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College basketball 2016 opening weekend guide

By Dave Preston

WASHINGTON — Villanova cut down the nets last April in Houston. Now, the march to Glendale, Arizona begins this weekend. Multiple area schools tip off their seasons Friday while a few more begin play over the weekend.  See you on the other side…

Friday

#25 Maryland entertains American at 7 p.m. The Terps replace four starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team while the Eagles suit up minus 3-time leading scorer Jesse Reed.

#8 Virginia visits UNC-Greensboro at 7 p.m.  What’s this — a Power 5 conference team having a road game to open the season?  Does UVa’s football scheduler (the Cavaliers played pesky Richmond before going to Oregon this fall) handle their hoops front as well?

George Washington hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. The Colonials unveil their 2016 NIT banner at the Smith Center, while interim coach Maurice Joseph makes his regular season debut.

Virginia Tech plays Maine at 9 p.m.  Do they sell the smoked turkey legs at Cassell Coliseum like they do at Lane Stadium?

Howard visits Michigan at 9 p.m.  Here’s hoping the Bison stay healthy after being banged up for much of last year.

Saturday

Georgetown entertains USC-Upstate at 12 p.m. Last November, the Hoyas began the season with a home loss to Radford. I think they’ll be keyed up for this one.

George Mason meets Towson at 7 p.m. The Patriots facing a former CAA foe…they’ll also meet James Madison before entering Atlantic 10 play.

Sunday

#5 Maryland Women host UMass-Lowell at 1 p.m. Last year the Terps tipped off their season with a 102-53 win over the Owls.

Basketball around the Beltway: Tall task ahead for a Hoyas giant

By Dave Preston
WASHINGTON -- Past met present for Georgetown University when the school introduced Hoyas great Patrick Ewing as its head men's basketball coach, with an eye toward the future.  It happened on Wednesday in front of a room packed with media, boosters, fans, students, alumni and a pep band that did not know "Vehicle" by the Ides of March. But Ewing's name alone was music enough to everyone's ears at the John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center in D.C. Ewing even replicated his famous scene from when he committed to play at the Big East school in 1981, holding a Georgetown pennant above his head.
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