College Basketball Schedule Must See Non-Conference Games in 2024

Nonetheless nearly 50 days out, faculty basketball doesn’t make a splash touchdown till the primary week of November. 

Concerning the time the 12-team area for the faculty soccer playoff begins to be narrowed, the hoops season will get going with a sluggish buildup to a beefy menu of marquee matchups. 

Early season tournaments and the Champions Traditional with out John Calipari stand as video games to mark on the calendar. 

Listed here are the video games our workers is jotting down in Sharpie. 

North Carolina at Kansas, Nov. 8

A Friday evening at Phog Allen Fieldhouse supplies an enormous whats up to hoops in a pairing of bluebloods positive to generate an viewers and countless closeups of Roy Williams within the stands. 

Tennessee at Louisville, Nov. 9

SEC Participant of the 12 months Dalton Knecht was subtracted from the Vols’ roster and landed with the Lakers as a first-round draft decide. Now it’s as much as Rick Barnes to maintain Tennessee atop the SEC within the first highlight recreation for brand spanking new Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey. 

Kentucky vs. Duke, Nov. 12 (Atlanta)

The Champions Traditional additionally options Kansas-Michigan State, however we’re dialed in on the Cooper Flagg primetime matchup with the Wildcats. Mark Pope arrives in Calipari’s stead with a potpourri roster which may make its mark with a typical defensive DNA and a touch of star energy. Amongst newcomers at UK are 3-point specialist Koby Brea (Dayton), 6-11 ahead Andrew Carr (Wake Forest) and 6-10 middle Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State). Duke attracts Kansas in Las Vegas 14 days later.

Duke at Arizona, Nov. 22

Previous buddy Caleb Love, who helped usher Mike Krzyzewski into retirement on the 2022 Ultimate 4 in New Orleans with North Carolina, and the Wildcats are one other probably top-10 crew on the Duke schedule in November. Amongst new serving to palms at Arizona are Campbell switch Anthony Dell’Orso, who averaged 19.5 factors per recreation final season. Sophomore middle Montiejus Krivas is one other participant to look at for the Wildcats.

Duke vs. Kansas, Nov. 26 (Las Vegas)

Possible preseason No. 1 Kansas and presumed 2025 No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg needs to be attractive sufficient. Hunter Dickinson returned for redemption and the Jayhawks are heavy on expertise. Duke’s recruiting class tracks because the stuff of heavyweights and borders on ridiculous behind Flagg with 7-foot-2 middle Khaman Maluach and 6-6 wings Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel.

Baylor at UConn, Dec. 4

A possible matchup on the Maui Traditional with Michigan State (Nov. 26) within the second spherical at Lahaina would make this checklist, however that one isn’t set in stone. The 2-time defending nationwide champions may not be beatable once more this season even after dropping Stephon Fortress, Donovan Clingan and Cam Spencer to the NBA. That’s as a result of coach Dan Hurley scored a switch portal win touchdown Aiden Mahaney by way of Saint Mary’s and selecting up a heralded recruiting class headlined by Liam McNeeley.

Alabama at North Carolina, Dec. 4

Can the Tide roll all the best way to San Antonio? Alabama could possibly be in play because the No. 1 crew within the nation by the point this one rolls round as a part of the SEC-ACC Problem. It’s a rematch of the 2024 Candy Sixteen matchup. North Carolina has expertise and guard depth. However the Tar Heels have large inquiries to reply inside with out Armondo Bacot for the primary time for the reason that 2018 season.

Gonzaga vs UConn, Dec. 14 (Madison Sq. Backyard)

That is how Mark Few does non-conference. Matchups with Baylor, Kentucky and a possible assembly with Arizona within the Battle 4 Atlantis headline the Bulldogs’ buildup to the WCC schedule.

Duke vs. Illinois, Feb. 22 (Madison Sq. Backyard)

If all goes in response to plan for these groups, this can be a uncommon late February matchup that would outline an NCAA Match seed line. Illinois has a new-look roster that doesn’t embrace Terrence Shannon Jr. or Coleman Hawkins, and which may not be dangerous information for Brad Underwood. His recruiting class headlined with Will Riley and Morez Johnson Jr. and Arizona switch Kylan Boswell brings a wanted dimension within the backcourt.