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.