This week’s viewing guide is going to look a bit different from what I’ve done to start the year. With so many moving parts and fluid matchups, providing a true day-by-day breakdown just isn’t practical. Instead, each matchup will still receive the standard 1–5 rating, and I’m adding additional metrics and context wherever it enhances the analysis.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let me know what you like, what you don’t, and what you’d like to see added or improved—your feedback genuinely shapes how I build these each week.

📊 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. The number in parentheses for each team is their Kenpom ranking. This is just a general guidance until we get to the NET inDecember!

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

5️⃣ Must-Watch
National-impact game; typically Q1 vs. Q1.

4️⃣ High-Level Matchup
Strong game with postseason or résumé relevance.

3️⃣ Notable/Competitive
High quality mid-major matchup and/or solid high-major game

2️⃣ Worth Monitoring
Intrigue, rivalry angle, or stylistic fun; Typically the solid mid-major matchups will go here.

1️⃣ Minimal Impact
Not a major bracket game, but includes a fun storyline or a mid/low major game of interest

Monday:

Players Era 

4️⃣ Tennessee (13) vs. Rutgers (127) 1:00 TNT

4️⃣ Creighton (51) vs. Baylor (20) – 2:00, truTVV

4️⃣ Notre Dame (73) vs. Kansas (28)- 3:30, TNT

5️⃣ St. John’s (16) vs. Iowa State (11) – 4:30, truTV

4️⃣ Syracuse (60) vs. Houston (4) – 6:00, TNT

4️⃣ Oregon (58) vs. Auburn (22) – 8:00, truTV

5️⃣ Gonzaga (3) vs. Alabama (17)- 9:30, TNT

5️⃣ San Diego State (42) vs. Michigan (15) – 10:30, truTV

4️⃣ UNLV (98) vs. Maryland (66) – 11:59 TNT 

Everyone is throwing a fit about how Maui and Atlantis and the other tournaments are dead. However, while that’s true, the Players Era is absolutely elite and is going to continue to grow. 9 total matchups today and I want to watch every single one of them. Every game, excluding maybe UNLV/Maryland features a team (or two teams) who will clearly be NCAA tournament teams! Game of the day: Gonzaga/Alabama! 

Coconut Hoops

2️⃣Troy (111) vs. Toledo (159) – 11:00 

1️⃣ Oral Roberts (305) vs. FGCU (144) – 7:00

The Coconut Hoops MTE is going to be pretty fun overall. These are some really solid mid-majors and should provide some fun competition! 

ESPN Events Invitational (Adventure bracket) 

2️⃣ Liberty (82) vs. Vermont (173) – 1:30, ESPNU

2️⃣ Princeton (221) vs. Bradley (136) – 7:00, ESPNU

Liberty is a real solid squad and will likely run through this MTE, but these games should be really fun, especially Liberty vs. Vermont!

Maui

3️⃣ Seton Hall (87) vs. NC State (19) – 2:30, ESPN2

3️⃣ USC (24) vs. Boise State (59) – 5:00, ESPN2

3️⃣ Arizona State (85) vs. Texas (40) – 11:30, ESPN2

Maui, while not necessarily extremely as great overall, is still going to produce some fun matchups! NC State is the clear favorite, but USC could provide some intrigue, and Texas isn’t a pushover. I expect to see sold games, despite the bit of lackluster names in the tournament!

Cayman Islands

2️⃣  Middle Tennessee (149) vs. George Washington (62) – 5:00

2️⃣ Murray State (113) vs. McNeese (89) – 7:30

Sunshine Slam – Beach Division

2️⃣  Ohio (198) vs. George Mason (84) – 6:00, CBSSN

2️⃣  Loyola Marymount (110) vs. FAU (120) – 8:30, CBSSN

Overall, the beach division of the Sunshine Slam will provide some solid matchups all week, and CBSSN should be on one of your screens each night! All 4 of these teams are in play for NCAAT AQ opportunities and this could help with seeding. These are key matchups for both the WCC and A-10 if they want at-large bids as well!

Non-MTE

2️⃣ Eastern Kentucky (265) @ Northern Kentucky (226) – 7:00, ESPN+ 

• This is a battle of directional KY schools, and a matchup that is relatively even. NKU has looked a bit better than EKU to start the year, but this will be telling for both. I’ll be in person for this one! 

Tuesday

Sunshine Slam – Ocean Division: 

2️⃣ Consolation @ 11AM, championship @ 1:00. Teams: Stony Brook, Pacific, Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman. There could be some solid matchups here!

Sunshine Slam – Beach Division: 

3️⃣ Consolation game @ 5, Championship @ 7:30, CBSSN

Fort Myers tip-Off – Beach Division: 

2️⃣ Michigan State (18) vs. ECU (245) – 1:00, FS2

3️⃣ St. Bonaventure (119) vs. North Carolina (27)- 6:00, FS1 

Players Era: 

3️⃣ Rutgers (127) vs. Notre Dame (73)- 1:00, TNT

4️⃣ Iowa State (10) vs. Creighton (51) – 2:00, truTV

4️⃣ Syracuse (60) vs. Kansas (28) – 3:30, TNT

4️⃣St. John’s (16) vs. Baylor (20) – 5:00, truTV

5️⃣ Tennessee (13) vs. Houston (4) – 6:00, TNT

5️⃣ Michigan (15) vs. Auburn (21) – 8:30, TNT

3️⃣ Maryland (66) vs. Gonzaga (3) – 9:30, truTV

4️⃣ San Diego State (42) vs. Oregon (58) – 11:00, TNT

3️⃣ UNLV (98) vs. Alabama (17) – 11:59, truTV

Rinse and repeat with the Players Era matchups again today! All but 1 game involve a team expected to be a solid seed in the NCAAT this year, and that is the 1:00 tip between Rutgers and Notre Dame. Very excited to see Iowa State/Creighton, Tennessee vs. Houston and Michigan vs. Auburn!

4️⃣ ESPN Events invitational – Adventure bracket

Semifinals and loser bracket games, starting at noon. 

Acrisure Holiday invitational 

2️⃣ Northern Iowa (93) vs. Loyola Chicago (243) – 4:00, CBSSN

• UNI is solid and Loyola has been very poor to start the year. Give me UNI to roll.

Acrisure Classic: 

4️⃣ Ole Miss (34) vs. Iowa (29) – 9:30, CBSSN

• I’m very happy we get these two matching up against each other. Both are relatively unproven and this game will be very telling for both!

3️⃣ Utah (122) vs. Grand Canyon (100) – 11:59, CBSSN

• Utah has not impressed. I’m taking GCU to win this outright to help them get back on track!

Maui: 

4️⃣ Semifinals and losers bracket games today at 2:30, 5:30, 8:00 and 10:30. 

Cayman Islands Classic 

3️⃣ George Washington (62) vs. Murray State (113) – 7:30 

• Potentially a really good win for Murray, and another solid opportunity for the A-10 as a whole here for George Washington.

Empire Classic: 

2️⃣ UCLA (22) vs. Cal (78) – 10:00, ESPN

• UCLA should roll here, but UCLA hasn’t;t looked great overall on the year.

Non-MTE: 

5️⃣ Kansas State (49) vs. Indiana (25) – 8:00, FS1

• This is the kind of matchup that many probably wouldn’t think of being a huge game to start the year, but both teams have had fantastic starts, and this game suddenly has a lot of meaning!

2️⃣ Oakland (177) vs. Montana (150) – 9:00, ESPN+

• This is the definition of a really fun mid-major matchup! I expect this one to be a close game throughout! Love that Kampe is going out to play them in MT!

Wednesday: 

Players Era: 

Times and matchups to be determined. Every team will play their 3rd game today, but will depend on Monday/Tuesday results! I will have updates on X as we learn the matchups. regardless, I expect them to be ELITE. 

ESPN Events Invitational – Adventure Bracket 

Championship and consolation bracket games today, starting at Noon

Battle 4 Atlantis: 

3️⃣ Vanderbilt (14) vs. Western Kentucky (145) – Noon, ESPN

3️⃣ VCU (54) vs. South Florida (79) – 2:0, ESPN2

3️⃣ Virginia Tech (56) vs. Colorado State (76) – 5:00, ESPNU

3️⃣ Saint Mary’s (26) vs. Wichita State (91) – 7:30, ESPN2

Atlantis, while not as prolific as previous iterations, still packs a massive punch! Each of Vanderbilt, VCU, Saint Mary’s and Virginia Tech are vying for a NCAAT bid, and they could all use 3 wins this week! If VCU is able to impress, it could really help themselves and the A-10 as a whole!

Cancun Challenge 

3️⃣  South Dakota State (135) vs. UC Irvine (132)

Acrisure Classic and Acrisure Holiday Invitational 

Championship and consolation games 

Coconut Hoops – Royal Palm Division 

Consolation bracket games and championship games – starting at 11:00. 

Maui

Championship @ 2:30 PM

Non-MTE:

2️⃣ Wofford (225) vs. Northern Kentucky (226) – 2:00, ESPN+

2️⃣ Miami (OH) (125) vs. UNC Greensboro (270) – 2:00 – in Ft. Myers

• Both of these non-MTE games should provide some fun matchups and storylines to monitor throughout the day!

Thursday

Battle 4 Atlantis: 

Semi-finals and consolation games, starting at noon on ESPN!

ESPN Events Invitational – Magic Bracket 

4️⃣ BYU (9) vs Miami (46) – 5:00, ESPN

4️⃣ Georgetown (77) vs. Dayton (67) – 7:30, ESPN2

This bracket in the ESPN Events Invitational is absolutely ELITE. BYU should beat Miami, but that Georgetown vs. Dayton matchup will be close. Both teams would greatly benefit from a win here and a chance to get to play BYU!

ESPN Events Invitational – Imagination Bracket

2️⃣ Richmond (101) vs. Furman (163) – 11:00, ESPN2

• This bracket is kind of meh, but this matchups has the potential to be entertaining!

Fort Myers tip-Off – Beach Division 

3️⃣ St. Bonaventure (119) vs. ECU (245) – Noon, FS1

5️⃣ North Carolina (27) vs. Michigan State (18) – 4:30, FOX

• I love that we get UNC vs. Michigan State. This matchup will be the perfect desert for the country! Must-Watch! SBU should roll against ECU.

Acrisure Holiday Classic 

3️⃣ San Francisco (72) vs. Colorado (86) – 2:00, CBSSN

4️⃣ Washington (53) vs. Nevada (109) – 4:30, CBSSN

This bracket is intriguing. Both USF, Nevada and Washington are looking for tournament bids, and these couple of games are vital to their hopes. I’d expect high-energy and intensity in both!

Acrisure Invitational: 

4️⃣ Santa Clara (55) vs. Saint Louis (52) – 7:00, CBSSN

3️⃣ Stanford (92) vs. Minnesota (103) – 9:30, CBSSN

• Whoever put Santa Clara and Saint Louis in this game deserves a raise. I’m absolutely stoked to watch that and the entire country should tune in. Both are NCAAT caliber teams!

Rady Children’s Invitational 

3️⃣ TCU (80) vs. Florida (5) – 3:00, FS1

4️⃣ Wisconsin (23) vs. Providence (61) – 5:30, FS1

• Both matchups here have important tournament implications, Florida and Wisconsin are expected to be NCAAT teams, but Providence (and to a lesser extent TCU), figure to be bubbly. These present huge opportunities.

CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic 

5️⃣ Duke (1) vs. Arkansas (36) – 8:00, CBS

• Shoutout to CBS Sports for ensuring this one happens. This is absolutely amazing and will be very fun to watch! I give Duke the nod here.

3️⃣ Oklahoma State (57) vs. Northwestern (47) – 10:30, Peacock

• Solid Nightcap. Both teams are playing above what was expected of them to start the year.

Friday: 

Battle 4 Atlantis:

3rd games for each team, including championship Starting 10:30AM 

ESPN Events Invitational:

Imagination Bracket games starting 12:30

Magic Bracket games to follow 

Bad Boy Mowers Series (Chicago)

3️⃣  Oklahoma (64) vs. Marquette (75) – 2:00, NBC

• I love this matchup, and both teams really need this. Marquette is desperate coming into this one.

Rady Children’s Invitational: 

Consolation games and championship starting at 3:00 on FOX

Acrisure Holiday Classic and Invitational: 

Consolation and Championship games – Starting at 2:00 ET 

Emerald Coast Classic: 

2️⃣ LSU (35) vs. Drake (140) – 9:30, CBSSN

• Drake might have enough to pull this off!

Non-MTE: 

5️⃣ UConn (11) vs. Illinois (7) (MSG) – 12:30, FOX

• Both teams have been wildly impressive to start the year, Illinois a bit more-so, this is going to feel like an elite 8 type of game!

3️⃣ Wright State (156) vs. Butler (48) – 2:00, ESPN+

• I am a massive proponent that the high majors should play more regional mid-majors. Well done Butler!

3️⃣ Navy (162) @ UNC Wilmington (117) – 3:00, FLOSports

• UNC Wilmington is always solid, and this year, Navy is also good. Too bad it’s on FloSports so no one will see it

4️⃣ Texas A&M (65) vs. Florida State (63)(Tampa) – 5:00, ESPN2

• Florida State has been impressive to start the year, and A&M has been disappointing. This is a chance for FSU to announce they’re legit!

3️⃣ Ohio State (33) @ Pittsburgh (97) – 7:00, ESPN

• Pitt is desperate for this win. For OSU, this would be a borderline Q1 game on the road!

Saturday: 

Overall, Saturday is lighter intentionally because of the final day of the regular season for college football. This is the last truly down Saturday of the year though! 

1️⃣ Morehead State (304) @ IU Indianapolis (343_ – 2:00, ESPN+

2️⃣ Lipscomb (216) @ SEMO (256) – 3:00, ESPN+

1️⃣ Bellarmine (309) @ Northern Illinois (254) – 3:00, ESPN+

2️⃣ La Salle (232) vs. Penn (217) (Palestra) – 4:30, ESPN+

1️⃣ Sacramento State (283) @ Pacific (188) – 10:00, ESPN+

Emerald Coast Classic 

Consolation games and championship game starting at 4:00

Sunday: 

This is a relatively light slate as well, but there are a handful of really solid mid-major matchups on deck!

2️⃣ Merrimack (261) vs. La Salle (232) (Palestra) – noon, ESPN+

2️⃣ App State (215) @ UNC Asheville (239) – 1:30, ESPN+

3️⃣ Yale (83) @ Vermont (173) – 2:00, ESPN+

2️⃣ Hofstra (148) vs. Penn (217) (Palestra) – 2:30, ESPN+

2️⃣ Belmont (104) @ Charleston (179) – 3:30, FloSports

2️⃣ UC Irvine (132) @ San Jose State (153) – 5:00, MWN

This is going to be an absolutely chaotic week and one where we see the entire landscape of the college hoops season start to take shape for the year! But also, don’t forget to take some time for family! I’m thankful for all of you!

Make sure to let me know if you have any suggestions for this content, or any further content you want to see!