Need your college hoops fix? See Arizona-Duke and others in

• Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff WriterNov 10, 2023, 11:08 AM ET Close Covers college basketball

• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011
• Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

The 2023-24 guys’s college basketball season kicked off with a series of memorable efficiencies. And we’re still simply in the very first week.Baylor’s Ja’Kobe

Walter took control in the second half of his group’s 88-82 win over Auburn in South Dakota on Tuesday. Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson scored 21 points in his launching with Kansas during the Jayhawks’ 99-56 win over the North Carolina Central Eagles on Monday. And John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats team showcased the young skill in its top-ranked recruiting class throughout its 86-46 triumph over New Mexico State on Monday.But Michigan State suffered a stunning 79-76 upset in overtime against James Madison in its season opener. Still, the week mainly featured a series of appetisers for what’s ahead this weekend and next week with the Champions Classic in Chicago. Before the latter, however, No. 2 Duke and No. 12 Arizona will play the most pivotal nonconference match to date. More on that later.With this season’s matchups, I’ll spray in some picks(odds through ESPN BET ).

I’m not an oddsmaker, and even a gambling expert– just a guy who loves college basketball and watches and analyzes a ton of games.Although college basketball began Monday, the next 5 days will offer the league’s first full slate of top-level games. Enjoy it. No. 12 Arizona(1-0)at No. 2 Duke(1-0)Friday, ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET Throughout last season, Kyle Filipowski had 2 bad hips that had prevented him given that high school. This summer, the Wood Award competitor finally had a set of surgical procedures to fix those obstacles. If hurt Filipowski balanced 15.1 PPG and 8.9 RPG last year, what can a healthy Filipowski do this season? Our first glance of that capacity ought to be clear in this matchup, when Oumar Ballo and Arizona go to Cameron Indoor Arena.Ballo, also a 7-footer with a high ceiling, might stamp his Wooden Award goals here, too. Last season, Arizona linked on 59%of its

shots inside the arc and 39 %of its 3-point attempts with Ballo on the floor, per Hoop Lens. And North Carolina transfer Caleb Love must show poise on this court. It’s familiar to him. He’s 2-1 in his career versus Duke in Cameron Indoor Arena. Love was a member of the North Carolina team that won at Duke in Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game– a 94-81 loss to the Tar Heels on March 5, 2022. That was the last time Duke lost a home game.Medcalf’s pick: Duke 80-75. Versus the spread: Arizona +5.5< img alt="" src= "https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/194.png&w=110&h=110 "width= "50"

/ > Friday, Peacock, 7

p.m. ET Following last year’s disastrous 16-19 surface, coach Chris Holtmann’s period at Ohio State was inspected. That’s fair. However the best method to end all speculation is to turn things around this season. Texas A&M’s journey to Columbus on Friday will provide Holtmann and the Buckeyes that chance. However will they capitalize?Ohio State had a hard time in your home in its 79-73 win over a shorthanded Oakland squad, which was a double-digit underdog, on Monday. However four-star recruit Scotty Middleton offered Ohio State a push off the bench with 13 points (2-for-3 from the 3-point line). Wade Taylor IV (16.3 PPG last season) is a legit national player of the year prospect, though. For real. And Buzz Williams is coming off back-to-back top-45 seasons in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The Aggies will be tough to beat, even in Columbus.Medcalf’s pick: Texas A&M 75-70. Versus the spread: Texas A&M -1.5

Friday, Peacock, 9 p.m. ET

Three years ago, the NCAA gave all winter professional athletes an extension on their eligibility. That decision has actually paid off for groups that have actually had the ability to hold onto their veterans for an extra season. This game will include 3 players in their 5th seasons who took advantage of that choice and subsequently boosted their respective squads: Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi (12.5 PPG, 37% from the 3-point line last season) and Zakai Zeigler (10.7 PPG in 2022-23) and Wisconsin’s Tyler Wahl (11.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG in 2022-23). Zeigler is coming off an ACL injury last season, and Vescovi has actually missed out on time recently because of a private family matter. Both want to strike their strides in this match. Wahl is the leader of a Wisconsin team that ended up in the NIT in 2015 and needs a strong start this season to avoid a comparable decline.Both teams ended last season on unstable runs. Tennessee lost its last five roadway games of the 2022-23 season, and Wisconsin completed 2-4 in its last six home matches at the Kohl Center a year earlier. Both teams will play in Madison with something to prove.Medcalf’s choice: Tennessee 72-70. Against the spread: Wisconsin +2.5