College basketball made its much-anticipated return Friday in dramatic fashion when Western Illinois upset No. 17 Wisconsin 69-67 on the road.
The Badgers lost three starters from last season's national runner-up squad, and clearly need to figure out a third scoring option behind Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes.
MORE: Ranking the top 25 high school players in the class of 2016 | Dicey court conditions cancel Pitt-Gonzaga after one half
There was plenty more to watch Friday, as each team unveiled its hard work over the summer.
Here's what we learned from opening night in college basketball:
1. Iowa State struggled without Fred Hoiberg. When Hoiberg bolted to coach the Bulls this summer, Cyclones fans were calmed knowing four starters — including All-American candidate Georges Niang — were set to return. But Iowa State looked sluggish and out of sorts in its 68-62 win against Colorado. We understand teams are far from sharp in their season openers, but something just didn't look the same with this senior-laden squad.
2. Grayson Allen might be Duke's next big star. Replacing four starters from a national championship-winning team is never easy. It's especially difficult when all four of those guys are currently wearing NBA uniforms. Luckily for Duke fans, it looks like a new star is blossoming before their eyes. Allen burst onto the scene with some impressive performances during the tournament last season and picked up right where he left off Friday, scoring 26 points on 8 of 13 shooting in a 92-74 win against Siena.
3. North Carolina backed up its No. 1 ranking. First of all, Kennedy Meeks is ready to break out this season. The 6-9, 265-pound power forward scored 25 points — on 10 of 14 shooting — with 11 rebounds and three blocks in Friday's 91-67 win against Temple. Secondly, Brice Johnson remains one of the most underrated players in college basketball after recording yet another double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds). Lastly, the Tar Heels still have two great point guards, even though Marcus Paige is sidelined with a broken hand. Joel Berry II started in place of Paige Friday, scoring 14 points with six rebounds and four assists. Nate Britt came off the bench to score 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting. These guys would consistently start on almost any other team.
4. Ben Simmons is legit. Moving away from home and starting college can be a tough transition for any teenager. But when you come to LSU with LeBron James-like hype, it makes it that much tougher. Simmons lived up to expectations Friday in a 81-70 win over McNeese State, dropping a double-double in his first collegiate game. Simmons finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes.
Here's one of his assists:
The first of many highlights for LSU Freshman Ben Simmons https://t.co/izVeExNNfW
— Barstool Sports (@barstooltweets) November 14, 20155. Tuesday night's Champions Classic is shaping up to be a must-watch. We understand early-season college basketball games don't really mean much in the grand scheme of things. But Tuesday's matchups between Kentucky (1-0) and Duke (1-0), followed by Michigan State (1-0) versus Kansas (1-0) should garner some attention. Michigan State, led by seniors Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Matt Costello, will take on a Kansas team that put up 109 points in its season opener. Kentucky "only" beat Albany by 13 points Friday night, but should be ready to compete against a similarly young Duke squad.