With 347 Division I teams, following college basketball can be overwhelming. Let Athlon Sports start your college hoops week each Monday with a look at some of the most intriguing, most important and most interesting stats from around the sport:

Ohio State coach Thad Matta

John Groce can win a tournament game or two. The Illinois coach proved that in the Maui Invitational this season and in two NCAA Tournaments at Ohio.

Kentucky's Anthony Davis

Kentucky was the nation’s best team for 2012 (at least through April). Anthony Davis was the nation’s best player.

Kansas center Jeff Withey

In the big picture, Kansas’ trip to Ohio State on Saturday is simply a good game against two top-10 teams, a national title contender visiting another title contenders gym.

Entering the season, Athlon ranked the Big Ten the nation’s top conference.

Despite a loss by its top team Saturday, the league has done nothing to change that notion. If anything, the league looks more formidable than we projected.

Basketball season is in full swing, which for the ACC and Big Ten is a welcome sight.

This much is certain: The team returning to the mainland as the Battle 4 Atlantis champion will have earned it.

Success in Maui has been a good sign for most teams in recent years. Two of the last four Maui Invitational champions have gone on to win the national title (2008-09 North Carolina, 2010-11 Connecticut). Players like Kemba Walker, Ty Lawson, Kyle Singler and Adam Morrison have thrived in this tournament in recent seasons as well.

The early season tournament season is under way, first with the NIT Tip-Off and now the Puerto Rico Classic, beginning Thursday.

The even in San Juan will be a proving ground for the major teams involved. For NC State, it’s a chance to prove the Wolfpack belong in the national elite. For Oklahoma State, Tennessee and UMass, it’s a chance to prove they’re ready to contend for the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s our preview of the action down in Puerto Rico

The opening of the college basketball season garnered a little more buzz this season, even if some of the key games didn’t go as planned.

Even if the aircraft carrier games -- two of which were canceled and one was postponed -- didn’t go off without a hitch, the effort was in the right place. Teams like Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State and Connecticut were in early action in key games, a trend that will continue with ESPN’s tipoff marathon beginning Tuesday morning at midnight.