Week 1 of the college slate absolutely delivered. We had massive DII over Top 50 (Boise) team upsets and we had some games that felt like they belonged on a football field, and finally, we had games that felt like they belonged in the second weekend of March Madness. That recap will be up on Sunday afternoon! However, we’ve got more hoops coming your day, starting with a loaded slate on Sunday, 11/9/2025! I’ll have it all below!

Of course, I’ll remain just as active across my social platforms — now including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook — while continuing to provide Bracketology insight and in-depth coverage of NKU Norse basketball.

This year, I’m adding game breakdowns for Xavier and Cincinnati, along with coverage of several other programs throughout the season. On a national scale, my goal is to deliver more analysis and context for fans following the broader college basketball landscape.

This new weekly series will serve as your daily viewing guide, spotlighting the biggest games each day and breaking down their implications for the season and NCAA Tournament picture. Small clerical note – the week 2 guide includes a Sunday-Sunday preview to get this realigned with the Monday-Sunday preview system I want to provide you all!

📊 METHODOLOGY

Since we don’t yet have analytical data to produce official NET or quadrant rankings, I’ll be using KenPom.com’s rankings — the sport’s leading analytical source — to determine projected quadrant values.

Each game is assigned a Power Rating (1–5):

• 5️⃣ = Must-watch, national-impact matchup
• 4️⃣ = Strong game with potential postseason implications
• 3️⃣ = Notable matchup with mid-tier or conference stakes
• 2️⃣ = Worth monitoring for under-the-radar storylines
• 1️⃣ = Limited impact, but with a storyline or milestone worth noting

🗓 Sunday, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2025

For the above Graphic, these games are NOT listed. It’s a limitation of the graphic design I use and is why I am trying to move it to the Monday – Sunday format!

5️⃣ Indiana vs. Marquette— ESPN, 1:00 ET
Both IU and Marquette should come into this one with a chip on their shoulder. IU because they are starting the new era of Hoosier hoops, and Marquette because they have been very under the radar in the preseason. Either way, this is a Q1 matchup in Chicago for both teams!

2️⃣ ASUN/SoCon Challenge | Lipscomb @ Mercer— ESPN+, 1:00 ET
This is the initiation of this year’s iteration of the ASUN/SoCon Challenge, and should be a fun one! KenPom favors Mercer by 3.

2️⃣ South Dakota State @ Northern Iowa— ESPN+, 2:00 ET
I expect this to be a fun affair in Iowa. UNI is favored by 9.5, but South Dakota Stat is usually competitive and I wouldn’t’ be shocked to see this one be closer than that.

2️⃣ Vermont @ Brown— ESPN+, 2:00 ET
I expect this to be a close, grinder of a game. However, it will not have tournament implications.

4️⃣ Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State— ESPN2, 2:00 ET
Bucky Ball heads to Stillwater to take on the Cowboys! This will be a high scoring affair, and A&M comes in as slight favorites. This game will have massive bubble implications come March.

3️⃣ Vermont @ Brown— ESPN+, 5:00 ET
Loyola is coming off of an extremely embarrassing loss to Mercyhurst, while UNT has not been tested at all this year. If the Mean Green are going to have any hopes of fighting towards an at-large, they need this one.

3️⃣ FAU @ Liberty – Youtube, 6:00 ET
Both of these teams are off to really quick starts and both took care of Charleston this weekend as a part of the Field of 68 tipoff. Who goes 2-0 this weekend, and who misses an amazing opportunity?

4️⃣ Washington @ Baylor— ESPN, 8:30 ET
Baylor is favored by 6.5 here, however, both teams are massive unknowns. This game has significant impacts downstream not only for these two teams, but for their conferences.

🗓 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10th, 2025

NKY will be on site for Xavier vs. Santa Clara in Cincinnati!

1️⃣ Western Kentucky @ Eastern Kentucky — ESPN+, 7:00 ET
Expect this game to be very close, and bragging rights for the state of KY are on the line, so this will be intense!

3️⃣ UNC Wilmington @ Kent State — ESPN+, 7:00 ET
Peak Mid-Major hoops right here! This game, while not necessarily a tournament impact game will provide great insight into both teams this year.

5️⃣ Mississippi State @ Iowa State — ESPNU, 8:00 ET
Hilton is almost impossible to win in as underdogs, but MSST will try to do just that. Significant tournament ramifications here!

4️⃣ Santa Clara @ Xavier —FS1, 8:30 ET
This is a matchup that could really help bolster the WCC’s overall profile on the year, because this will be likely a Q2 game, if Santa Clara can win it! Xavier has struggled early and this will be their first real competition.

🗓 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 2025

3️⃣ Wake Forest @ Michigan — FS1, 6:30 ET
Michigan is coming off a lengthy time off, and WF has played an extra game now. Will rest or rust win out?

4️⃣ Dayton @ Cincinnati — ESPN, 7:00 ET
This is a Q1 game for the Flyers and a Q2 for the Bearcats. This game will be heated and physical.

5️⃣ Kentucky @ Louisville — ESPN, 8:00 ET
A top 3 rivalry in the country? Yes. Both teams with final four/1 seed hopes? Yes. Pure hatred and rapid fanbases? Yes. Q1 for both teams. This will be good!

5️⃣ Texas Tech @ Illinois —FS1, 8:30 ET
Any other day this would be the best game on the slate. Look for this to be a high-level competition between very good teams. Again, another matchup where it will be a Q1 win for either team.

3️⃣ Memphis @ Ole Miss — SECN, 9:00 ET
Memphis has a quality win under their belts already, beating San Francisco in their season opener! They now get a tough battle in Oxford with UNLV. Chris Beard’s team will be ready, and this will be an excellent matchup! Q1 for Memphis, Q1/2 for Ole Miss.

4️⃣ Creighton @ Gonzaga — ESPN, 10:00 ET
Gonzaga continues their really good NC schedule by playing a Creighton team looking to announce their presence after key departures last year. Q1 for Creighton, Q1/2 for Gonzaga!

🗓 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025

3️⃣ Minnesota @ Missouri — SECN+ 8:00 ET
I expect Missouri to win this one, but Minnesota has the chance to announce that under Niko’s leadership, they’re going to be competitive immediately. Q2 for Mizzou, Q1 for Minnesota.

2️⃣ North Texas @ Oregon State — ESPN+, 9:30 ET
This is likely a Q2 game for UNT and will be Q2/3 for Oregon State. Again, if UNT wants any at-large hopes, they need this one.

2️⃣ Northern Kentucky @ ETSU — ESPN+, 7:00 ET
NKU is looking to establish themselves as a Horizon League contender this year. ETSU is looking to gain some momentum after the shocking loss to Presbyterian. This game will be fun to watch!

🗓 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025

3️⃣ Pittsburgh @ West Virginia — FS1, 6:00 ET
The Backyard Brawl… Hardwood edition! This game always delivers. WVU is favored slightly, but this is effectively a toss-up.

5️⃣ Purdue @ Alabama — ESPN2, 7:00 ET
Any other week, this would be the game of the week, but for this week, it will have to settle for 2nd. Obvious Q1 for whoever wins. TKR’s health for Purdue is a very intriguing storyline here.

3️⃣ Loyola Chicago @ Wichita State — FS1, 7:30 ET
This is a very intriguing mid-major matchup with potential bubble implications for both teams!

🗓 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2025

3️⃣ High Point @ UAB — TruTV, 8:30 ET
Mid-major game of the night! High Point is solid, but so is UAB. Give me High Point to get the Q2 win here!

3️⃣ Xavier @ Iowa — FS1, 8:00 ET
Xavier could very well go into this off a loss to Santa Clara, and Iowa is a really solid squad. This would be Q1 for Xavier, but they face an uphill battle to get it. Likely Q2/3 for Iowa.

3️⃣ Northwestern @ DePaul — TruTV, 8:30 ET
The battle for Chicago! While I don’t expect these two to be NCAAT teams this year, this will be fun!

3️⃣ Michigan @ TCU — ESPN2, 9:00 ET
I love that Michigan is traveling to TCU to play this in Forth Worth. Give me Michigan to get a road win. This will border on Q1/2.

3️⃣ Providence @ Colorado — ESPN+, 9:00 ET
PC has lost their first opportunity this year, and now has to go out to Boulder. They need to win this one or there will be genuine concerns about if they can make an NCAAT run.

5️⃣ Arizona @ UCLA — Peacock, 10:00 ET
This should be a conference game. Neverless, this is going to be electric. Q1 for both.

🗓 Saturday, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025

4️⃣ Clemson @. Georgetown — Peacock, NoonET
Georgetown appears to be fully back to a tournament caliber team, however they’ve only played 2 games. Can they protect home court? Q1 for Clemson, Q2 for Georgetown.

3️⃣ Maryland @ Marquette — Peacock, 2:00 ET
While I’m not sold on either of these teams, this one has significant ramifications for whoever loses.

5️⃣ BYU vs. UConn — Boston | FOX, 7:00 ET
This “neutral” site game in Boston is going to be a great measuring stick for both teams this year. Q1 for both.

4️⃣ Oklahoma vs. Nebraska — Sanford Pengagon | BTN, 7:00 ET
This Neutral game features two teams looking for a Q1/2 borderline win! Oklahoma is coming off the loss to Gonzaga while Nebraska hasn’t yet been tested!

3️⃣ Nevada @ Santa Clara — ESPN+, 7:00 ET
A key West coast non-conference matchup. Santa Clara could have a monster week and be thrown into at-large contention. The MWC as a whole needs a good win. Plenty of storylines heading into the Leavey Center!

3️⃣ Bradley @ San Francisco — ESPN+, 10:00 ET
This Is a very interesting mid-major matchup with some potential bubble ramifications for USF!

There are multiple other games that I have not listed here for Saturday!

🗓 Sunday, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2025

3️⃣ Notre Dame @ Ohio State — FS1, 12:30 ET
Both of these teams have bubble hopes. This is their chance to prove they are actual contenders rather than pretenders.

3️⃣ USF @ Kennesaw State — ESPN+, 2:00 ET
First and Foremost, I love that USF is doing this. RIP Amir Abdur-Rahim. Expect this to be a very close matchup as well!

5️⃣ Houston @ Auburn — Birmingham | ESPN, 3 ET
This matchup would’ve been so much bigger if Bruce were here, nevertheless, give me all of the neutral site games like this! Q1 for both!

3️⃣ Akron @ Purdue —BTN, 7:30 ET
I love regional matchups like these! Curious to see what Purdue looks like here if they lose to Alabama.

4️⃣ Florida @ Miami — Jacksonville | ESPN, 8:30 ET
The battle for the sunshine state… on a neutral court! Q1 for both teams.

💡 FINAL THOUGHTS

Every day there are matchups that I have left off of this list that belong on this list. However, I’m really trying to give you all something that shows the most impactful games of each day. However, we will always have massive upsets like we saw in week 1 (looking at you Boise).

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