Many of the opening weekend's headlining acts don't take the stage until Sunday, but Friday offers some intriguing contrasts in geography and conference affiliation.
Arkansas-Little Rock at Oklahoma State
Arkansas-Little Rock didn't just beat Oklahoma State last season; it led almost the entire game, including a double-digit lead for much of the second half in Little Rock. This one is in Stillwater, Okla., and opens the season for both team (last year's meeting came in December). Andrea Riley missed 13 shots and turned over the ball seven times in that game, compared to one miss, one turnover and seven assists for Trojans point guard Asriel Rolfe. How will that matchup play out this season?
Xavier at Southern California
Michael Cooper makes his debut for USC and Amber Harris makes her return for Xavier. Musketeers freshman Katie Rutan hit five 3-pointers in her team's lone exhibition game. Will she fare as well in the regular season? Xavier needs the outside cover for Harris and Ta'Shia Phillips. On the other side, will the Women of Troy, whose poor injury luck continues with season-ending knee surgeries for Stefanie Gilbreath and Vicky Tagalicod, be in full rebuilding mode or a versatile sleeper in the Pac-10?
Ball State at Michigan
How many times was Michigan coach Kevin Borseth in Ball State's shoes when he was at the helm for Wisconsin-Green Bay, looking for a win against a BCS conference foe to make a splash? The Cardinals lost more than 300 assists in seniors Porchia Green and Kiley Jarrett. But much of the talent that finished those assists is back with Audrey McDonald, Emily Maggert and Danielle Gratton. What role will Borseth's six freshmen and three sophomores play in furthering his system in Ann Arbor?
Penn State at Drexel
The rare major-conference team willing to play a good mid-major on the road, even if it's only a relatively short stretch of I-80, Penn State has dropped at least one to a quality mid-major in each of the last four seasons. Which scoring star -- Drexel's Gabriela Marginean or Penn State's Tyra Grant -- comes closer to 30 points?
UTEP at Florida Gulf Coast
Florida Gulf Coast still isn't eligible for the NCAA tournament after reclassifying from Division II, but a chance to play in the preseason WNIT offer a national stage for team that returns all five starters from a 26-5 season. That includes Kelsey Jacobson, who averaged more 3-pointers per game than all but six players last season, and did it shooting better than 44 percent from behind the arc. For once, UTEP is the team that needs to be on upset alert.
Gonzaga at South Dakota State
More to come on this Friday, after I have had a chance to catch up with Gonzaga on Thursday evening. But a showcase game for mid-major success stories makes for a compelling way to start the season. South Dakota State hasn't lost at home in the regular season since Dec. 31, 2006, and beat Gonzaga in Spokane last season. Both teams were curiously ignored in both preseason polls of record.
And as a quick note, South Florida opens its season Friday against Florida A&M, but it will be without coach Jose Fernandez after he was admitted to a Tampa-area hospital with severe abdominal pains. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Fernandez.
Graham Hays
