Tonight marks the beginning of the 2009-10 regular season for men’s basketball. Four top 25 teams are featured in tonight’s four opening night games, all of which are a part of the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

The first two games tip off at 7 p.m. The headliner features the defending NCAA Campion and No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels, who will host Florida International, with their new coach Isiah Thomas. The game can be seen on ESPN U. The other 7 p.m. tip is between No. 17 Ohio State and Alcorn State.

At 9 p.m. on ESPN U the No. 25 Syracuse Orange hosts Albany. Syracuse will try to rebound from a disappointing preseason loss to Le Moyne last Tuesday and prove they do belong in the rankings.

The final game of the night is on ESPN U at 11 p.m. and features No. 12 California against Murray State.

I know I am excited for college basketball season and by Friday games will be in full swing. On Friday there are 126 games scheduled, so college basketball fans that have been waiting since last April to see action don’t have to wait much longer for their favorite team to play their first game.

Kansas begins the season as the No. 1 team, but I’m sure by the time March Madness is in full swing there will be several teams that have a chance to win it all.

Let the excitement begin!