Best college basketball games to watch opening week: Champions Classic a Final Four preview?

Texas at No. 23 Purdue-Saturday at 7:00 PM ET on FS1

Winning the NIT can be a momentum builder for a program, and we’ll get our first opportunity to see what Texas got out of its title here. The Longhorns head to West Lafayette to take on Purdue, which is minus Carsen Edwards but still deep enough to contend in a solid Big Ten.

Florida State at No. 6 Florida-Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN

This non-conference showdown should be a good test for Leonard Hamilton’s new-look Florida State squad, which may not have as high an upside as last year’s group but will be a tough out in the ACC. The Seminoles head down to Gainesville to take on sixth-ranked Florida, which will be debuting Kerry Blackshear, the former Virginia Tech product who is enrolled as a grad transfer.

Illinois at No. 21 Arizona-Sunday at 9:00 PM ET on Pac 12 Network

This game features two of the more intriguing teams in the country. Illinois hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2013, but the Fighting Illini came on strong at the end of last season and could be poised for a surprise run in the Big Ten. The Wildcats missed the dance last year, but Sean Miller‘s team is ready to go back behind five-star freshmen Nico Mannion and Josh Green.

Mid-Major Game of the Week: Iona at La Salle-Saturday at 4:00 PM ET on NBC Sports Network

College basketball is very top-heavy, but the sport wouldn’t be complete without the little guys, so every week this column will include a game featuring some intriguing mid-major squads. The first entry features the only team in the country with an active streak of four consecutive conference tournament victories, Iona, hitting the road to take on La Salle.

The Gaels retain nearly everyone from last year’s team that led North Carolina at the half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and Iona could be even better with the addition of Minnesota transfer Isaiah “Jelly” Washington. This game could feature a ton of firepower as La Salle, led by former Villanova assistant Ashley Howard, likes to go up and down the floor with smaller lineups. Expect plenty of points in this contest.

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