Tuesday's Pregame Beat: There are some important games outside the marathon

The College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon isn't the only basketball being played tonight. (PS - come join our live chat.)

7:00 pm: Colorado @ Georgia: A lot of the luster was taken off of this game when Trey Thompkins went down with that ankle injury. Georgia looked like regular old Georgia as they struggled to beat Mississippi Valley State without him. That said, Colorado, who has similar expectations to Georgia this season, was just as bad against Idaho State, winning by only eight. If you want to take anything out of this game, enjoy the matchup between Alec Burks and Travis Leslie.

7:00 pm: VCU @ Wake Forest: The winner heads to NYC for the finals of the Preseason NIT. Based on what we have seen out of the Demon Deacons so far this season, does anyone think that an experienced and talented VCU team is going to lose?

7:00 pm: Coastal Carolina @ Charleston: These are two of the best low-majors in the south. Both could end up being a tournament team this season.

10:00 pm: Arizona State @ New Mexico: No one is talking about this game, but its one of the more important non-conference game on the schedule. Both of these teams seem like they will, eventually, be fighting for an at-large spot. This will likely be one of the games that people reference.

Other Notable Games:

• 7:00 pm: Gardner-Webb @ Florida State
• 7:00 pm: Mississippi Valley State @ Indiana
• 7:00 pm: Arkansas State @ Missouri State
• 7:00 pm: IPFW @ Xavier
• 8:05 pm: Texas Southern @ Wichita State
• 9:00 pm: Akron @ Dayton
  
• 10:00 pm: Eastern Washington @ No. 15 Washington
• 10:00 pm: Idaho @ Washington State
• 10:30 pm: CS Northridge @ Cal