Here's hoping that the Carrier Classic becomes an annual event..

LEADING OFF

The start of college basketball increases my heart rate in any year, but I'm particularly enthusiastic for this year. I don't root against the NBA, but its lockout puts college hoops front and center. There's a lot of good teams and interesting players.
On top of that I think UMass will be at least a little better, which makes my job more interesting. So here's Week Guide No. 1.

PATH TO POSTSEASON

On the blog this season, I'll project each UMass game based on expectations and how it affects the Minutemen's chances of reaching the postseason.

* A projected win (W) means based on rankings, venue etc. The Minutemen should be considered the favorite.

* A projected loss (L) means the Minutemen would be considered the underdog in the game, that a UMass win would be considered an upset.

* A (?) means the game is too close to call right now.

These aren't my predictions as such, simply how the games would be looked at right now.

I'll adjust the projections based on UMass' performance and the performance of the opponent as the season progresses.

By postseason I mean any tournament happening after the conference tournaments are over - NCAA, NIT, CBI, CIT - I'm guessing a UMass teams with a winning record gets a bid to one of those.

UMass has 29 games on its schedule and at least one A-10 Tournament game (I'm aware that two A-10 teams won't make the tournament, but if this execise is going to be relevant, UMass has to be good enough to make the A-10 Tournament). So a winning record means at least 16 wins.

Currently: 1-0
WINS: Elon

LOSSES:

Date - Opponent - (Expected result on paper)

Tonight vs. Northeastern (W)- I think so anyway. NU was good against BU.

Thursday vs. NJIT, (W) - NJIT is nobody's idea of a tough opponents

Monday at Boston College (L) I'm not sold on the Eagles, but its been a long time since UMass beat a big six conference team.

Battle 4 Atlantis – Imperial Arena (Paradise Island, Bahamas)
Nov. 24 vs. Florida State 4:30 p.m. (L) - FSU is better than BC
Nov. 25 vs. Harvard/Utah, TBA (?) Until there's an actual opponent

Nov. 26 at Battle for Atlantis - Final Round, TBA (?) Until there's an actual opponent

Nov. 30 vs. Towson, TBA - (W) - Not much is expect from the Tigers

Dec. 3 at Miami (Fla.) 1 p.m - (L) See FSU/BC

Dec. 6 at East Carolina, (?) - I'm curious on this one
Dec. 9 at Siena (at MassMutual Center – Springfield) 8 p.m. (?)
Dec. 17 vs. Quinnipiac, (?)
Dec. 22 vs. Davidson, (?)
Dec. 28 vs. Central Connecticut,  (?)
Jan. 5 vs. Fordham*, (?)
Jan. 8 at La Salle*, (?)
Jan. 11 vs. Charlotte*, (?)
Jan. 14 vs. St. Joseph’s*,  (?)
Jan. 18 at Duquesne *, TBA(?)
Jan. 21 at Richmond*, (?)
Jan. 28 vs. Saint Louis*, (L)
Feb. 1 at Rhode Island*, (?)
Feb. 4 at George Washington*, (?)
Feb. 8 vs. St. Bonaventure*, (?)
Feb. 11 at Saint Joseph’s*, (?)
Feb. 18 vs. La Salle*, (?)
Feb. 21 vs. Xavier*, (L)
Feb. 25 at Dayton*, (?)
Feb. 29 at Temple*, (L)
Mar. 3 vs. Rhode Island*, (?)
* - Atlantic 10 game

Prognosis:
One current win. Three projected (W) . Six projected (L) and a whole lot of (?) I'd like to see UMass in action a little more before I start putting most of the A-10 games into the mix as well as some of the later nonconference games.

GAMES OF THE DAY:

MONDAY:.
TUESDAY: The start of 24 hours of basketball:
Kentucky vs. Kansas - A must-watch in any season.
Duke vs. Michigan State
No. 10 Florida vs.  No. 3 Ohio State - Rematch of the Noah-Oden title game.

Belmont at Memphis, -Belmont is among the best mid-majors out there.

WEDNESDAY: Long Beach State vs. Pitt - The 49ers will be a national recognized mid major before long this season

THURSDAY: Texas A&M vs. Miss. State at MSG - This would have looked better if MSU hadn't lost to Akron, but it should still be a good one.

FRIDAY: Davison at Duke - Not a great slate on Friday. Seth Curry vs. his brother's former team

SATURDAY: Penn State at Kentucky - Calipari plays nearby.

SUNDAY: Washington at Saint Louis - Big things are expected of the Billikens this season. This is test No. 1

Question I don't know the answer to:How can San Diego State have played three games already.

BUZZER BEATERS

The 24 hours of basketball tradition has become one of November's calendar days to circle. I'll be up at 6 a.m. for Drexel-Rider.

...seven hours til 24 hours of basketball...