Back And Forth: And So It Begins…
Posted by Judson Harten on November 14th, 2014Each week, RTC columnist Judson Harten will profile some of the week’s biggest upcoming games by taking a look back at some relevant history relating to the match-ups. This is Back And Forth.
The wait is over. Tonight, Division I college basketball teams will begin taking on other Division I basketball teams in games that actually count. Admittedly, the Friday slate isn’t exactly full of marquee match-ups, but all the top teams will start play this weekend. With that in mind, Back And Forth reviewed some of the best early season games among schools in the preseason top six over the past 20 years. One caveat: I did my best to avoid preseason tournament games (with one program, given the circumstances, I made an exception.) I think you’ll be surprised at some of these, both good and bad, and how they either affected each team’s eventual season outcome.
No. 1 Kentucky — 2014-15 season opening game – vs. Grand Canyon, Friday, 8:00 PM EST
THE GAME: 72-70 win vs. Miami (Ohio), 11/16/09
Despite all the success of the John Calipari Era, the start to his tenure in Lexington wasn’t easy. A loaded roster featuring future #1 pick John Wall along with first round picks DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Eric Bledsoe and Patrick Patterson had trouble with the Redhawks in just their second game of the season. In the end, Miami’s Kenny Hayes hit a three-pointer to tie the game with six seconds left, but Wall – playing in his Kentucky debut after being suspended by the NCAA for acccepting extra benefits – gave Big Blue Nation a glimpse of his talent, hitting a stepback jumper with 0.5 seconds left to avoid the upset. The Wildcats finished the 2009-10 season at 35-3, losing in the Elite Eight to West Virginia but setting into motion the revival of Kentucky basketball
No. 2 Arizona – 2014-15 season-opening game – vs. Mt. St. Mary’s, Friday, 8:00 PM EST
THE GAME: 73-72 win vs. Tennessee, 11/13/98
In the team’s season opener of the 1998-99 season, then-No. 18 Arizona held off the Volunteers thanks to Eugene Edgerson’s free throws with 2:04 left, forcing the Vols into a turnover on one possession and blocking two shots from close range — one a dunk that was blocked by Justin Wessel — with less than a minute left. A final shot by Brandon Wharton missed as the Wildcats held on in a thriller. Jason Terry went for 26 points in the win as the Wildcats went on to a 22-7 record and a first round exit in the NCAA Tournament, that one-point game (61-60) failing to go their way.
No. 3 Wisconsin – 2014-15 season-opening game – vs. Northern Kentucky, Friday, 9:00 PM EST
THE GAME: 66-55 win vs. no. 9 Missouri, 11/12/99
This was really the first of an opening gauntlet for the Badgers that you don’t see that much anymore. The Badgers started with a solid win over a top 10 Tigers’ team as Mark Vershaw finished with a team-high 19 points and the team shot 50 percent from the floor. That was just Wisconsin’s first game against a Top 25 team in consecutive days, as the Badgers played Syracuse and lost 68-49 the next night in their final game of the NABC Classic in the Carrier Dome. The tough season-opening competition helped Dick Bennett’s team in the long run, as the long-suffering Badgers returned to the Final Four for the first time since they won the program’s only national title in 1941.
No. 4 Duke – 2014-15 season-opening game – vs. Presbyterian, Friday, 6:00 PM EST
THE GAME: 121-55 win vs. North Carolina Central, 11/9/07
Seven players finished in double figures for the Blue Devils, which opened their 2007-08 season with a bang against the overmatched Eagles. In all honesty, this is the one season-opening game of note that stood out for Duke, which tends to start the season with the guaranteed-win games. Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s (FIRST TRY) squad shot 57.4 percent from the field and hit 27-of-32 free throws in an impressive performance. It’s pretty much the kind of game you’d expect from the Duke teams of recent memory.
No. 5 Kansas – 2014-15 season-opening game – vs. UC Santa Barbara, Friday, 8:00 PM EST
THE GAME – 78-71 loss vs. Oral Roberts, 11/19/06
Marchello Vealy had the game of his life for the Golden Eagles, hitting 7-of-8 three-pointers on his way to 22 points as Oral Roberts shocked the Jayhawks in Allen Fieldhouse. What went wrong with Kansas? Well, they didn’t defend the three, for one thing. Oral Roberts shot 57.9 percent from deep and gave Kansas coach and former ORU head man, Bill Self, fits all night long. This Kansas team was packed with several future regular pros (Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Sherron Collins, Julian Wright), but showed it had a long way to go that season. The Jayhawks still managed to go 33-5 and made it to the Elite Eight that season before falling to UCLA.
No. 6 North Carolina – 2014-15 season-opening game- vs. North Carolina Central, Friday, 8:00 PM
THE GAME: 77-66 loss vs. Santa Clara, 11/19/04
If there ever was a big difference from the beginning of the season to the end it was this Tar Heels’ team. On the same night of the Malice in the Palace in Detroit, the season opener for Roy Williams’ eventual national champions was a disaster, as North Carolina shot 36.5 percent from the field, were out-rebounded by five and allowed the Broncos to shoot 50 percent from the field. Rashad McCants went for 20 points and fouled out, while Sean May added 19 and 9 rebounds, but Raymond Felton sat out the game for playing in an unsanctioned summer league game. UNC fans considered it an early wake-up call, as the Tar Heels went on to a 33-4 record and, well, won Roy Williams’ first national title. Not a bad outcome.
It’s going to be a great night. Let’s all enjoy it. And remember, no matter what happens over the opening weekend, it’s a long season (as Kansas and UNC can attest.)
