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Saturday’s Pregame Shootaround: Quiet Saturday follows a loaded opening night

Kevin Ware, Rick Pitino

Louisville forward Kevin Ware answers questions as coach Rick Pitino looks on during a news conference, Wednesday April 3, 2013, at the KFC Yum! Center practice facility in Louisville, Ky. Ware was released from an Indianapolis hospital Tuesday, two days after millions watched him break his right leg on a horrifying play trying to block a shot during an NCAA college basketball regional championship game against Duke. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

AP

GAME OF THE DAY: Charleston at No. 3 Louisville, 1:00 p.m.

Charleston is one of the stronger mid-major programs out there but that doesn’t change the fact that it will be tough for the Cougars to hang with Louisville. It’s worth noting, however, that Charleston big man Adjehi Baru was actually a more highly-touted recruit coming out of high school than Montrezl Harrell, which means that the matchup between the two big boys should be fun to watch.

What makes this game worth noting is that not only will it feature the return of Kevin Ware to an actual basketball game, but it we might also see the suspended Chane Behanan dress.

MID-MAJOR MATCHUP OF THE DAY: St. Joseph’s at Vermont, 7:00 p.m.

St. Joe’s isn’t exactly a mid-major team, but for all intents and purposes, we’ll count them here. The Catamounts will be a favorite to win the America East this season, as they are every year, while the Hawks have a dangerous inside-outside duo in Langston Galloway and Ronald Roberts.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

1) No. 11 Ohio State kicks their season off at noon as the host Morgan State. We’ll get our first glimpse at how the Buckeyes are going to find the scoring to replace Deshaun Thomas.

2) Bryant was one of the most improved programs in the country a year ago and will once again be a favorite in the NEC. It will be interesting to see what happens when they visit No. 15 Gonzaga (7:00 p.m.) on Saturday evening.

3) No. 16 Wichita State couldn’t find a partner to play them in the Tip-Off Classic in Dallas on Friday, so they start their Final Four defense off against ... Emporia State?

4) No. 23 New Mexico kicks off the Craig Neal era by hosting Alabama A&M at 10:00 p.m.

5) Indiana State will be the biggest challenger to Wichita State in the Missouri Valley this season, and their season will begin at 1:05 p.m. against Ball State.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES


  • Manhattan at La Salle, 2:00 p.m.
  • Temple at Penn, 5:00 p.m.
  • Lamar at Butler, 8:00 p.m.