Bowling Green
-Didn’t play a neutral site game a year ago
-Hold an 8-7 lead in 15 all-time meetings with Cleveland State, but haven’t played since 2002
Cleveland State
-Four sophomores and a senior in the starting lineup
-Third-ever appearance in the NIT Season Tip-Off, own an 0-2 all-time record
-The Vikings are 16-7 in in-season tournaments under head coach Gary Waters
Yale
-Two graduating players took nearly half of the team’s shots last year
-Finished four or better in the Ivy League in each of the last 12 years, picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll
Saint Joseph’s
-Returns all five starters, and the rest of the squad. Preseason favorite in the A-10
-Senior guard Carl Jones will not participate in the first three games
-One of nine teams in the nation to win at least 20 or more games in 2011-12 after losing 20 or more the previous season
Virginia Tech
-Erick Green is third among returning scorers in the ACC this season
-First year head coach James Johnson had just seven scholarship players available in the season opener, played four walk-ons
-The Hokies are 5-6 all-time against the Rams, including 1-3 at Cassell Coliseum
UNLV
-Ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1992-93
-Won three straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings against NAU
-Own a 43-11 all-time record in season openers (35-5 at home), including a 20-1 mark at the Thomas and Mack Center
-Won 18 straight regular-season games at the T&M Center (16-0 last year)
West Virginia
-Will be playing their first game in the state of Washington
-Gone 89-14 all-time in season openers, haven’t opened up on the road since 2003
-Gone 83-17 in non-conference regular-season games the last eight seasons
-Lost a 77-54 decision to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament
Virginia
-Won all three home openers under head coach Tony Bennett, won 15 consecutive home opening games overall
-Started three freshman against George Mason, first time in school history for a season opener
-Own a 14-0 all-time record against current MAAC members
-Didn’t play a neutral site game a year ago
-Hold an 8-7 lead in 15 all-time meetings with Cleveland State, but haven’t played since 2002
Cleveland State
-Four sophomores and a senior in the starting lineup
-Third-ever appearance in the NIT Season Tip-Off, own an 0-2 all-time record
-The Vikings are 16-7 in in-season tournaments under head coach Gary Waters
Yale
-Two graduating players took nearly half of the team’s shots last year
-Finished four or better in the Ivy League in each of the last 12 years, picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll
Saint Joseph’s
-Returns all five starters, and the rest of the squad. Preseason favorite in the A-10
-Senior guard Carl Jones will not participate in the first three games
-One of nine teams in the nation to win at least 20 or more games in 2011-12 after losing 20 or more the previous season
Virginia Tech
-Erick Green is third among returning scorers in the ACC this season
-First year head coach James Johnson had just seven scholarship players available in the season opener, played four walk-ons
-The Hokies are 5-6 all-time against the Rams, including 1-3 at Cassell Coliseum
UNLV
-Ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1992-93
-Won three straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings against NAU
-Own a 43-11 all-time record in season openers (35-5 at home), including a 20-1 mark at the Thomas and Mack Center
-Won 18 straight regular-season games at the T&M Center (16-0 last year)
West Virginia
-Will be playing their first game in the state of Washington
-Gone 89-14 all-time in season openers, haven’t opened up on the road since 2003
-Gone 83-17 in non-conference regular-season games the last eight seasons
-Lost a 77-54 decision to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament
Virginia
-Won all three home openers under head coach Tony Bennett, won 15 consecutive home opening games overall
-Started three freshman against George Mason, first time in school history for a season opener
-Own a 14-0 all-time record against current MAAC members