Must-See college basketball matchups in 2024-25

There are some households that erect Christmas trees on Halloween, and color eggs while the snow falls. And there are those homes where college basketball is a foreign concept, only remembered once college football and NFL seasons come to an end. Don't be those individuals. College hoops are back next week with exciting matchups, new standout players, and some familiar faces in unfamiliar territory. Are you ready, John Calipari? Just as the 12-team field for the college football playoff begins to narrow down, the basketball season offers a plethora of holiday tournaments with potential championship-worthy games. Early season tournaments like the Champions Classic, without Calipari coaching on Kentucky's sideline, are games to mark on your calendar. If you need some advance notice for games to circle on your early season calendar, we've got you covered: Baylor vs. Gonzaga, Nov. 4 The highly anticipated game on the first day of the season, we suggest hydrating and having some afternoon coffee to prepare for this late-night game. It's the only matchup between top-10 teams and a rematch of the 2021 national title game. No. 6 Gonzaga and No. 8 Baylor are both strong contenders this season and the pace of the game is expected to be fast-paced. This game starts at 11:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, following "Monday Night Football," and is a great opportunity to see new faces for the Bears, like freshman VJ Edgecombe, take on the experienced Bulldogs. North Carolina at Kansas, Nov. 8 A Friday night game at Phog Allen Fieldhouse is a great way to kick off the season, with two powerhouse teams capable of winning it all in March and April. Tennessee at Louisville, Nov. 9 After losing SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht to the Los Angeles Lakers as a first-round draft pick, it's up to Rick Barnes to keep Tennessee at the top of the SEC. This will be the first big game for new Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey. Kentucky vs. Duke, Nov. 12 (Atlanta) Yes, we know Kansas is also playing in this event, facing off against Michigan State in another exciting matchup. But we're most excited for the Cooper Flagg primetime game with the Wildcats. Mark Pope is now coaching in place of Calipari and has a diverse roster with a strong defensive presence and some star power. Among the new players at UK are 3-point specialist Koby Brea (Dayton), 6-11 forward Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), and 6-10 center Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State). Don't worry Jayhawks fans, we'll also be watching when Duke takes on Kansas in Las Vegas two weeks later. Duke at Arizona, Nov. 22 Welcome back, Caleb Love. The scoring guard for the Wildcats helped send Mike Krzyzewski into retirement at the 2022 Final Four with North Carolina and is still a top player to watch for Arizona. This is another top-10 matchup for Duke in November. Among the new additions to Arizona's roster is Campbell transfer Anthony Dell'Orso, who averaged 19.5 points per game last season. Keep an eye on sophomore center Motiejus Krivas for the Wildcats as well. Houston vs. Alabama, Nov. 26 (Las Vegas) Ranked No. 2 going into the season, Alabama isn't getting a lot of national attention. But No. 4 Houston knows that headlines and hype don't determine success. The Cougars may look a bit different without dynamic engine and first-team All-American Jamal Shead, but their plan remains the same: strong defense and physical play. They'll be facing off against Alabama's high-powered offense, led by preseason All-American point guard Mark Sears. Duke vs. Kansas, Nov. 26 (Las Vegas) No. 1 Kansas and presumed 2025 No. 1 draft pick Flagg should be enough to draw you in. Hunter Dickinson is back for redemption and the Jayhawks have a lot of experience on their roster. Duke's recruiting class is stacked and includes 7-foot-2 center Khaman Maluach and 6-6 wings Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel, making this a must-watch game. Baylor at UConn, Dec. 4 This game could potentially take place at the Maui Classic on Nov. 26, but it's not set in stone yet. Either way, it's a matchup between the two-time defending national champions and a strong Michigan State team. UConn may have lost some key players to the NBA, but coach Dan Hurley has made some great additions to the roster, including transfer Aiden Mahaney from Saint Mary's and a highly-touted recruiting class led by Liam McNeeley. Alabama