Women's basketball watchlist: 11/9 edition

The women’s basketball season has arrived. It’s a great day of hoops, so let’s keep it going. 

BE SEATED AT ALL COSTS

These are the games you’re going to want to skip NFL for – the ones that will tell us a whole lot about the best of the best.

12pm: Harvard at Michigan (Big Ten+)

We’ve got an early afternoon matchup that has the potential to be really fun. Michigan obviously, as a Top 15 team, has the edge here. But Harvard is an Ivy League program that has the potential to give P5s some trouble.

Head coach Carrie Moore is also from the state of Michigan and worked as an assistant coach for the Wolverines, so this will surely be a special matchup for her.

What I’m excited to see: How Michigan handles their first challenge of the year

3pm: USC vs. NC State (ESPN)

Now this is certainly the game of the day. NC State is coming off a ranked win over Tennessee and I’m curious to see how they respond against a new-look USC squad. This is also a great litmus test for the Trojans, who have several new pieces and will be tested often this season.

What I’m excited to see: USC freshman Jazzy Davidson in a big-time matchup and how NC State comes off a major victory

4:30pm: Florida State at UConn (FS1)

I don’t see this game being all that close, but who knows? Florida State has a brand-new team and will certainly be motivated to make a statement against the No. 1 team in the country. Regardless, it’s a fun game that I’ll certainly be watching.

What I’m excited to see: Florida State’s new look being tested at the highest level

THIS COULD BE COMPETITIVE/FUN

These matchups are more than just your run-of-the-mill easy blowouts. While some of them have the potential to be, these games are an opportunity to see good teams test themselves early. 

1pm: Georgetown at Maryland (Big Ten+)

1pm: Illinois State at Illinois (Big Ten+)

2pm: Charlotte at UCF (ESPN+)

2pm: Princeton at Georgia Tech (ACC Extra)

2:30pm: Gonzaga at Toledo (ESPN+)

5pm: Creighton at Drake (ESPN+)

5pm: DePaul at UNLV

A DECENT LOOK AND/OR AT OPTIMAL TIMES

These games will either be a solid look at a P5 team or they just fall at optimal times. If you’re in need of basketball to watch all day (like me), these are games to add to your list. 

11am: Le Moyne at Lafayette (ESPN+)

12pm: Columbia at Ohio (ESPN+)

12pm: UMass Lowell at Boston College (ACC Extra)

1pm: Holy Cross at Duke (ACC Extra)

1pm: Coppin State at Ohio State (Big Ten+)

2pm: Bucknell at Virginia (ACC Extra)

2pm: VCU at Villanova

2pm: Stony Brook at Rutgers (Big Ten+)

4pm: UC Irvine at Arizona (ESPN+)

5pm: Northern Iowa at Saint Louis (ESPN+)

6pm: Oral Roberts at Oklahoma State (ESPN+)

8pm: Sam Houston at TCU (ESPN+)

10pm: Sacramento State at Cal (ACC Extra)

WATCH YOUR TEAM WIN A BLOWOUT

The rest of the games here will likely provide no true competitive value – but you never know. These games are just a look at some P5’s playing teams they should beat with ease. 

2pm: LSU at Georgia Southern (ESPN+)

2pm: Sacred Heart at Iowa State (ESPN+)

2pm: Northern Kentucky at Louisville (ACC Extra)

2pm: Eastern Michigan at Michigan State (Big Ten+)

2pm: Kentucky at Buffalo (ESPN+)

2pm: Hampton at Wake Forest (ACC Extra)

2pm: Loyola (MD) at Virginia Tech (ACC Extra)

3pm: Tennessee at UT Martin (ESPN+)

3pm: Chicago State at Notre Dame 

3pm: Lindenwood at Baylor (ESPN+)

3pm: Evansville at Iowa (Big Ten+)

3pm: Northwestern State at Kansas (ESPN+)

3pm: Texas State at Texas Tech (ESPN+)

3pm: MVSU at Mississippi State (SECN+)

4pm: Cal Poly at Stanford (ACC Extra)