College basketball: What we’re excited to see in Kentucky vs. Gonzaga, much more

Andy Katz

College Basketball Analyst & Writer

John Fanta

College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

The opening week of the college basketball season is behind us, and there have already been plenty of stunning upsets, exciting finishes and fun storylines to follow.

But things really start to heat up this week, with a host of high-profile matchups on the calendar. With a busy week ahead, there is no time to waste. 

Here’s what we’re looking forward to watching in some of the biggest matchups this week. 

WEDNESDAY

What are you going to be looking for in Iowa at Seton Hall (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app)?

Katz: Iowa has beaten up lower-level competition, but we’ve already seen the potential of Kris Murray as a go-to player, as well as the ability of Tony Perkins to take over at his guard position. The Pirates are off to a strong start under Shaheen Holloway despite their injuries. This would be the type of win for Seton Hall that would have shelf life throughout the season. If Iowa could pull off this road win, then it will likely catapult the Hawkeyes into the Top 25.

Fanta: Fran McCaffrey’s efficient motion offense against Shaheen Holloway’s high-pressure defense is going to be fun to watch. The reigning Big Ten champion Hawkeyes rank No. 5 in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, while the Pirates own the nation’s 23rd-ranked KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency. 

This showdown is also the beauty of the Gavitt Games. Iowa would never get on a plane to Newark to visit Seton Hall, and the Pirates would rather not go to Iowa City to play the Hawkeyes. It will only be the third meeting between the programs, with the other two coming on a neutral floor in 1982, and in the Gavitt Games in 2016.

While Iowa lost Keegan Murray, one of the top players in the NBA Draft, his twin brother Kris is averaging 18.0 points per game and appears poised to be the alpha. The Pirates are going to be a team that scores by committee. I’ll be very curious to see who Seton Hall runs its offense through if this is a close game. Clemson transfer Al-Amir Dawes feels like a natural choice, but Holloway has said openly that he’s still trying to figure out exactly what he has. The Pirates have six new rotation players, while the Hawkeyes, even with the departure of Murray, have more than 52% of their scoring back. Can Seton Hall’s defense frustrate Iowa’s offense? That’s the key to this game.

FRIDAY

What interests you most about No. 12 Indiana at Xavier (