Here are a few observations in advance of the Old Spice Classic (bracket), which begins Thanksgiving Day in Orlando …
Best first-round game: Notre Dame vs. Georgia (Thursday, 7 ET, ESPN2)
The Bulldogs have had to quickly re-invent themselves without injured star Trey Thompkins. It's something first-round opponent Notre Dame was forced to do when it lost all-American Luke Harangody late last season. Thompkins sprained an ankle in early November and, even if he plays in Orlando, won't be 100 percent. In his place, Tennessee State transfer Gerald Robinson Jr. has picked up the scoring slack from the backcourt. And high-flying Travis Leslie is in the process of making the transition to the backcourt, even as he averages almost 10 rebounds a game.To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
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Fran Fraschilla is an analyst for ESPN and was previously the head coach at New Mexico, St. John's and Manhattan.
Joe Lunardi is the resident bracketologist for ESPN.
Seth Greenberg is an analyst for ESPN and was previously the head coach at Virginia Tech, South Florida and Long Beach State.
