Welcome to Feast Week 2025! We’ve got another loaded slate of games on the menu this season.
The Players Era Festival in Las Vegas has expanded to 18 teams and features several Final Four contenders. Will Wade’s red-hot NC State squad headlines a can’t-miss Maui Invitational. Duke and Arkansas are set to clash on Thanksgiving. And that’s just a small taste of what’s in store for college basketball fans over the next seven days.
Below is a breakdown of all the major tournaments and events on the schedule. Let’s feast.
Players Era Festival
Nov. 24-27, Las Vegas
Day 1 games: Rutgers vs. No. 20 Tennessee, Creighton vs. Baylor, No. 24 Kansas vs. Notre Dame, No. 14 St. John’s vs. No. 16 Iowa State, No. 2 Houston vs. Syracuse, No. 22 Auburn vs. Oregon, No. 13 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Alabama, No. 7 Michigan vs. San Diego State, UNLV vs. Maryland
Day 2 games: Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, No. 16 Iowa State vs. Creighton, No. 24 Kansas vs. Syracuse, No. 14 St. John’s vs. Baylor, No. 2 Houston vs. No. 20 Tennessee, No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 22 Auburn, No. 13 Gonzaga vs. Maryland, Oregon vs. San Diego State, UNLV vs. No. 11 Alabama
Best matchup: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 20 Tennessee. Two defensive juggernauts. Two legendary coaches in Kelvin Sampson and Rick Barnes. Two projected lottery picks in 6-foot-10 freshman center Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston) and 6-foot-9 freshman wing Nate Ament (Tennessee). Throw in the fact that the Cougars beat the Vols in the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA Tournament and this should be an epic Feast Week battle.
Matchup I want to see: No. 14 St. John’s vs. No. 7 Michigan in the final. These teams played a thrilling preseason exhibition at Madison Square Garden in late October, with the Wolverines eking out a 96-94 overtime win behind 25 points from 6-foot-9 senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg. A rematch in Vegas for the Players Era crown would be glorious.
Three players to watch: The aforementioned Ament, the projected No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (per Hoops HQ’s mock), has been flying under the radar. A dynamic wing with elite size and athleticism, Ament is averaging 18.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists. “What stood out about his game more than anything was his versatility, competitive spirit and the way he’s built — the way people always tried to go at home and it didn’t faze him at all,” coach Rick Barnes told Hoops HQ when the Vols signed Ament earlier this year. Another freshman phenom to keep an eye on: Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou. The 6-foot-5 guard has helped lead the Bears to a 3-0 start, averaging 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals. “Obviously he’s got a lot of talent, but what you love is his motor is always running and he’s always competing,” coach Scott Drew told Hoops HQ. The same could be said for 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Labaron Philon, the engine of Alabama’s high-powered offense. Philon has taken a major leap with former All-American Mark Sears gone, averaging 20.5 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 53.2 percent from the field.
Betting favorite: Houston
My winner: St. John’s. Rick Pitino’s team went 1-2 during Feast Week last season, but don’t expect that to happen again. The new-look Johnnies are clicking on all cylinders heading into Vegas, averaging just under 100 points per game and ranking 14th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (per KenPom). Their road to the championship game won’t be easy, but they should have plenty of momentum if they’re able to get there.
Maui Invitational
Nov. 24-26, Maui
Opening round games: No. 25 NC State vs. Seton Hall, USC vs. Boise State, Washington State vs. Chaminade, Arizona State vs. Texas
Best matchup: No. 25 NC State vs. Seton Hall. An electric offense meets a stout defense. The Wolfpack are 4-0 in the Will Wade era and averaging a staggering 100.8 points per game. The Pirates are also undefeated (5-0) and rank 28th in the country in defensive efficiency (per KenPom). No one has been able to slow down NC State so far. Can Shaheen Holloway’s team do it in Maui?
Matchup I want to see: No. 25 NC State vs. Texas in the final. These two projected NCAA Tournament teams clashed during the ACC/SEC Challenge last year and the game came down to the final seconds, with Texas pulling out the 63-59 victory at the Lenovo Center. Both Wade and Sean Miller are trying to make noise in their first seasons with their respective programs, and a title at this prestigious event would do just that.
Three players to watch: As Will Wade told Hoops HQ during the offseason, Darrion Williams was NC State’s No. 1 target in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-9 senior forward and Preseason ACC Player of the Year has been stellar for the Wolfpack, averaging 23.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals. Seton Hall’s Najai Hines, a 6-foot-10, 265-pound center nicknamed “Baby Shaq,” might be the nation’s most underrated freshman. He ranks sixth in Division I in blocks per game (3.2) despite averaging just 19 minutes for the Pirates. After transferring from Auburn to USC, graduate Chad Baker-Mazara has taken his game to another level. The 6-foot-7 wing is averaging 22.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks for the 4-0 Trojans.
Betting favorite: NC State
My winner: NC State. The Wolfpack will likely have to go through USC and Texas to claim the title, but I expect them to get the job done. Wade’s team is the deepest — five players are averaging at least 10.8 points per game — and most talented in the field.
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Nov 23: A valiant effort vaults Michigan into the top four. Meanwhile, Baylor and OSU plummet and NC State hunts for prestige wins.
Battle 4 Atlantis
Nov. 26-28, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Opening round games: Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt, VCU vs. South Florida, Colorado State vs. Virginia Tech, Wichita State vs. Saint Mary’s
Best matchup: Colorado State vs. Virginia Tech. Coach Niko Medved and standout guard Nique Clifford may be gone, but Colorado State is still a force to be reckoned with thanks to an explosive offense (89.8 points per game). This will be the Rams’ first matchup against a power-conference opponent. Led by sensational freshman Neoklis Avdalas, a 6-foot-9 guard who has garnered comparisons to Luka Dončić, Virginia Tech is 5-0 for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.
Matchup I want to see: Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary’s in the final. These are two of the most underrated teams in college basketball. Both the Commodores and the Gaels rank in the top 25 on KenPom (Nos. 14 and 25, respectively). Vanderbilt has one of the country’s top offenses, while Saint Mary’s is once again fueled by a superb defense.
Three players to watch: A former pro in Greece, Virginia Tech’s Avdalas is averaging 16.3 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. The 19-year-old has emerged as a possible top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Reigning WCC Sixth Man of the Year Mikey Lewis, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, has joined Randy Bennett’s starting lineup and been phenomenal through the first six games of the season, averaging 19.7 points while shooting 54.3 percent from behind the arc. Vanderbilt’s 6-foot sophomore guard Tyler Tanner is also connecting on more than half of his three-point attempts (52.2 percent). Tanner currently leads the Commodores in scoring at 16.0 points per game.
Betting favorite: Vanderbilt
My winner: Vanderbilt. Mark Byington’s team is experienced and deep, with seven players averaging at least 9.7 points per game. This will be their first major test of the season, but I expect the Commodores to come out on top and jump into next week’s AP Top 25.
CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic
Nov. 27, Chicago
Games: No. 5 Duke vs. No. 21 Arkansas, Oklahoma State vs. Northwestern
Best matchup: No. 5 Duke vs. No. 21 Arkansas. While you’re glued to the couch after stuffing your face with turkey and pie, enjoy this terrific top-25 matchup. Both teams are led by high-level NBA prospects and have Final Four aspirations. Duke has coasted to a 6-0 record with impressive victories over Kansas and Texas. The road has been a bit bumpier for Arkansas, which narrowly avoided a major upset against Winthrop and lost to Michigan State in East Lansing.
Three players to watch: Duke’s Cameron Boozer, a 6-foot-9 freshman forward, is a legitimate National Player of the Year candidate who has been making a strong case to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Boozer currently leads the Blue Devils in points (21.1), rebounds (9.9), assists (4.0), steals (1.7) and blocks (1.3). The Razorbacks have a few stellar freshmen of their own, including 6-foot-5 wing Meleek Thomas, who is averaging a team-high 18.3 points to go along with 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals. Following a difficult freshman campaign at LSU, 6-foot-5 guard Vyctorius Miller transferred to Oklahoma State and has been thriving under coach Steve Lutz. A former top-100 recruit, Miller has been one of the most productive and efficient offensive players in the country, posting 17.6 points per game on 58.2 percent shooting from the field and 50.0 percent from three.
My winners: Duke and Oklahoma State. The Razorbacks have the talent to hang with the Blue Devils, but they aren’t yet on the same level in terms of chemistry and cohesiveness. Duke should be able to take care of business on a neutral floor. Oklahoma State, which enters Feast Week 6-0, looks like a possible NCAA Tournament team. A nationally-televised game against a solid Northwestern squad is the perfect opportunity for Lutz’s new group to make a statement.
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Rady Children’s Invitational
Nov. 27-28, San Diego
Opening round games: No. 10 Florida vs. TCU, No. 23 Wisconsin vs. Providence
Best matchup: No. 23 Wisconsin vs. Providence. This game is loaded with high-caliber guards who can light it up. The Friars are desperate for a solid non-conference win to help boost their NCAA Tournament resume after suffering two disappointing losses to Virginia Tech and Colorado.
Matchup I want to see: No. 10 Florida vs. No. 23 Wisconsin in the final. The Badgers are looking to bounce back following an embarrassing 98-70 loss to BYU over the weekend. Like Arizona, which toppled Florida on opening night, Wisconsin has the size (seventh in the nation in average height, per KenPom) and skilled guards to contend with the Gators.
Three players to watch: Junior Thomas Haugh, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been Florida’s most consistent player, averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. With his versatility and athleticism, Haugh continues to climb NBA Draft boards. Wisconsin has one of the nation’s top guards in 6-foot-4 junior John Blackwell, who’s averaging 18.4 points and shooting 45.2 percent from three. Providence’s Jason Edwards, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, is averaging career-highs across the board: 20.4 points, 4.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
My winner: Florida. After losing to Arizona and barely escaping with a win against rival Florida State early on, the Gators appear to be finding a rhythm. They breezed past a solid Miami team and destroyed Merrimack, 80-45, on Friday. To prevail in this tournament, Florida’s new backcourt — Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee and Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland — will have to step up.
Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational (Magic Bracket)
Nov. 27-28, Orlando
Opening round games: No. 9 BYU vs. Miami, Georgetown vs. Dayton
Best matchup: No. 9 BYU vs. Miami. Led by first-year head coach Jai Lucas, the Hurricanes will be major underdogs in this one, but they have the firepower to make it interesting. Miami’s tough defense will have its hands full trying to slow down the stellar trio of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders and Rob Wright III.
Matchup I want to see: No. 9 BYU vs. Georgetown. How about the Hoyas? Georgetown is 5-0 with notable victories over Maryland on the road and Clemson at home. A potential matchup with the Cougars on Black Friday would reveal just how good Ed Cooley’s team really is.
Three players to watch: The highly touted Dybantsa has been as advertised, averaging 19.8 points on an efficient 54.8 percent shooting. Coach Kevin Young has encouraged the 6-foot-8 freshman to be more of an “alpha,” and he has answered the call. Georgetown’s KJ Lewis, a 6-foot-4 junior guard who transferred from Arizona, has thrived in a starring role, averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals. The centerpiece of Miami’s offense is 6-foot-9 senior forward Malik Reneau, a transfer from Indiana. Reneau has scored at least 19 points in every game this season and registered two double-doubles.
My winner: BYU. The Cougars’ offense, which ranks fourth in the country in adjusted efficiency (per KenPom) even without 6-foot-6 junior forward Kennard Davis Jr., will be very hard for Miami and either Georgetown or Dayton to hang with.
Fort Myers Tip-Off (Beach Division)
Nov. 24-27, Fort Myers
Day 1 games: No. 17 Michigan State vs. East Carolina, No. 18 North Carolina vs. St. Bonaventure
Day 2 games: St. Bonaventure vs. East Carolina, No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 18 North Carolina
Best matchup: No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 18 North Carolina. Both of these teams have exceeded expectations thus far. Michigan State has a pair of top-25 wins over Arkansas and Kentucky. North Carolina took down Kansas in Chapel Hill while Darryn Peterson was still in the lineup. Expect a closely-contested defensive battle in Fort Myers.
Three players to watch: There aren’t many point guards playing as well as Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., a 6-foot-2 sophomore. Fears leads the country in assists per game (10.4) and is also averaging 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals. North Carolina’s freshman stud Caleb Wilson has put up monster numbers through his first five outings: 20.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks. A 6-foot-10 forward with tremendous athleticism, Wilson is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Make sure you catch St. Bonaventure’s Darryl “Buddy” Simmons II, an explosive 5-foot-11 junior guard who is averaging 18.6 points and shooting 40.6 percent from three.
Meet your guide
