City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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Every day during the season on which there are games featuring the 10 Division I teams that CoBL features, we’ll have a Tipping Off running bright and early, letting you know everything you need to know about the matchups.

As always, we’ll start with a wrap of the previous day’s action, followed by a look at the complete slate; as always, thanks to KenPom’s awesome site for his predictions--though keep in mind this early in the season, his predictions aren’t as reliable:

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Last Night’s Results/Coverage

Penn 76, Robert Morris 75
    --Quick Report
    --Quakers win in Donahue's debut
Syracuse 57, Lehigh 47
    --Quick Report
    --Despite first-half struggles, Lehigh sees areas to build on
North Carolina 91, Temple 67
    --Quick Report
    --Plenty of positives in Temple's loss
Delaware 62, Delaware State 56
    --Quick Report
    --Delaware shakes nerves, adjusts in rivalry win
Saint Joseph’s 82, Drexel 81
    --Quick Report
    --St. Joe's holds off Drexel in high-scoring opener
Villanova 91, Fairleigh Dickinson 54
   --Villanova rolls by FDU in opener
George Washington 85, Lafayette 76

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Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0) vs. VMI Keydets (0-0)
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, Pa.
When: 1 PM
Watch it: BTN Plus
KenPom Prediction: Penn State, 77-70 (78%)

The Skinny: Former Penn State point guard Dan Earl, a two-time All-Big Ten selection will revisit the Bryce Jordan Center as an opponent, leading his VMI Keydets in the 2015-16 season opener. The Keydets are led by junior guard Q.J. Peterson, who averaged 19 points per game over his first two seasons, plus 4.9 rebounds and four assists through 18 games last season, before missing the remainder of the season via medical furlough. The Nittany Lions return three starters in Shep Garner, Brandon Taylor and Jordan Dickerson, while adding four-star recruit Josh Reaves and sophomore forward Payton Banks to the starting lineup. After losing do-it-all guard D.J. Newbill, Penn State offers a deep rotation this season, so coach Pat Chambers will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.

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La Salle Explorers (0-0) vs. Towson Tigers (0-0)
Where: Tom Gola Arena, Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 3 PM
Watch it: Atlantic 10 Network
KenPom Prediction: La Salle, 68-62 (74%)

The Skinny: Don’t let Towson’s 12-20 record (5-13 CAA) from a year ago fool you, these Tigers have some definite bite. Four starters return, led by Philadelphia native John Davis, a 6-5 forward who averaged 11.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg a year ago. Sophomore Byron Hawkins (7.3 ppg) will need to step up, and there are high expectations around wing Arnaud Moto, a 6-6 junior who averaged 6.9 ppg and 5.2 rpg two years ago as a sophomore at Wake Forest before transferring. La Salle’s got to regroup from an exhibition loss to D-II Philly U last weekend; head coach John Giannini said the buzzer-beating shot by Philly U’s Kaison Randolph was the best thing that could have happened, but that remains to be seen. It’ll certainly help if two likely starters, Cleon Roberts and Tony Washington, are able to play after sitting out the exhibition due to various injuries.