NEW YORK - Ten BIG EAST men's basketball teams are in action on Monday, Nov. 2 in their 2026-27 regular season openers:

• Preseason favorite UConn opens up in Hartford with a matchup against Gardner-Webb set to tip at 9 p.m. The game is part of a split admission doubleheader with the Huskies' women's basketball team, taking on Cornell at 5 p.m. on an action-packed night on Peacock.
• In between the two games, a brand new "Fanta in 60" show will air live from PeoplesBank Arena from 7:30-8:30 p.m.  The episode is highlighted by an exclusive sitdown with John Fanta, Geno Auriemma and Dan Hurley as they talk through the powerhouse programs at UConn, their coaching, and their friendship. 
• Nine games will stream on ESPN+, beginning with Georgetown hosting Loyola Maryland and Monmouth heading to Carnesecca Arena to take on St. John's at 6:30 p.m. ET  
• A trio of head coaches - Butler's Ronald Nored, Creighton's Alan Huss, and Providence's Bryan Hodgson - will be making their debuts on the sidelines with their new teams.  Butler takes on Lafayette and Providence faces Maine at 7:00 p.m.  Creighton and Kansas City tipoff at 8:00 p.m. ET
• Other ESPN+ action on Monday: Xavier hosts Mount St. Mary’s at 7:00 p.m, while Marquette takes on Mercyhurst and Seton Hall plays Saint Peter’s at 7:30 p.m.  DePaul and West Georgia will tip off at 8:00 p.m.

Monday, November 2
Peacock 
Gardner-Webb at UConn - 9:00 p.m. ET
John Fanta (pxp); Donny Marshall (analyst); Caroline Pineda (reporter)

ESPN+ 
Loyola Maryland at Georgetown - 6:30 p.m. ET
Jeremy Huber (pxp); Kion Brown (analyst)

Monmouth at St. John's - 6:30 p.m. ET
Ed Cohen (pxp); Tarik Turner (analyst)

Lafayette at Butler - 7:00 p.m. ET
Anthony Mazzini (pxp); Joey Brunk (analyst)

Maine at Providence - 7:00 p.m. ET
Jake Marsh (pxp); Vin Parise (analyst)

Mount Saint Mary's at Xavier - 7:00 p.m. ET
Paul Fritschner (pxp); Austin Parkinson (analyst)

Mercyhurst at Marquette - 7:30 p.m. ET
Josh Maurer (pxp); Jarel McNeal (analyst)

Saint Peter's at Seton Hall - 7:30 p.m. ET
Jonathan Yardley (pxp); Zendon Hamilton (analyst)

Kansas City at Creighton - 8:00 p.m. ET
Jon Schriner (pxp); Nick Bahe (analyst)

West Georgia at DePaul - 8:00 p.m. ET
Evan Stockton (pxp); Tre Demps (analyst)

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Sunday, November 1
Notre Dame 74, Villanova 72
Box Score | Highlights

• Villanova dropped its season opener in the Eternal City Tip-Off, played in the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome
• Tyler Perkins led Villanova with 18 points, connecting on five of the team's 11 3-pointers in the game
• The Wildcats led throughout much of the game, building as much as a 10-point lead - 60-50 - with 10:24 to play.
• ND outscored Villanova, 24-12, to close the game in the first matchup between the two schools since 2016
• Elijah Crawford finished with 12 points, five assists and three steals, while Devin Royal added eight rebounds and five points for the 'Cats
• The Wildcats committed 20 turnovers - the most in a game for Villanova since Dec. 1, 2019 against LaSalle (20)