The local college weekend moves through the Palestra and the Main Line

Philadelphia college basketball has two useful checkpoints this weekend. Villanova hosts Holy Cross at Finneran Pavilion on Friday night, and Temple meets Richmond at the Palestra on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Temple guard Jordan Marsh opened the season with 16 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals against Central Connecticut State. Richmond provides the next test on a floor that makes any early local game feel larger than an ordinary nonconference date.

Villanova's home opener begins a stretch that includes La Salle on Tuesday. The city college calendar is moving now, and it deserves more than waiting for the Big 5 standings to become urgent.