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Georgia opens its season Sunday night in Athens against Bellarmine, a matchup that marks the start of a new-look Bulldogs roster. After being picked 14th in the 16-team SEC, Georgia enters 2025-26 looking to prove the experts wrong. Coach Mike White’s group finished 20-13 last year before falling to Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Most of the top production is gone, but guard Blue Cain returns after averaging 9.6 points and hitting 34 percent from deep. Forward Kanon Catchings, a 6-9 transfer from BYU, has impressed in preseason with his length and rim protection. Bellarmine, meanwhile, comes off a 5-26 campaign and begins a new era under Doug Davenport, who takes over for his father, longtime

Notre Dame opens its season at home Monday against Long Island at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. The Fighting Irish look to build off last year’s 15-18 finish, while the visiting Sharks aim to validate their preseason pick to win the Northeast Conference. Markus Burton returns as one of the nation’s elite scorers after averaging 21.3 points and 3.0 assists per game, earning a spot on the Bob Cousy Award watch list. Coach Micah Shrewsberry said Burton’s conditioning and leadership have improved, calling him “the engine of our team.” Long Island brings back senior guards Malachi Davis (17.7 PPG) and Jamal Fuller (12.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG), giving coach Rod Strickland one of the most experienced backcourts in the NEC.

The Utah Jazz aim to snap a two-game skid as they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday at Spectrum Center. Both teams are looking to rebound after uneven starts to the season. Utah’s 2-3 record includes a 22-point loss at Phoenix, where their offense sputtered after a high-scoring 136-134 defeat to Portland. Coach Will Hardy challenged his group, saying he’s searching for players who will compete for all four quarters. Charlotte, meanwhile, has dropped three straight, including a 122-105 home loss to Minnesota on Saturday. The Hornets allowed 72 points in the second half, exposing defensive gaps that Utah’s shooters could exploit. Lauri Markkanen continues to carry the Jazz, averaging 32-plus points over his last four games. The Hornets counter

The New York Knicks will try to tighten their defense when they host the unbeaten Chicago Bulls on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. The Eastern Conference rivals met on Friday, when Chicago’s 135-125 win exposed New York’s lapses in transition and one-on-one defense. Coach Mike Brown didn’t sugarcoat it: “Our defense in the first half was non-existent. It starts with guarding the basketball.” Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges combined for 78 points, but the Knicks still fell to 2-3. Brown’s group will need more physicality if they hope to hand the Bulls their first loss. Chicago’s 5-0 start is its best since the Jordan era. Josh Giddey has fueled it with 22 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8