The college basketball season is only a few days old, but two of the marquee games of the season come on Tuesday, when four of the nation’s top five teams face off in Chicago (No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 2 Michigan State, No. 4 Duke vs. No. 5 Kansas). The undercard of the evening’s schedule features multiple New York teams traveling to play what also will likely be their most challenging games of the season, against some of the nation’s most storied programs.
Fordham (1-0) at No. 8 Syracuse (1-0), (ESPN3, 7:30 p.m.)
The new-look Rams get their toughest challenge early in their non-conference schedule, taking on the Orange at the Carrier Dome. Fordham freshman guard Jon Severe lived up to his tremendous hype in the season-opening win over St. Francis (Pa.) with a memorable record-setting debut, scoring 28 points and hitting 7-of-10 3-pointers. The reigning Mr. New York Basketball will get his first chance on a big stage, matching up against Syracuse’s heralded freshman guard Tyler Ennis.
LIU Brooklyn (1-0) at Indiana (1-0), (Big Ten, 6 p.m.)
The three-time defending NEC champions take on the defending Big Ten champions, but neither team is nearly as loaded as last season. Blackbirds senior point guard Jason Brickman is on his way to retaining his title as the nation’s leader in assists after handing out 14 in the season-opening win over St. Peter’s, but the Hoosiers’ superior frontline size will give undersized LIU some serious problems. The Blackbirds will need to continue their impressive outside shooting, after hitting 11-of-24 3-pointers on Saturday.
Hofstra (1-1) at No. 3 Louisville (1-0), (ESPN3, 7 p.m.)
The Pride rebounded from an 88-84 season-opening loss to Monmouth by earning a convincing win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, but new coach Joe Mihalich and his rebuilding program take on a program at its peak — Rick Pitino’s defending national champions. Hofstra, which has to figure out a way to slow Brooklyn native Russ Smith, could see its chances for a monumental upset get even tougher, as Louisville junior forward Chase Behanan will be back from suspension and is expected to dress for the game.