Mikal Bridges and Villanova Host Columbia Friday
MBB Minute -- Season Starts With Eight Games Friday; DePaul Opens Wintrust Arena On Saturday
The 2017-18 season begins with eight BIG EAST teams in action on Friday night and DePaul playing its first game in the new Wintrust Arena on Saturday.
The first BIG EAST contest to tip has Seton Hall, ranked No. 23 in the AP and USA Today polls, hosting Fairleigh Dickinson at 6:30 p.m. ET. It’s the first game of an FS2 doubleheader. In the second tilt, No. 6/6 Villanova meets Columbia at the Wells Fargo Center at 8:30 p.m. The Wildcats will play most of their games at Wells Fargo this season while their campus home, The Pavilion, undergoes renovations.
Xavier, ranked 17th in both polls, begins with a home date against Morehead State at 7 p.m. on FSN. The Musketeers are led by Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura, who have scored a combined 2,639 points. They are the third highest scoring duo in college basketball among active players.
Providence, coming off its school-record fourth straight NCAA Tournament trip, hosts Houston Baptist on FSN at 7 p.m.
Butler begins a new era with coach LaVall Jordan when it hosts Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. on FCS. The Bulldogs were an NCAA Sweet 16 team last season.
St. John’s starts its third season with coach Chris Mullin at the helm against New Orleans at Carnesecca Arena at 7 p.m. on FCS.
Creighton and Marquette, two of the BIG EAST’s seven NCAA teams from last season play home season openers at 9 p.m.. The Bluejays battle Yale and Marquette takes on Mt. St. Mary’s. Both games will be carried on FSN.
DePaul plays its first game in the new Wintrust Arena, the state-of-the-art venue in downtown Chicago, against long-time rival Notre Dame. The Irish are ranked 14th in the AP and USA Today polls. FS1, with Brian Anderson and Bill Raftery calling the action, has the game at 4 p.m.