We have a ton of action on opening day today, so we put together a preview of some of the top Mid-Major games! From Murray State vs Tennessee State to Illinois State and Saint Mary's, we're starting off the season strong! Dive into more below!👇 open.substack.com/pub/bracke…

Games of the day (11/8): - Princeton vs Siena (12pm CST) - Fairfield vs Bryant (12pm CST) - Green Bay vs St. Thomas (1pm CST) - Quinnipiac vs Vermont (1pm CST) - Saint Mary's vs Nevada (3:30pm CST) - Richmond vs Temple (4pm CST) - #21 USC vs Wichita State (10pm CST)

We're getting caught up on yesterday's action... Northern Illinois! Incredible win over Dayton in overtime.

UNC Wilmington picks up their second win over the year with a 78-75 victory over East Carolina on the road. Patrick Wessler led the team with a monster 24 point, 18 rebound double-double on 8-11 shooting. The Seahawks held ECU to just 24% shooting from three-point.

VCU & Memphis are giving us exactly the game we expected. A lot of back-and-forth and high efficiency on offense. VCU is shooting 10-17 from deep, while Memphis is shooting 50% overall from the floor. Jayden Reid has been very impressive for the Tigers with 15 points and 3 steals already

We're just a few days into the regular season, but the Valparaiso Beacons gave us the most electric game of the season thus far. The Beacons took down the Purdue Boilermakers 83-80 in double-overtime in a game full of buzzer-beaters and plays you have to see to believe. Rakim Chaney averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals as a freshman last season. When he announced that he'd be returning to Valpo, their potential skyrocketed. Last night, that proved true. Chaney filled up the box score with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 14-22 overall and 4-8 from beyond the arc. His shining moment came in the first overtime as the Beacons were down 70-67 with just four seconds left. Chaney was at the line for a one-and-one, missed the first free throw, got the offensive rebound, and drained the game tying three-point shot as the clock expired. At one point in overtime, the Beacons were just 4-23 from beyond the arc, but finished 7-27, as JT Pettigrew drained the electric game winning three-point shot. While a heartbreaking loss for Purdue, this is a momentum building win for Valparaiso. Head Coach Roger Powell has been building this program year-by-year and it appears that this could be the season they breakout.

THE VALPARAISO BEACONS HAVE TAKEN DOWN PURDUE THIS IS ONLY NOVEMBER

VALPOOOOOOOOOOOOO Rakim Chaney sends it to double overtime!!!!

James Madison is keeping it within reach against Kentucky Valpo is going to overtime against Purdue Yale is beating UCF @EvanMiya was right, there is an upset that's going to happen!

VALPARAISO TO OVERTIME AGAINST PURUDE

The storm is brewing

The North Texas Mean Green took down a tough McNeese team 77-67 on Thursday, led by Je'Shawn Stevenson's 30 point performance. When Stevenson announced that he'd be returning to North Texas, he immediately elevated the potential of the Mean Green this season. Originally picked to finish 7th in the American this season, that's already looking like it could be a low estimate.

Fantastic timing given conversations around the talent that mid-majors recruit. With the new landscape of roster building, teams like Austin Peay have an opportunity to recruit freshman that would never have been possible just a few seasons ago. Congratulations to Govs fans!