be the nation’s leading freshman scorer, and has piled up 23.5 points per game through two contests. Four-star backcourt mate John Petty is also off to a terrific start and set a school record with 10 made 3-pointers to key a 104-67 win over Alabama A&M on Friday.

After being eliminated in the First Round last year due to an unfortunate draw against Middle Tennessee State, the Golden Gophers have much loftier goals with the most talented roster of the Richard Pitino era. Minnesota entered the season ranked 15th and should only be moving up with a 3-0 start, headlined by an eight-point road win over Providence last Monday.

Just about everyone is back for Minnesota, including preseason All-Big Ten selection Nate Mason, who is averaging 14.3 points and five assists per contest in the early going. Forward Jordan Murphy has been a monster with 25.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, with Reggie Lynch also averaging just shy of a double-double.

With a win, the Golden Gophers will have one of the best resumes in the nation early on, while Alabama can put the rest of the SEC on notice with an upset victory.