Valparaiso vs. Vanderbilt

Both teams are playing their season openers, and Valparaiso's prospects look much better than Vanderbilt's as the Crusaders return three starters from a 19-16 team, and they are making their mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. Swingman Donovan Clay is Valpo's top returnee in scoring and rebounding, and he made the MVC's All-Freshman team last season. Vanderbilt still has a long rebuilding job to go after finishing 11-21 in coach Jerry Stackhouse's first year. The Commodores still lack enough talent to compete in the SEC or with the top-echelon teams in the country, and they need vast improvement on the defensive end. Valparaiso covered eight of its last 11 games last season and five of its last seven road games. Play Valparaiso.