All the adoration around the new-look North Carolina State team was nice leading up to the season.

Now there’s some serious business for the Wolfpack at the end of the season’s first week.

UAB visits NC State for a Friday night game in Raleigh, N.C.

The Wolfpack (1-0) rolled to a 114-66 win over visiting North Carolina Central in the season opener on Monday. They are anticipating a bigger challenge from the Blazers (1-0), perhaps what NC State needs under first-year coach Will Wade.

“If you’re feeling pressure, that means you didn’t put in enough work,” Wolfpack guard Quadir Copeland said. “I feel like the work we put in this summer nobody can match. … So I feel like the stuff that we did, it prepared us for this, like these moments.”

UAB also started strong by throttling Mississippi Valley State 106-55 on Monday in Birmingham, Ala.

“Both of us are going at it with a limited knowledge base because we’re trying to figure out our own teams,” Blazers coach Andy Kennedy said. “I know we’re going to have to play really good to give ourselves a chance.”

Wade, with LSU, and Kennedy, at Ole Miss, both spent time directing Southeastern Conference teams, but they overlapped during just one season in that league.

The Blazers will expect more resistance from the Wolfpack.

“We’ll be outsized against NC State, I’m sure,” Kennedy said.

UAB will have NC State’s attention as well.

“We’ve got a much different opportunity with UAB coming here, a team that’s had a bunch of postseason success in the NCAA Tournament and NIT,” Wade said.

It was a breakout opener for UAB’s Chance Westry, a former Auburn and Syracuse player. He produced 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

“He needs it desperately because he has not been performing at the level that I know he expects,” Kennedy said. “It’s great for him.”

Led by Darrion Williams’ 19 points, NC State had seven players reach double figures in the opener, so there were plenty of feel-good moments to go around.

Williams could be the go-to player for the Wolfpack, but he shouldn’t have to do everything. Wade believed there was good balance for Williams in the first game.

“We just need to hit singles, doubles,” Wade said of Williams. “We don’t have to hit home runs all the time. And he was really, really steady.”

–Field Level Media

Missouri expects to run its offense this season through its top two returning players, forward Mark Mitchell and point guard Anthony Robinson II.

After those two combined for just 17 points in Missouri’s 88-67 season-opening victory at Howard on Monday, the Tigers (1-0) will try to get Mitchell and Robinson rolling on Friday when they host Southeast Missouri State (0-1) in Columbia, Mo.

“They are guys that’s at the top of the scouting report,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said, “and sometimes that will take place. Teams will load up and not allow our two best players to perform in a way. And the best part of it is we were able to see how deep our team is, and guys were able to be on the other side of that.”

With Mitchell held to nine points and Robinson scoring just eight against the Bison, center Shawn Phillips Jr. stepped up with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Phillips, a transfer from Arizona State, built on the success (14 points, 10 rebounds) he had against Kansas State during a preseason exhibition.

“I just put in a whole lot of work this offseason and in the summertime,” Phillips said. “So to me, it’s really no surprise because I worked so hard. Like, this has probably been my best summer of workouts. So you know, it’s just a body of work that I’m standing on top of.”

Jayden Stone also impressed in his Missouri debut, collecting 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. He transferred from West Virginia, where he missed all of last season due to a head and spinal injury.

Trent Pierce sat out the Monday game with a lower-body injury, but Gates hopes he can rejoin the playing rotation on Friday.

Southeast Missouri State coach Brad Korn was thrilled to schedule games at Saint Louis University and Missouri to open nonconference play.

“This year with SLU and Mizzou, you can’t pass up on those types of games, just being in state, I think it’s great for the state, I think it’s great for our alumni, their alumni, to have not only an in-state rivalry, bit a game,” Korn told Valley Hoops Insider. “Especially to kick off the first week of the season.”

The Redhawks return four key rotation pieces from last season’s OVC regular season champions: forward Brendan Terry and guards BJ Ward, Braxton Stacker and Troy Cole Jr.

Ward (16 points, three assists), Terry (14 points, two steals) and Stacker (12 points, three steals) each had a strong games as the Redhawks opened their season with a 92-67 loss at Saint Louis on Monday.

Korn started a small lineup against the Billikens, and he utilized 7-footers Eliot Lowndes, Trace Sadler and David Idada off the bench. Those three combined to play 18 minutes, managing a total of two points and four rebounds.

The Redhawks will need that length to face Missouri, which features six rotation players standing 6-foot-8 or taller.

“The thing I love about Trace Sadler is he’s a mobile 7-footer,” Korn said. “Eliot Lowndes is thin, but he has good timing on shot blocking. David Idada is more muscle, lower to the ground. … They all bring something a little bit different.”

–Field Level Media

Early-season runaways can offer lots to like, but “what you don’t want to do is create bad habits,” DePaul coach Chris Holtmann cautions.

After rolling past Chicago State on Monday behind what Holtmann called some terrific sequences, the Blue Demons will host Stonehill on Friday with an eye on staying dedicated and disciplined.

Cultivating their depth would be a bonus, too.

While NJ Benson registered 16 points and 10 rebounds while Layden Blocker added 16 points in the Blue Demons’ 92-62 rout of Chicago State, several of DePaul’s reserves seized their own chances to shine.

DePaul (1-0) got an encouraging performance from sophomore forward Theo Pierre-Justin, who had a career-best 12 points off the bench to go with five rebounds.

Pierre-Justin logged 14 minutes, a notable bump from his average of 6.2 per game in his debut season.

“Energy. I bring the energy,” Pierre-Justin said. “I think that’s the most important thing and the first thing that I think about when I’m on the court. Just bring the energy and bring more intensity.”

Don’t forget a smooth stroke. Pierre Justin shot 5-for-7 on Monday, including makes on both of his attempts from 3-point range.

“Theo’s put in a lot of work,” Holtmann said. “He’s got a lot of confidence in his shooting right now. His shooting numbers in practice kind of confirm that. We love how he’s playing and certainly love how he’s developed.”

Bench scoring also buoyed Stonehill in its season opener, a 100-48 romp against NCAA Division III Thomas College of Maine on Monday in Easton, Mass.

With Pearse McGuinn’s career-high 19 points leading the way, the Skyhawks (1-0) benefited from 55 points from their reserves.

Holy Cross transfer William Batchelder could prove a matchup problem from the outside. He went 4-for-4 from deep to tally 15 points in his first game with Stonehill, which completed its transition to Division I ahead of this season.

“I think we’re in a really good spot and I really like the direction that we’re going, but it’s a group that is trying to form a new identity,” Skyhawks coach Chris Kraus said. “Learning how to play together with all the new guys, but they’re competing and really taking some positive steps forward.”

–Field Level Media

Ole Miss’ season opener went the way one might expect for a team featuring eight transfers.

The Rebels got off to a slow start and looked like a group still learning about each other, but things got better as the game went along.

Ole Miss defeated visiting Southeastern Louisiana 88-58 on Monday night and will try to build on that outcome when it plays UL Monroe on Friday night in Oxford, Miss.

“We didn’t start the way we wanted to,” Rebels coach Chris Beard said. “We have lots to clean up, but we showed a lot of poise.”

Malik Dia led the Rebels with 20 points, and AJ Storr added 18. James Scott grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and blocked three shots.

Ole Miss, which was picked eighth in the SEC preseason media poll and received votes in the AP preseason poll, didn’t take its first lead on Monday until nearly 12 minutes had expired.

“We have a lot of new players that are learning to play with each other,” Beard said. “We’ve got a lot of depth and we’re still trying to figure out our rotations.”

The Rebels learn some things on the fly, finishing the first half on a 24-8 run to take a 45-29 halftime lead and coasting in the second half.

Ole Miss enjoyed a 44-26 edge in rebounding, which is an advantage it might be able to duplicate against the Warhawks (0-1).

UL Monroe got outrebounded 44-18 and gave up 31 second-chance points in a 102-82 road loss against Northern Illinois in the MAC/SBC Challenge on Monday.

The Warhawks had an early 15-4 lead, but they trailed 45-38 at halftime and saw the deficit expand in the second half. They have just three returning players from last season. Newcomer Krystian Lewis, a transfer from Pearl River Community College in Mississippi, paced UL Monroe with 22 points.

“There’s going to be some trial and error,” first-year head coach Phil Cunningham said. “Our talent is inexperienced and it’s unproven. We’re all new to each other. A lot are new to college basketball. Every day is a learning process for them.”

UL Monroe was picked to finish last among 14 teams in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll.

“We have a mystery roster,” Cunningham said, “but our window of improvement is really, really big. The question is how quickly we can put it all together.”

–Field Level Media

Seton Hall is aiming for a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign in which it finished 7-25. A 2-0 start would be a strong step for coach Shaheen Holloway and the Pirates, who host Wagner on Friday in South Orange, N.J.

Seton Hall is coming off a 77-50 neutral-site victory vs. Saint Peter’s on Monday in Newark, N.J. Freshman reserve forward Najai Hines had an impressive debut, leading the Pirates with 12 points, nine rebounds and six blocks.

The 6-foot-10 Hines even heard some chants of “Baby Shaq” in the birthplace of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. Hines enjoyed the lively environment, but it was a business-first mentality on opening night.

“It was exciting,” Hines said. “High-energy atmosphere, but I’m not really worried about that. I’m worried about winning.”

Holloway believes Hines’ strong first impression is a testament to strides he made behind the scenes.

“I thought he was good, but this is how he practices every day,” the coach said. “He’s one of the guys that I can never say that don’t have energy. He’s getting in better shape. I like what I’ve seen. The good thing for him is that he’s only going to get better.”

Anchored by Hines, Seton Hall’s defense stifled Saint Peter’s into 27.5% shooting. The Pirates forced the Peacocks into 15 turnovers and scored 23 points off those miscues.

Wagner lost 103-74 at VCU on Monday in its first game under interim head coach Dwan McMillan. Seahawks head coach Donald Copeland is suspended as the school investigates allegations of player abuse.

Grad transfer forward Sam Smith had a team-high 16 points for Wagner off the bench on Monday. The Seahawks’ perimeter defense was porous, as the Rams made 14 of 34 3-point attempts (41.2%).

McMillan joined Wagner’s staff in 2024 and was previously a graduate manager for the program in 2014-15. He is embracing the opportunity after learning under coaches including UConn’s Dan Hurley.

“I’m just trying to do what they did, in my way. I can’t be those guys,” McMillan said. “I’m just trying to take what I’ve learned from them, the wisdom that they had and try to implement that and give it to the players.”

–Field Level Media

Ryan Conwell scored 19 points as No. 11 Louisville cruised to a 106-70 victory over visiting Jackson State on Thursday.

The Cardinals (2-0) were without starter J’Vonne Hadley, who is in the concussion protocol, but they welcomed back Kasean Pryor, a 6-foot-10 senior who played seven games last season before suffering a torn ACL. He scored six points in 16 minutes.

Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. added 18 points and nine assists for Louisville. Khani Rooths contributed 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

Daeshun Ruffin led Jackson State (0-2) with 22 points. Jayme Mitchell Jr. added 20 while shooting 8-for-10, while Dorian McMillian finished with 18.

No. 3 Florida 104, North Florida 64

Alex Condon scored a game-high 25 points and did a little bit of everything as the Gators rebounded from a season-opening setback, grounding the visiting Ospreys in Gainesville, Fla.

The Gators (1-1), who went 15-1 at home last season, dominated the ASUN school after a slow opening five minutes following their national championship banner unfurling. Condon shot 8-of-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line. He had 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.

The nation’s leader last season in three-pointers attempted at 1,147 (35.8 per game), North Florida (0-1) was playing its first game under new coach Bobby Kennen. Leading returning scorer Kamrin Oriol had 19 points and Trey Cady totaled 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.

No. 16 Iowa State 102, Grambling 62

Joshua Jefferson scored 20 points and Jamarion Bateman, Milan Momcilovic and Killyan Toure had 11 apiece to lift the Cyclones to a victory against the Tigers in Ames, Iowa.

Tamin Lipsey and Dominick Nelson both had 10 points for the Cyclones (2-0), and Lipsey added six assists and five steals. Batemon and Momcilovic drilled three 3-pointers apiece. A Batemon trey put Iowa State in triple digits with 23 seconds to go.

Antonio Munoz was the lone Tiger to score in double figures, contributing 16 points to go with seven assists. Grambling (1-1) finished at 42.9% from the floor. Richard Amaefule scored eight points for Grambling, while Jimel Lane was the team’s top rebounder with five.

No. 20 Auburn 95, Merrimack 57

After escaping a monumental upset by the skin of their teeth in Monday’s season opener, the Tigers put forth a much more convincing effort in a win over the Warriors at the Neville Center in Auburn, Ala.

Journeyman transfer Keyshawn Hall led the Tigers in scoring for the second straight game to start the season, tallying a double-double with 25 points on 6-of-9 shooting in addition to 14 rebounds. The Tigers needed overtime to beat Bethune-Cookman 95-90 on Monday.

Ernest Shelton finished with 23 points on 6-of-12 shooting (5 of 10 from 3-point range) and was the only Warriors player to score more than five points and make more than two field goals. As a team, Merrimack finished the game 16 of 56 from the field (28.6%) and 8-for-32 (25%) from 3.

–Field Level Media

Dai Dai Ames poured in a game-high 23 points and Cal kept Wright State at arm’s length most of the way en route to a 77-67 nonconference men’s basketball victory on Thursday in Berkeley, Calif.

John Camden, the leading scorer in Cal’s opening win over Cal State Bakersfield with 22 points, finished with 12 points and a game-high-tying nine rebounds.

Ames, a transfer who had played a season apiece at Kansas State and Virginia, recorded the second-highest point total of his college career. His total was boosted by sinking three 3-pointers in five attempts, including a clutch one with 2:22 remaining after the Raiders had rallied within 69-65.

Ames shot 8-for-13 overall, helping the Golden Bears outshoot the visitors 41.8% to 37.5%.

Justin Pippen hit four free throws in the final 1:38, sandwiching one by Lee Dort, to help Cal (2-0) hold on a night when the hosts outscored Wright State 26-10 at the foul line.

Pippen tied Camden for game-high rebounding honors with nine to go along with 14 points, a team-high four assists and two steals. Chris Bell added 12 points to Cal’s cause.

The Golden Bears’ biggest lead came at 60-44 on an Ames 3-pointer with 8:53 remaining, but Michael Cooper nailed a 3-pointer 24 seconds later to ignite a Raiders rally that eventually saw the visitors get within four.

Cooper paced Wright State (1-1) with 17 points, a majority of which coming on 3-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Taking 13 more attempts, the Raiders outscored the Golden Bears 27-15 on 3-pointers.

Cooper also found time for a team-high four assists, while Logan Woods was the Raiders’ leading rebounder with seven to go with seven points.

Dominic Pangonis had 11 points off the bench and Michael Imariagbe added 10 for Wright State, which opened its season earlier in the week with a home win over Division III Franklin College of Indiana.

–Field Level Media

Hannes Steinbach had a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds to lead Washington to an 84-70 win over Denver on Thursday in Seattle.

It was a balanced scoring effort for Washington as seven players scored in double figures.

Wesley Yates III tallied 13 points, Zoom Diallo added 12 points and Lathan Sommerville, Quimari Peterson, JJ Mandaquit and Bryson Tucker all added 11 points for the Huskies (2-0).

Logan Kinsey scored a game-high 23 points, Jeremiah Burke added 15 points and Julius Rollins chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers (0-2).

Washington was able to shake a determined Denver squad in the second half. Tucker got the hot hand and drilled 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions as the Huskies’ 39-29 advantage swelled to 48-31 with 17:15 to play.

While the Huskies found separation in shots from beyond the arc, they also held a commanding 48-28 edge on points scored in the paint. Sommerville’s tip-in extended the Huskies lead to 52-39 with 14:22 to play. The Huskies rang up a 34-5 advantage in bench points.

In a 9-2 Denver scoring rally, Carson Johnson scored every point for the Pioneers to cut the Washington lead to 70-63 with 5:56 to play. Peterson hit a three on the fast break as Washington responded and extended its advantage to 80-63 with 3:32 left in the game.

A 3-pointer from Kinsey gave the Pioneers an 8-6 lead in the early going. After the first media timeout, Washington went on a 9-0 run and took a 15-8 lead. But the Pioneers used an 8-0 spurt that spanned just 52 seconds, highlighted by a pair of Kinsey 3-pointers to take a 16-15 lead.

The Huskies were able to extend their lead by forcing 13 Denver turnovers, which led to a 22-11 Washington edge in points off turnovers. The Huskies had 11 steals while the Pioneers only had two.

It was a back-and-forth first half until Peterson nailed the first Washington three for a 35-23 lead. Denver clawed back to a single-digit deficit with a Julius Rollins layup and trailed 37-28 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

After escaping with an overtime win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, Georgia Tech hopes to see a more complete effort Friday against visiting Bryant in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech (1-0) needed Peyton Marshall’s game-tying free throw with 1.7 seconds left to send its season opener to overtime, where the Yellow Jackets won 56-52, avoiding a disastrous setback.

“You can always take more from a win like this than winning by 30 points,” said Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire. “You didn’t want the anxiety of the game, but at the same time, it puts us in a state where we’ve got to be locked in. It gives us something to go and work on as we move forward and get ready for Friday.”

Freshman Mouhamed Sylla opened his career with a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double in place of preseason All-ACC junior Baye Ndongo, who missed the game with injury but could be back against Bryant.

“Everybody is getting a chance to see Mo,” Stoudamire said. “I think that Mo is just going to continue to get better. Personally, I think that we’ve got the best front court, not only in our league, but the best one in the country. I really believe that, and Baye didn’t even play. … We look to get (Baye) back on Friday.”

Bryant (0-1) never led in its 82-66 loss at Siena on Monday, beginning the head coach Jamion Christian era for the Bulldogs. Freshman Timofei Rudovskii led the team with 15 points.

Christian’s group shot 45.5% (10-for-22) on 3-point attempts in defeat, a trend the veteran head coach will want to see continued against the ACC opponent Friday.

“We’ve got some guys that can really go and we’re always going to shoot the three,” Christian said. “I think my teams shoot 50% of our shots from three. We try to turn you over 20% of the time. Whether that means we’re going to be playing fast or slow, we’re still trying to figure that out.”

Christian formerly was the head coach at Mount St. Mary’s (2012-18), Siena (2018-19) and George Washington (2019-22), before spending the last two seasons coaching in Italy.

Bryant, which is playing Georgia Tech for the first time, was picked sixth in the America East preseason poll.

-Field Level Media