Preseason Tourneys Starting

College Basketball season has started and the preseason tournaments are getting started.

I love college basketball. In January, February, and March I treat college bball like football. I sit down at noon and can watch games all day long.

But I am not an expert on the sport. I know twice as much about football as I do basketball.

I grew up a Kentucky fan but haven't been a fan of theirs for years. I now root for Villanova and love the Big East.

Most people enjoy watching the ACC the most but I personally would be happy watching only Big East play. The ACC is second followed by the Big 12. After that I would say the A-10 is ahead of the Big 10, SEC, and PAC-10 in my interests. I know the PAC-10 has good teams and good games but its on the west coast which means I rarely get to see the games.

Basically what I am saying is I have no idea who is going to win anything. This post is not a season preview with picks cause I just don't have a damn clue who will be left standing in Detroit.

But this is a preview of the preseason tourneys and which ones you should watch.

So here you go:

Coaches vs Cancer (ESPN2)
Nov 10-14, 20-21
New York

This isn't very good to be honest. There are only 2 teams ranked in the current top 25 in this tournament which means it should be an entertaining final. Those teams are Duke and UCLA. Other teams worth mentioning would be Southern Illinois (picked to finish 2nd in MVC) and Miami (Ohio) (first in the MAC East).

Overall I give it a







CBE Classic (ESPN2)
Nov 14-20, 24-25
Kansas City

This is a little better than the previous one but not much. There is only 1 team in the top 25, Kansas. And they are barely in at #24. Other than that you have Syracuse, Washington, and Florida. After that there really isn't anything. So while they are bigger name programs they are still a little unknown.

Overall I give it







NIT Season Tip-Off (ESPN2)
Nov 17-18, 26, 28
Championship in New York

Not bad to see here. This tournament is one of the better ones usually even if the names aren't always top notch. Ranked teams involved are Davidson, Oklahoma, and Purdue. Other mentionable teams are UAB (2nd in CUSA), Arizona, and Cornell (projected #1 in Ivy league). All in all a decent tournament that is worth watching the final 3 or 4 games.

I give it a






Legends Classic (HDNet)
Nov 20-23, 28-29
Championship in Newark, NJ

Another piss poor attempt and having a tournament in my opinion. One really good team in Pittsburgh and a decent team in Washington State. But after that you get a bad Texas Tech team, Mississippi State (3rd in SEC West), and Akron (2nd in MAC East). Really not worth watching unless a team beats Pitt. But really Pitt should roll here.

I give it a







Puerto Rico Tip-Off (ESPN2)
Nov 20-23
Guess where....Puerto Rico

Actually a decent tournament if you to watch. Most games are on ESPNU. Memphis and USC are both top 25 teams. Xavier and Virginia Tech both have decent teams this year. After that it is rough though with average or below average teams.

Overall I give it a







Paradise Jam (FSN)
Nov 21-24
U.S. Virgin Islands

This is another pretty good tournament. Miami (Fl), Wisconsin, and Connecticut are all in the top 25. Southern Miss (5th in CUSA), Valparaiso (3rd in Horizon), and San Diego (3rd in WCC) all are decent teams that should make the tournament competitive.

I give it a






Maui Invitational (ESPN/ESPN2)
Nov 24-26
Maui, Hawaii (shocking)

Year after year this is one of (if not the) best tournaments to watch. This year it is probably the second best tourney. The teams this year include 3 Top 10 teams in North Carolina, Texas, and Notre Dame. And to make it competitive Alabama (2nd in SEC West) and St. Joe's (5th in A10) are invited. Rounding out the field is a weak Indiana team and Oregon and Chaminade.

Good tourney though and I will be watching





Anaheim Classic (ESPN2)
Nov 27-30
Guess (Anaheim)

Another decent tourney this year. 2 top 25 teams in Arizona State and Wake Forest. Baylor (3rd in Big 12), St. Mary's (2nd in WCC), Charlotte (3rd in A10), and UTEP (4th in CUSA) round out a nice field.

I give it a






Old Spice Classic (ESPN/ESPN2)
Nov 27-30
Orlando Florida

In my opinion this is the best tournament this year. You have 4 Top 25 teams including 2 in the Top 10. Gonzaga and Michigan State are Top 10 teams and Georgetown and Tennessee are the other 2 top 25 teams. Oklahoma St (5th in Big 12) and Siena (1st in the MAAC) are two other good teams here.

Overall I think it is the best





There are other tournaments but they aren't really worth mentioning.

Enjoy!!