The toughest NCAA hoops non-conference schedules
- A majority of NCAA programs schedule aggressively for the first half of the season to prepare for heated showdowns once league play starts up in late December
- Texas took scheduling aggressively to another level with a nightmarish December that features matchups against three top-25 teams and a neutral game vs. Georgetown
- Duke, UCLA, Florida and North Texas (yes North Texas) also have difficult non-conference slates
With the college basketball season tipping off next week, a good chunk of teams will start their season against some cakewalk opponents.
But that's usually only the season opener for most teams and a majority of NCAA programs schedule aggressively for the first half of the season to prepare for heated showdowns once league play starts up in late December. Here's a look at five of the toughest slates for the 2012-13 season:
1. Texas
Top matchups: Maui Invitational (Nov. 19-21), vs. Georgetown (Dec. 4), vs. No. 13 UCLA (Dec. 8), vs. No. 12 North Carolina (Dec. 19), at No. 14 Michigan State (Dec. 22)
Analysis: The Longhorns took scheduling aggressively to another level. The Maui Invitational (North Carolina, Butler, Marquette) is one of the strongest tip-off tournaments in the country, but perhaps even tougher will be a nightmarish December that features matchups against three top-25 teams and a neutral game vs. Georgetown. This type of competition could either doom Rick Barnes' youthful squad or provide necessary experience heading into the Big 12 season.
2. Duke
Top matchups: vs. No. 3 Kentucky (Nov. 13), Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 22-24), vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Nov. 28)
Analysis: When we last saw the Blue Devils, they were upset in the NCAA tournament first-round to Big Dance darling Lehigh. This non-conference schedule will provide No. 8 Duke a chance to play against similarly challenging small schools, including seasoned Davidson and A-10 power Temple on a neutral floor. And that's not even mentioning Duke's matchups with Kentucky (at Atlanta) and vs. Ohio State. The toughest test of all could come in the Battle 4 Atlantis, a loaded tournament with Louisville and Missouri.
3. UCLA
Top matchups: Legends Classic (Nov. 19-20), vs. No. 20 San Diego State (Dec. 1), vs. No. 24 Texas (Dec. 8), vs. No. 17 Missouri (Dec. 28)
Analysis:
If the 13th-ranked Bruins advance accordingly in the Legends Classic, they could face Georgetown and No. 1 Indiana. Then comes a brutal December slate that pits UCLA up against three top-25 teams. And meetings vs. mid-majors Long Beach State and Indiana State won't be cakewalks. The reason UCLA could come out on top: it won't be leaving sunny California, posing no true road tests.
4. Florida
Top matchups: vs. No. 21 Wisconsin (Nov. 14), at No. 24 Florida State (Dec. 5), at No. 11 Arizona (Dec. 15), vs. Kansas State (Dec. 22), vs. Georgetown (Nov. 9), UCF (Nov. 23), Marquette (Nov. 29)
Analysis: This schedule is brutal in every facet for the 10th-ranked Gators. It starts with Georgetown and Wisconsin in early November and will be the most difficult in early December with road games at Florida State and Arizona. Even the lighter games on the schedule, such as a clash vs. mid-major sleeper Middle-Tennessee won't be easy.
5. North Texas
Top matchups: at No. 15 Creighton (Nov. 9), NIT Season Tip-Off (Nov. 12-23), at St. Louis (Dec. 5), vs. Lehigh (Dec. 20)
Analysis: Yes, North Texas. The biggest criticism of mid-majors every year is that they don't load up their schedules aggressively with high-RPI opponents. North Texas shouldn't have that issue thanks to a competitive NIT Season Tip-Off schedule that could square the Mean Green up with Kansas State and with an upset, against Virginia and Michigan/Pittsburgh. North Texas also plays a mid-major gauntlet schedule, starting at Creighton before traveling to a Saint Louis team flirting with the top-25, and hosting a C.J. McCollum-led Lehigh team.