I've long held that the opening two days of the NCAA tournament are sports fan heaven. Settle into the couch at around noon eastern to watch the first game, and there's really no need to move until well after midnight -- unless you run out of nachos.
The good people at ESPN are attempting to re-create that same butt-numbing phenomenon to start the season.
On November 18, starting at midnight eastern and carrying through until 11:30 p.m., the ESPN family of networks will broadcast a string of 14 games -- highlighted by a tilt between two of Division I's biggest names, North Carolina and Kentucky, from Chapel Hill.
UMass at Memphis: 12 a.m.
Getty Images / Jonathan DanielJohn Calipari's Tigers face a UMass team created in their image -- former Calipari assistant Derek Kellogg is in his first year with the Minutemen, and is installing the same dribble-drive motion offense that Memphis rode to the national title game last May. Watch for Memphis rookie Tyreke Evans, who will be asked to fill some of the void left by the departures of Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts.
Fresno State at St. Mary's - 2 a.m.
Getty Images / Streeter LeckaSt. Mary's point guard Patrick Mills played for Australia in the Beijing games -- and raised his NBA draft stock exponentially by giving Chris Paul and Team USA all they could handle.
Idaho State at Hawaii - 4 a.m.
What else are you going to watch at 4 a.m.? Besides, Hawaii's Roderick Fleming is supposed to be the real deal -- he drew significant attention from schools like Kentucky.Penn at Drexel - 10 a.m.
This matchup might be interesting due to familiarity -- the Penn and Drexel campuses are within walking distance from each other.Liberty at UNC-Asheville - 12 p.m.
With Asheville's giant 7'7" center Kenny George out for the season, the biggest story in this game is the debut of Seth Curry -- Stephen's little brother. I haven't seen him play yet, but if there's anything to genetics he's got a jumper that's just beautiful to watch.Iowa at Kansas (women) 2 p.m.
The only women's contest in the marathon pits Kansas against Big 10 power Iowa (21-11 in 2007-08).Centenary at Baylor - 4 p.m.
Baylor coach Scott Drew has done a tremendous job building up the program -- to the point where the Bears may contend with traditional Big 12 powers Kansas and Texas for the league title. And that's without top point guard prospect John Wall, who is expected to join the Bears next season.Richmond at Syracuse - 6 p.m.
The Orange could be contenders for the league championship in a comically-stacked Big East this year... even more now that guard Eric Devendorf has been granted an extra year's eligibility after missing most of last season due to a torn ACL. Richmond is expected to be a contender for the A-10 title.Preseason NIT Regional Final - Purdue Bracket - 7 p.m.
The first of four regional finals of the Preseason NIT will be played at Purdue. That bracket will feature the Boilermakers against Eastern Michigan and the Georgia Bulldogs against Loyola-Chicago in the opening round -- with Purdue and Georgia expected to face off in for the right to play at Madison Square Garden in the Preseason NIT Semifinals. Purdue -- coming off an excellent season -- will be big favorites.Preseason NIT Regional Final - Boston College - 7:30 p.m.
If the seeds hold, this game will match two old Big East rivals: host Boston College against the Red Storm of St. John's. BC plays Loyola (MD) in their opener, while the Johnnies face Ivy league champs Cornell. BC guard Tyrese Rice was recently named a second-team preseason All-American by the Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook.
