The West Virginia Mountaineers look like one of the strongest teams in the Charleston Classic. Ben Queen / Imagn Images

Sneakers squeak across the polished courts, rhythmic drumming from the pep bands reverberates through the rafters, and the anticipatory buzz fills TD Arena. Charleston is about to feel like March Madness. This two-day tournament promises the kind of high-stakes action that can test a coach's patience in just 40 minutes. Eight teams, two brackets, one weekend. Here's how to tune in.

Teams: West Virginia, Clemson, Georgia, Xavier

The Friday headliner is in the Palmetto bracket when unbeaten West Virginia faces Clemson. Ross Hodge's Mountaineers are 5-0 and boast one of the nation's stingiest defenses, allowing just 54.8 points per game. They'll be getting reinforcements, too. St. Bonaventure transfer Chance Moore, a downhill wing who can add rim pressure and lineup flexibility, is expected to make his debut Friday. Guard Honor Huff and bigs Brenen Lorient and Harlan Obioha slow games down and win ugly, but foul trouble or a quiet night from Huff are obvious risks.

Clemson, 4-1 under Brad Brownell, again relies on a tight defense to hold opponents to an average of 58.6 points per game. Freshman guard Ace Buckner and forward RJ Godfrey give the Tigers an early two-way foundation.

Georgia and Xavier get the nightcap. Mike White's Bulldogs are 5-0, averaging 99.4 points per game and finally leaving Stegeman Coliseum after pounding out home wins over Bellarmine, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morehead State, Georgia Tech and Florida A&M. Guards Jeremiah Wilkinson and Blue Cain headline an offense that has already reached triple-digit scoring twice, hanging 120 on Morehead State and 104 on Bellarmine.

Xavier is 3-2 in Richard Pitino's first season and volatile in both directions: double-digit losses to Santa Clara and Iowa, then a 99-69 response against Old Dominion in which Tre Carroll, Roddie Anderson III, All Wright and Jovan Milicevic all scored 20 apiece.

Teams: Utah State, Tulane, Davidson, Boston College

The Lowcountry bracket is quieter, not softer. Utah State is 4-0 under Jerrod Calhoun. The Aggies are scoring 87 points per game behind MJ Collins Jr. and Garry Clark, with early shooting numbers that look unsustainably clean. Tulane arrives 3-1 under Ron Hunter and has multiple double-digit scorers. The Green Wave will get their first ranked-level test in the tournament opener, as Utah State sits at No. 44 in KenPom heading into Friday.

Davidson comes in unbeaten and returns to Charleston for its fifth appearance at this event, still built around spacing and shooting under Matt McKillop. Meanwhile, Boston College arrives 3-2, with Earl Grant trying to steady a group that got upset at home by Central Connecticut, then immediately responded with a road win over Temple. The Eagles depend on junior Donald Hand Jr. and sophomore Fred Payne to generate offense.

In a building like this, defensive stamina, foul trouble and the first true neutral of the year can tilt everything much more than the records suggest.

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How to watch Charleston Classic: Teams, schedule, bracket for men's college hoops tournament