Too cool: 25 games we can't wait to see

After being held hostage by all manner of legal wrangling, basketball schedules around the country are being released for the upcoming season.

Billy Donovan will lead Florida against his alma mater, Providence, on Nov. 27.(Getty Images)

The legal wrangling had to do with "exempt" preseason tournaments, and if you're that interested in the mind-numbing details, look elsewhere. We only write about cool stuff here, like these 25 cool games we wish started this month, not in November.

Western Kentucky at Georgia, Nov. 23: This game is being played because Wood Selig is smarter than Bud Selig. Wood Selig is the athletics director at Western Kentucky, where he wrote into former coach Dennis Felton's contract that Felton's next team, should he leave WKU, would have to play the Hilltoppers. Felton left for Georgia last year. This is the first of four meetings. Now, Wood, about the Yankees ...

Memphis vs. Maryland (at Springfield, Mass.), Nov. 26: When he was at UMass, current Memphis coach John Calipari nearly pulled a hamstring jumping ship when Marcus Camby-gate broke. Wonder if the good people of Springfield remember?

Florida vs. Providence (at Miami), Nov. 27: While most coaches avoid such emotional games, Florida coach Billy Donovan embraces them. Not only is he playing this one against his alma mater, but he also has home dates with his mentor (Louisville's Rick Pitino on Dec. 11) and protégé (Eastern Kentucky's Travis Ford, Dec. 22).

Virginia Commonwealth at UAB, Nov. 27: After the game, VCU's Jeff Capel and UAB's Mike Anderson discuss the Auburn vacancy over dinner.

Southern California at North Carolina, Nov. 28: Trojans twins Lodrick and Rodrick Stewart caused a stir three years ago when they announced commitments to North Carolina. Funny thing: UNC hadn't offered either a scholarship.

Michigan State at Duke, Nov. 30: Cool game, just because.

Ohio State at Clemson, Dec. 1: As a freshman and sophomore at Clemson, Tony Stockman was an out-of-control guard. Now a senior at Ohio State, Stockman is an out-of-control guard. Play nice, Clemson fans.

Wake Forest at Illinois, Dec. 1: Best backcourt in the country (Illinois' Dee Brown and Deron Williams) meets best backcourt in the country (Wake Forest's Chris Paul and Justin Gray). Our advice? Tape this game and watch it in slow motion.

Notre Dame at Michigan, Dec. 4: Mike Brey vs. Tommy Amaker. Winner gets dibs on the Duke job.

UNLV at Nevada, Dec. 4: After this game, someone's fan base is going to be awfully pleased with its new coach. Someone's fan base won't.

Utah at Utah State, Dec. 4: A must-win for new Utes coach Ray Giacoletti. He drew first blood this spring when he hired Stew Morrill's most loyal aide, Randy Rahe.

Manhattan at N.C. State, Dec. 5: Nine months later, Jaspers return to the scene of their 2004 NCAA Tournament upset of Florida. Two problems: Herb Sendek is no Billy Donovan, and Julius Hodge is no Anthony Roberson.

UCLA at Boston College, Dec. 5: Three BC players from Southern California would like to prove they belong on the same court with UCLA, especially preseason All-American Craig Smith.

Indiana vs. Kentucky (at Louisville), Dec. 11: Something strange always happens. Usually Mike Davis is involved.

Wisconsin at Marquette, Dec. 11: Nobody recruits its state better than these two programs. Makes for must-see basketball.

Ohio State vs. Texas Tech (at Dallas), Dec. 16: Bob Knight wanted the Ohio State job. Ohio State was smarter than that, but Knight gets the last word.

Kentucky at Louisville, Dec. 18: Looking for a point guard from the high school class of 2004, Louisville coach Rick Pitino chose the rumor of Sebastian Telfair over the truth of Rajon Rondo -- and Rondo is from Louisville. Still, who do you think Cards fans are going to boo?

Texas Tech vs. Iowa (at Chicago), Dec. 21: What sick joker approved this schedule? Five days after playing Ohio State, Knight has to face Steve Alford? Close your salad bars, bolt your courtside chairs and get ready for revisionist rewrites of history: Knight and Alford have always been best of friends.

Gonzaga at Oklahoma State, Dec. 28: This is some gutsy scheduling, with the Zags playing Illinois at Indianapolis, Georgia Tech at Las Vegas, and then at Oklahoma State and at Missouri -- all within a month. Gonzaga went from cuddly to ferocious fast.

Houston at Texas A&M, Dec. 29: Houston wanted Billy Gillispie. Texas A&M got him. Tom Penders and Dave Maggard, discuss.

Georgia Tech at Kansas, Jan. 1: One of the best recruiting battles has the Jackets against the Jayhawks for the package deal of Dallas wing C.J. Miles and forward Kevin Rogers. If Tech gets those commitments by Dec. 31, Lawrence will be ugly.

Tennessee at Auburn, Jan. 29: The first SEC meeting between two of Dean Smith's boys, Buzz Peterson and Jeff Lebo. As an aside, when Peterson got the Vols job a few years back, the runner-up was Lebo.

Pittsburgh at Villanova, Feb. 20: Freshman guard Keith Benjamin committed to Villanova, then reneged and chose Pittsburgh. Bring your earplugs, young Benjamin.

Minnesota at Purdue, Feb. 26: After 25 years, Gene Keady's last (regular-season) game at Mackey Arena.

Oregon at UCLA, March 5: McDonald's All-American Malik Hairston's other finalists were Kansas, UCLA and nearby Michigan. He chose the Ducks. Maybe by March 5 it will make sense.