Biggest local NCAA basketball games this season

Maryland fans cheer as their team is introduced before an NCAA college basketball game against Indiana in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Chicago, Friday, March 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

WASHINGTON — In our NCAA basketball preview last week, various members of the WTOP Sports department listed the games we are most looking forward to this season. But there are plenty of additional games worth watching before conference play begins. And you won’t have to wait long before they begin. Flip through the slides to see the biggest games coming up for a number of local teams. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 21: Malcolm Brogdon #15 of the Virginia Cavaliers drives to the basket against Kethan Savage #11 of the George Washington Colonials in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on November 21, 2014 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

George Washington vs. #6 Virginia, Nov. 16 (ESPN 2) The Colonials cruised to a 22-point halftime lead in an easy opening win over Lafayette, but the competition immediately gets much tougher. Virginia pays a visit to the Smith Center for an early-season showdown Monday that should be a good litmus test for teams with different expectations. GW was 12-2 at home last season. Can they deliver the Hoos a crushing blow in Foggy Bottom? (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2015 in Portland, Oregon.

Georgetown at #3 Maryland, Nov. 17 (ESPN 2) Perhaps the Hoyas were already looking ahead to this game before they took care of business in their season opener on Saturday, when they dropped a double-overtime stunner at home to Radford. Hopes are high in Northwest D.C. with D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera returning, but unless Georgetown can swing the upset in College Park, they’ll head into the 2K Classic with Wisconsin and either Duke or VCU looming at 0-2. (Getty Images/Jonathan Ferrey)

Getty Images/Jonathan Ferrey

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 15: Eric Maynor #3 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams celebrates with teammate Franck Ndongo #21 after beating the Duke Blue Devils during round one of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the HSBC Arena on March 15, 2007 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

VCU vs. #5 Duke, Nov. 20, New York (ESPN 2) The Rams are playing David in a room full of Goliaths at the 2K Classic, where they’ll draw #5 Duke in a rematch of VCU’s stunning 2007 NCAA Tournament upset. The other side of the draw features Wisconsin and Georgetown, so the Rams will get two big games in three days regardless of what happens against the Blue Devils. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

during a quarterfinal game in the 2015 Men's Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at the Barclays Center on March 13, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Richmond vs. West Virginia, Nov. 26, Las Vegas The Spiders draw a Sweet 16 team from last year in the Mountaineers in their opening game of the Continental Las Vegas Invitational. The winner of that game will get the winner of #14 Cal/San Diego State (and the loser, the loser), which will provide another nice test. With Florida and Northern Illinois also on the nonconference docket, Richmond will be battle tested before A-10 play begins. (Getty Images/Alex Goodlett)

Getty Images/Alex Goodlett

during a second round game of the ACC basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2015 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Virginia Tech vs. #7 Iowa State, Nov. 27, Niceville, Florida (CBSSN) The Hokies will have plenty to worry about in the ACC, but their biggest nonconference test will come in the Emerald Coast Classic in Florida against a dangerous, senior heavy, seventh-ranked Iowa State squad. After a season-opening home loss to Alabama State this past weekend, Virginia Tech has a long way to go to get ready for the Cyclones. (Getty Images/Grant Halverson)

Getty Images/Grant Halverson

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 16: Dez Wells #32 of the Maryland Terrapins goes after a loose ball as James Michael McAdoo #43 of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches in the second half during the men's ACC Tournament semifinals at Greensboro Coliseum on March 16, 2013 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Maryland at #1 North Carolina, Dec. 1 (ESPN) No longer ACC rivals, Maryland and North Carolina may both be ranked in the top five when they meet to open December in Chapel Hill. Neither squad has another ranked opponent on the schedule before this meeting, so the prospect of both teams entering undefeated is promising. This promises to be one of the best games of the year. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 31: Marcus Allen #15 of the Stanford Cardinal drives into Trey Freeman #20 of the Old Dominion Monarchs during the NIT Championship semifinals at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

William & Mary at Old Dominion, Dec. 1 While the big boys battle it out on ESPN, Hampton Roads rivals will take each other on in Norfolk in a promising nonconference tilt. ODU won a seven-point contest last year after dropping this game in two straight years to the Tribe. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

during the Veterans Classic at Alumni Hall on November 13, 2015 in Annapolis, Maryland.

Navy vs. Oregon, Dec. 7, Honolulu (FS1) The Midshipmen will travel to Hawaii to take part in a Pearl Harbor tribute doubleheader, where they’ll also draw perhaps their toughest test of the season in an Oregon team that pushed Wisconsin to the brink in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Navy basketball doesn’t often get a national television audience, so this is a unique chance to shine on a big stage. (Getty Images/Rob Carr)

Getty Images/Rob Carr

West Virginia guard Chase Connor, left, pressures George Mason center, Shevon Thompson during a NCAA college basketball game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

George Mason at James Madison, Dec. 12 JMU is coming off its second defeat of Richmond in as many years. Mason has been disappointing of late, but has a potential future NBA player in Shevon Thompson on the roster. This will be a nice battle in Harrisonburg for local mid major bragging rights. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 20: Tony Wroblicky #34 of the American University Eagles drives toward the basket during the second round game of the NCAA Basketball Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 20, 2014 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)

American at #21 LSU, Dec. 22 (SECN) The Eagles play seven of their first eight games on the road, so they’ll be used to hostile crowds by the time they hit Baton Rouge right before Christmas. But it’s unlikely they’ll play another team with as talented a big man as freshman phenom Ben Simmons. (Getty Images/Mike McGinnis)

Getty Images/Mike McGinnis

during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 22, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

#6 Virginia vs. #15 California, Dec. 22 (ESPN 2) The Cavaliers have a loaded nonconference schedule, but perhaps their biggest test will come from the athletic, talented Golden Bears. The task will be that much taller considering that Virginia hosts #11 Villanova just three days prior. But if you want to make a deep run in March, you have to be able to beat two very good teams in a matter of a few days. (Getty Images/Grant Halverson)

Getty Images/Grant Halverson

Minnesota guard Nate Mason (2) defends against Maryland-Baltimore County guard/forward Charles Taylor (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 69-51. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

UMBC at NJIT, Jan. 2 (ESPN 3) The Retrievers gave ACC mainstay Wake Forest a scare in their opener and may have a chance at a signature win against what has looked like a suspect St. John’s team on Monday in Queens. But perhaps their most intriguing nonconference matchup comes in the middle of the year, when they take on the former nomads of college basketball, NJIT. The Highlanders are a trendy pick to win the Atlantic Sun and hung tough with Kentucky for most of the first half in their weekend opener. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

AP Photo/Hannah Foslien

SPOKANE, WA - MARCH 22: Head coach Tommy Amaker talks to Siyani Chambers #1 of the Harvard Crimson in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during the Third Round of the 2014 NCAA Basketball Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2014 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Howard vs. Harvard, Jan. 19 The Bison nearly landed a big win on the road at UMass over the weekend, but they’ll have a few more chances for nonconference statements, including a trip to #23 Purdue in early December. But no game will have as much hype as when Falls Church, Virginia native and W.T. Woodson grad Tommy Amaker’s Crimson come to town right in the middle of MEAC play. (Getty Images/Steve Dykes)

Getty Images/Steve Dykes