Today marks the first day of a glorious week and-a-half period where quality college basketball games will be on the tube at virtually every hour of the day. This is about as close as we'll get to early March until, well, early March.
Here's what you have to look forward to (or look forward to missing) today:
Puerto Rico Shootout: VCU vs. Houston (9 a.m./ESPNU)
Eric Maynor, he of March 2007 dominance, leads the Rams in what is their only chance to make a real splash on the national scene before the postseason. To do so they're going to have to get by a Houston team that many believe will make the NCAA Tournament, and control the explosive Robert McKiver, a player who may very well be the only non-Memphis Tiger on C-USA's First-Team.
Puerto Rico Shootout: Marist vs. Miami (FL) (11 a.m./ESPNU)
Jared Jordan is gone (sigh), but the Red Foxes have enough talent to keep this one fun for a while. Frank Haith believes this Miami team will finish in the top half of the ACC and advance to the Big Dance. That's a pretty lofty goal, but beating some quality teams in San Juan would be a good start.
Puerto Rico Shootout: Providence vs. Temple (2:30/ESPNU)
Our first chance to see a Providence club that a lot of people are predicting to be the surprise of the conference. Temple still isn't back to being the Temple we've become acclimated with the past 15 years or so, but they're good enough to push Geoff McDermott and company. The Owls' Dionte Christmas shut-down Chris Lofton last week, and he'll look to do the same thing to Weyinmi Efejuku this afternoon.
Puerto Rico Shootout: Charleston vs. Arkansas (4:30/ESPNU)
Bobby Cremins is coming off of a very successful first season in Charleston, and looks like he has a team that should contend for the SoCon title. Arkansas looks like it may very well be the team best suited to challenge Tennessee in the SEC. Patrick Beverley alone is worth flipping this game on once you get home from work.
2K Sports Hoops Classic: Gardner-Webb vs. Connecticut (7 p.m./ESPN2)
It's going to be very hard not to throw conference loyalties out the window and root for the underdog. The Runnin' Bulldogs kept the mojo flowing on Tuesday when they blew out North Greenville 99-74 in their home opener.
2K Sports Hoops Classic: Memphis vs. Oklahoma (9 p.m./ESPN2)
The Tigers looked a little vulnerable in their regional, while the Sooners have won their first three games by an average of just under 30 points. What does that mean? Memphis is still probably going to win.
For your full television schedule of happiness, click here.
Enjoy it.