Five Early-Season Games to Watch

Most of the first week is a buy game. These five are not. Rankings are ESPN’s way-too-early list.

1. No. 18 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida — Monday, Nov. 2

This is the real opener. ESPN has it as the tip of the season, the No. 1 team in the country against an ACC roster on night one. Florida is the defending standard. Miami is the first team that has to prove a November ranking is not a press release. Army at Duke is on the same slate. That one is a buy game. This one is not.

2. No. 12 Virginia vs. No. 10 Arkansas — Sunday, Nov. 8, Washington, D.C.

Capital Showcase, ESPN, neutral floor.Virginia was 17th in KenPom defense and brings back Thijs de Ridder, the All-ACC freshman who averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. Arkansas is a top-10 team in the early poll and still playing at Bud Walton the rest of the month. This is the first time de Ridder has to score against an SEC frontcourt. Friday’s exhibition against Richmond will not answer it.

3. No. 2 Duke vs. No. 8 Michigan State — Tuesday, Nov. 10, Chicago

State Farm Champions Classic at the United Center. Duke is the No. 2 team in the country. Michigan State returns Jeremy Fears Jr., who led the nation in assists, and a roster that was 23rd in KenPom offense. Belmont at Cameron on Thursday is a scrimmage. This is the first game that can move a ranking.

4. No. 25 Kansas vs. No. 22 Kentucky — Tuesday, Nov. 10, Chicago

The other half of the doubleheader. Kansas has Tre White back if the Indiana injunction holds, plus the freshmen Bill Self is building around. Kentucky is in the same building, same night, with a roster that is younger than the one that closed last season. Two blue bloods, one floor, no home court. That is the opener the sport actually sells.

5. No. 1 Florida at Florida State — Tuesday, Nov. 10

Same night as Chicago, and the better in-state game. Florida is No. 1. Florida State just added Anthony Robinson II from Missouri, the SEC All-Defensive guard, and plays Mississippi State in Pensacola on Saturday as the dress rehearsal. If the Seminoles cannot get a stop in Tallahassee, the 56th-ranked offense they brought back is not the problem. The defense is.Villanova against Notre Dame in Rome on November 1 is the actual first game on the calendar. It is not one of these five. The five above are the ones that can change a KenPom number before Thanksgiving.