5 Charity Exhibitions to Watch Prior to the 2023-24 Season

Ready to satisfy your appetite for college hoops?

Check below for our list of five charity exhibitions to watch prior to the start of the 2023-24 college basketball season. In no particular order:

George Mason at West Virginia (Friday, 7 PM ET, ESPN PLUS)

Will the Mountaineers be able to remain in the middle of the Big 12 pack without Bob Huggins? We’ll get an early indication on Friday. This will be the first time that West Virginia fans get a look at Kerr Kriisa (Arizona) and Jesse Edwards (Syracuse) against legitimate competition. Interim head coach Josh Eilert needs some good news after RaeQuan Battle’s waiver for immediate eligibility was denied by the NCAA. Battle is a two-time transfer who previously played at both Montana State and Washington. 

Purdue at Arkansas (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ESPN PLUS)

An Elite Eight caliber game in October? That’s what Saturday afternoon may feel like at Bud Walton Arena. The Boilers return everyone of significance from last season’s team that won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles while the Razorbacks have become an incredibly consistent brand under Eric Musselman. This matchup will be a great barometer for both programs.

Mississippi State at Southern Miss (Sunday, 3 PM ET, ESPN PLUS)

The Bulldogs looked like they had a chance to be one of the best teams in the SEC prior to losing Tolu Smith (15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds) for the next few months due to injury. What will they look like without him? Saturday’s matchup with Southern Miss will give us an indication. Remember: Even without Smith, Mississippi State still will begin this season with four of its top five scorers -- Shakeel Moore, D.J. Jeffries, Dashawn Davis, and Cameron Matthews -- from last year's team that reached the NCAA Tournament. 

Tennessee at Michigan State (Sunday, 3:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network)

A pair of heavyweights will trade blows on Sunday in East Lansing. Expect plenty of bruises. While Michigan State is a known commodity entering this season, so is Tennessee. Rick Barnes brings back plenty of firepower from last season’s team that reached the Sweet 16, headlined by veterans Zakai Zeigler, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, and Jonas Aidoo. If these two teams meet again later in the season, it could be in the Elite Eight or Final Four. 

Kansas at Illinois (Sunday, 6 PM ET, Big Ten Network)

Bill Self’s return to Champaign will feature a fascinating matchup with one of the best programs in the Big Ten. It will also feature Hunter Dickinson’s first time against quality competition in a Kansas uniform. Keep an eye on overall the depth of the Illini, which could be a factor against the Jayhawks. This is appointment TV for the true college basketball junkie. 

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Jon Rothstein is not a FanDuel employee. The reporting of Rothstein is not subject to FanDuel's verification and does not represent the views or input of FanDuel. Betting based on Rothstein's reporting will not guarantee a successful outcome. Always do your own due diligence and use your own judgement when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.

Rothstein has been a college basketball insider for CBS Sports since 2010 and a contributor to the CBS Broadcast Network since 2016. He joined FanDuel in 2022 as a Content Creator. Rothstein is also the host of the College Hoops Today Podcast via Compass Media Networks.