Georgetown faded in the second half last season after a strong start and the Hoyas hope to create a smoother journey in 2014-15 when they open against visiting St. Francis (N.Y.) on Saturday. Guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera leads the way for Georgetown after being named Big East preseason Player of the Year and 6-10 center Joshua Smith returns after missing the final 20 games with academic issues. The Hoyas bring five of their top six scorers back to go along with a strong freshman class.

After a disappointing finish last season, Florida State looks to start the new year on the right track when it hosts Manhattan on Saturday. The Seminoles were ousted by Minnesota in the semifinals of the NIT last year and haven't earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2012 when they ended a run of four consecutive appearances. Aaron Thomas, Florida State's leading scorer from a season ago, returns and is settling in as the focal point of the offense.

LSU showed its faith in Johnny Jones by giving him a two-year extension through the 2018-19 season in October. Fresh off his alma mater’s first 20-win campaign in five years, the third-year coach looks to reward that investment beginning on Saturday when the Tigers host Gardner-Webb. Since taking over an LSU team that won 18 games in its final season under Trent Johnson in 2011-12, Jones has led LSU to 19-13 and 20-14 seasons, with each team going 9-9 in the SEC.

No. 23 Michigan kicks off the new season at home on Saturday against Division II Hillsdale with an eye on filling the shoes of last season's leading scorer and Big Ten Player of the Year Nik Stauskas. Junior guard Caris LeVert, a preseason All-Conference honoree recently named to the Lute Olson National Player of the Year watch list, is the new go-to player for the Wolverines. "He's the pulse of the team," Wolverines coach John Beilein told reporters.

The first season of the post-Brad Stevens era at Butler was a rough one and the second season got off to a rocky start as well when coach Brandon Miller took a mysterious medical leave of absence in early October with no timetable for his return. However, the return of star Roosevelt Jones to the lineup will go a long way in helping interim coach Chris Holtmann find the cure to the Bulldogs' woes. Host Butler seeks to take the first step in that direction Saturday against visiting Maine.

Kris Dunn hopes two years of injures are a thing of the past when Providence opens its season at home Saturday against Albany. A shoulder injury has limited the former McDonald’s All-American to 29 games in the last two seasons and the Friars need his dauntless playmaking ability for another opportunity at the NCAA Tournament.

One of the great things about March Madness, especially during the conference tournaments, is seeing how teams respond to playing on back-to-back days. It’s not easy to rest quickly, replenish your body and get right back on the floor a day later. So consider the opening round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, in which No. 3 Duke plays host to Fairfield on Saturday on the back end of back-to-back games for both teams, a preview of what’s to come in five months.

It was more than a little surprising when Frank Haith left Missouri for Tulsa but his Golden Hurricane coaching debut is set for Saturday against host Oral Roberts. Haith enjoyed a great deal of regular season success at Missouri, including a 30-5 record in 2011-12, but fans were not pleased with two early round NCAA Tournament exits and an NIT appearance a year ago.

Sophomore guard Katin Reinhardt is being looked on to start a new winning era at USC as the Trojans open the season against visiting Portland State on Saturday. Reinhardt sat out last season after transferring from UNLV, where he averaged 10.1 points as a freshman. Another transfer gaining eligibility is forward Darion Clark, who started 12 of 32 games for Charlotte as a freshman.